Lost an Engine, Ran into a Storm Today
 

So, I was flying MSP-ORD today and the captain came on when we were near ORD and announced that we were having trouble with one engine and that he didn't want anyone alarmed to see all the emergency personnel when we landed. Well, we flew for at least another 15 mines, turning through a bunch of white pillowy clouds and I was beginning to wonder why we weren't on the ground yet. Then we hit some open area and I could see thunderstorms. It was shortly after that that the captain came on and said that due to the issue with the engine and because of the storm, he didn't want to risk landing so he was diverting to MKE.

As we were about to land at MKE, I got two emails from Proactive Care at AMEX. My company uses Concur, managed by AMEX, and books all of our trips through them. Late last year they contacted me stating that I had been chosen due to my extensive travel and had me download the Proactive Care app. I've never used it but they have called me personally when I've had major travel issues. Apparently they watch my travel closely.

Anyhoo, when we landed, the MKE Delta manager announced we needed to grab out luggage and get on the buses back to ORD so I never bothered to respond to the emails from Proactive Care. I do that, get back to ORD, get on the car rental bus, get my car and head to the hotel. I check in, go to my room and then make a beeline down to the bar/restaurant because I haven't eaten in about 7 hours.

While waiting for my food at the hotel bar, I check my personal email and I see Delta Airlines, Customer Care has emailed me with a case number and the whole 9 yards including 15,000 SM. In it, they apologize for the combination of weather and technical issues that made me divert. That was odd but what made me post this is that they specifically said, Your Loyalty Means a Lot. As a valued corporate customer, we appreciate your company's business... I have NEVER been sent an email from Delta nor has anyone from Delta ever even acknowledged my company when dealing with them in any form of communications. It was always them and me only.

Then, about a half hour later, I get a call from Delta, profusely apologizing and am told that they know I have extra expenses because of it and that they are sending me a check for $100 and wanted to verify my address. Anyone else seeing this lately?

I don't know if this is Delta's new policy of valuing their corporate customers or if it's AMEX's proactive policy of helping their corporate travel customers.

The plane lost an engine? If I find it I get to keep it! ;)

I've only ever experienced inflight MX + Diversion once (cabin lost pressure). And it was on a CRJ operated by Skywest I believe. In my case, DL was NOT proactive; practically took me groveling for them to get us anything at all.

So, very glad to hear you were taken care of :-) I hope they did the same for every PAX on your flight!

Well, it wasn't running. No big deal though.

I have no idea about the other pax. I ran a couple of complaints through my head because I planned on complaining and I wanted to work my HNL flights from the past two weeks into the complaint. I guess I didn't need to as I never did complain about any of my flights. In fact, I don't think I've complained in a long time.

Glad everyone is safe. That's great to hear you were taken care of. However, that sounds like a pretty frightening 15 minutes plus a long an inconvenient bus ride. I hope that all pax, not just medallions, were proactively compensated.

I knew we were in trouble when the mike was keyed and I heard, "This is the Captain Speaking!" Normally you hear something like, "welllll ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain from the flight deck..." in a sing song sorta way.

We were told to stay in our seats with the seatbelts fastened even after the jet bridge was up to the door and the captain made an announcement then let the site manager get on the horn. After the site manager announced the baggage claim number and the buses, it was a slam bam thank you ma'am process. We were back before an aircraft could have gotten us to ORD.

What's funny was my app kept giving me updates on my flight from MKE to ORD and had my original flight as MSP-MKE. This was happening even while in Illinois on the bus.

Oh, and, I finally passed the MQD mark today on that flight to make DM for next year again. :)

Glad you're safe, and all is well! :)

Interesting that DL.com shows DL2223 slated to STILL FLY MKE/ORD tomorrow at 6AM - THEN onto MSP at 7:18AM!

I had an inflight MX / diversion once, on USAir. Flying HPN/PIT, we had a hydraulic problem, and diverted to PHL. The Captain was SICKENINGLY sweet on the PA system. Fire trucks / paramedics upon landing. Surprisingly, US was EXTREMELY organized with new BPs ready as we deboarded the broken plane!

Glad everything's OK! I think the people on this WN flight still have you beat though: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...lfunction.html

Thanks! I just got an update through the app on my phone about the departure from MKE. :D

I would agree with you. Nobody on my flight seemed to be very concerned throughout the "ordeal". There was no noticeable difference in the flight compared to a normal flight.

My only true FUBAR situation with Delta happened about 6 years ago, before I even really cared about status and points. Flying SEA-ATL-RDU, and ATL had the perfect storm of weather-related ground stop + ATC computer problems just as my flight arrived (according to the flight crew, we were the last flight allowed to land, everyone after us diverted). Extra time sitting on the plane, followed by promises that everyone was delayed, so connecting flights would not leave. I hustled to get to my next gate (departure board said it was leaving in 30 minutes), but ended up with creeping delays as we waited for the aircraft to reach the gate and for our crew to arrive. We finally boarded around 1am, only to have the flight cancelled when the crew timed out. I was rebooked on a 7am flight. All of the hotels near the airport were booked at that point, so I didn't even bother, just crashed in the airport. Finally made it home, and received a letter from Delta a few days later apologizing and letting me know they were going to deposit 10,000 miles in my account.

Interesting. I had a weather diversion into MIA last month; we ended up at PBI. After landing at West Palm, my account had already posted skypesos for LAX-MIA! We waited a couple hours and then got back on the plane to MIA. Should I have been credited with another segment (PBI-MIA), however short?

no ... geez, how many times does this question come up?!?
:confused::rolleyes:

This sounds pretty minor compared to the apparent uncontained engine failure on a Southwest flight the other day.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...lfunction.html

I don't know, apparently too much for some people.

Thanks for the response!