AFTER MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE DELAYS A320 IS DISPATCHED WITH ONE PACK INOPERATIVE FOR FL340; MAX OPERATING ALT IS FL310 IN THIS CONFIGN; FLT CREW DESCENDS ONCE THEY REALIZE THE MISTAKE.

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MANY DELAYS; GATE TURN-BACK; AND FINALLY MEL FOR SINGLE PACK OP. COUNTLESS UNANSWERED ACARS FROM DISPATCH; I BET LITERALLY 10 IN ALL. FINALLY CALLED MAINT CTL AND HAD THEM PHONE OUR DISPATCHER. LONG STORY. FINALLY DISPATCHED WITH SINGLE PACK; BUT DISPATCHER DID NOT CHANGE FLT PLAN FROM ORIGINAL FL340 CRUISE. WE WERE GIVEN FL340 AND WENT THERE FOR APPROX 5 MINS BEFORE REALIZING THE ERROR FOR FL310 MAX ON SINGLE PACK. DSNDED IMMEDIATELY BACK TO FL300. DISPATCH NOT ANSWERING ACARS IS A VERY; VERY; VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. THEY DON'T EVEN RESPOND; YOU HAVE NO IDEA MESSAGES ARE EVEN GOING THROUGH. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? IF YOU SEND A MESSAGE; EVEN IF THEY'RE BUSY; WE SHOULD EXPECT A REPLY WITHIN 60 SECONDS AT THE VERY LEAST OF MESSAGE RECEIVED. NOT ANSWERING HAPPENS 90% OF THE TIME AND IS VERY SERIOUS. ALMOST ALL OF OUR GATE TURN-BACK; MAINT; FUEL BURN; PAX ANGRY; ALL OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY'D SIMPLY ANSWER THE ACARS MESSAGES. I CANNOT IN ANY TERMS; ANY WAY; STRESS HOW IRRITATING AND SCARY IT IS THAT OUR OWN DISPATCHERS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO US.