ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — The management of LIAT on Monday said it wants to reassure its customers that it is doing everything to make their journey during the busy Christmas season as smooth as possible.
The airline said that its fleet modernization efforts are continuing with five new ATR aircraft being added so far and two more due to arrive in January 2014.
“Even as we continue the transition from the Dash 8 to the ATR aircraft we are now in a better position to stabilize the schedule during the Christmas peak, traditionally one of the busiest periods for us,” Julie Reifer-Jones, acting chief executive officer of LIAT said in a press release.
“We are determined to get all of our passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible over the holiday season.”
The acting CEO said the company is also working with external agencies as it endeavours to improve the level of customer service offered by its employees.
And with the Christmas holidays approaching, LIAT is placing an embargo on excess baggage from Dec. 3, 2013 to Jan. 14, 2014.
Reifer-Jones said high passenger loads during the Christmas season added to the space and weight limitations of both Dash 8 and ATR aircraft are key reasons for a return to the seasonal policy.
She said that in order to make flying as easy as possible, passengers should adhere to LIAT’s baggage limits.
“The free baggage allowance for all LIAT services is one piece at a maximum of 50 pounds or 23 kilogrammes. In addition, passengers are allowed one piece of cabin baggage at a maximum weight of 15 pounds,” Reifer-Jones said.
LIAT said that passengers are reminded that they should arrive at the airport to check-in at least two hours prior to their scheduled time of departure and that check-in closes 45 minutes before the plane departs.
Unlike many international carriers which refuse to accept any overweight or over limit baggage during the busy Xmas season, LIAT accepts any and all baggage regardless of weight and number because they make so much extra money doing so, even when this means that under limit and weight baggage is sent on subsequent flights, often days later. This results in passengers with one 40-pound bag being without clothing and other necessities for days after landing in SVG while many over limit passengers get all their baggage on the same flight.
“Screw the public” save the bottom line seems to be LIAT’s motto.
And pigs will fly and he frequently does.