I haven't flown Continental much in the past, but have been flying them more lately with my next flight in a few weeks. I had a problem on my last flight, and was wondering if it's worth complaining to them and what they may offer.

I flew from EWR-ZRH on June 29th. I boarded the plane at 630 for the 650pm departure. Everyone took their seats, and we left the gate on time or within a few minutes of that time. Then the pilot comes on and says due to thunderstorms in the area we are not going to be able to move. Not thrilled, but it's weather. That was almost 2 hours. Then when it was time to go, the engine would not start. They had to tow us to a hangar to fix it. After all that was said and done, it was almost another 2 hours. So this 650 flight didnt leave until after 10pm, the whole time we were stuck in the seats on the plane.

Is it worth writing a letter? Any key phrases to mention? Would they send a voucher or something? Or just tell me it was weather related and have a nice day.

(The flight after it left was fine, and the return flight was fine, but that 4 hours on the tarmac was very uncomfortable, especially when you have an 8 hour flight ahead of you).


Thanks

Things like this happen (weather and mechanical) - and unfortunately your flight encountered two of these - 2 hours each. The airlines like to keep the flights loaded and ready to go in the event that things clear up faster than expected. Unfortunate, but I do not think you have grounds to complain.

I would downplay the weather-relation, and upplay the "being stuck on the plane" during the mechanical. No matter how great CO thinks they are, they still haven't mastered controlling the weather.

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident. Frankly, I don't think it's worth your time to write a letter. There's nothing that CO can do about the weather, and mechanicals happen. Also, a flight that is supposed to leave at 6:50 pm and actually leaves at 10 pm is a 3 hour delay, and if a couple of those hours were due to the weather, I don't think a 1 hour mechanical is going to be worth much.

If the flight crew had been rude or the delay more extended, I might suggest a polite e-mail, but that does not seem to be the case here. In a very best case scenario, at least from your point of view, you may get a few thousand miles, but I'm not even sure that would happen.

Mike

It must have been pretty bad if you're still dwelling on it nearly a month later.

I just got back last week and have been swamped.

I understand the weather, CO has no control, but then a mechinal at the end of it and being stuck in the seat was not fun. At least they were polite and nice for the circumstances. (Had similar ordeal on DL a few years back, and tehy were not so nice)

No compensation is due. You were delayed less than two hours (the standard) for the mechanical. You really have no reasion to complain about sitting on the plane for four hours. Happens all the time in the northeast every time it rains. It's "normal". Not fun... but it would have been no different had you been flying Southwest, Jet Blue or anybody else.

I agree with Cigarman: I don't see anything being due. The issue is primarily weather. You could write a letter, but I believe you'll probably get some kind of form letter back. If you really want to make a point with Continental, writing to the company--IMHO--is a complete waste of time: file a complaint with the DOT.

If you write CO you'll be lucky to get a form letter response that won't even connect well to the situation you'll describe to them in the letter. They simply don't care as nothing is their fault.--at least this is how it seems sometimes.

what does that have to do with OP's original query?

I take issue with this statement. CO is way more responsive than any other airline I have ever dealt with. AA mails me a postcard, when I write them, telling me they are "too busy" to respond for 6 weeks. Then they do NOTHING> On CO you can call 1-800-wecare2 and possibly get a resolution. THE KEY IS WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR. It shocks me how people are unreasonable and complain about things the airline just can't control. This thread is a prefect example. WHat could CO have done differently? Flown with a broken plane, and endanger their lives? All planes break. It was less than 2 hours. That's within the norm of the industry. If the city bus is late do you demand compensation? Of course not. I love watching people scream at gate agents, when the plane is late and not even at the airport yet. What do expect that gate agent to do? Build you a plane? People amaze me at the entitlement culture. I try and give them a pass, as I would want my customers to give me a pass, if they try and resolve the problem is a smart way. I the last three year after more than 300 CO flights I have asked for compensation ONE time, after TWO mechanicals and a nine hour delay in getting my family home. The reason I did was because I thought they should have re routed them, since they had no chance of making the connection. I felt they made a mistake. I asked for what I felt was reasonable compensation, and recieved it.
I have actually had CO call me and ask if I thought a compensation offer is reasonable, based on the consumers point of view. SOmetimes I thought it was generous, sometimes I encouraged them to increase it. Again, I don't see other airlines doing that.
See any Lurkers from other carriers on the board? See any on the the Level of the CO insider? Real management, not just some flunkie? No boys and girls, the problem is not CO... it is our unreasonable expectations...

While reading your post, I started thinking about my experience with compensation for mishaps on CO. With respect to all the incidents I've experienced on CO that truly warranted compensation, CO offered me adequate (IMO) compensation when I reported the incidents - I've never had to ask CO for compensation.

I have had more generous compensation with than co ever in relations to flight issues. Now with baggage delays and baggage damage co is the best. With aa you must call customer relations at the executive offices in dallas hq. If its purely weather no airline will compensate you,but as a united 1k they will offer you a free hotel if you miss your flight.