Axed flights put out- of- town Boss fans in race against time
As Bruce Springsteen fans prepare to converge on Mt Smart for tonight’s concert, some out- of- town punters are still struggling to make it to Auckland.
Kelly Donald had a Jetstar flight booked from Palmerston North to Auckland, but yesterday discovered her flight had been cancelled due to staff shortages.
She has had to hire a car to drive up so she can still use her return flight home.
Donald said Jetstar offered to rebook her flight to Auckland, “but it was two days after the concert. I mean goodness me, really?
“It doesn’t really help them build a reputation as reliable and trustworthy,” she said. “I’m going to stick with Air New Zealand.”
Fans in Hawke’s Bay have also had a 1.30pm Friday flight out of Napier cancelled.
Fans were unable to take another flight as they were fully booked.
A Jetstar spokesman said the Napier flight was cancelled as a crew member fell ill and was unable to be replaced at short notice.
“We regret the cancellation and sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience.
“Customers have been offered the option of the next available flight or a full refund.”
Jetstar said an ill crew member also resulted in the cancellation of a Palmerston North to Auckland flight yesterday morning.
Meanwhile excited fans were spotting the Boss out and about in Auckland and getting the chance to chat to him.
Stephen Counsell from Canada chatted briefly with Springsteen after spotting him at a restaurant on Wednesday. He wrote on Facebook; “I got brave: ‘ Thanks for playing for us, Bruce’ I said as we passed . . . ‘ Oh, that’s my absolute pleasure’ he replied as he kindly smiled at me.”
Daryl Knowler posted a picture of Springsteen with fellow diner Mark Prior at a cafe on the waterfront.
“We had a good chat with the Boss,” he said.
Leroy Pete Rodrigues also posted a photo on Facebook he’d taken of Springsteen out and about at the Viaduct.
By late yesterday fans had started lining up outside the concert venue, ready for the show.