Never seen this - people bumped off non-oversold flight?
Oct 16, 2009, 2:21 pm
#1
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Never seen this - people bumped off non-oversold flight?
Truly bizarre. JFK-RDU last night. Not to mention flight is running about an hour late and the gate staff at JFK's Eagle terminal are HORRIBLE PEOPLE. But then we finally get on board. The flight is full but they come on tannoy to say they need 4 volunteers. I assumed there were 4 other priority people outside. They got 3 volunteers, and another guy was then asked to leave. He went without any fuss which was amazing it was darn late I wanted to get home and would have gone ballistic. So then I expect them to replace but no off we go with 4 empty seats on the plane... some people move into the left seats to stretch out
Just bizarre....
Just bizarre....
Oct 16, 2009, 2:29 pm
#2
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Since JFK-RDU is well within the range of an RJ, I'd guess that the amount of cargo on the flight was such that the plane was at its weight limit.
Oct 16, 2009, 2:31 pm
#3
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Truly bizarre. JFK-RDU last night. Not to mention flight is running about an hour late and the gate staff at JFK's Eagle terminal are HORRIBLE PEOPLE. But then we finally get on board. The flight is full but they come on tannoy to say they need 4 volunteers. I assumed there were 4 other priority people outside. They got 3 volunteers, and another guy was then asked to leave. He went without any fuss which was amazing it was darn late I wanted to get home and would have gone ballistic. So then I expect them to replace but no off we go with 4 empty seats on the plane... some people move into the left seats to stretch out
Just bizarre....
Just bizarre....
Oct 16, 2009, 2:32 pm
#4
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Not so bizarre when you consider possible weight issues. If the flight is potentially overweight, then offload some self-loading cargo.
Oct 16, 2009, 2:33 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Only an hour late? That qualifies for record breaking punctuality on that flight.
More importantly - did you get your free cocktail?
As the other poster said, must have been weight restricted for some reason.
More importantly - did you get your free cocktail?
As the other poster said, must have been weight restricted for some reason.
Oct 16, 2009, 2:36 pm
#6
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I guess it must have been weight. Makes sense, but still bizarre. It was about an hour late boarding... then another 45 odd minutes before we started taxi, then another 45+ or so crawling along. I actually missed the start of the announcement with I guess the explanation as I knew we'd be hanging around for a while so had my ipod on.
It is is still somewhat crap that an airplane with x seats can actually only take x-4 passengers. something not quite right in the design there.
lesson learned of course. never again jfk. i always say that when i do a late night regional from there! maybe one day i'll remember it....
It is is still somewhat crap that an airplane with x seats can actually only take x-4 passengers. something not quite right in the design there.
lesson learned of course. never again jfk. i always say that when i do a late night regional from there! maybe one day i'll remember it....
Oct 16, 2009, 2:38 pm
#7
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oh and no, no free cocktail but i did not ask. it was 12:30ish by time i got served and just wanted water. but fyi last 3 flights on eagle no free cocktail, had to pay each time and fa looked confused when i asked if plt got it free... was having a good success rate until past couple of weeks
Oct 16, 2009, 2:40 pm
#8
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Cheers.
Oct 16, 2009, 2:45 pm
#10
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you're right brp... still, if it were me kicked off, at midnight at jfk with it peeing down with rain and knowing i had to drag myself to some god-awful queens "hotel" to have to get up at 4am to catch the first flight the next morning.... well i think my simplistic view of it might be at the front of my mind 
Oct 16, 2009, 2:46 pm
#11
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Oct 16, 2009, 2:47 pm
#12
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I would point out though that it was about 40 degrees in New York last night and runway length at JFK is a non issue - weight restrictions are more typical in the summer.
Maybe they were carrying extra trail mix to RDU for the greedy EXP's that take it all
Maybe they were carrying extra trail mix to RDU for the greedy EXP's that take it all
Oct 16, 2009, 2:51 pm
#13
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Another way of looking at it is this: they could have put 4 fewer seats on the plane. Then it would always be able to take a full load. Would that be smarter, or would it be smarter to have the 4 extra seats, sell them most of the time, and take 4 passengers off under rare circumstances?
Oct 16, 2009, 2:52 pm
#14
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Oct 16, 2009, 2:54 pm
#15
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you're right brp... still, if it were me kicked off, at midnight at jfk with it peeing down with rain and knowing i had to drag myself to some god-awful queens "hotel" to have to get up at 4am to catch the first flight the next morning.... well i think my simplistic view of it might be at the front of my mind
Just out of curiosity, what was the VDB compensation?