Hawaiian Air passengers compensated for delay in last week’s flight

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Last Thursday night’s Hawaiian Airlines flight heading to Pago Pago returned to Honolulu before it arrived in the territory due to a lavatory issue on the aircraft prompting the delay of flight-arrival in the territory until early Friday morning, according to an airline spokesperson.

A flight advisory issued by the local Hawaiian office Thursday night announced that June 29 flight — HA465 — “encountered a maintenance issue with our aircraft that required immediate attention” and the aircraft returned to Honolulu for repairs.

Samoa News sought additional information from a Hawaiian spokesman in Honolulu as to the actual “maintenance issue” after some travelers and members of their family shared questioned as to whether the maintenance issue was serious or not.

“After HA465 departed Honolulu, there was an issue with a lavatory that required us to bring the aircraft back to Honolulu. The aircraft resumed the flight about 10:30 p.m. following an inspection,” airline spokesperson Alex Da Silva said from Honolulu responding to Samoa News questions.

Asked whether the airline offered any sort of compensation, such as meal coupons for the affected travelers, Da Silva confirmed that guests checking in at Pago Pago for Honolulu received lunch vouchers and a $125 travel credit.

“We also worked to make alternate travel arrangements for guests who had flight connections in Honolulu.” he said, when asked if the airline assisted passengers who traveled beyond Honolulu to their final destinations.

“We apologize to our guests for the inconvenience,” he said.

When the local Hawaiian Airlines office issued the flight advisory, it included a new departure time out of Honolulu and arrival in Pago Pago, along with check-in times. The departure out of Pago Pago was also listed.

Samoa News was told by at least three people who were at the airport, that many passengers had already gone through security when travelers were informed of the flight delay. And some travelers went home for a brief time to await confirmation of when to return to the airport in time to go through the security check.

The flight to Honolulu finally departed Pago Pago early Friday morning.