Weather: Europe / UK Snow/Weather & AA Flights Dec 2010 (consolidated)
#151
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern UK
Programs: None since COVID - yet!
Posts: 330
Yeah, was going to say that many flights have been getting out of Chicago, and yesterday every flight going to ORD from LHR got out, and that is the plan today as well. The TATL flights and/or long haul seem to be getting out, it's just the short haul, which should start to correct themselves tomorrow.
Basically LHR is at 1/3 capacity. That means roughly 1/3 of each airlines slots will be available today.... only 7 AA flights out today (of ~16 maybe?) Fingers crossed for tomorrow and onwards, although the weather forecast is going downhill for the next few days.
#152
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern UK
Programs: None since COVID - yet!
Posts: 330
Just checked aa.com and saw AA71 FRA-DFW was cancelled this morning. Still more than a little worried about my FRA-DFW-ORD flights on Saturday.
Given our weather situation, I doubt it would have made much of a difference had AA kept the FRA-ORD route but having the option of a second flight would've been a little reassuring.
Edit: Looked again and noticed today's AA70 DFW-FRA was cancelled as well.
Given our weather situation, I doubt it would have made much of a difference had AA kept the FRA-ORD route but having the option of a second flight would've been a little reassuring.
Edit: Looked again and noticed today's AA70 DFW-FRA was cancelled as well.
#153
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Den Haag
Programs: AA PLT, 1MM, Global Entry, UA GLD, TSA PRE
Posts: 572
If only this were true. Last night only 86 got out, not 98 (opposite of Sunday night). Today 90 is cancelled, 91 back to ORD is cancelled (so not all ORD flights are going!) and who knows about 86 and 98 tonight yet... much too early to say.
Basically LHR is at 1/3 capacity. That means roughly 1/3 of each airlines slots will be available today.... only 7 AA flights out today (of ~16 maybe?) Fingers crossed for tomorrow and onwards, although the weather forecast is going downhill for the next few days.
Basically LHR is at 1/3 capacity. That means roughly 1/3 of each airlines slots will be available today.... only 7 AA flights out today (of ~16 maybe?) Fingers crossed for tomorrow and onwards, although the weather forecast is going downhill for the next few days.
87 LHR-ORD departed yesterday at 2:45pm, today got out 30 minutes late
47 LHR-ORD departed yesterday at 4:38pm, today on time thus far
91 LHR-ORD departed yesterday at 6:27pm, today canceled
That's 5/6 on LHR-ORD the last two days. I'd say that's pretty good considering the rest of flights. It looks like today they'll get 10/16 flights out, with 2 of the cancellations being to Boston because of their current storm.
As far as weather, clear today, with a little snow overnight, then clear for the next 4 days after that. Guessing short hauls will get back in the game tomorrow and will be working a full plate on Thursday.
Last edited by Bonaturtle; Dec 21, 2010 at 5:00 am
#154
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: QF Gold, VA Platinum
Posts: 58
LHR Flagship Check-In
I contacted @aaeurope on twitter in re to Flagship Check-In at LHR and initially was told it was open. An hour later they retweted with this though:
we had to close our Flagship Check-in but our Admirals Club is still open and is located T3 on the Departure Level, "Lounge H" area.
So I guess don't rely on avoiding the scrum at T3.
we had to close our Flagship Check-in but our Admirals Club is still open and is located T3 on the Departure Level, "Lounge H" area.
So I guess don't rely on avoiding the scrum at T3.
#155
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: North Carolina
Programs: AA Platimum 1MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 25
I believe that the $16Bn debt mountain that Ferrovial took on board to buy BAA is the root of the problems at LHR. I read recently that interest payments are over $800m a year which leaves little for investment in snow clearing equipment.
It also demonstrates a total lack of management capability by BAA. They had 5 days warning of the snow and should have contracted heavy construction equipment that is currently idle with the austerity measures to move the snow from the runways and taxiways supplementing their handful of snowpolughs. The fact that one runway is closed 3 days after the snow demonstrates the failings and Colin Matthews, BAA CEO, should resign on grounds of gross incompetence - if he doesn't he should be arrested and taken to the Tower of London for public flogging.
I was lucky that my booked flight on AA173 to RDU flew yesterday departing 3 hours late, but in the circumstances that was a result when so many flights were cancelled.
It also demonstrates a total lack of management capability by BAA. They had 5 days warning of the snow and should have contracted heavy construction equipment that is currently idle with the austerity measures to move the snow from the runways and taxiways supplementing their handful of snowpolughs. The fact that one runway is closed 3 days after the snow demonstrates the failings and Colin Matthews, BAA CEO, should resign on grounds of gross incompetence - if he doesn't he should be arrested and taken to the Tower of London for public flogging.
I was lucky that my booked flight on AA173 to RDU flew yesterday departing 3 hours late, but in the circumstances that was a result when so many flights were cancelled.
Yes, BAA was gov't owned until 1986 under Thatcher. In 2006 it was bought by Ferrovial, a Spanish company.
As for the weather - this is the third winter in a row that the UK has had significant snowfall to this extent, although this is the hardest LHR has been hit (I was affected by closures at MAN the last two winters, but both times it reopened in hours not days).
It's looking more like the norm for the future now, so they better open their wallets soon.
As for the weather - this is the third winter in a row that the UK has had significant snowfall to this extent, although this is the hardest LHR has been hit (I was affected by closures at MAN the last two winters, but both times it reopened in hours not days).
It's looking more like the norm for the future now, so they better open their wallets soon.
Last edited by Surbiton Flyer; Dec 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm
#156
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Buffalo, New York
Programs: AA EXP 4MM
Posts: 304
Check Your Wednesday Flights
My re-booking on AA115 LHR-JFK Wednesday morning was just cancelled...this just 10 minutes after hearing from our Corporate Travel folks that they were able to clear me off the waitlist for this flight!
Again, I am just beyond words at the gross incompetence on display here. (On BAA's behalf, not AA)
Again, I am just beyond words at the gross incompetence on display here. (On BAA's behalf, not AA)
#157
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA PLT 3MM
Posts: 1,135
My re-booking on AA115 LHR-JFK Wednesday morning was just cancelled...this just 10 minutes after hearing from our Corporate Travel folks that they were able to clear me off the waitlist for this flight!
Again, I am just beyond words at the gross incompetence on display here.
Again, I am just beyond words at the gross incompetence on display here.
#158
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: East Coast US
Programs: Hyatt: Diamond. Marriott: Platinum. AA: EXP 1MM. Delta: Silver. Etihad: Silver. Emirates Silver
Posts: 387
I'm due to fly BRU to JFK via LHR on AA131 on 12/23, right now I'm trying to get on the direct BRU-JFK but am WL'd. Don't know what to do as I'm not sure if BA will be able to fly me BRU-LHR as the last 3 days they have cancelled all in/out of BRU. At least AA is trying to keep the JFK & ORD flights going out of LHR and have cancelled most of the others to MIA, LAX and BOS in the last 2 days, as it's easier for folks to connect to those cities once they are at JFK/ORD. I guess in the meanwhile it's wait-and-see and pray for confirmations to come through on alternatives.
#159
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: AA EXP - 2MM +, CO, US, UA,SPG, Hertz Presidents Club
Posts: 233
will AA increase capacity to help with the log jam? (add special flights to/from lhr or upguage equipment for more space?) I'm on a 763 on thursday from DFW-LHR (hopefully). Wondering if they'll swap those to 777s to add a few more seats/bags.
#160
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: East Coast US
Programs: Hyatt: Diamond. Marriott: Platinum. AA: EXP 1MM. Delta: Silver. Etihad: Silver. Emirates Silver
Posts: 387
They probably will upgrade equipment on 763 sectors provided they can fly it in to LHR. Also, they may be taking 777's off routes such as LHR-LAX which have been cancelled and putting them on the LHR-JFK/ORD corridor. I don't think they can schedule special flights in, they are having a tough time just holding on to current schedule let alone bring in new flights in the midst of the current bedlam. Once the weather improves and runways open up then they bring in the specials to clear the backlog.
#161
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
It's not like they have a bunch of aircraft in reserve - so all we can do is guess what Dispatch will do with the resources available at their disposal.
#162
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Den Haag
Programs: AA PLT, 1MM, Global Entry, UA GLD, TSA PRE
Posts: 572
Trying to get on BRU-ORD direct on 12/23 now as well as all flights out of AMS-LHR have been canceled today and tomorrow, and won't know Thursday until tomorrow morning. Unreal that the tough part is getting to London, but getting a TATL out of LHR starting Thursday should be 100%.
ARGH!
ARGH!
#163
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: MSN
Programs: AA ExPlat, 1MM; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold
Posts: 226
I'm on that same flight Thursday (AA 78?) so I'll keep my fingers crossed with you. I did notice though that of the two daily DFW-LHR flights, today's flight 78 (the 767) has been cancelled in favor of flight 50 (the 777) departure. Same thing happened yesterday. So, from this one data point it does look like AA is favoring larger equip for running their limited slots into/out of LHR.
#164
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: OAK/SFO/SJC
Programs: AA Plat 2MM+, HHonors, Amtrak GuestRewards
Posts: 1,158
It also demonstrates a total lack of management capability by BAA. They had 5 days warning of the snow and should have contracted heavy construction equipment that is currently idle with the austerity measures to move the snow from the runways and taxiways supplementing their handful of snowploughs. The fact that one runway is closed 3 days after the snow demonstrates the failings and Colin Matthews, BAA CEO, should resign on grounds of gross incompetence - if he doesn't he should be arrested and taken to the Tower of London for public flogging.
#165
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA PLT 3MM
Posts: 1,135
Any luck with the re-booking?
I'm due to fly BRU to JFK via LHR on AA131 on 12/23, right now I'm trying to get on the direct BRU-JFK but am WL'd. Don't know what to do as I'm not sure if BA will be able to fly me BRU-LHR as the last 3 days they have cancelled all in/out of BRU. At least AA is trying to keep the JFK & ORD flights going out of LHR and have cancelled most of the others to MIA, LAX and BOS in the last 2 days, as it's easier for folks to connect to those cities once they are at JFK/ORD. I guess in the meanwhile it's wait-and-see and pray for confirmations to come through on alternatives.
I'm due to fly BRU to JFK via LHR on AA131 on 12/23, right now I'm trying to get on the direct BRU-JFK but am WL'd. Don't know what to do as I'm not sure if BA will be able to fly me BRU-LHR as the last 3 days they have cancelled all in/out of BRU. At least AA is trying to keep the JFK & ORD flights going out of LHR and have cancelled most of the others to MIA, LAX and BOS in the last 2 days, as it's easier for folks to connect to those cities once they are at JFK/ORD. I guess in the meanwhile it's wait-and-see and pray for confirmations to come through on alternatives.
From what the EXP agent was saying, they are only being allowed to operate 30-40% of their depatures from LHR tomorrow and they'd just decided which the lucky flights were. That explains why AA115 and AA155 were canceled at the same time. It also means that if you have a flight tomorrow out of LHR and it's not been canceled yet then there is a good chance it won't be. They also reminded me twice to take a print-out of the ticket confirmation otherwise you won't be allowed inside the terminal. I guess they have security trolls checking against a list of operating flights.