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From The Times

July 22, 2008

Family is flown 2,000 miles the wrong way

Jack Malvern

Redeye flights are seldom booked full. They may have been the ONLY passengers, but I doubt it.

Richard, Marion, USA

This was a staff error and everyone was warned about making mistakes. The staff were boarding for 2 flights and ended up making the mistake, regardless of wether the family were tired or not. Boarding passes usually only show the flight number and not the destination for servisair.

Kevin, Broughton, Edinburgh

Re-read the first line - they were given boarding passes for the wrong flight. My boarding passes never have the destination on them, how would I know I was given the wrong one? I've never been to the Cardiff airport - maybe the destinations aren't posted at the gate.

Linda Gauer, Norton, US

How come the same seats were not given to other passengers? Very strange!

Yunus, Ankara, Turkey

I do not understand this, I do not care how tired Iam when I get to my gate and I know a lot of other people we look at the sign to make sure out destination is posted. These Customers would be wrong for accepting any refunds for their own mistakes

Andrea, Phenix City, USA

I've done overnight flights traveling 4,000 miles each way before and I double and triple check my boarding pass, terminal, gate, and flight numbers. As tired as I am after being up for 30 hours, I still manage to get on the correct flight to my destination.

Benjie, dallas, USA

Why did the employee get introuble? This was surely the travelers mistake!!

Jaramon, Chicago, US

Turkey! They should have caught a ferry over to Santorini or another Greek island! Forget the cancary-s!

DV, Glenside, PA , USA

This is package holidays for you - pay your money and leave your brain at home, expecting to be shepherded about without having to think for yourself. I'd be embarassed.

Rachel Bochenski, Chester,

Why didn't they stay in Turkey? It's a beautiful country, the climate's nice, the people are friendly, food's great. They could have stuck with it and made the best of their mistake.

Sandy, London,

Normally there is an announcement at the beginning of the flight indicating where the flight is going. I mean seriously, did they not check any displays? There was no information at the gate?

You kind of need to be responsible and pay attention!

Jackie, London,

I guess that family slept and also had no window seat. I would have looked out the window and noticed no ocean below. Well, it would have been too late anyway. I agree they cannot blame anyone but themselves for not looking at their boarding pass after checking in.

RJ Lee, London, UK

I don't get this. How on earth can you get on the wrong flight. Surely you would check your boarding cards, and check the gate you where travelling from???

Ian, Liverpool,

Indeed ... this has happened to me, too ... but in my case, both planes were heading to the same city, though with different layovers. In the end, it was my error ... first and last. With sympathies to the family, sleep is an explanation but not an excuse. We're all responsible for ourselves!

Barry, La Jolla, USA

Hello!!! You would think that they would have found out before boarding the plane e.g. casual chit-chat with fellow passengers and boarding staff etc...

Anna, FL, USA,