200 UA passengers stranded for three days in PVG
Jul 13, 2012, 6:31 pm
#16
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Jul 13, 2012, 6:38 pm
#17
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Reminds me of the folks stranded in Alaska just a few months ago while they were en route to Shanghai:
Stranded in Alaska for two days by UAL - Advice?
Stranded in Alaska for two days by UAL - Advice?
Jul 13, 2012, 6:44 pm
#20
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The flight doesn't have to be canceled for passengers to be rebooked. Of course, finding seats these days on alternate routings is harder and harder as load factors trend higher and higher.
Jul 13, 2012, 7:31 pm
#21
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You also need agents willing to rebook. That can be more difficult to find than the space itself.
Jul 13, 2012, 7:47 pm
#22
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Lots of those passengers were on the PVG-ORD flight today. Being Friday the 13th though, that flight left an hour late, and then spent 1 1/2 hours waiting for a gate at O'Hare due to weather issues. Even people with 4 hour connections were left sweating it.
Ain't travel on UA these days glamorous?
Ain't travel on UA these days glamorous?
Jul 13, 2012, 8:54 pm
#23
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Lots of those passengers were on the PVG-ORD flight today. Being Friday the 13th though, that flight left an hour late, and then spent 1 1/2 hours waiting for a gate at O'Hare due to weather issues. Even people with 4 hour connections were left sweating it.
Ain't travel on UA these days glamorous?
Ain't travel on UA these days glamorous?
Jul 13, 2012, 9:15 pm
#24
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Jul 13, 2012, 11:27 pm
#25
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UA 777's have had maintenance performed at Ameco-Beijing since late 2005. That is a long way from Shanghai. Typically the qualified person is not the issue with field repairs, it is getting the correct parts on location.
Jul 13, 2012, 11:27 pm
#26
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Besides, the new UA has so much ill will to share that it's sad. Too bad they can't send an effective and honest e-mail communicating what's gone wrong and what they're going to do that actually can be measured against. You know, a real commitment.
Wait, that would mean that they'd be held accountable. Can't do that either.
David
Jul 14, 2012, 12:00 am
#27
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682 miles is a long way to you? In comparison, EWR-ORD is 719 miles.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=pvg-pek...SU=kts&RS=best
How many flights each day between PVG and PEK? Can't UA ship the necessary parts / personnel to PVG to fix the plane?
Oh, there is high speed train between the 2 cities too...
Jul 14, 2012, 12:52 am
#28
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As planemechanic mentioned the reason for extended mechanical delays in china is more often than not parts related. While AMECO handles heavy maintenance for UA international 777s, United has its own Chinese mechanics in both PEK and PVG who handle line maintenance. In Beijing they are supported by AMECO whereas in Shanghai they are supported by the Boeing maintenance facility at PVG.
The difficulty in maintaining appropriate parts inventory in China is exacerbated by the customs import process and expensive import tariffs. The fact that numerous 777s operate at PEK and PVG doesn't mean that they all use the same parts.
So assuming that the required part is not readily available inside China then it must go thru a long customs clearance process whether it comes from the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong or elsewhere. That may mean the required part may need to come from the U.S. and not be available for use in repairs for 48 hours plus after the initial problem is correctly diagnosed and appropriate corrective action is determined.
BTW this is true for international out stations for almost all carriers. It's simply to expensive to have backup aircraft and/or complete parts inventory for every long haul international flight available at out stations.
The difficulty in maintaining appropriate parts inventory in China is exacerbated by the customs import process and expensive import tariffs. The fact that numerous 777s operate at PEK and PVG doesn't mean that they all use the same parts.
So assuming that the required part is not readily available inside China then it must go thru a long customs clearance process whether it comes from the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong or elsewhere. That may mean the required part may need to come from the U.S. and not be available for use in repairs for 48 hours plus after the initial problem is correctly diagnosed and appropriate corrective action is determined.
BTW this is true for international out stations for almost all carriers. It's simply to expensive to have backup aircraft and/or complete parts inventory for every long haul international flight available at out stations.
Jul 14, 2012, 1:34 am
#29
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Have you checked your map?
682 miles is a long way to you? In comparison, EWR-ORD is 719 miles.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=pvg-pek...SU=kts&RS=best
How many flights each day between PVG and PEK? Can't UA ship the necessary parts / personnel to PVG to fix the plane?
Oh, there is high speed train between the 2 cities too...
682 miles is a long way to you? In comparison, EWR-ORD is 719 miles.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=pvg-pek...SU=kts&RS=best
How many flights each day between PVG and PEK? Can't UA ship the necessary parts / personnel to PVG to fix the plane?
Oh, there is high speed train between the 2 cities too...
Jul 14, 2012, 1:44 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 251
If the HouCrew can't be trusted not to strand people for days they shouldn't be allowed to operate an airline. This is not the first time this year.