Almost 6 hours from boarding to takeoff - a record?
Feb 16, 2014, 10:29 am
#1
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Location: Gatwick, UK
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Almost 6 hours from boarding to takeoff - a record?
Flight 106 yesterday (the 7.25pm departure from JFK to LHR) boarded as usual just before 7pm, pushed back at 10.55pm and took off at about 12.35am. We were given the required 30-minute advisory about once per hour, and in Business we got our warm nuts and one drink (in the whole 5 hours or so).
The reason was that it was taking about 50 minutes to device a plane and they only had one de-icing team on duty. The BA flights varied from on time to about two hours late.
It feels like this should be a record, but ...
[I should add that BA did their best very promptly at Heathrow and rebooked me on ba to Frankfurt and onwards on Lufthansa. But I am still going to about ten hours late by the time I get to Florence. ]
The reason was that it was taking about 50 minutes to device a plane and they only had one de-icing team on duty. The BA flights varied from on time to about two hours late.
It feels like this should be a record, but ...
[I should add that BA did their best very promptly at Heathrow and rebooked me on ba to Frankfurt and onwards on Lufthansa. But I am still going to about ten hours late by the time I get to Florence. ]
Feb 16, 2014, 11:15 am
#2
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Were you offered the opportunity to deplane once 3 hours had elapsed?
Feb 16, 2014, 11:25 am
#3
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they kept the doors open, and they implied we could leave, but they certainly didn't suggest it.
i think they were very deliberately careful about not preventing us leaving, but not having anyone leave. the flight was very light, so it wasn't too cramped.
i think they were very deliberately careful about not preventing us leaving, but not having anyone leave. the flight was very light, so it wasn't too cramped.
Feb 16, 2014, 12:40 pm
#4
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horrendous customer service. That this was AA does not surprise me. One of the reasons I stopped flying them years ago. Completely unacceptable.
Feb 16, 2014, 12:42 pm
#5
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Feb 16, 2014, 12:51 pm
#6
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At least you were sitting on a 77w in J. It could be worse!
Feb 16, 2014, 3:20 pm
#7
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What is the "30-minute advisory"?
Feb 16, 2014, 3:26 pm
#8
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They are supposed to give you status.
What exactly would you have expected them to do? And, how would this differ on another carrier?
There were waiting for a clearance window. If they waited for clearance for everyone to board, it might be to late for the clearance window. As noted, the plane was at the gate with the door open. It's not like you were held captive. I am quite sure AA would have booked you for a later flight if you wanted them to.
There were waiting for a clearance window. If they waited for clearance for everyone to board, it might be to late for the clearance window. As noted, the plane was at the gate with the door open. It's not like you were held captive. I am quite sure AA would have booked you for a later flight if you wanted them to.
Last edited by JY1024; Feb 17, 2014 at 9:15 am Reason: merged consecutive posts
Feb 16, 2014, 3:36 pm
#9
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Feb 16, 2014, 4:27 pm
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Feb 16, 2014, 4:33 pm
#12
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Feb 16, 2014, 8:21 pm
#13
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The same thing happened to us on 1/21 on BA186. We got on the plane at 6, we pushed off the gate, then wheels up well past midnight. I had an out of body experience. I got 5 hours of sleep, woke up, and we were still on the ground. As far as I could tell, they did not offer anyone to get off the plane (I'm a light sleeper). We just sat and waited, though it could have been worse than sitting in two empty middle J seats in Club World.
?