Best "excuses" for a delay
Sep 18, 2007 | 5:18 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Plat, *A Gold (all peacefully retired)
Posts: 623
How about this one on a Newark to Boston flight:
"We will be delayed 2 hours due to air traffic congestion because of the good weather"
It was a gorgeous day, and I don't know if the GA was being sarcastic or not.
"We will be delayed 2 hours due to air traffic congestion because of the good weather"
It was a gorgeous day, and I don't know if the GA was being sarcastic or not.
Sep 18, 2007 | 3:09 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: AA CK; BA Gold; Hyatt Globalist; Bonvoy LTT; IHG Plat; Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,220
Mine was also my scariest flying experience. I was flying from Sochi, Russia to St. Petersburg on what was probably some piece of junk Tupolev on always scary Aeroflot. Our first delay was because the pilot couldn't find the keys to the cabin door. Yeah, the door actually took a regular key. After we all boarded, they couldn't get the cabin door to latch shut. They called out a mechanic who proceeded to pound and reshape the door frame with a hammer, alternatively trying to pull it closed until it would latch. Once he was satisfied, he gave us the clearance to take off. I was sitting across from that door. My seatbelt was on extra tight that entire flight.
Ground handling, however, is still not 100% with them.
Sep 18, 2007 | 3:21 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,779
In my old days working at PE, we had a Captain who would say during a delay "We are going to be a few minutes late getting out of here. The machine that breaks the wheels and handles on your luggage is broken and we have to do it by hand." It would usually get a chuckle and then he would offer the usual thunderstorm ATC hold.
"Folks, we are delayed leaving the gate because the automatic bag smashing machine has broken down, and they're having to smash all the bags by hand".
With the demise of PSA maybe it was the same guy.
Sep 18, 2007 | 3:33 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: NYC/MIA/DFW
Programs: Aadvantage
Posts: 157
I was flying on a RJ and we had to wait because the toilet was broken. Our flight was only about an hour long, but it took a good hour and a half to fix the toilet. I am not sure why they made sure the toilet was fixed. The flight was an hour, but they made us wait in the plane for an hour and a half to fix it.
Sep 19, 2007 | 11:44 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, HHonors Diamond VIP
Posts: 48
Sep 20, 2007 | 5:08 am
#39
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: SPG Gold; PC RA Plat; UA 1P
Posts: 260
It is not statistical and purely based on my experience but 'weather' delays have increased exponentially in the last ten years of my flying experience...I used to get comped hotels and meals due to mechanical problems etc...now EVERY single delay I have had in the last 5 years (I'd say and avg avg 20-30 overnight delays a year) has been 'weather' magically absolving the airline of any requirements of assistance...funny how that works.
Sep 20, 2007 | 6:15 am
#40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: bouncing around
Posts: 1,274
Earlier this year my SAN-SFO flight rolled up to the gate, but there's another plane there. We waited about 45 minutes for our gate to finally clear. The reason was that luggage sorting system broke, and the departing flights can't get their proper luggages. Thus they can't leave.
Sep 20, 2007 | 9:35 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: Air Canada Elite, United 1K, Continental Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 77
I once flew Spirit from ISP to RSW. We were delayed by at least three hours because Spirit FORGOT TO SCHEDULE FLIGHT ATTENDENTS.
I don't know what's worse, them doing that, or actually being dumb enough to admit it. I loudly enquired if the same person scheduled their maintenance, but for some reason didn't get an answer.
I don't know what's worse, them doing that, or actually being dumb enough to admit it. I loudly enquired if the same person scheduled their maintenance, but for some reason didn't get an answer.
Sep 20, 2007 | 4:04 pm
#42
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: YHM
Programs: AC, US
Posts: 224
Does anybody remember Lawnchair Larry (1982)? He's the guy who stocked his lawnchair with a six-pack of miller light, a CB radio, and a pellet gun. He then proceeded to attach approx 40 helium weather balloons to his lawnchair, and released himself into the sky.....he went up to 16,000 feet and in the process, crossed the primary approach path to LAX....
I'd have to imagine that a plane or two had to be re-sequenced by ATC due to his stunt....I can hear it now...."Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.....it appears we'll be getting to the gate around 15 minutes later than expected. We were cut-off by some guy in a helium-balloon equipped lawnchair and ATC is resequencing us as a result...."
I'd have to imagine that a plane or two had to be re-sequenced by ATC due to his stunt....I can hear it now...."Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.....it appears we'll be getting to the gate around 15 minutes later than expected. We were cut-off by some guy in a helium-balloon equipped lawnchair and ATC is resequencing us as a result...."
Sep 20, 2007 | 4:13 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC, National Exec
Posts: 6,736
Same thing happened to me, but with AA at BDA. Flight from NYC blew three tires on landing, they only had two spares on the island. Had to wait for a flight the next day to bring in a third spare so plane could return to NYC. An extra day on the beach, on AA's dime, was not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination.
Sep 20, 2007 | 4:16 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,694
DL in ANC July 9, 2007. "We are sorry but your flight will be delayed by 12 hours. We have a faulty window & need to fly in a mechanic from SLC to fix it."
AS 20 minutes out of SEA Aug. 12, 2007. 20 minutes into the flight we turn back due to an electrical problem that "Isn't a problem now but could become one before we reach ANC". Pilot made it sound like it was noticed before takeoff & they then did not want to take a chance.
AS 20 minutes out of SEA Aug. 12, 2007. 20 minutes into the flight we turn back due to an electrical problem that "Isn't a problem now but could become one before we reach ANC". Pilot made it sound like it was noticed before takeoff & they then did not want to take a chance.
Sep 20, 2007 | 10:35 pm
#45
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA EXP, 1 MM, AC, HH Diamond, Marriott Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 4,010
How about British Airways at Johannesburg--gate agents and the pilot both say the plane was parked at a stand where it could not be fueled, so they had to move. One hour and 15 minute delay, causing a misconnect at LHR.
Still don't think I believe that one.
Still don't think I believe that one.