A 3,000-mile error on way to San Jose

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 06/01/2002 | Nigel Bunyan

[dighton]

A British holidaymaker was taken 3,000 miles out of her way after landing in San Jose, Costa Rica, instead of the city with the same name - in California.

Trudy Rosenfield, 70, only discovered the error when she awoke to find an air stewardess discretely welcoming her to Costa Rica.

Yesterday, having arrived at her correct destination after an extra 72-hour journey, she said: “I know the way to San Jose. But it’s obvious that somebody doesn’t.”

Mrs Rosenfield, a retired shop manager, from Whitefield, Manchester, booked her trip through a travel agency in Bury.

She had an uneventful journey to Newark, and then boarded the flight demanded by her itinerary. Unfortunately for her, it was heading not west but very much south.

In Costa Rica she was put up in a hotel before taking flights first to Houston and then California.

Hilary Rosenfield, 35, said her mother failed to notice the error because she was so tired. She had, however, been slightly confused by the number of Spanish-speaking passengers around her.

Last night, staff at Travelcare in Bury were investigating. A spokesman said: “It would appear that there has been a serious misunderstanding.”

[dighton]

[ancient_geezer]

Trudy Rosenfield, 70,

Hmmmm! Dag burned 70 year olds are look'n better every year!!

[mlibertarianj]

Oh well, Mrs. Rosenfeld, shouldn't feel too bad. A few years ago, some guy took the wrong flight and ended up in Auckland NZ, instead of Oakland, CA.

[Geezerette]

Oh heck! I thought that was a picture of a very young Dionne Warwick, who sang that song about San Jose (in the 60's?)

g

[VOA]

She had, however, been slightly confused by the number of Spanish-speaking passengers around her.

Why would this set off any alarm bells?

There are PLENTY of people speaking Spanish in San Jose, California, in The United States of America.

Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if there weren't more speakers of Spanish in San Jose (of the USA)
than there are in San Jose in Costa Rica.

Oh, my cousin did a two week vacation in Costa Rica last year...loved it.

I visited San Jose in California two years ago...it was...OK...

[remaininlight]

"Don't Make Me Over"

[Steve Eisenberg]

Oh well, Mrs. Rosenfeld, shouldn't feel too bad. A few years ago, some guy took the wrong flight and ended up in Auckland NZ, instead of Oakland, CA.

I hardly ever watch TV -- except with the kids. I distinctly remember this as a plot about ten years ago on a show with the twins Ashley and Kate Olson. One of the Olson girls, whose fictional home was San Francisco, decided to play a trick on her Dad by sneaking on a plane to Oakland, but wound up you know where.

As for the confusion of the two San Joses, I'll bet it happens from time to time. And don't St. Johns and St. John's, in Canada, both have commercial airports? That's an even easier mistake because you don't need different visas.

[Neanderthal]

"As for the confusion of the two San Joses, I'll bet it happens from time to time."

You're right. The exact same thing happened to another ditzy tourist lady about 5 years ago. It might have been the reverse - headed for Costa Rica but ended up in California . . .

[Polybius]

Oh well, Mrs. Rosenfeld, shouldn't feel too bad. A few years ago, some guy took the wrong flight and ended up in Auckland NZ, instead of Oakland, CA

New Zealand instead of Oakland? That's one mistake I could definitely live with.

[dighton]

Take care not to mix up Hyderabad (India) and Hyderabad (Pakistan).

[Dog Gone]

Take care not to mix up Hyderabad (India) and Hyderabad (Pakistan).

You mean there are two of them? I thought some reports I was reading didn't make much sense, but I sorta blew it off.

Best decision now might be to visit neither for the time being.

It's funny you flagged me to this thread. I just got my airline tickets in today for a trip to San Jose next week. If I end up in California, I'm gonna be pretty mad!

[ancient_geezer]

So my eyeballs are abit out of focus, makes life more interesting that way :O)

[dighton]

It's funny you flagged me to this thread. I just got my airline tickets in today for a trip to San Jose next week.

We Møøsad agents know everything. ;-)

Have a safe and pleasant trip.

[swarthyguy]

NO NO NO ABDULLAH!! Hyderabad INDIA not Hyderabad, Pakistan!!! Make sure you have the coordinates right!

Almost got on a Charleston WV, flight once instead of Charleston SC.

[Orual]

Trudy Rosenfield, 70, only discovered the error when she awoke to find an air stewardess discretely welcoming her to Costa Rica.

Very clever gal, that Trudy. There were some unconnected elements that she was smart enough to discover. Most people wouldn't have noticed the difference.

[Cvengr]

One would 'Had er a bad' idea if they confused those two destinations.

[Cvengr]

At least they didn't book her to Paris, Texas instead of Paris, France......(although Texas is still much bigger than France .. ;^)..)

[bok]

That's the problem with this country balkanization and it will lead to it's destruction.

[Billthedrill]

Holy Toledo!

[dighton]

"I knew I should have taken a left turn at Sandusky."