LH A330 Slide off Taxiway DFW Airport
Jun 19, 2011, 3:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London; UK
Programs: LH SEN; BA Blue; HHonors Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 580
LH439 DFW-FRA 5 hour delay
Just arrived back from lengthy delayed LH439. Award booking in C.
The delay started with a medical emergency on inbound; then aircon apparently failed- we got put on the flight, but seemed that apu had failed. Air temp outside was 106 deg F.
Captain stated he would fire up the main engines but then came back saying he couldn't. After a while we decamped back to gate, and 5 hours late we did take off.
The info seemed a bit bizarre- anyone heard anything about this, please?
No compensation was offered- I think I'm going to try for some miles!
The delay started with a medical emergency on inbound; then aircon apparently failed- we got put on the flight, but seemed that apu had failed. Air temp outside was 106 deg F.
Captain stated he would fire up the main engines but then came back saying he couldn't. After a while we decamped back to gate, and 5 hours late we did take off.
The info seemed a bit bizarre- anyone heard anything about this, please?
No compensation was offered- I think I'm going to try for some miles!
Jun 20, 2011, 2:06 am
#2
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,166
Things happen, usually SOP permit using just one APU in case of failure of the other. If the other doesn't perform well, the decision is taken to get it fixed before starting a long trip. Hardly a reason to complain about... what would you have expected instead?
The aircraft is still flying around:
The aircraft is still flying around:
Code:
D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0624 20110620 LH0653 (JED-FRA) D-AIGA 3C64E1 (A343 LH) 1305 20110619 LH0439 (DFW-FRA) D-AIGA 3C64E1 (A343 LH) 1204 20110618 LH0438 (FRA-DFW) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0528 20110618 LH0593 (ASM-JED-FRA) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0441 20110617 LH0495 () D-AIGA (A343 LH) 1040 20110616 LH0494 (FRA-YYC) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0013 20110616 LH0619 (MCT-AUH-FRA) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 1832 20110615 LH0618 (FRA-AUH-MCT) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0202 20110615 LH0759 (MAA-FRA) D-AIGA (A343 LH) 0409 20110614 LH0637 () D-AIGA (A343 LH) 1821 20110613 LH0636 (FRA-KWI)
Code:
)>DOLH439/18JUN
DOLH439/18JUN
* OPERATIONAL FLIGHT INFO * LH 439 -2 SA 18JUN
CITY INFO HOUR LOCAL)
DFW ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE 1830
NEXT INFO WILL BE AT 2130
LEFT THE GATE 2144
TOOK OFF 2203
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL 1412 FRA
FRA AIRCRAFT LANDED 1437
ARRIVED 1445
* 1A PLANNED FLIGHT INFO * LH 439 -2 SA 18JUN
APT ARR DY DEP DY CLASS/MEAL EQP GRND EFT TTL
DFW 1625 SA FAJCDZYBMHQ/M 343 10:00
VWSL/M
FRA 0925 SU 10:00
COMMENTS-
1.DFW FRA - DEPARTS TERMINAL D
2.DFW FRA - ARRIVES TERMINAL 1
3.DFW FRA - 9/ NON-SMOKING
4.DFW FRA - SECURED FLIGHT
DHLH439/18JUN
LH 0439 /18JUN
1.1800Z X DFWSOLH 2DFW ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE 1725
2.2322Z DFWSOLH 2DFW ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE 1830
3.2356Z X DFWSOLH 2DFW NEXT INFO WILL BE AT 1930
4.0110Z X DFWSOLH 2DFW NEXT INFO WILL BE AT 2030
5.0202Z DFWSOLH 2DFW NEXT INFO WILL BE AT 2130
6.0310Z DFWSOLH 2DFW LEFT THE GATE 2144
TOOK OFF 2203
7.0310Z DFWSOLH 2DFW ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL 1412 FRA
8.1248Z FRA8DLH 2FRA AIRCRAFT LANDED 1437
ARRIVED 1445
Jun 20, 2011, 2:35 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: LH SEN, FB Plat., HH D.
Posts: 5,050
Just arrived back from lengthy delayed LH439. Award booking in C.
The delay started with a medical emergency on inbound; then aircon apparently failed- we got put on the flight, but seemed that apu had failed. Air temp outside was 106 deg F.
Captain stated he would fire up the main engines but then came back saying he couldn't. After a while we decamped back to gate, and 5 hours late we did take off.
The info seemed a bit bizarre- anyone heard anything about this, please?
No compensation was offered- I think I'm going to try for some miles!
The delay started with a medical emergency on inbound; then aircon apparently failed- we got put on the flight, but seemed that apu had failed. Air temp outside was 106 deg F.
Captain stated he would fire up the main engines but then came back saying he couldn't. After a while we decamped back to gate, and 5 hours late we did take off.
The info seemed a bit bizarre- anyone heard anything about this, please?
No compensation was offered- I think I'm going to try for some miles!
I am sorry for the long delay.
FB automatically credits a few thousand miles when there is a long delay, but I guess it depends in the reason of the delay, and very likely some do not qualify.
Also I do not know if they also do it on Award tickets.
I have never heart this happening automatically in M&M.
Jun 20, 2011, 5:41 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London; UK
Programs: LH SEN; BA Blue; HHonors Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 580
I'd also prefer to have got on another flight to get me home nearer to time- not something that award tickets can expect, of course.
Or I'd at least like an airline that adheres to 261/2004, rather than one that merely says "it's beyond our control so you can't have a form". As a lawyer I know that's garbage.
I am always irritated by airlines who don't obey the law- guess like you, I'm too easily irritated.
However I'm grateful for info on the reason for the issue, as well.
Jun 20, 2011, 5:42 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: IAH and HAM
Programs: LH Sen, PPS, FB Platinum, Enrich Silver, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,496
Jun 20, 2011, 6:30 am
#7
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Ridgefield, CT and CGN
Posts: 455
Jun 20, 2011, 6:37 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,754
I'd also prefer to have got on another flight to get me home nearer to time- not something that award tickets can expect, of course.
Or I'd at least like an airline that adheres to 261/2004, rather than one that merely says "it's beyond our control so you can't have a form". As a lawyer I know that's garbage.
Or I'd at least like an airline that adheres to 261/2004, rather than one that merely says "it's beyond our control so you can't have a form". As a lawyer I know that's garbage.
Also, in what way was the delay handled against EU261/2004? I cannot see that the decision to divert the inbound medical and subsequent technical problems was a commercial decision.
However, I am sure 100% that it wasn't pleasant being delayed for 5 hours, especially in the heat. I am also 95% sure that LH didn't handle the delay very well from a customer service point of view, for reasons as simple as they didn't know how long the delay would be, so couldn't tell passengers and things like that.
Jun 20, 2011, 8:55 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH, Avis, Hyatt, ...
Posts: 4,213
I've been flying around a lot in the last 15+ years and while approx. 95% of the flights were on time or almost on time, I like most of us experienced delays as well, a few times even a full day. Not very nice, when in the situation and I must admit that the treatment was not always the best. However I negotiated my extra expenses I had due to this delay to be compensated by the airline (only didn't work with UA twice) but never asked for any compensation. If the airline decides to ground an aircraft I fully trust them they do this for very good reasons. Not talking about LCCs here, who indeed operate with a different business model.
Jun 20, 2011, 9:15 am
#10
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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The spirit of EU261/04 was to prevent customers being cheated by airlines overselling and in general adjusting their schedules to meet their profit needs at the expense of customers.
It does help by creating a framework wherein the airlines now think thrice before making any commercial decisions.
Sadly it has not helped to educate airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair but instead it drains money out of the pocket of legacy carriers who care about their public image and hence have to hide behind paperwork and lengthy processes.
It does help by creating a framework wherein the airlines now think thrice before making any commercial decisions.
Sadly it has not helped to educate airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair but instead it drains money out of the pocket of legacy carriers who care about their public image and hence have to hide behind paperwork and lengthy processes.
Jun 21, 2011, 5:43 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 347
If an aircraft is unserviceable for an intended flight then that aircraft has no business leaving the ground.
A law designed to alleviate trouble and inconvenience suffered by air passengers cannot cause an unsafe aircraft to leave the ground. Only a decision made by an air carrier can cause this to happen.
If an air carrier is looking for an excuse to operate an unsafe aircraft-and is that desperate to do so-then I dare say it will look for any excuse it can find.
Jun 22, 2011, 2:01 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,754
Actually, the EU261 regulations do not incentivise any airline to operate a flight with an unservicable aircraft, or in bad weather, as no compensation is payable (though airlines still have the 'duty of care' costs).
http://www.businessandfinance.ie/new...sp?itemID=1605
http://iftta.org/content/german-supr...er-condidtions
Of course, airlines may still offer compensation from a customer service point of view, such as Air France automatic mileage credits when a flight is delayed.
http://www.businessandfinance.ie/new...sp?itemID=1605
http://iftta.org/content/german-supr...er-condidtions
Of course, airlines may still offer compensation from a customer service point of view, such as Air France automatic mileage credits when a flight is delayed.
Jun 22, 2011, 6:47 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London; UK
Programs: LH SEN; BA Blue; HHonors Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 580
I have no quibble with the crews actions in getting the plane right, but I don't really see why the additional costs that I had to incur don't merit a compensation of a couple of thousand miles.
Jun 22, 2011, 6:53 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London; UK
Programs: LH SEN; BA Blue; HHonors Gold; Priority Club Gold
Posts: 580
Actually, the EU261 regulations do not incentivise any airline to operate a flight with an unservicable aircraft, or in bad weather, as no compensation is payable (though airlines still have the 'duty of care' costs).
http://www.businessandfinance.ie/new...sp?itemID=1605
http://iftta.org/content/german-supr...er-condidtions
Of course, airlines may still offer compensation from a customer service point of view, such as Air France automatic mileage credits when a flight is delayed.
http://www.businessandfinance.ie/new...sp?itemID=1605
http://iftta.org/content/german-supr...er-condidtions
Of course, airlines may still offer compensation from a customer service point of view, such as Air France automatic mileage credits when a flight is delayed.