Sue the Airline! That should stop the weather diversion!

[billvon 3,119]

>I well recall the time before the now ubiquitous telescoping "gate", when
>every flight involved getting on and off planes using stairs. I don't recall
>any prop strikes or other issues.

Right. They do it at the commuter terminal all the time in San Diego with a good record as well. It's not hard to do, you just have to have the people to do it - and keeping 10 people on standby in case you have to unload a few planes can be expensive. Not to say it's not doable, but it also means that passengers have to be willing to pay a bit extra to go with an airline willing to do that.

[Shotgun 1]

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As a "geezer", I well recall the time before the now ubiquitous telescoping "gate", when every flight involved getting on and off planes using stairs. I don't recall any prop strikes or other issues. And if GWB can handle it, I'm sure the rest of us could.

I've used outdoor stairs rather than a gate on a handful of flights in the last few years (including one a couple of weeks ago). I wasn't aware that it was a big deal to do this, and I never asked about the reasons; I just assumed that they didn't have a gate ready for whatever reason.

Oh, and I always have food and water in my carry-on bag, which I probably would have been quite happy about if I had been stuck on this particular flight (though I probably would have been pretty irritated about being stuck for that long).

[Andy9o8 2]

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Can people sue the litigators if prices go up?

I would certainly hope so.

[Katzeye 0]

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That, of course, will never, ever fly (no pun intended) because people will always choose the lowest price carrier no matter what.

Have to disagree here. I only fly now (because it's NO FUN to fly anymore) for work. As a government employee I have NO CHOICE in which airline I choose. I'm sure it's the same for a lot of business travelers, which are what - 65% of total flyers out there?

If only 35% of the airline consumers have a choice, then how can they make any kind of statement?

If you look at the industry as a whole, not just the incidents referenced in the articles, it has been in decline and very slowly recovering. The airlines can't even keep up with the 4% growth each year!

If I pay good money for a service, I expect good service. That is not too much to ask or receive.

Is a chicken omelette redundant?

[HeadCone 0]

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>Does Alaska airlines have a stated policy that says they'll let their
>passengers off the plane if it can't get off the ground within a certain time
>frame?

They say they will always delay boarding rather than get you on and have you wait, that they will get you off if no gate can be found within 90 minutes after arriving, and that they will service the aircraft every 90 minutes if you are stuck on the ground.

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/company/commitment/Customer-Service-Commitment_08.asp

Well, good on them for recognizing this as a problem and making an attempt to make their customers most comfortable.

I do point out, however, that they do leave open the possibility of a lengthy wait on the plane and do hint at there being a problem with the system as a whole:

"Air Traffic Control hold times can change significantly and a window of opportunity may open, so sometimes it makes sense to board the aircraft even though the anticipated delay may be an hour or more."

Of coarse that sounds like CYA text which would be smart to have in there.

--Head

--
Turn off the internet! Join Citizens United Negating Technology For Life And People's Safety!

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[billvon 3,119]

>I do point out, however, that they do leave open the possibility of
>a lengthy wait on the plane and do hint at there being a problem with the
>system as a whole:

Right. And honestly, if the two choices were canceling the flight (and leaving everyone in the comfort of the terminal) or taxiing out there and hoping for a clearance, often I'd rather taxi out.

[rehmwa 2]

people would be happier on flight holds if they just had decent housing and healthcare and admit to evolution

won't someone think of the children?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[billvon 3,119]

> people would be happier on flight holds if they just had decent
> housing and healthcare and admit to evolution

Only if there's a minute of prayer before getting on the plane. Atheists will be free to mumble "I am a godless atheist" (to alert potential wives/husbands) but must do so for the full minute.

[rehmwa 2]

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> people would be happier on flight holds if they just had decent
> housing and healthcare and admit to evolution

Only if there's a minute of prayer before getting on the plane. Atheists will be free to mumble "I am a godless atheist" (to alert potential wives/husbands) but must do so for the full minute.

that's a good point, it'll give the sex providers (I mean "customer service representatives") time to go get them seatbelt extensions.

Edit: something about the children

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Tink1717 2]

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These people have nothing better to bitch about.

Spoken like someone who's never been trapped on a plane on a runway for hours on end.

Skydivers don't knock on Death's door. They ring the bell and runaway... It really pisses him off.
-The World Famous Tink. (I never heard of you either!!)
AA #2069 ASA#33 POPS#8808 Swooo 1717

[Rookie120 0]

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Spoken like someone who's never been trapped on a plane on a runway for hours on end.

Spoken like someone who knows nothing about me.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[billvon 3,119]

>Spoken like someone who's never been trapped on a plane on a runway
>for hours on end.

I've been trapped on an airplane on the tarmac for hours on end, and I'm OK with it if it means possibly getting out. Heck, it saved my life once.

[kallend 2,150]

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>Spoken like someone who's never been trapped on a plane on a runway
>for hours on end.

I've been trapped on an airplane on the tarmac for hours on end, and I'm OK with it if it means possibly getting out. Heck, it saved my life once.

Surely it depends on how the "trap" is configured. I've sat on the taxiway in a 747 for 3 hours at LHR with no air conditioning or water (or other liquids) available. I consider that quite unacceptable.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[rehmwa 2]

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Surely it depends on how the "trap" is configured. I've sat on the taxiway in a 747 for 3 hours at LHR with no air conditioning or water (or other liquids) available. I consider that quite unacceptable.

I think a line is crossed when the term "overflowing toilets" comes into play.

But that's just me.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[airtwardo 7]

If I pay good money for a service, I expect good service. That is not too much to ask or receive.

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That one always cracks me up, 'good money'...

Flying a commercial airline is cheap travel for the masses.

It just a really fast BUS...and if you'll check the BUS FARES, you can often time fly to your destination for just about the same 'good money' as a bus ticket these days...and a fraction of what it would cost to drive.

The days of being 'pampered' with good food and good service are long gone....have a bag of peanuts and 1/2 a coke.

I fly almost every week, and yes at times it's frustrating, but the cost per mile as well as the time factor savings, dictate I suck it up and suffer through the transit.

Stuck on a plane for 4-5 hours...happened to me in Germany a few years back, yeah it's a pain...

...but I'm an ole guy and I remember the cross country vacations we use to take in an old unairconditioned Chrysler...made sitting in Hamburg a wet-dream ....wonder if I can sue my dad for not stoppin' at rest areas as much as I would have liked!

Maybe I'm more tolerant than some, but if I gotta sit in a too small chair for 5-6 hours to get to where the FUN is...strap me in...my priority is getting there safe, not getting my bottom powdered 'cause I'm not a comfy bear.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[wmw999 2,589]

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Maybe I'm more tolerant than some, but if I gotta sit in a too small chair for 5-6 hours to get to where the FUN is...strap me in...my priority is getting there safe, not getting my bottom powdered 'cause I'm not a comfy bear.

Twardo, you're something like 5'17" or something if I remember rightly. If anyone in this discussion has cause to complain about airline comfort it would be you.

OTOH, once the words "toilets overflowing" appear in the description, there'd better be machine guns and a revolution on the tarmac keeping the people in the airplane, because there's not a lot of other excuse...

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)