27 June - United SFO-HKG Flight Returning to SFO Due to Ill Passenger
#16
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP Gold75K
Posts: 850
http://www.adn.com/2012/03/20/238194...262-plane.html
SEA is at least one hour closer than SFO to both ANC and HKG. I wonder why they don't land here and fly up a crew from SFO in the meantime.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Seattle WA, USA
Programs: UA MP 1K 2MM
Posts: 527
The UA.com reports:
DEPARTS ARRIVES
City: San Francisco, CA (SFO) City: Hong Kong (HKG)
Gate:
Check-in Terminal:
Scheduled Time: 2:13 a.m. Scheduled Time: 6:15 p.m.
Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Estimated Time: 2:13 a.m. Estimated Time: 5:43 p.m
Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Now I think we have a couple of typos here since normally the flight leaves
just after 1:00 pm and arrives 6:15 pm the next day.
It appears that they will either refuel 869 and recrew it, and send it on
its way circa 2:13 am. Thursday morning; Arriving 5:43 pm on Thursday
evening would be quite impressive. Perhaps they mean some time on Friday morning early??
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Flyer 420
in Seattle
DEPARTS ARRIVES
City: San Francisco, CA (SFO) City: Hong Kong (HKG)
Gate:
Check-in Terminal:
Scheduled Time: 2:13 a.m. Scheduled Time: 6:15 p.m.
Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Estimated Time: 2:13 a.m. Estimated Time: 5:43 p.m
Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Now I think we have a couple of typos here since normally the flight leaves
just after 1:00 pm and arrives 6:15 pm the next day.
It appears that they will either refuel 869 and recrew it, and send it on
its way circa 2:13 am. Thursday morning; Arriving 5:43 pm on Thursday
evening would be quite impressive. Perhaps they mean some time on Friday morning early??
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Flyer 420
in Seattle
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,729
That's unfortunate that they have to turn around. I think they are trying to avoid a repeat of this scenario:
http://www.adn.com/2012/03/20/238194...262-plane.html
SEA is at least one hour closer than SFO to both ANC and HKG. I wonder why they don't land here and fly up a crew from SFO in the meantime.
http://www.adn.com/2012/03/20/238194...262-plane.html
SEA is at least one hour closer than SFO to both ANC and HKG. I wonder why they don't land here and fly up a crew from SFO in the meantime.
#20
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
If only the crew weren't going to time out...
I really can't decide how to feel about "no hotel in ANC, so we're going to SFO". On the one hand, I can't believe that there literally aren't 300 hotel rooms available in Anchorage right now. More likely, UA can't find one hotel with that many rooms and isn't prepared to strew pax all over the city. On the other hand... if there really aren't rooms, going to SFO beats the heck out of "Okay, everybody find a bench to sleep on in the airport."
Actually, I know how I feel. Glad I'm not in the OP's shoes.
I really can't decide how to feel about "no hotel in ANC, so we're going to SFO". On the one hand, I can't believe that there literally aren't 300 hotel rooms available in Anchorage right now. More likely, UA can't find one hotel with that many rooms and isn't prepared to strew pax all over the city. On the other hand... if there really aren't rooms, going to SFO beats the heck out of "Okay, everybody find a bench to sleep on in the airport."
Actually, I know how I feel. Glad I'm not in the OP's shoes.
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
At this point, some of the passengers probably have a "trip in vain" (such as for a business meeting) and they just want to get back home, and not to HKG. 300 clean mid-range or better hotel rooms the last week in June are just not going to happen. If the plane needs any real servicing, SFO is the place to be. Any crew issues? SFO is the place to be. Years ago, SEA would have been fine as UA had a large operation there.
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,816
#23
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
The UA.com reports:
DEPARTS ARRIVES
City: San Francisco, CA (SFO) City: Hong Kong (HKG)
Gate:
Check-in Terminal:
Scheduled Time: 2:13 a.m. Scheduled Time: 6:15 p.m.
Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Estimated Time: 2:13 a.m. Estimated Time: 5:43 p.m
Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Now I think we have a couple of typos here since normally the flight leaves
just after 1:00 pm and arrives 6:15 pm the next day.
It appears that they will either refuel 869 and recrew it, and send it on
its way circa 2:13 am. Thursday morning; Arriving 5:43 pm on Thursday
evening would be quite impressive. Perhaps they mean some time on Friday morning early??
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Flyer 420
in Seattle
DEPARTS ARRIVES
City: San Francisco, CA (SFO) City: Hong Kong (HKG)
Gate:
Check-in Terminal:
Scheduled Time: 2:13 a.m. Scheduled Time: 6:15 p.m.
Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Scheduled Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Estimated Time: 2:13 a.m. Estimated Time: 5:43 p.m
Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012 Estimated Date: Thu., Jun. 28, 2012
Now I think we have a couple of typos here since normally the flight leaves
just after 1:00 pm and arrives 6:15 pm the next day.
It appears that they will either refuel 869 and recrew it, and send it on
its way circa 2:13 am. Thursday morning; Arriving 5:43 pm on Thursday
evening would be quite impressive. Perhaps they mean some time on Friday morning early??
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Flyer 420
in Seattle
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I agree with the posters above me. I've been diverted twice on international flights for what were life threatening situations. Though I was inconvenienced greatly, I was thankful that I was not the reason for the diversion.
I don't think it is wise to blame the airline in this situation. Someday someone you know may be a situation where a plane he/she is on needs to be diverted. How would you feel if other passengers' first thoughts were about themselves in that situation?
I don't think it is wise to blame the airline in this situation. Someday someone you know may be a situation where a plane he/she is on needs to be diverted. How would you feel if other passengers' first thoughts were about themselves in that situation?
#25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
#26
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,703
So what would have been diffficult in flying onward to NRT a significant UA Base with perhaps enough hotels rooms for an overnight or maybe even a relief crew who were not out of hours. There might even have been available connection flights on CX/JL/NH/MH/DL
#27
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Near SEA
Programs: UA MM, AS MVPG75K, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,969
I imagine UA tries to avoid that type of diversion given there could be pax who do not have fee-free visa entry into Japan.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Anchorage, AK
Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G
Posts: 8,272
That's unfortunate that they have to turn around. I think they are trying to avoid a repeat of this scenario:
http://www.adn.com/2012/03/20/238194...262-plane.html
SEA is at least one hour closer than SFO to both ANC and HKG. I wonder why they don't land here and fly up a crew from SFO in the meantime.
http://www.adn.com/2012/03/20/238194...262-plane.html
SEA is at least one hour closer than SFO to both ANC and HKG. I wonder why they don't land here and fly up a crew from SFO in the meantime.
Last edited by l etoile; Jun 28, 2012 at 7:03 am Reason: Comment removed per tos
#29
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
It's likely they were trying to avoid a scenario like the one you (uwr) pointed out. At least in SFO some people would be home.
Last edited by l etoile; Jun 28, 2012 at 7:06 am Reason: Removed now-deleted quote
#30
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SFO, BDL
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, CX GR, Hilton Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 963
Did everyone on the flight have to go thru customs and immigration in ANC? The flight is showing as planned arrival into gate 84.
The flight is now showing as a 11:00am departure from SFO on 6/28/12 with a scheduled arrival of 4:00pm into HKG. UA896 HKG-ORD on 6/29 is now showing a 6hr 20min delay estimated departure of 5:30pm instead of 11:10am, arrival into ORD at 6:45pm instead of 12:50pm.
The flight is now showing as a 11:00am departure from SFO on 6/28/12 with a scheduled arrival of 4:00pm into HKG. UA896 HKG-ORD on 6/29 is now showing a 6hr 20min delay estimated departure of 5:30pm instead of 11:10am, arrival into ORD at 6:45pm instead of 12:50pm.
Last edited by USFdonWill; Jun 28, 2012 at 3:00 am Reason: additional info added