Musical Airlines
Jun 5, 2001 | 2:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA & MCO
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP & UA Gold
Posts: 3,051
Musical Airlines
I DID THIS WRITE UP FOR OUR FIRM'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE, BUT IT'S JUST AS RELEVANT FOR FLYERTALK!
******************************************
Ken (boss) and I were on a scheduled HP flight from BOS to PHX for the dual XXX meeting and XXX meeting. Nonstop flight- depart at 7 AM and get into PHX in time for lunch with XXX.
Boarding and check in were fine and without incident. Just as were served our pre-departure drinks, the captain came on the overhead to announce that there is a problem with the computer, and there would be a quick fix where the computer would be turned off and on again. Well, there was nothing quick about it. After 30 minutes, we decided to consider our other options. Cell phones were deployed to our beloved travel agent, who said US as a connecting flight via Pittsburgh leaving in 30 minutes. No problem, because the US terminal was right across the way from HP. We hustle to the HP baggage claim (yes, we both checked in baggage). Reclaiming the baggage was not a simple task. The bags just didnt come. After several calls and visits to the baggage claim department, we realized that the US flight was becoming more and more of a pipe dream. Finally, the bags came. We bolted to US, who surprisingly gave us boarding passes, but stated that we would have to take our bags to X Ray ourselves due to the lateness of the hour. USs undue delay at X Ray caused us to miss the flight. The plane had left, and we were left on the ground trying to trace our luggage (again).
We found the bags, and went back to the US counter to see when/ how they could reaccomodate us. They put us on the next UA connecting flight (via Denver, I think?). UA is in terminal C, and departure time was 20 minutes away. While shuffling over to UA, Kenny had the brilliant idea of seeing if our original HP flight had left yet. They said no, and we asked if we could squeeze back on. We have them check our bags. Hell, we even got our old seats back. When they didnt board at the expected time, they made an announcement that they were just recatering the flight for lunch instead of breakfast. Well, no HP flight ever left Boston that day. HP 30 minutes later announced that the flight was canceled, and that all passengers were being reaccomdated on their next flight, 4 hours later. To add insult to injury, they said First Class on the next flight was full, and all First passengers on the cancelled flight would be sitting in coach. No thank you.
At this point, the UA flight had left, and we were up ****s runway without a life raft (more on life rafts later). We quickly called the travel agent again, and they put us on an AA flight via ORD. So we went over to the HP baggage department to reclaim our bags (they came quicker this time). Checked in for the AA flight, but there was no boarding announcement. Saw crew and mechanics milling about the plane. It had begun to snow in Boston. We finally took off (late) and landed (very late). So late in fact, that we missed the AA connection in ORD. We learned (by using the aircraft phone to dial the 800 reservations #) that the next ORD-PHX flight was none other than an HP flight. What the hell. We checked in. At this point, we had no idea of the whereabouts of our luggage; we just prayed they would magically wind up in PHX.
During taxi of this HP flight, we noticed all the Flight Attendants huddling around the airplane door. The First Officer came out, and there was more commotion. Someone then screamed, dont touch that button, and the emergency evacuation slide was activated. At that point, we knew we had a post for FT. Tip: when the slide pops open, that there plane aint going nowhere for a looong time. We all deplaned once they towed us back to the gate, and we went to the HP counter to see how we were going to get to PHX. They had no answers, so we went over to UA ourselves, and asked if we could squeeze into their flight. They said sure, and low and behold, we boarded, took off and landed. We arrived 12 hours later than planned, and missed the entire day of meetings. But Ken and I had established a travel bond that will last several moons to come!
PS The bags made it to our hotel the next day. Miracles do happen, I guess.
******************************************
Ken (boss) and I were on a scheduled HP flight from BOS to PHX for the dual XXX meeting and XXX meeting. Nonstop flight- depart at 7 AM and get into PHX in time for lunch with XXX.
Boarding and check in were fine and without incident. Just as were served our pre-departure drinks, the captain came on the overhead to announce that there is a problem with the computer, and there would be a quick fix where the computer would be turned off and on again. Well, there was nothing quick about it. After 30 minutes, we decided to consider our other options. Cell phones were deployed to our beloved travel agent, who said US as a connecting flight via Pittsburgh leaving in 30 minutes. No problem, because the US terminal was right across the way from HP. We hustle to the HP baggage claim (yes, we both checked in baggage). Reclaiming the baggage was not a simple task. The bags just didnt come. After several calls and visits to the baggage claim department, we realized that the US flight was becoming more and more of a pipe dream. Finally, the bags came. We bolted to US, who surprisingly gave us boarding passes, but stated that we would have to take our bags to X Ray ourselves due to the lateness of the hour. USs undue delay at X Ray caused us to miss the flight. The plane had left, and we were left on the ground trying to trace our luggage (again).
We found the bags, and went back to the US counter to see when/ how they could reaccomodate us. They put us on the next UA connecting flight (via Denver, I think?). UA is in terminal C, and departure time was 20 minutes away. While shuffling over to UA, Kenny had the brilliant idea of seeing if our original HP flight had left yet. They said no, and we asked if we could squeeze back on. We have them check our bags. Hell, we even got our old seats back. When they didnt board at the expected time, they made an announcement that they were just recatering the flight for lunch instead of breakfast. Well, no HP flight ever left Boston that day. HP 30 minutes later announced that the flight was canceled, and that all passengers were being reaccomdated on their next flight, 4 hours later. To add insult to injury, they said First Class on the next flight was full, and all First passengers on the cancelled flight would be sitting in coach. No thank you.
At this point, the UA flight had left, and we were up ****s runway without a life raft (more on life rafts later). We quickly called the travel agent again, and they put us on an AA flight via ORD. So we went over to the HP baggage department to reclaim our bags (they came quicker this time). Checked in for the AA flight, but there was no boarding announcement. Saw crew and mechanics milling about the plane. It had begun to snow in Boston. We finally took off (late) and landed (very late). So late in fact, that we missed the AA connection in ORD. We learned (by using the aircraft phone to dial the 800 reservations #) that the next ORD-PHX flight was none other than an HP flight. What the hell. We checked in. At this point, we had no idea of the whereabouts of our luggage; we just prayed they would magically wind up in PHX.
During taxi of this HP flight, we noticed all the Flight Attendants huddling around the airplane door. The First Officer came out, and there was more commotion. Someone then screamed, dont touch that button, and the emergency evacuation slide was activated. At that point, we knew we had a post for FT. Tip: when the slide pops open, that there plane aint going nowhere for a looong time. We all deplaned once they towed us back to the gate, and we went to the HP counter to see how we were going to get to PHX. They had no answers, so we went over to UA ourselves, and asked if we could squeeze into their flight. They said sure, and low and behold, we boarded, took off and landed. We arrived 12 hours later than planned, and missed the entire day of meetings. But Ken and I had established a travel bond that will last several moons to come!
PS The bags made it to our hotel the next day. Miracles do happen, I guess.
Jun 5, 2001 | 3:14 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/1mm/Admirals,United Silver+Club (life),Marriott Titanium,Hilton & Accor Gold
Posts: 5,064
The slide deployed during taxi? Could you please provide more details on this whole incident from the time the door was closed...
Jun 6, 2001 | 6:39 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA & MCO
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP & UA Gold
Posts: 3,051
TWO,
The plane pushed back from the gate as normal, then stopped somewhere on the tarmac when I think the crew determined there was something wrong with the door. They all tried to push and pull buttons and levers (including the FO), when a loud wwwhhoooooooooosh was heard, and we all knew what had happened. We were in the last row of FC (HP really packs 'em in even in FC, by the way!).
The plane pushed back from the gate as normal, then stopped somewhere on the tarmac when I think the crew determined there was something wrong with the door. They all tried to push and pull buttons and levers (including the FO), when a loud wwwhhoooooooooosh was heard, and we all knew what had happened. We were in the last row of FC (HP really packs 'em in even in FC, by the way!).