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Taken June 2007 from Newark, NJ (Newark International Airport) - EWR to London, England (Luton Airport) - LTN

Buyer beware of Silverjet!

In early June ’07 I was scheduled to fly on Silverjet from EWR to LTN and return a few days later. On the morning of my outbound flight I went to Silverjet's website to check my flight’s status --- it said "cancelled due to mechanical problem." I immediately called Silverjet and the agent informed me that she would call me back within a half hour. After 45 minutes with no call I called Silverjet again. The agent informed me that she could get me an economy class seat on a Virgin flight a few hours after Silverjet's scheduled departure. I told her that wouldn't do --- I wanted a business class seat since that is what I paid for, and I needed an earlier flight or else I would miss my first meeting in London. The Silverjet agent told me that the Virgin economy class seat on the flight she offered me was all she could do for me --- effectively telling me take it or leave it.

I left it. I cancelled my Silverjet ticket and got a full refund. I then booked a last minute ticket on BA.

I found Silverjet's "mechanical problems" excuse very suspect. A few days before the flight I logged in to change my seat and noted the flight was only one quarter full. Though I don't know for sure, I'm inclined to believe that when its flights are not sufficiently full and it is uneconomic for it to operate the flight, Silverjet simply cancels the flight, tells customers it is for "mechanical reasons" and then offers them an economy class seat on another airline.

I will not give Silverjet another chance. I did not appreciate being left in the lurch by Silverjet.