Video of meltdown at DCA

[US AIRWAYS FAN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCCItB7dC2M

Anyone have the details on this?

 

[YVINTERN]

And we're surprised that someone actually whined about this...They should have known it was going to be a huge mess. :down:

 

[Phoenix]

And we're surprised that someone actually whined about this...They should have known it was going to be a huge mess. :down:

Speaking of huge mess.. What was worse, the Washington Mall plagued by revelers or the Washington National Airport?
The video of trash

 

[nycbusdriver]

And we're surprised that someone actually whined about this...They should have known it was going to be a huge mess. :down:

I don't understand how there could have been such a meltdown. There are only so many flights we can operate from due to slots, and I imagine that is exactly how many we operate every day. If our load factors are always so good out of DCA, then having full planes should have only been a maybe a 20% increase.

That being said, the company KNEW that there would be 20% more people, so why didn't they plan a bit better? Do they have lines like this at DCA on the Sunday after Thanksgiving? Surely that day would have similar loads.

There must be more to this.

Of course, there's always the "dunce factor" with many people that probably never even been to an airport in their life. That would slow down the process considerably, especially at screening. But I don't even think this would explain the mess.

 

[N965VJ]

Wow, those are some PO’d Kettles. I'm sure a refreshing $2 coke will placate them on the ride home.

Speaking of huge mess.. What was worse, the Washington Mall plagued by revelers or the Washington National Airport?
The video of trash

That looks like a frozen version of Woodstock ’94.

 

[Dog Wonder]

At least they had traffic cones and crime scene tape on hand.

 

[nycbusdriver]

That looks like a frozen version of Woodstock ’94.

That the crowd left such a mess is pretty disgusting. However, I would like to have seen what the trash cans looked like. My experience with this type of thing is that the trash cans are overflowing in the first half hour of the event, never emptied at all during the event and then there's no choice as to where to put your trash.

 

[DCaf]

I don't understand how there could have been such a meltdown. There are only so many flights we can operate from due to slots, and I imagine that is exactly how many we operate every day. If our load factors are always so good out of DCA, then having full planes should have only been a maybe a 20% increase.

My guess would be that there were many more originating passengers flying out of DCA on the 21st. Usually the people connecting through DCA take the burden off the ATO and security and keep the LF up.

 

[USFlyer]

That the crowd left such a mess is pretty disgusting. However, I would like to have seen what the trash cans looked like. My experience with this type of thing is that the trash cans are overflowing in the first half hour of the event, never emptied at all during the event and then there's no choice as to where to put your trash.

DC removed most garbage cans years ago for security purposes.

 

[ALCARLOS]

The customers need to stop complaining and get a little physical with the USAir people.

 

[NiceLandingCaptain]

What? Were they expecting to have the new administration "take care of everything" for them?

Hey, it was rush hour - people were getting stuck in every big city in the land. Tuffski shitski.

Just another vid showing how easy it is to find someone to complain.

About anything.

At any time........

 

[NCFL]

Stories of people complaining about airlines sell newspapers. It's a cheap, easy way to fill up space.

But seriously, DID the company have that few people on duty? There are a limited number of skycap spaces, but were all hands on deck? Was every ticket counter position staffed? And if not, why? And what's the company's response to this video or the debacle?

Yes, we're a nation of whiners, but that's a long time to stand in line.

 

[Ramp Rogue]

If you don't like waiting in long lines at the airport, wake up early, get to the airport and be the first one in line! Don't like waking up early? Come to the airport the night before and camp out, that's what the smart non revs do.

Rogue

 

[BoeingBoy]

If you don't like waiting in long lines at the airport, wake up early, get to the airport and be the first one in line!

U.S. Airways notes there are a couple factors adding to the unprecedented long lines. Besides just a heavy volume of travelers, many people showed up five to six hours early, adding to the lines.

Alexander Hernandez of Portage, Ind., spent the night at the airport. The 22-year-old says he and others slept on top of heating vents and chairs. When he woke up at 7 a.m., there were lines snaking through the terminal.

Article

Jim

 

[LD3]

No other airlines had problems? BULL...this was a whipping post from the start...