A Gisborne man who was left without essential medication when
his luggage went missing on a Pacific Blue flight to
Rarotonga says he owes his life to rival airline Air New
Zealand.
Liver transplant patient Robert DeLong packed $1500 worth of
essential immune suppressant medication in his checked-in
luggage on the flight from Auckland in February.
It never arrived at his destination and there were no Pacific
Blue staff in Rarotonga to help him out. The airline's call
centre in Manila did not return his calls.
"I think it is irresponsible and outrageous," he said.
He contacted his doctors who told him he could last about
three days without the medication.
Facing the prospect of flying home, he called Air New
Zealand, who hatched a plan. His neighbour Allison Lynch
delivered replacement drugs to Gisborne Airport where it was
given to a pilot who was flying to Auckland, who then passed
it on to another pilot flying to Rarotonga.
The medication arrived the next day, free of charge.
"They literally saved my life," Mr DeLong said.
Despite the compensation, Mr DeLong is not happy with how his
problems were handled.
"It was the holiday from hell."
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