Dec 17, 2017, 10:45 pm
Last edit by: RatherBeOnATrain
Waiver posted: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...er-outage.html
as of ~1am EST on 12/18:
AFFECTED CITIES (TO / FROM / THROUGH)
Atlanta, GA (ATL)
IMPACTED TRAVEL DATE(S)
December 17-19, 2017
TICKET MUST BE REISSUED ON OR BEFORE
December 22, 2017
REBOOKED TRAVEL MUST BEGIN NO LATER THAN
December 22, 2017
An Atlanta newspaper article that describes the aiport's lack of preparation and poor communications during the outage: MyAJC - Zero communication, Airport had no plan for total power outage (Posted: 8:28 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2017)
as of ~1am EST on 12/18:
AFFECTED CITIES (TO / FROM / THROUGH)
Atlanta, GA (ATL)
IMPACTED TRAVEL DATE(S)
December 17-19, 2017
TICKET MUST BE REISSUED ON OR BEFORE
December 22, 2017
REBOOKED TRAVEL MUST BEGIN NO LATER THAN
December 22, 2017
An Atlanta newspaper article that describes the aiport's lack of preparation and poor communications during the outage: MyAJC - Zero communication, Airport had no plan for total power outage (Posted: 8:28 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2017)
Power outage in ATL
Dec 18, 2017, 10:05 am
#406
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SAN
Posts: 4,923
...
Even with generator power, you still have to get it from A->B. Should they have generators at every concourse? Perhaps, but again that must be compared against the risk/cost of this happening again. I'm not aware of another event like this in the history of ATL. ...
In reality land, you have to balance the investment with the cost/risk.
Even with generator power, you still have to get it from A->B. Should they have generators at every concourse? Perhaps, but again that must be compared against the risk/cost of this happening again. I'm not aware of another event like this in the history of ATL. ...
In reality land, you have to balance the investment with the cost/risk.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:05 am
#407
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Dec 18, 2017, 10:06 am
#408
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Not about the airport specifically. I would want the same response (quick deployment of National Guard) if the same scenario unfolded and left the 70k people at the Falcons game stuck inside the building without electricity and nowhere to go for an extended period of time.
There is one big difference about an airport. Everyone inside has been screened by the TSA. Assuming they did their job, no one inside has any WEI. Perhaps it it different where you live, but in my muggle universe turning off the lights does not cause guns and bombs to magically show up in people's pockets, nor does dakness instantly turn kettle flyers into jihad terrorists.
There is a great story about this type of event called "Nightfall" by Issac Asimov, however it is science fiction.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:10 am
#409
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Not about the airport specifically. I would want the same response (quick deployment of National Guard) if the same scenario unfolded and left the 70k people at the Falcons game stuck inside the building without electricity and nowhere to go for an extended period of time.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:19 am
#410
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
Actually, I would think that with the FT readership there are a significant number of folks who do have a clue how to keep an operation running in the face of breakdowns and problems.
Also, I'm many of us have worked for places that make no bones about the fact that they would rather spend $nothing for a contingency that may occur a few times per decade, versus a few cents (per share) to actually be prepared. This does go cost cutting, in that CEO's can and do get by for not spending despite getting hit too frequently with "rare" events.
So when this happens again in a couple years, be prepared for the same results and hand wringing.
Also, I'm many of us have worked for places that make no bones about the fact that they would rather spend $nothing for a contingency that may occur a few times per decade, versus a few cents (per share) to actually be prepared. This does go cost cutting, in that CEO's can and do get by for not spending despite getting hit too frequently with "rare" events.
So when this happens again in a couple years, be prepared for the same results and hand wringing.
It's absurd that there wasn't a plan in place for this. It's absurd that they allowed people to sit on planes on the tarmac and didn't cancel flights knowing there had been a major fire and repairs hadn't even started at 3:30. It's simply pitiful in this day and age that they didn't have a plan in place for even the most basic tasks--like providing emergency lighting via a backup generator and having employees directing people towards exits.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:23 am
#411
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
Sure, no problem. I'm certain it only takes a couple of hours to restore a 747 sitting in the desert to full operational status so they can fly it MCO-ATL once, and then just park it back in the desert again. 
(I'm sure all the retired 747 pilots can be rounded up on two hours' notice as well.)
(I'm sure all the retired 747 pilots can be rounded up on two hours' notice as well.)
Dec 18, 2017, 10:28 am
#412
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MEM
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Posts: 441
HSV might have been able to operate during this time because they have what 12-15 gates? and infrastructure that goes with it. That is a lot less that even one terminal in ATL. A 400 KVA diesel generator will operate a lot of lights in one small terminal (AC/Heat was not on in HSV as that is what consumes the most power). Plus the baggage handling equipment in ATL runs on electrical power and the motors to move the belts are also very high power consumers. Then you have to think about the transportation (train) between terminals. And the boarding pass scanners, plus the computers to track luggage, plus the scanners for boarding and the weights and balance calculations (I know they can do it manually but takes a lot longer). There are not enough large generators in Atlanta metro area to power all the concourses and gates in ATL.
given the amount of jet a around they would probably look a multifuel diesels that can burn jet-a or turbine gensets.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:41 am
#413
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For anybody arriving today I'd recommend just taking an Uber if you need to get to the rental car center. I estimate it'll have taken me an hour to get there either this shuttle bus crap. Kicking myself for not thinking to take an Uber when I first saw the line
Dec 18, 2017, 10:43 am
#414
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Correct. I had zero interaction to achieve this via any means - phone, online, app, Twitter, agent, etc. Was all done proactively and automatically during my time in the air. I was unaware of anything until I landed and loaded the app to check on my baggage. That’s when all the new flight info populated - and emails and texts arrived to my phone as well with the new info.
Dec 18, 2017, 10:47 am
#415
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Fair question. But the post you were replying to was about the trade-off between cost and risk.
Everyone is happy to second guess why the costs weren't paid, after something like this happens. Is everyone so eager to bear the cost (increased airfare, taxes, etc it'll all get passed on in one form or another) in advance, when it's only a potential and unlikely disaster?
Dec 18, 2017, 11:00 am
#418
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 355
Its not paranoia, its reality, and I go about my day as a normal human being but am self-aware of my surroundings, and know what to do during and immediately after an attack. My preparedness is in part because of my career and having worked with ex-FBI/SS/etc but also in part because I have been a block away from a bomb / attempted terror attack before. I sleep like a baby because I am prepared and have basic security measures in place 
Many of the other things that are more likely to kill me are out of my control. Thinking thru options that may, but hopefully never will, be within my control, is prudent. But for those who disagree, that's fine. Just another cost benefit analysis.
Dec 18, 2017, 11:02 am
#419
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Detroit, MI
Programs: Delta, JetBlue, Marriott
Posts: 152
I have to imagine this going to cause bit of a dent in Delta's reputation. It just seems worst business practice to rent space from an airport where at least 80% of your planes travel through on a daily basis and not have one or two backup electrical sources that are completely independent of one another. Maybe there are and they failed, I don't know. Who knows how many are trapped in trains, in the airport, on aircraft on taxiways, elderly or pax with limited mobility, trapped in darkened terminals. The stories that come out over the next few days are going to be a social media PR catastrophe. And it's a shame because Delta has worked hard to earn it's reputation at the top of all US Airlines for several years. Good luck to all Delta passengers and frontline employees and hopefully (but unlikely) the trickle down effects are solved quickly and as painlessly during the holiday season so passengers and schedules can get back on their way.
Adam
Adam
But because ATL is so fixed on being the "busiest airport in the world" and Delta's is so fixed on the having the "busiest single hub", I doubt much will change.
Dec 18, 2017, 11:03 am
#420
Join Date: Feb 2017
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Its not paranoia, its reality, and I go about my day as a normal human being but am self-aware of my surroundings, and know what to do during and immediately after an attack. My preparedness is in part because of my career and having worked with ex-FBI/SS/etc but also in part because I have been a block away from a bomb / attempted terror attack before. I sleep like a baby because I am prepared and have basic security measures in place