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Fairport, N.Y. —
The 19 Fairport seniors whose trip to Ireland was postponed after a flight mishap last weekend may not be going at all this year, according to school administrators.
The students and three chaperones were scheduled to spend the week in Dublin during an exchange program trip, which the school started planning last spring.
But after the first leg of their journey, the passengers were stranded for three nights in Newark, New Jersey with nothing but their carry-on luggage.
Tonight, about 50 parents and their children met with school officials and trip organizers to talk about what's next.
Michael Hamm, president of First Choice Educational Tours, which coordinated the arrangements with Continental Airlines, called the incident a "nightmare."
"I've been doing this business for 30 years, and this one takes the cake," said Hamm.
All families will be compensated the full cost of the trip along with insurance expenses — just over $2,400 — as well as additional expenses that students incurred during their stay at the Newark airport. All families were also encouraged to file individual complaints on Continental's website.
Hamm said that the airline has pledged to return the passengers' luggage within one week and deliver it directly to the students' homes.
Although they will be fully compensated for the cost, students and their parents say this won't make up for the disappointment and frustration they've experienced as a result of the experience.
"As parents, it was frustrating on our end because we couldn't do anything to help our kids except make phone calls," said parent Donna Muldoon. "To have (the trip) fall apart so badly, and in so many ways, was something we never considered."
FHS Principal Chris Salinas said that there will be more parent meetings as the trip organizers try to reschedule the trip. He said that certain factors will make this difficult. For example, the Irish school calendar has few school vacations, if any, that align with Fairport's schedule.
"It's very challenging, and possibly, very unlikely that this can be rescheduled," said Salinas.
Although the school is still looking into options that would allow students to go to Dublin, they may need to do so individually.
FHS senior Cory Robins said that although this was not what he and his classmates were hoping for, it's better than nothing.
"I just want to get there," he said.
The 19 Fairport seniors whose trip to Ireland was postponed after a flight mishap last weekend may not be going at all this year, according to school administrators.
The students and three chaperones were scheduled to spend the week in Dublin during an exchange program trip, which the school started planning last spring.
But after the first leg of their journey, the passengers were stranded for three nights in Newark, New Jersey with nothing but their carry-on luggage.
Tonight, about 50 parents and their children met with school officials and trip organizers to talk about what's next.
Michael Hamm, president of First Choice Educational Tours, which coordinated the arrangements with Continental Airlines, called the incident a "nightmare."
"I've been doing this business for 30 years, and this one takes the cake," said Hamm.
All families will be compensated the full cost of the trip along with insurance expenses — just over $2,400 — as well as additional expenses that students incurred during their stay at the Newark airport. All families were also encouraged to file individual complaints on Continental's website.
Hamm said that the airline has pledged to return the passengers' luggage within one week and deliver it directly to the students' homes.
Although they will be fully compensated for the cost, students and their parents say this won't make up for the disappointment and frustration they've experienced as a result of the experience.
"As parents, it was frustrating on our end because we couldn't do anything to help our kids except make phone calls," said parent Donna Muldoon. "To have (the trip) fall apart so badly, and in so many ways, was something we never considered."
FHS Principal Chris Salinas said that there will be more parent meetings as the trip organizers try to reschedule the trip. He said that certain factors will make this difficult. For example, the Irish school calendar has few school vacations, if any, that align with Fairport's schedule.
"It's very challenging, and possibly, very unlikely that this can be rescheduled," said Salinas.
Although the school is still looking into options that would allow students to go to Dublin, they may need to do so individually.
FHS senior Cory Robins said that although this was not what he and his classmates were hoping for, it's better than nothing.
"I just want to get there," he said.
