Worst reason for a delay
Mar 19, 2018, 4:13 pm
#46
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Was flying US FLL-PHX. Boarded but then captain said that maintenance had to check something as a light was on in the cockpit. Long story short that involved disembarking and boarding a couple of times, a total of a 5 hour delay, US headquarters being contacted about the light, Airbus in France being contacted about the light, and a final answer that yes, that light is supposed to be on.
I think the only reason the flight didn't cancel was because the next day was Thanksgiving and the crew wanted to be back in PHX.
I think the only reason the flight didn't cancel was because the next day was Thanksgiving and the crew wanted to be back in PHX.
Mar 19, 2018, 5:23 pm
#47
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Back to the original topic...
I wasn't on the flight, but I work at the airport...after a contract changed hands, the new company was understaffed and under prepared. A handful of flights at the start of the day were delayed simply because "the ground handler has no staff".
Mar 19, 2018, 5:46 pm
#48
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UPDATE: OP here.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
Mar 19, 2018, 6:40 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Last week, flying HNL to the East Coast (not on Delta), we took at three-hour delay because someone -- I'm assuming a flight attendant -- managed to deploy the emergency evacuation slide upon arrival of the inbound flight. The flight was on the verge of cancelling until one of the carrier's gate agents called her brother, a maintenance supervisor at HNL for another airline, who found a spare emergency slide (kid you not). It took about two hours to install it and inspect the installation, but, lo and behold, it worked.
Most irritating delay: PHL-SFO. After a roughly one-hour delay for whatever reason, we board the plane. Another 25 minutes pass as the pilots complete paperwork. Then, we push pack. About three minutes later, as we're sitting on the ramp waiting to enter the taxiway, a passenger rings her call button: She was told she wouldn't have to fly if the flight was delayed, she tells the flight attendants who answers, and if she takes this flight she thinks she'll miss her connection to Vegas. Instead, she wants to get off the plane, drive to Newark, and attempt to make an EWR-LAS nonstop -- a nonstop that was, I believe, scheduled to depart less than three hours from that moment.
The FA tries to talk her down. Another FA tries to talk her down. She is insistent.
The captain comes on the PA with what even I considered a surprisingly contemptuous tone and explains that since somebody has decided at this moment that she doesn't want to fly, we're all going to have to return to the gate and take another 45-60-minute delay. The passenger, who already seemed fairly charged, is now outraged and tearful. Upon return to the gate, she walks off the plane as passengers audibly criticize her to her face.
And then, after another 25-30 minutes, or or two other passengers decide to leave since they'll misconnect. Finally, the pilot comes on again to give something of an ultimatum ("leave now or forever hold...," in essence). The rest of us sit, we push, and we land in SFO about 2.5 hours late.
Most irritating delay: PHL-SFO. After a roughly one-hour delay for whatever reason, we board the plane. Another 25 minutes pass as the pilots complete paperwork. Then, we push pack. About three minutes later, as we're sitting on the ramp waiting to enter the taxiway, a passenger rings her call button: She was told she wouldn't have to fly if the flight was delayed, she tells the flight attendants who answers, and if she takes this flight she thinks she'll miss her connection to Vegas. Instead, she wants to get off the plane, drive to Newark, and attempt to make an EWR-LAS nonstop -- a nonstop that was, I believe, scheduled to depart less than three hours from that moment.
The FA tries to talk her down. Another FA tries to talk her down. She is insistent.
The captain comes on the PA with what even I considered a surprisingly contemptuous tone and explains that since somebody has decided at this moment that she doesn't want to fly, we're all going to have to return to the gate and take another 45-60-minute delay. The passenger, who already seemed fairly charged, is now outraged and tearful. Upon return to the gate, she walks off the plane as passengers audibly criticize her to her face.
And then, after another 25-30 minutes, or or two other passengers decide to leave since they'll misconnect. Finally, the pilot comes on again to give something of an ultimatum ("leave now or forever hold...," in essence). The rest of us sit, we push, and we land in SFO about 2.5 hours late.
Mar 19, 2018, 6:53 pm
#50
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Keeping this DL-specific, we took a delay last year when the jetbridge operator somehow dented the side of the fuselage while trying to back it off the plane. It took about 30 minutes for the A/P techs to inspect it and certify that we were safe to fly.
Mar 19, 2018, 6:56 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,357
UPDATE: OP here.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
Not my story, I just read about it years ago, but on Delta's predecessor NW, there was a flight from somewhere in Dakota Territory -- I don't even remember whether ND or SD -- to MSP, but the flight had to be delayed because the pilot and maybe also the co-pilot showed up drunk, hungover from the airport hotel bar the night before... That outstation had no spare NW pilots.
Mar 19, 2018, 7:40 pm
#52
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UPDATE: OP here.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
It took a bit more than an hour to fish the phone out of the crapper, the offender (Flying First Class) was trying to keep a low profile. I was sitting in Comfort about 8 rows back from the offender in 1B.
It was gold when the maintenance mechanic finally came back in and handed the guy a sealed red hazmat bag which I can only imagine contained the phone.
Mar 19, 2018, 8:35 pm
#53
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This has been my favorite FT thread in a while.
Mar 19, 2018, 8:46 pm
#54
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,884
Two years ago yesterday, flying home from IAD on a Friday evening. Itinerary has my flight departing around 5pm with a 40 minute connection at DTW to the last PDX flight of the night. It hasn't been a great trip. My customer had been a giant pain in the ..., including basically blowing me off for the last 2 hours while I kept reminding him that I really needed to get going. Had a heck of a time finding gas for my rental car (the station that my customer recommended was closed...), so by the time I returned the car and at the counter to check my bags (have to check my tool kit, so I usually check my suitcase too), I am at 45 minutes from departure. So naturally, it's gate B78. The check in lady helpfully says "You should hurry - boarding will start in 10 minutes".
So I hustle all the way to the gate, to find everyone just standing around. The boarding door is open, but the gate agent is just standing at the podium looking at the crowd. I ask one of the people standing near me what is happening, and he just shrugs.
After about 10 minutes, one of the pilots comes up the jetway, speaks in the GA's ear for a bit, and heads back down. The GA gets on the PA and announces that a passenger on the incoming flight had a "problem with their luggage", and they were trying to work it out.
To make a long story slightly less long, 40 minutes later a young lady came up the jetway carrying a guitar case. It seems that the Flight Attendant had placed it in a closet for her, and it "shifted during flight" - jamming the door so that they couldn't open it in order to remove the guitar. The pilot came up again and explained that the FAs had tried to get it out, he had tried, the passenger had tried, even the gate agent had come down and tried. When all failed, they had to call for maintenance.
He said "The good news is that maintenance was able to remove the guitar case from the closet. The bad news is that they had to break the closet door with a fire axe to get it out... and since we can't go flying around with a broken closet door flopping around, we have to wait for them to repair it before we can take off".
All in all, we took about a 90 minute delay - which I suppose really isn't that bad, considering. Of course, I missed my connection. Had to spend the night in Detroit. Pro tip - if Delta offers to put you up in the Days Inn, take a pass. You will thank me.
So I hustle all the way to the gate, to find everyone just standing around. The boarding door is open, but the gate agent is just standing at the podium looking at the crowd. I ask one of the people standing near me what is happening, and he just shrugs.
After about 10 minutes, one of the pilots comes up the jetway, speaks in the GA's ear for a bit, and heads back down. The GA gets on the PA and announces that a passenger on the incoming flight had a "problem with their luggage", and they were trying to work it out.
To make a long story slightly less long, 40 minutes later a young lady came up the jetway carrying a guitar case. It seems that the Flight Attendant had placed it in a closet for her, and it "shifted during flight" - jamming the door so that they couldn't open it in order to remove the guitar. The pilot came up again and explained that the FAs had tried to get it out, he had tried, the passenger had tried, even the gate agent had come down and tried. When all failed, they had to call for maintenance.
He said "The good news is that maintenance was able to remove the guitar case from the closet. The bad news is that they had to break the closet door with a fire axe to get it out... and since we can't go flying around with a broken closet door flopping around, we have to wait for them to repair it before we can take off".
All in all, we took about a 90 minute delay - which I suppose really isn't that bad, considering. Of course, I missed my connection. Had to spend the night in Detroit. Pro tip - if Delta offers to put you up in the Days Inn, take a pass. You will thank me.
Mar 19, 2018, 8:57 pm
#55
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Mar 19, 2018, 9:08 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2018
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How is it possible to get on the wrong flight...
Mar 19, 2018, 9:15 pm
#57
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Good thread.
I was delayed 2.5 hours on the KLM flight from AMS-ATL once because some genius flushed a diaper down the toilet while we were boarding. Apparently it created so much pressure that it blew a seal somewhere and the plane was leaking fluid onto the ramp. They had to find some special fitting to fix it. Missed my connection home by 20 min and ended up staying in ATL for the night.
All because somebody couldn't read the 3rd grade picture in the lav.
I was delayed 2.5 hours on the KLM flight from AMS-ATL once because some genius flushed a diaper down the toilet while we were boarding. Apparently it created so much pressure that it blew a seal somewhere and the plane was leaking fluid onto the ramp. They had to find some special fitting to fix it. Missed my connection home by 20 min and ended up staying in ATL for the night.
All because somebody couldn't read the 3rd grade picture in the lav.
Mar 19, 2018, 10:31 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2010
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About a year ago, on an LAX-ORD redeye, all of us were fully boarded when a pilot, FA and GA left the cabin to meet on the jet bridge. Five minutes later, the captain comes on the PA to announce that cleaners had located "something that should never be on a plane" and that, for security: (a) the plane would need to be searched and (b) all of us would need to be re-screened.
It being after 11 PM, we were advised that the T7 security checkpoint was closed for the evening and that we would therefore need to march off the plane, out of security, out of T7 and down the LAX sidewalk to T6, where AA had apparently chosen to invest in a 24-hour TSA presence. Then, upon clearing security, we would march down the walkway from T6 to T7, back to the gate and, when given the all-clear, back onto the plane.
It was very strange walking past the passengers lining up to board the 12:30 AM LAX-ORD flight one gate over as our long march commenced.
Total delay: 90 minutes.
It was never explained what, exactly, the item "that should never be on a plane" was. My first thought was "United's tandoori chicken entree."
It being after 11 PM, we were advised that the T7 security checkpoint was closed for the evening and that we would therefore need to march off the plane, out of security, out of T7 and down the LAX sidewalk to T6, where AA had apparently chosen to invest in a 24-hour TSA presence. Then, upon clearing security, we would march down the walkway from T6 to T7, back to the gate and, when given the all-clear, back onto the plane.
It was very strange walking past the passengers lining up to board the 12:30 AM LAX-ORD flight one gate over as our long march commenced.
Total delay: 90 minutes.
It was never explained what, exactly, the item "that should never be on a plane" was. My first thought was "United's tandoori chicken entree."
Mar 19, 2018, 10:51 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2015
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one time, i was waiting at the wrong gate for my flight. The app says now boarding and not a soul was moving. I rechecked my gate and it was a few gates down the same terminal. At least it was the same destination. Maybe a connecting city?
Last edited by golfr; Mar 20, 2018 at 6:07 am
Mar 19, 2018, 10:59 pm
#60
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Back when Swissair still existed and had a partnership with Delta (including a DL flight attendant on SR flights to the US) I was flying ZRH-BOS.
The problems started when a passenger's passport looked off and the gate checkers picked up on it. They tried to check with US INS (as it was then) to find out if the passport was legitimate or not and were unable to verify it, so the passenger was removed. For whatever reason they also weren't sure if that passenger had checked any bags, so the entire luggage compartment was unloaded onto the ramp and we were escorted down there in small groups to identify our bags for re-loading. This took a while; after all these delays we were told that the crew was no longer legal to operate to BOS. A reserve crew was called in, and eventually arrived; I think we left about 3 hours late.
By the time we got to New England, BOS was being hammered with thunderstorms and we circled off Cape Ann for a while (the weather was jealous of the attention given to the passenger/baggage/crew delays). I think the total time was >12 hours gate to gate. I was very glad I'd packed extra books.
The problems started when a passenger's passport looked off and the gate checkers picked up on it. They tried to check with US INS (as it was then) to find out if the passport was legitimate or not and were unable to verify it, so the passenger was removed. For whatever reason they also weren't sure if that passenger had checked any bags, so the entire luggage compartment was unloaded onto the ramp and we were escorted down there in small groups to identify our bags for re-loading. This took a while; after all these delays we were told that the crew was no longer legal to operate to BOS. A reserve crew was called in, and eventually arrived; I think we left about 3 hours late.
By the time we got to New England, BOS was being hammered with thunderstorms and we circled off Cape Ann for a while (the weather was jealous of the attention given to the passenger/baggage/crew delays). I think the total time was >12 hours gate to gate. I was very glad I'd packed extra books.