Hey, when 15 of us spent 1 hour 40 mins. in an elevator in the Waldorf Astoria about 15 years ago, we all (eventually, after a mass meeting with the hotel GM) got free suites for a weekend. (There were other complications -- it's a LONG story.)

So, free purchases? not sure if that's enough compensation.

Delta does charge their own elites it, for CO itins. I never mentioned NW.

I need to say that the comradarie and coolness of all who were trapped with me in the elevator was fantastic!!

I hate to think what it would have been like if we had 15 of the daily employees (not CAL) of Smith Street in that elevator.

When it started to get a little too hot and humid (after about 10 minutes), I was able to slide both sides of the inner door open to start an acceptable breeze. Every time another elevator went by we got a cool blast.

We were dead center between 15 and 16 and although there appeared to be an accessible release for the hallway door, we decided not to try to open it.

We were told that water would be available when we got out but when the elevator moved up and the door finally opened on the 16th floor, the hallway was empty. They were waiting on the 15th. About 3 minutes later another elevator opened and we had our water from Chelsea.

We were later told that the problem was not with possibly an overload (elevator was rated at 3500 pounds plus undoubtedly a safety factor of probably 20%) but that a tilt switch was tripped when too many people were near the front door. A really dumb situation compounded by the fact that there was no elevator number posted in the elevator to tell security

I will say that if this ever happens to you, and you are not with a bunch of cool headed FTers, you insist that the outside person call the fire department to bring a hydraulic "JAWS" system in addition to calling the elevator company. Then if anyone panics, the fire department can easily open both the inner and outer doors in a few minutes if the elevator company is delayed as this one was for an hour..

smokey - REMT 36 years

Here's a few from my phone...

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5

I snapped a couple from my regular camera that I'll post later.

The First Annual CO Elevator Do?

both my parents were stuck in that elevator, though I'm not sure they knew anything about the comped purchases at the CO store (they didn't come home with any goodies).

I hope they get the miles mentioned ("100xthe floor number" i believe was the quip).

I chatted with them for a bit - they seemed to be really enjoying the event (aside from being stuck in an elevator with the rest of us, of course ).

I've got a 20 floor ride at home and 45 at work each day and will never get in a 100 pct packed elevator again -- not because being stuck was so lousy -- have had worse experiences on the tarmac at ewr -- but because it would be with a bunch of let's say less level headed folks. and no pre ride champagne!

great group to be 'stuck' with and our continental hosts in the elevator were nothing but professional.

Now I wish I was on that tour. Being compensated with miles is worth an hour being stuck!

Three other things I forgot to mention in my above post:

If you do open the hall door and you exit downward make sure that there is help to keep anyone from falling backward down the open shaft.

Also you must push open both sides of the inner door simultaneously.

Third, if you can not get the inner door open for air, boost someone up to knock out some ceiling tiles.

smokey REMT - 36 years

For those of us who got stuck, our 100 EQMs and 100 RDMs per floor (they rounded up to the 16th floor as we were stuck between the two!) posted today, Feb. 17! ^

DATE AIRLINE ACTIVITY (Flights: Purchased / Flown)
2/17/2009 EQM Adjustment 1,600
2/17/2009 Mileage Adjustment 1,600

Those are Elevator Qualification Miles!

Thanks to CO for posting these miles!!

You guys deserve 100k.

Maybe if they had played a trivia game while they were waiting for help to arrive, somebody would have proven themselves worthy of 100K.

Damn, I was on a different elevator that day! Now that I see the EQMs I think it would have been worth it!