Airlines Must Let Paxs Off Stuck Planes

[anewunion]

How bout we fix the ATC problem, and no one will wait 3 hrs...

 

[Scope out RJ's]

How bout we fix the ATC problem, and no one will wait 3 hrs...

How dare you make complete sense!
Isn't it more feasable to keep the current system in place and tie up the court systems with more frivilous lawsuits?

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

How about we stop cramming a plus-size ladies into size-3 dresses.

Wait - I mean how about we stop cramming 1,000 daily operations into airports designed for 500?

(If only there was a way to get more people onto fewer planes. . . hmmmmm.)

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

If you have to take a pilot or a mechanic and push an empty plane back OFF the gate and hard-stand it, then do it. If you can't, get the air stairs that EVERY airport keeps on-property for jetbridge breakdowns and walk them in.

Maybe each airline/aiport should have X number of airstairs per plane.

Every airport has to have emergency plans in place for fires, tornadoes, etc. Maybe they should have a contingency plan for offloading passengers/crews. It could be a designated overflow parking area, or whatever, where buses can be escorted. Maybe it's just a spot at the end of the terminal where the plane parks momentarily to offload. It's not that complicated is it?

Airlines don't do anything unless the alternatives cost less. If a fine is more expensive than having to put in effect a plan, then the choice is obvious.

 

[General Lee]

Passengers will love it when at 2:59 we have to go back to the gate and CNX the flight, and then they have to find a hotel room on their dime since the flight is now cancelled due to WX. Hilarious.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[livin'thesim]

Well, the airlines did this to themselves by failing to plan for contingencies.

After the DTW debacle a few years ago, and the more recent examples, they have used up multiple chances to be proactive.

Now, the reactionary government will force the issue.

Well, they had ample warning.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Well, the airlines did this to themselves by failing to plan for contingencies.

After the DTW debacle a few years ago, and the more recent examples, they have used up multiple chances to be proactive.

Now, the reactionary government will force the issue.

Well, they had ample warning.

Good point, there are few examples of airports that can facilitate off-loading of passengers without a jetway.

Washington-Dulles is sort of unique with their "Planemate" vehicles. The vehicles are operated by the airport authority, so no single airline can stake claim to their use. (i.e. Mesaba supposedly barring that Expressjet flight from using their gate.) A lot of aircraft can be parked on a remote pad, and shuttled directly from the aircraft to the terminal.

It probably wouldn't be a terrible idea for some of the major hubs to have a couple of these vehicles and a docking door on the terminal for when things get really bad. At least this way you can get folks back to the terminal without a dedicated jetway and having to move aircraft all around.
Likewise, it could offer a way to allow people wishing to deplane a ride back to the terminal without having to take the aircraft all the way back terminal, and allowing others to stay on board while the plane waits in line.

 

[Lear70]

Well, the airlines did this to themselves by failing to plan for contingencies.

After the DTW debacle a few years ago, and the more recent examples, they have used up multiple chances to be proactive.

Now, the reactionary government will force the issue.

Well, they had ample warning.

That's essentially it.

If the airlines would respond by putting a REASONABLE contingency plan into place, say at 6 hours, hard limit, and show that every airport they served had the equipment and procedures to do it, they could probably effectively lobby to repeal this latest move by the Obama administration.

Otherwise, if they won't, then they can just be stuck with it. Something had to be done...

 

[Turtle21]

Costs will go up because of this little gem. Question is: Who's gonna pay for it?

The FOs and FAs sitting reserve. :laugh:

 

[jonjuan]

How about we stop cramming a plus-size ladies into size-3 dresses.

Watch it, or Mrs. Lee will accuse you of slander.

 

[scoreboardII]

...............................................delete

 

[IBNAV8R]

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith, we are REQUIRED to return to the gate now after a three hour delay."
"Yes sir, I understand your flight was next in line for departure, but our hands our tied. What can I say?"
"Of course we can rebook you on the next available flight. And it looks like everything is oversold until next Tuesday."
I'm sorry, sir. If you don't mind waiting, I can confirm you on a flight back to your home city on Saturday. "

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith, we CANNOT to return to the gate now after a SIX hour delay."
"Yes sir, I understand your flight was CANCELED, but our hands our tied. What can I say?"
"Of course we can rebook you on the next available flight WHEN WE MAKE IT BACK TO THE GATE." etc.



Yep, I can see it both ways. However, it was in the airline's powers to prevent this, but they crossed their fingers and hoped that an occasional lawsuit would be cheaper than fixing things.

For all of you that say this is stupid, when is the cut-off? 6 hours? 10? 16? Up to the PIC? Well, pilots have tried to handle this, and in some cases have forced their way through the BS, and in some cases not. Without any penalties and regs, it's much easier for the company to ignore the bad PR for a few months.

 

[CaptJax]

Ryanair Paxs Denied Water In Five Hour Delay

Ryanair passengers denied water in a five hour delay

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) on Dec 28th 2009 at 9:00AM
Ryanair passengers stuck for five hours on the tarmac at London Stansted last Monday were given ice cubes to fight the stuffy, hot conditions. Just the cubes. Suck on that.

Six inches of snow fell tauntingly outside as passengers cooked, free of air conditioning, and flight attendants claimed that it was against regulations for them to hand out water.

"A Ryanair spokesman claimed that cabin staff could not open the bar while the aircraft was on the ground due to 'Inland Revenue laws'. The Air Transport Users' Council, the aviation watchdog, disputes this, adding that there is no law to prevent staff from handing out a few free cups of water," reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Irish airline is famous for cutting every corner to ensure low prices, including Michael O'Leary's pay-to-pee plan, charging for infants who sit on your lap, and hidden fees which make your total price a lot higher than you had anticipated when you clicked on that low fare.

Refusing to serve water to anyone for five hours on a hot, grounded airplane, when the water was certainly available, in this blogger's opinion, ought to be treated as a crime. Imagine sitting for five hours in a stifling plane, asking for water, and the flight attendant telling you "no." Imagine them saying "no" to your grandmother and your kids. I can't believe there wasn't a mutiny.