John Walton From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 117 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 842 times:
Hey
Last August I was delayed 4 hours on a flight to Arrecife from NCL (UK).
The delay started when the aircraft (752) was being moved from a remote stand to the departure gate where we would board. Pretty simple, you'd think? Except the plane was reversed into a metal crash barrier, and the back of the airplane began to peel away (like a sardine can being opened). We had to wait for another aircraft from LGW.
It got me thinking, what are the worst reasons for any delays you've had?
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 2810 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 759 times:
I have had 4 major delays. In 1986 my Eastern flight from ATL to RIC was delayed by 4 hours due to an electrical storm which prevented the jetways from being used for over an hour. My flight into ATL from MIA was thus stuck on the ground for that hour before we were able to disembark. The chaotic situation that followed meant many flights ran late and my flight finally departed at 2330HR.
In 1995 my LIAT flight from BGI to POS was delayed by 2 and a half hours. I boarded the Dash 8 plane but just as the engines were started a hydraulic leak was noted and the engines were stopped and the pax asked to disembark. The flight, which was supposed to leave at 0810HR left at 1040HR as another Dash 8 was diverted from SLU.
In 2000 Air Jamaica cancelled my flight from KIN to POS but I was never notified - in fact the flight was listed as delayed when I checked in and got my boarding pass. 2 hours later I was informed of the cancellation, returned my luggage and sent to BWIA to get flight 415. That would therefore be a total delay of 6 hours as JM 094 was scheduled to depart KIN at 0805HR but BW 415 ended up leaving at 1400HR.
This was by far my worst delay.
My most recent delay hit my BA flight from LGW to TAB last month. The plane for the service (777-236ER) was late in arriving from another city and hence the 2 hour delay. The flight was supposed to leave at 1310HR but instead left at 1511HR. That was not so bad as I got to check out the duty free and see some plane movements from there.
Trintocan.
p.s. Destinations mentioned:
RIC - Richmond, VA
BGI - Barbados
POS - Port of Spain
SLU - St. Lucia
KIN - Kingston
TAB - Tobago
Fanofjets From United States, joined Apr 2000, 1730 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 711 times:
The most lame excuse for a delay I encountered was while I was waiting for a routine one-hour USAir flight from PIT to EWR. First, we were told that our plane wasn't at the gate (a fact which was obvious to me and my fellow passengers staring out the window at the air bridge leading to nowhere) but the aircraft would be found. I lose my car keys all the time, but how do you lose a DC-9? After an hour and a half, our plane was located, and we were herded to the end of the pier, where sure enough a two-holer was waiting patiently. But why are we not boarding? We were told that the USAir couldn't find the crew, and that another was on its way!
The aeroplane has unveiled for us the true face of the earth. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10017 posts, RR: 29 Reply 5, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 686 times:
Worst:
1989, Aeroflot. Fuelleak on the way turned a scheduled 1 hour stop into a 20 hour wait for spare parts. There were over a dozen aircraft parked at the ramp that could have taken us on.
1997, KLM. Last flight from LHR to AMS. No announcement of delay until 2 hours after scheduled departure (on a 1 hour flight). An hour after that, we were told the aircraft had broken down in AMS and we would have to wait for the first flight of the next day.
Turbulence From Spain, joined Nov 1999, 963 posts, RR: 29 Reply 6, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 668 times:
The worst reason is whichever not due to the airplane.
1.- Whoever comes into Europe not directly (flights with stopovers or plane changes are cheaper...) do not do it on Iberia or via Madrid, even in other companies.
Barajas Airport cannot handle with all its traffic and delays between 20 and 50 mins are not rare (I would even say "quite usual"). Even if it costs a few more bucks, fly via AMS, BRU, CDG/ORY, LHR/LGW/LUT/STD, MUC/FRA, OPO/LIS, BCN/SCQ, LIN/MXP/FCO: you won't risk so much missing your connection
2.- Once flying back home from Brazil (Salvador de Bahia-SSA) the following happened:
We had boarded on the scheduled time. But we were waiting and waiting on the platform for longer than one hour, being told us several times about traffic limitations (traffic limitations, with a take off every 30 minutes, in a small airport like SSA, at 01:30am?)
All this time, one of the passengers just two rows behind me, was shouting loud: "this is a $h!t, we're brazilians paying our taxes and this $*ck!ng $h!tplane does not move, we payed for our tickets and wanna reach to our destination" and so on.
After one hour and ten minutes waiting, two men came into the airplane, and asked that passenger his passport.
Do you know what? Just UPON BOARDING, that silly man went DIRECTLY to the lavatory for smoking. The captain called, not the Airport, City Hall, or State police, but THE FEDERAL police. Smoking on Brazilian registered airplanes, no matter where they are at any moment, is a federal offence. They took him out the plane, and everybody started to clap hands and cheer.
We left Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhães Int'l Apt 1hour 20 mins delayed, but captain sped up the thing, or was aware of tail winds so did not mind about the late departure: we arrived to BCN ON TIME!!!
BTW:
I consider fair to explain, although out of topic, that the airport used to be called "Dois de Julho". July 2nd is the creation of the state of Bahia, so has a historical meaning. Luis Eduardo Magalhães did nothing else but die young -it is said that due to drug abuse- being the son of the state Governor: ACM (Antonio Carlos Magalhães) changed the names of a lot of things like parks, squares, avenues, schools, museums, etc., some of them of historical importance, like culture people or historical dates. Bahians used to say that if longer time passed he would have even changed the name of the State of Bahia or the city of Salvador (or BOTH!!!) into Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhães.
VASP used to have 9 M11s: PP-SFA, SFD, SOW, SOZ, SPD, SPE, SPK, SPL & SPM. Only two of them had given names:
PP-SFD was named after the protector Saint of Brazil: Nossa Senhora Aparecida.
Airtransam From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 641 times:
I was flying on a Air Transit flight from Toronto to Las Vegas, we were delayed 8hrs because they said that one of their other aircraft which was suppose to do another route was mechanical so they took our aircraft and used it, and delayed us because they said that our flight to Las Vegas was not full and they did not want to delay the other flight which was full. But hey we got $5 dollar meal voucher that day....which basically just covered to a buy a coffee and a donut!! I will never fly Air Transit again...our return flight home was delayed 2.5hrs they said that they had strong head winds. Worst flight ever on Air Transit based in Montreal Canada. But hey the tickets were dirt cheap and what else can u really expect from a low-cost charter.
Airlinelover From United States, joined Jun 2001, 5580 posts, RR: 45 Reply 10, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 632 times:
Superfly- That's bad. Real bad.
I had to wait overnight in TPA for my TPA-DTW flight becuase NW had to fly a part in from DTW..
Chris
Lets do some sexy math. We add you, subtract your clothes, divide your legs and multiply
Bunga777 From United States, joined Oct 1999, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 618 times:
I was sitting on a TWA flight from STL to PHL for 2 hours because the pilot never showed up. It took them a while for them to find a replacement. Felt really bad for the co-pilot...
EIPremier From United States, joined Sep 2000, 1523 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 612 times:
It was a good reason, but a stupid mistake!
I was waiting at SJC for my flight to SEA and they were towing the airplane over from the international/customs area. Anyway, at some point during this process, the tow bar broke! The tug driver stopped, the contract/trained guy in the pilot's seat did not know what was going on, and the jet slammed into the tug, resulting in major structural damage to the nose area, on the right side.
Jcxp15 From United States, joined Jun 2001, 984 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 611 times:
About 3 weeks ago from ATL to PNS, we were delayed, sitting in the hot a/c for over 1 hour, because our plane was too heavy. There were about 40 sailors on board, with 80-100 lb bags each, and this was not figured into the aircrafts weight. They ended up having to tell people (assumingly non revs) to get off the plane.
LMML 14/32 From Malta, joined Jan 2001, 2353 posts, RR: 15 Reply 14, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I was on a plane from MCO to LGW on a defunct British Charter Airline - CalAir (later NovAir - code EN). The plane was a DC-10-10. One pap simply refused to board the aircraft when she was just inches away. To cut a long story short, we were delayed 4 hours. The aircraft had to be towed to a remote area of MCO for a baggage ID. I will spare you the details of the pilot's announcement. But this woman deserved every word. I think the pilot got an applause too.
Aznjapken From United States, joined May 2001, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 605 times:
This isnt really a worst reason for a delay but it sucked:
We were going from PDX to STL on AA with a stop-over in DFW. Well we boarded the plane, and went onto the taxiway and because of a bad storm, we waited, got de-iced, waited, got de-iced, and so on. After 4 hours on the tarmac, they finally told us that they were cancelling the flight, and I had to spend the night on the floor in the terminal...not very fun. TWA flew us to STL the next morning.
Jetset From Canada, joined Jun 2001, 317 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 605 times:
place ..... egpf
airline .... royal airlines
reason ... our l1011 was u/s (engine change)
length .... almost 3 days
i guess royal never heard of chartering out to someone else to bring us home.then the nerve when we arrive in toronto to have an agent at the gate with 100.00 dollar bills (1 to each pax) for shut-up money.what an outfit.like there was no other aircraft available in the world to get us home.how they lasted as long as they did beats me ......
Ironminds From Australia, joined Apr 2001, 556 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 581 times:
I've been delayed all over the place and usually just chill out at the bar or something if I'm still on the ground...but the most annoying are ones due to ground traffic delays.
Last November I had come in on US Air to LGA at about midnight (we were late already) and we taxied to our gate, but couldn't get into our gate because they couldn't get an air tug to pull the other plane away. Now THAT was frustrating.
Funniest delay I heard about (since I wasn't on board) involved a Swissair flight leaving from JFK that couldn't make it because the pilot had gotten arrested committing a "lewd act" in a Central Park restroom! HA!
Gibberish From Switzerland, joined Sep 2000, 424 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 536 times:
I just got back from Berlin and we had a minor delay with the reson being "thorough passport control through the authorities at TXL , therefor some pax have not yet boarded". The flight was SR 599, leaving for Zurich at 0720 on an A319.
Madhatter From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 221 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 520 times:
I think the worst delay is when you are never told how long the delay is. It was in Aug 1999 and I was waiting to come home from Paphos with my family. the flight was supposed to be taking off at 20.20. It was a Caledonian Tristar leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic. We arrived at the airport and it said on the board it was taking off at 23.45. Well this kept being delayed more and more. Eventually it landed at 00.45 but then it sat on the ground till 02.45 as it had to negotiate landing slots at Gatwick as we were going to land when all the intercontinental flights from US and Asia were going to be using the airspace in Europe and around London. Eventually we took off at 04.10. Only 8 hours late and they didnt even apologise for the delay or offer a round of free drinks. Thank god theyre no longer an airline!!
GKirk From United Kingdom (Scotland), joined Jun 2000, 23839 posts, RR: 69 Reply 22, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 515 times:
Lets see, I was stuck in TFS waiting for a MON A300 to MAN. 7 Hours delay, because the plane was stuck in Florida.
Stuck at NCL this year because of the coach strikes in Menorca.
When you hear the noise of the Tartan Army Boys, we'll be coming down the road!
Astra-Lena From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 509 times:
I had a similar one to that when I was flying from Manchester (UK) to the States last year. We were all on the plane, ready for an undelayed departure, when one of those little luggage carrier buggies crashed into the hold door. We all had to get off the plane and spend another five hours at the airport spending our complimentary food vouchers whilst it was being repaired!
Astra-Lena From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 508 times:
Oh yeah, and they lost the Captain once too - mind you, that would have been pretty funny - if we hadn't of been stuck at the gate for another hour and a half!
Pgh234 From United States, joined Jul 2001, 719 posts, RR: 1 Reply 25, posted (8 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 500 times:
I once was on the ground waiting for a US Airways MCO-PIT flt. that was delayed for over 5 hours. We were suppose to leave at 7:20 PM but didn't get off the ground until 12:30 AM. There was no reason for the delay. The weather was perfect, the plane was there, the crew was there. Everyone demanded a reason for the delay but they never gave one. They couldn't make up an excuse to give us.
pgh234
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