US Airways flight stuck on tarmac for 7 hours

PHOENIX (AP) — Passengers on a US Airways flight from New York to Phoenix spent nearly 7 hours sitting on the tarmac waiting for bad weather to clear, finally arriving nearly six hours late, and presumably a whole lot grumpier.

Flight 17 from John F. Kennedy International Airport was due to leave at 6 p.m. Tuesday, but didn't actually take off until about 1 a.m., airline spokesman Phil Gee said.

Dozens of other aircraft were delayed because of a storm passing through the area, which closed the airport for about 90 minutes.

Gee said the plane pushed back from the gate at 6:30 p.m. ET and spent hours sitting on the tarmac so it wouldn't lose its takeoff slot. (Entire story here) (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-10-11-usair-delay_N.htm?csp=34)

Its good they let the passengers get off. They need to make that the "rule of the road".

One big thing to note here that is hidden in the article is that US Airways did pull up back to the gate at one point, refueled, and allowed any passengers wishing to deplane to do so.

That's a key difference between this incident and others that have been in the press.

This kind of treatment has been getting major press recently ever since the Valentine's Day JetBlue incident. US will undoubtedly be compensating these passengers handsomely.

I've always wondered about situations like this - seems to be that keeping one captive as such may be considered kidnapping. No?

Or

Would a jury really convict you (btw, what would be the charge?) if after hour three one just got up and opened the door?

That headline and story are completly misleading because of the fact they let passengers off. A more accurate story would be "US Airways flight delayed 3 hours twice"

I don't think any compensation is due to the passengers.

Why is this in the news? This same thing happened to me two weeks ago PHL-PHX. :confused:

One big thing to note here that is hidden in the article is that US Airways did pull up back to the gate at one point, refueled, and allowed any passengers wishing to deplane to do so.

That's a key difference between this incident and others that have been in the press.

This kind of treatment has been getting major press recently ever since the Valentine's Day JetBlue incident. US will undoubtedly be compensating these passengers handsomely.

I doubt US will compensate them for a weather-delayed flight. Maybe the ones who complain the loudest will get $250 vouchers. If US had held them captive without the option of deplaning, the bad press might pressure US to do more. But it seems like they handled it as best they could. I'm sure there were just as many pax who wanted to wait it out on the plane and get to PHX that night as there were who wanted to get off, probably more.

Sure, but USA Today doesn't cover when I sat 6.5 hrs on tarmac at JFK in July...

Still charged for food
Didn't give water until about 3hrs in (no drink service besides water at all)
Missed cnxn to Sydney, no hotels provided etc. (a bunch of people on the plane were connecting).

Forgot to add:
Dirty plane with fruit flies flying around ("because the plane was in the hangar" was the excuse given)
Did NOT pull into the gate.
No vouchers given for anything.

There were upsides, but since this is the grip about travel experiences forum (go US!) I decided to contribute :D

I'm fair and balanced...

There were upsides, but since this is the grip about travel experiences forum (go US!) I decided to contribute :D



The only potential upside I can imagine is induction into the Mile High Club. ;)

Wow my being stuck on the plane for 2+ hours on Tuesday night at PHL, is peanuts compared to their delay.

We were offered water 1 hr into the flight but then told not to get up and use the washrooms or to use or mobile phones cause we are on an active taxiway and never know when the plane may depart :rolleyes:

Why is this in the news? This same thing happened to me two weeks ago PHL-PHX. :confused:

I was just thinking the same thing, if this was Philly it wouldn't have even been news LOL...

Wow my being stuck on the plane for 2+ hours on Tuesday night at PHL, is peanuts compared to their delay.

We were offered water 1 hr into the flight but then told not to get up and use the washrooms or to use or mobile phones cause we are on an active taxiway and never know when the plane may depart :rolleyes:

Yes, I remember what happened from my entire trip from JFK in July 2007. Because it was long delays due to NYC traffic control. It was reason why JFK is terribly delays due to weather around 3:30 or 4pm. It wasn't good enough for me. I was during on the sightseeing around the NYC on the double decker bus. It was delays due to aircraft didn't show up into JFK. It was reason why I didn't even know the gates has been changed. I went over the monitor checking which specific gates number is leave from JFK. I assuming why JFK lot of capacity aircraft waits for takeoff from JFK.

The only potential upside I can imagine is induction into the Mile High Club. ;)

Well said...but the real upside was an op up SFO-SYD (I was routed through LAX on the delay) and RCC access at both LAX and SFO int'l.

I was just thinking the same thing, if this was Philly it wouldn't have even been news LOL...

Ditto. "Just another day in PHL!"

I've always wondered about situations like this - seems to be that keeping one captive as such may be considered kidnapping. No?

Or

Would a jury really convict you (btw, what would be the charge?) if after hour three one just got up and opened the door?

I am certain one would be charged and perhaps sued by US--I'm not entirely convinced you could find 12 people (or 9/12 in a civil suit) to vote to convict.