Metro

NY family loses out on $8,500 dream vacation as delayed flight causes them to narrowly miss cruise — leaving them to watch helplessly from dock as ship sailed away

A Brooklyn family missed out on the eight-day dream vacation that they had been saving up for for a year because their delayed flight out of John F. Kennedy International Airport forced them to miss their $8,500 cruise.

Tisha LaSaine says she had been working hard at her post office job so she could take her mother, twins and oldest son on a weeklong cruise out of Orlando on June 30.

The vacation was meant to serve as a celebration for LaSaine’s 50th birthday and one last summer adventure for her oldest son, Kaseem Miller, who was starting his junior year at Hampton University in Virginia.

Tisha LaSaine, her mother, twins and oldest son missed their cruise after their Delta flight out of JFK Airport was delayed in June. WABC

“I’m about family. I’m just about family,” LaSaine told ABC7.

The trip began with a hiccup when Delta Airlines Flight 2019 was delayed for nearly two hours due to a “crew issue,” the outlet reported

“We took off at 11:40 a.m. Our flight was scheduled for 9:54,” Miller said.

The JFK-to-Orlando flight was scheduled to land at 12:51 p.m. — well before the cruise was set to depart from Port Canaveral at 3:30 p.m.

“I went to my mom and told her, ‘Mom, I don’t think we’re going to make it,'” the heartbroken woman told the outlet.

The vacation was meant to serve as a celebration for LaSaine’s 50th birthday and one last summer adventure for her oldest son, Kaseem Miller, who was starting his junior year at Hampton University in Virginia. WABC

The family trekked 45 miles to Cape Canaveral after landing in the Sunshine State — only to stand on the dock and watch their ship sail away.

Passengers have to be onboard the ship when the “All aboard” call is made, usually between 30 minutes and two hours before embarkation, depending on the cruise.

Cruise lines like Carnival urge that guests “arrive promptly within their Arrival Appointment to reduce wait time in line. 

“All guests must be on board by the Final Boarding time printed on the boarding pass or they will not be permitted to sail,” Carnival’s website states.

Cruise enthusiasts suggest that passengers rent a hotel room the night before they’re scheduled to depart.

“If you’re catching a plane, when to fly in for your cruise depends on several factors. I always advise flying in at least one day before you’re scheduled to embark, just in case you encounter any delays or cancellations,” travel blog The Points Guy wrote. “That way, you have time to rebook yourself on a different flight if something goes wrong.”

LaSaine and her family turned around and flew back home after they didn’t secure living accommodations for the late arrival.

“We missed the whole trip. That’s a whole week. That’s eight days,” Miller said.

“I think I cried more than the kids and it was for them,” LaSaine added.

After missing the cruise, LaSaine and her family turned around and flew back home after they didn’t secure living accommodations for the late arrival. WABC
LaSaine says she saved up for the trip by working hard at her post office job. WABC

Fortunately for the family, the cruise line refunded their money, but they faced an issue when they turned to Delta for similar assistance.

The Brooklyn family was seeking a flight refund because Delta’s delay made them miss their entire vacation, but the airline only offered them e-credit for a one-way trip worth $250 per traveler.

“I was like, that’s a lot of money for me to lose that I put out in a few months,” LaSaine said.

After working with the ABC affiliate, LaSaine received the remaining full ticket refund of $2,600.

“Delta apologized for the delay that led to their circumstance,” the company told the outlet.

Fortunately for the family, the cruise line refunded their money, but they faced an issue when they turned to Delta for similar assistance. WABC
Delta eventually gave LaSaine her full refund after only giving the family e-credit. AFP via Getty Images

Weeks after the “crew issue” delay ruined LaSaine’s family vacation, Delta flights were seriously affected by the CrowdStrike global outage as over 6,000 flights were canceled over a six-day period.

Over 500,000 passengers were left stranded and the company reported losing $500 million.