clubman

If the story is as per the article (and we should always take these stories with pinch of salt) then LY probably could have handled it a little better though I can see why they were a little restricted.

In terms of feeding the passengers, the problem with starting a full meal service while they were waiting on the ground would be, what if the problem was fixed and they got a slot for takeoff while the meal is being served?
This would have meant a further delay as a new take off slot would have had to be assigned once and only once everything was cleared away and the cabin was secured for takeoff again.

I guess the same applies for offloading passengers from the aircraft, though I cannot see how they can force anyone to stay on board if they request to leave.

I guess all the above is valid if they honestly expected the leak to be fixed sooner then it actually was.

In terms of the captain announcements, well by the sounds of it they could have done a better job.
More frequents announcements I�m sure would have not gone unmissed.
If this was a BA flight (or BD for that matter) I can assure you the passengers would be hearing from the flight deck probably every half an hour or so.
But then LY is probably the only airline I have ever travelled with when on more than one occasion neither the captain nor the first officer have bothered to make any announcement prior or after departure.

I wouldn�t have been a happy bunny had I been stuck on that aircraft, especially in Y.
It's a bit easier to cope with if you�re sat in C or F.

GUWonder

I don't want to get too personal; I certainly don't want to personally witness any tents being pitched by strangers; and I double-certainly don't want to see the pitchforks coming my way.

ELAL

awayIgo

The article says they were given snack and drinks. It would seem to me that would fufill the new US rule.--and there would be no fine!

ELAL

I'll re-quote the rule:
Airlines that let a plane sit on the tarmac for more than two hours without giving passengers food or water, or more than three hours without offering them the option of getting off, will face fines of $27,500 a passenger

The option of offering food and water is only ok if the delay is up to 3 hours, after 3 hours they have to be able to get off

magiciansampras

LOL seriously.

It seems that El Al is just like any other crummy airline. Totally worthless, IMHO.

ELAL

I assume you beleive this forum should be closed, or at least merged in to the kosher food forum

magiciansampras

Hah, no this forum, unlike that one, actually generates traffic. Plus, I get a kick out of reading the posts over here. Good stuff.

ebzed

I dont understand the noise over this, As someone that fly quite often to the US
and inside the US, i am a bit surprised that its one flight of 6,200... It means either i am a person with very bad luck, and 40% of the times i am on that one special flight of the 6,200.

When i get stuck its in average its 2 to 4 hours and it happens on all airlines,
It happened to me as well in Qantas, BA and Thai...

\According to what you have wrote before, I am suppose to stop flying 8-)

magiciansampras

There is a big difference between a 2 hour delay and a 7 hour delay. Wouldn't you agree?

I think most folks would agree that 7 is sort of unreasonable.

TWA884

This rule does not go into effect until 120 days after December 21, 2009, the date of it was published in the Federal Register.

DOT Press Release

Enhancing Airline Pasenger Protection - Document Details

ELAL

Ebzed, he's enjoying try to wind us up over here, he's pretending to not have seen what I mentioned in one of my previous posts, that somebody had reported 9 hours with Continental, and with BA I found 2 complaints one of 7.5 hours, and one of 11 hours.

SwissCircle

What I find intruiging is, that the threads title states 7 hours, the witness in the article claims 6 hours and ELAL talks about 5 hours.

Why people dont just call the cops when that happens. If I want to leave and not being allowed without proper authority I am held hostage.

And also I think that the denial / unwillingness to provide a decent drink and food service and communication to the passengers regarding the delay by the captain is just yet another example of personal behavior that is more than just questionable!

ebzed

First, Dont believe on everything you read on newspaper,
According to EL-AL it was 5 hours and not 7...
According to the Airpoirt, They took off on 18:14,
which even makes it less than 5 hours...

(Only drinks and snacks were offered as they probably didnt used the Auxliery Engine (sorry if that's not the name) due to the fuel leak, same all the other amenities that might require the same)

So please make me a favor and stick to your note, Dont Fly EL-AL...
I am sure they will survive without you.

ELAL

Take off was nearly 6 hours late, but boarding started 45 minutes earlier.