Even LH has Weight Issues
Dec 4, 2007, 1:56 am
#1
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Even LH has Weight Issues
Three friends of mine wanted to fly LCY-HAM on Sunday. Flight operated by an ATR 42.
They arrived well in time, but only got standby boarding passes without seat numbers. Sure enough, while they were waiting at the gate, they are told that they can't fly due to weight issues. Apparently too much wind, so more fuel needed than usual. On such a short route, sounds like made up to me. Probably just overbooked and no status (not even M/M) and booking class T didn't give them the highest priority I guess.
They then decided to reroute via FRA, stay overnight in the Intercity hotel, and fly to HAM the next morning. Their main complaint was that nobody at LH in LCY spoke German (their English is not so good), and that they were told to go back out of security in order to queue there instead of getting rebooked directly at the gate.
As infrequent flyers, this whole procedure seemed very odd to them as well - to be kicked off a flight is just something they weren't used to.
They received their IDB compensation of €250 each in FRA in cash.
There were no calls for volunteers, by the way, which I find the most disturbing thing.
They arrived well in time, but only got standby boarding passes without seat numbers. Sure enough, while they were waiting at the gate, they are told that they can't fly due to weight issues. Apparently too much wind, so more fuel needed than usual. On such a short route, sounds like made up to me. Probably just overbooked and no status (not even M/M) and booking class T didn't give them the highest priority I guess.
They then decided to reroute via FRA, stay overnight in the Intercity hotel, and fly to HAM the next morning. Their main complaint was that nobody at LH in LCY spoke German (their English is not so good), and that they were told to go back out of security in order to queue there instead of getting rebooked directly at the gate.
As infrequent flyers, this whole procedure seemed very odd to them as well - to be kicked off a flight is just something they weren't used to.
They received their IDB compensation of €250 each in FRA in cash.
There were no calls for volunteers, by the way, which I find the most disturbing thing.
Dec 4, 2007, 3:07 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: CH
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London City and Status
^
Dec 4, 2007, 3:20 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
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London City Airport
London City Airport has a very short runway. If the plane seems to be overloaded - they could decide to proceed it due to take off possibility.
Otherwise , it's a great airport to fly from.
Otherwise , it's a great airport to fly from.
Dec 4, 2007, 3:25 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: CH
Programs: LX
Posts: 212
I was flying LCY-BSL last week on an AVRO-100 (LX 487).
The gate manager had to shift 4 passengers from row 19 and 20 to rows 5 and 6 due to load balance problems. Weight is an issue when flying from LCY due to the short runway.
The gate manager had to shift 4 passengers from row 19 and 20 to rows 5 and 6 due to load balance problems. Weight is an issue when flying from LCY due to the short runway.
Last edited by Fotti; Dec 4, 2007 at 3:41 am
Dec 4, 2007, 3:50 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2007
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London City and Avro
Yes, this is a great airport. Only other exception: No lounge.
Dec 4, 2007, 4:39 am
#7
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I am just guessing, but maybe because LCY only has one very short runway they have a problem for planes to reach take off speed when the wind is coming from the wrong direction. If they can not take off against the wind and need extra fuel because of winds en route this might push the over the limit.
Dec 4, 2007, 5:37 am
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: FRA
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I think LCY is a wonderful airport to fly into and a fairly dreadful one to fly out of. Okay, so the security is a lot smoother than it CAN BE (not: usually is) at LHR, but as chumbawumba says, there is no lounge, and to add insult to injury, they charge an arm and a leg for drinks (which also explains why there is no lounge, by the way). Moreover, in the case of irrops, you better get to LHR real fast - you're not going to go anywhere from LCY.
Dec 4, 2007, 3:55 pm
#9
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Usually it's worse the other way round - on some routes, certain aircraft are weight restricted out of LCY even with benign weather, due to runway lenght.
Tom
Dec 4, 2007, 5:27 pm
#10
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Except they were flying LCY-HAM, so with a gale force storm they could have almost glided to HAM without any fuel required.
Dec 5, 2007, 1:38 am
#11
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Dec 5, 2007, 5:12 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
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destination HAM - not available due to thunderstorms
alternate BRE, HAJ, TXL - not available due to thunderstorms
At some point, fuel was low, they made an emergency landing on a small airport in the middle of nowhere with a partly closed runway. Nobody injured, but the plane was severely damaged.
The flight route is shown on page 23 of this file:
http://www.bfu-web.de/nn_41542/DE/Pu...tin07-2002.pdf
Dec 5, 2007, 9:32 am
#13
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Still, they would need to load some extra fuel in case HAM and the usual alternates would all close.
I still wonder how many (if any
) PAX made it to LCY from HAM...
Dec 5, 2007, 9:52 am
#14
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http://www.flightstats.com/go/Flight...ate=2007-12-02