Local news reports passengers stuck on plane in PHL

[usairways85]

I think showing a movie is key in the situation, at least it keeps the paxs occupied somewhat. Although i can't imagine being on aircraft with no IFE.

 

[NCFL]

Whether we're talking 6.5, 5.5 or 5.433 hours, all of those are long chunks of time to be stuck on a B734...the Conestoga Wagon of the Skies.

It's not as simple as some people think to just "get some airstairs" and deplane customers. If the aircraft is on an active taxiway, that has to be considered. Efforts must be coordinated between US, FAA and City of PHL (good luck with the latter).

At an RJ/Express gate, things are set up to deplane on the tarmac. Out in the middle of the airfield, that is a different story.

Also, PHL is so short on space that the whole place is, in essence, a one-way, one-lane street. Airplanes get into a conga line and cannot move until the one ahead of them moves.

 

[allstrike]

i was working flt 1061 phl-fll. 757-200. we were stuck on the tarmac for 5 1/2 hrs. the crew did an amazing job. we showed 3 movies gave out water every 30 minutes and handed out snacks.

Hero's all Of You

 

[JayBrian]

Royal Air Maroc 14 hours and Cathay Pacific 9 1/2 hours.

This will get US Airways off the front page fast.



http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070318/D8NU8VAG0.html

 

[BuffaloJoe]

About 1,000 spend night at Philly airport amid ice storm
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA - About 1,000 people stranded overnight at Philadelphia International Airport tried to fly out Saturday, the day after some of them spent hours on the tarmac during an ice storm.

The mixture of sleet, snow, freezing rain and ice that pummeled the city Friday forced the cancellation of most of the 1,200 daily flights in and out of Philadelphia, said airport spokeswoman Phyllis Van Istendal. Nearby hotels filled up by mid-afternoon, she said.

"They've got 1,000 people in here with lines that are going nowhere," Howard Popper of Philadelphia told KYW-AM on Saturday morning. "There's no organization. There's nobody that cares."
Passengers on 15 US Airways flights sat on the Philadelphia tarmac for more than four hours Friday. The airline, the airport's predominant carrier, said customers on those planes would be rebooked and offered a $400 travel voucher. The airline also said travelers that couldn't travel at a later time would receive a full refund.
The storm lingered longer, and left more ice, than expected, he said.

"By the time they were going to abandon the flight, then it's a matter of trying to find a gate," Christie said.

US Airways operations resumed in Philadelphia on Saturday with sporadic delays, he said.

 

[BoeingBoy]

US Airways operations resumed in Philadelphia on Saturday with sporadic delays, he said.

I'd love to know where this Christie guy is located. Only 3% of US mainline departures from PHL were OT Saturday, according to FlightStats.com. Overall, East mainline departures were OT only 14% - IIRC, the same as the first day of the res system change-over.

He's also the guy who reportedly said "The weather is fine for flying" not that long before US asked the FAA to stop all departures for PHL on Friday.

Jim

 

[BuffaloJoe]

He's also the guy who reportedly said "The weather is fine for flying" not that long before US asked the FAA to stop all departures for PHL on Friday.

Jim

Why did US have to ask the FAA to stop the departures to PHL? Isn't US capable of doing that in-house?

 

[BoeingBoy]

As dispatcher could say for sure, but I suspect it is more expeditious. ATC can get the word out to all the airports at once.

Jim

 

[RowUnderDCA]

As dispatcher could say for sure, but I suspect it is more expeditious. ATC can get the word out to all the airports at once.

Jim

oh please, LCC asks the FAA so the employees can say the FAA is preventing the operation.

 

[SKY HIGH]

First thanks to the crew, GREAT JOB!
The really sad thing is as I'm reading all of this and the first thought that ran through my head was, "Oh, God!!! Can't have this, caring about customers is against policy, they'll all get fired"

sky high states: ICE PELLETS started early morning and NEVER stopped into late evening. The real hero's through this madness were the AGENTS who worked the gates and Special Service desks. I watched an agent work her podium for over 12 HOURS. Her line of passengers NEVER stopped. Hundreds and hundreds of passengers waiting on line to be re-accomodated and late into the night, sleeping on the airport floor.
Also, in Charlotte, the agents had to deal with the new computer system going "down." Couldnt help anyone when they needed it the most. NO ACCESS to anything on the computer. You just had to shake your head and have sympathy for them.
Getting ahold of "systems" was near impossible. But, I have to say, when we did, they re-routed, re-scheduled the best they could. Thanks, everyone, in systems!

.........Staffing is KEY during these situations. Especially the day after, to deal with all the cancelled people. I hated seeing these tired, upset passengers having to wait on lines that were "hundreds of yards" long OUTSIDE IN THE COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STAFF CORRECTLY!!!!!.........EVERYWHERE!!!!!!
Make Management come in, work the counters, gates, ramp along side their co-workers. Make it MANDATORY!

The last two days was a "jetblue" meltdown for USAirways.

only stating opinions.

 

[wench1]

Right from CAT CREW Flight 1877:
Sched: PHL-PBI 1000 1255 734
Actual😛HL-PHL
1030 1556 734 AIRCRAFT # 0424

I feel bad for these people missing their cruises. It was just on CBS3. I always go 2 days ahead of time when going on vacation. Needless to say 6.5 hours is excessive. As I have witnessed in PHL no one can make a decision. It's like the managers are in a Marx Brothers skit.

Keystone Cops more like it.