Southwest Rapid Rewards - 52 minute LAX-PHX flight – 3 ½ hours delayed




Diamondback
Oct 28, 09, 12:26 am
Definitely some irregular op’s happening tonight for PHX bound passengers. Not sure if this was all due to the weather or something else? I know the entire Southwest US was getting a strong cold front and high winds so I checked the FAA Flight Delay Information webpage and it listed a ground delay program for incoming PHX flights. I would have expected some delays due to the high winds today but it listed the cause as Outage/Equipment (?).

LAX-PHX flight 418 was scheduled to depart at 3:45pm and did not leave until 7:00pm. Some poor passengers sat at LAX for over 3 hours. This was definitely one of those occasions where one could have driven the distance faster. Once the flight left the gate the captain came on the PA and announced we did not have a wheels-up time from ATC and there would likely be at least another 30 minute wait on the taxiway. Ouch. After about 25 minutes on the taxiway, we got clearance. Definitely the strongest cross winds I’ve experienced in a take-off from LAX. FA’s remained seated the entire flight.

I’m just glad I joined the fun at the last minute. I was booked on 970 scheduled to leave at 6:40 delayed until 8:00. Arriving at the airport at about 6:15 I thought I would hop on the previously scheduled flight which I thought was delayed but both the previous two flights 4:40 and 5:15 were cancelled. The GA moved me to the 3:45pm flight and I was quite confused when I boarded.

I had A7 and the first third of the plane was already full. Not knowing what happened, I asked the others in my row where they had come from. I couldn’t imagine a flight being so full with through passengers. They were astounded I didn’t know the whole story as they had been living it for hours now. Anyways, they explained that they had already boarded the plane once and then were asked to deplane due to the huge delay. I think a few connecting passengers trying to get to St. Louis were stranded at Sky Harbor for the night. The flight I was on was continuing to Kansas City with a scheduled arrival time of 10:00pm which was pushed back to 1:20am.


uastarflyer
Oct 28, 09, 12:40 am
I would have expected some delays due to the high winds today but it listed the cause as Outage/Equipment (?).

....

I think a few connecting passengers trying to get to St. Louis were stranded at Sky Harbor for the night.

What is WN policy when passengers are stranded overnight due to equipment issues?

What does WN typically do when passengers are stranded overnight due to weather?

expert7700
Oct 28, 09, 1:51 pm
What is WN policy when passengers are stranded overnight due to equipment issues?

What does WN typically do when passengers are stranded overnight due to weather?

equipment issues--hotel and possibly meal voucher on WN's dime

diversion due to weather or stranded in connecting city
a) with no weather advisory announced/posted at the origin airport-some "possible" courtesy consideration from WN regarding hotel etc.
b) with disclosed weather advisory warning at origin aiport-nothing except distressed passenger discount offer

weather issues at origin airport-WN pays nothing but give you the distressed passenger card with an 800# for hotel discounts (more expenive than travelaxe/hotels.com in my experience), and nothing for food


uastarflyer
Oct 28, 09, 1:55 pm
Thanks, that's a pretty reasonable policy.



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