So, just wondering, but how much should I get compensated for a flight from hell?????
UA - EZE-MVD - scheduled to depart at 12:20pm, flight time ~30 minutes.
Delayed to 1pm. Boarded, but then told we have to wait for arriving Chicago flight as there are MANY paxs connecting to MVD. Doors close at 1:45. ~15 minutes later we are informed by the captain that either the battery and/or the battery charger is out and needs replacing. It should take minutes, so nobody is allowed to leave the plane. The FAs pass out a can of soda in Y. About an hour later the lights come on and it looks like we're finally ready to go. About 1/2 way to the runway, we stop. The captain comes on to inform us that some hydraulic switch seems to be acting up, but there may not be a need to do anything. He just needs time to consult with mechanics. ~30 minutes later we are informed that the local mechanics gave the go ahead for this short flight. Start moving again, but stopped just short of the runway again. This time it's the US based mechanics and they want to think about it little more. The tower moves us to a remote area of the airport. Another 30 minutes passes. Some of the passengers start to get very angry and surround the FAs and start yelling. They are the same ones that refuse to sit down when finally the captain says it's a go. It takes another 15 minutes to get everybody seated and in some cases only after a threat of ejection from the flight and/or arrest. (these were the same guys that were upset at being delayed, go figure
).
I didn't have a watch with me, but I believe we finally took off ~4:15pm and landed in MVD at ~4:45 pm.
BTW, I felt so powerless without any UA/* status, not that there was anything I could have done when still sitting on the plane, but I had visions of us getting back to the gate and waiting in long lines to get a hotel, meal vouchers, especially with the hotheads yelling and screaming.
I'm just kidding about compensation. The delay was frustrating, but I understood and prefered that the captain took all the necessary precautions before take off. As the say - s__t happens.
and another btw, it really sucks back in the Y section, especially during the delay. I bought this separate ticket for $71.50 R/T all in and I was give a chance to upgrade to econ plus at the airport for $79 one way, but it was suppose to be a 30 minute flight, so I refused. J was ~$200 more one-way.
Reporting from the Four Points Sheraton in Montevideo.