SFO's Busiest Runway (28L) Closed 9/7-27/2019: What You Need to Know
Sep 9, 2019, 4:43 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 178
I had this thought as well, but I feel like the GAs would scope you out pretty fast. FWIW this is the 4th time in a row I've gotten the "need volunteers" email in the last week between sea/bay area but this is the first time they actually needed one. It seemed like a lot of crew were on this particular flight (going home?) which may have played a role. It also seems like prices have gone up during this time frame but it's difficult to say if that's causational or not.
Sep 9, 2019, 7:28 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Not unexpected but based off convo with GAs in seattle yesterday, this might be stressing AS operations a bit. They told me basically all flights yesterday to bay area (all 3 airports) were sold out, most oversold. My flight had a massive list of people on standby as well. They were offering $650 to be bumped until 10am this morning. Probably should have taken it in retrospect.
ETA: the Sonoma Airport Express bus runs from STS to SFO & OAK.
Last edited by DrAlex; Sep 9, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Sep 9, 2019, 7:38 pm
#48
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: sometimes, strangely, I find myself at home
Programs: I need to do better in managing my affiliations. Oops, I overshot the runway for status next year.
Posts: 651
Thanks for the info about the SFO situation. Good to know as I have plans to go through SFO later this week and next.
Other airlines were allowing changes without charges because of the airport runway limitation at SFO. Alaska Airlines was/is not.
Will see if the situation of delays and bumping has settled by the end of this week.
Other airlines were allowing changes without charges because of the airport runway limitation at SFO. Alaska Airlines was/is not.
Will see if the situation of delays and bumping has settled by the end of this week.
Sep 9, 2019, 7:51 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Between SFO and STS
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold, United Serf, Delta Gold
Posts: 731
Thanks for the info about the SFO situation. Good to know as I have plans to go through SFO later this week and next.
Other airlines were allowing changes without charges because of the airport runway limitation at SFO. Alaska Airlines was/is not.
Will see if the situation of delays and bumping has settled by the end of this week.
Other airlines were allowing changes without charges because of the airport runway limitation at SFO. Alaska Airlines was/is not.
Will see if the situation of delays and bumping has settled by the end of this week.
Sep 10, 2019, 12:11 am
#50
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 493
Flew BWI-SFO yesterday. Flight delayed from 7p to 8p, then to 10p, then to 11p. Landed at 1:48a instead of 10pm. I'm glad it wasn't cancelled. Awesome flight attendant in F as well.
Sep 10, 2019, 8:30 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 178
Don't forget STS - I was able to SDC (via phone) to STS for tomorrow. After seeing all the shenanigans occuring after early morning departures, I'd suggest everyone just avoid SFO for the next couple weeks...
ETA: the Sonoma Airport Express bus runs from STS to SFO & OAK.
ETA: the Sonoma Airport Express bus runs from STS to SFO & OAK.
Sep 10, 2019, 9:13 am
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
I had this thought as well, but I feel like the GAs would scope you out pretty fast. FWIW this is the 4th time in a row I've gotten the "need volunteers" email in the last week between sea/bay area but this is the first time they actually needed one. It seemed like a lot of crew were on this particular flight (going home?) which may have played a role. It also seems like prices have gone up during this time frame but it's difficult to say if that's causational or not.
If anything, if you're familiar with the process, you'll be easier to handle than a newbie. You may be the preferred VDB candidate since they don't have to explain anything to you. This flight, this much, crappy seat, cool? Go!
Sep 10, 2019, 10:15 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
Why would they care? They have to bump someone, it doesn't matter who.
If anything, if you're familiar with the process, you'll be easier to handle than a newbie. You may be the preferred VDB candidate since they don't have to explain anything to you. This flight, this much, crappy seat, cool? Go!
If anything, if you're familiar with the process, you'll be easier to handle than a newbie. You may be the preferred VDB candidate since they don't have to explain anything to you. This flight, this much, crappy seat, cool? Go!
Sep 10, 2019, 10:45 am
#54
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PSP
Programs: AS, UA, AA, HiltonHonors
Posts: 78
Don't forget STS - I was able to SDC (via phone) to STS for tomorrow. After seeing all the shenanigans occuring after early morning departures, I'd suggest everyone just avoid SFO for the next couple weeks...
ETA: the Sonoma Airport Express bus runs from STS to SFO & OAK.
ETA: the Sonoma Airport Express bus runs from STS to SFO & OAK.
Sep 12, 2019, 2:02 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,373
Sep 12, 2019, 11:12 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
Sep 13, 2019, 10:21 am
#58
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO/SEA
Programs: Gold 75K
Posts: 218
I flew on a 6 p.m. flight last night (9/12) from SFO to SEA. Maybe I got lucky, but my flight, as well as the 6 p.m. flight to PAE left on time. I had to call in for a SDC for this flight. The agent told me that they had been managing the construction by proactively reducing flights.
Sep 16, 2019, 2:42 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 300
Sent a note about the 3hr 40 min ATC delay for my SFO-LAX flight a week ago ... focused on no travel waiver available when United and American were offering rather than the actual delay and got a $125 credit for my troubles...
I was less concerned about getting a credit for this than with giving them a trackable complaint about their strategy to handle this runway closure.
I was less concerned about getting a credit for this than with giving them a trackable complaint about their strategy to handle this runway closure.
Sep 17, 2019, 9:37 am
#60
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Andover, MA, 01810
Posts: 1,972
Sorry to hear about all the people who are having troubles. I flew this weekend BOS-SFO-LAX, and I had watched those flights all last week. They were almost always on time, and frequently early. It was the same for me. So it's not an automatic conclusion that any SFO flight will have a problem. Though it does seem like when there is a delay, it's really big.