47 spend 'surreal' 6 hours on grounded plane...

[Ceasar]

This crap needs to stop! Holding people against their will for 6 hours under any other circumstance is kidnapping. They are doing this to keep from paying overtime! Rediculas!



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_nightmare_flight
MINNEAPOLIS – By its sixth hour sitting on a deserted tarmac, Continental Express Flight 2816 had taken on the smell of diapers and an overwhelmed lone toilet.

What should have been a 2 1/2-hour trip from Houston to Minneapolis had moved into its ninth hour, and the 47 passengers on board had burned through the free pretzels and drinks handed out early in their Friday night flight from Houston.

Passengers on another flight that had been diverted to the airport in Rochester, Minn., because of storms were allowed to disembark and were put on a bus that would take them the 85 miles to Minneapolis. And the terminal, where passengers could at least stretch their legs, breathe fresh air and use the vending machines, was a mere 50 yards away.

But it wasn't until 6 a.m. Saturday — six hours after landing — that Flight 2816's passengers were allowed out of the plane.

"It was almost a surreal quality that kind of developed during the night," passenger Link Christin said. "It felt like you were trapped in a cave underground."

In the end, it took 12 hours and a new flight crew for Flight 2816 to complete its journey. There have been longer waits on airport tarmacs in recent years — passengers on a February 2007 JetBlue flight waited 11 hours at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport — but the Flight 2816 delay gives the airline industry another black eye and could give a lift to legislation aimed at preventing such nightmare scenarios.

Continental Airlines on Monday deferred most questions to ExpressJet Airlines, the regional carrier that operated the flight. But Continental did issue an apology to passengers, calling it "completely unacceptable" and offering refunds and vouchers for future travel.

Flight 2816 left Houston at 9:23 p.m. Friday, scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis by midnight. Instead, severe weather forced air controllers to divert the plane south to Rochester, where it landed after midnight.

In Minneapolis, Continental's dispatchers decided to wait out the storms rather than cancel the flight and bus passengers the remaining 85 miles.

Christin said a female voice shouted back asking if anyone wanted a drink.

"And for the next five hours, there was no offer of drink or food," said Christin, a St. Paul resident returning from visiting his father.

[avergbear]

What we need in this country is Government Run Universal Air Travel.

[Ceasar]

After the 2nd or 3rd hour, I would have called the police & complained of being held on a plane against my will.

[avergbear]

After the 2nd or 3rd hour, I would have called the police & complained of being held on a plane against my will.

That was a bad situation. The airline should be held accountable.

[sgtmac_46]

What we need in this country is Government Run Universal Air Travel. The funniest part is that there are probably some clowns on here seriously thinking just that........without realizing many of the problems we currently have are PRECISELY because of government involvement.

[sgtmac_46]

After the 2nd or 3rd hour, I would have called the police & complained of being held on a plane against my will.

Yeah, but the TSA would have probably put you on the watch list.

[angelicmadrigal]

I'm still not understanding why the people had to stay on the plane exactly.

[Quid]

I'm still not understanding why the people had to stay on the plane exactly.

To retain freshness.


:lol:

[King Cantona]

The funniest part is that there are probably some clowns on here seriously thinking just that........without realizing many of the problems we currently have are PRECISELY because of government involvement.

Well on an unrelated matter, in the 80s Thatcher deregulated the railways in Britain and immediately the price of tickets went up and they became VERY unreliable...

I'm not the only one that misses the old days of BR (British Rail)....

Though I'm certainly not advocating that for air travel, I like the competition that makes flying affordable....

[MrShotShot]

What kinds of idiot sits there for 6 hours. Call 911 - I've been kidnapped. Call you attorney. Call the press.

[Samm]

Yeah, but the TSA would have probably put you on the watch list.

No problem... I would probably have never gotten on another plane again anyway.

Whomever made the call that they could not enter the terminal because TSA had gone home for the night should be fired. TSA does not inspect disembarking passengers.

[Creefer]

What kinds of idiot sits there for 6 hours. Call 911 - I've been kidnapped. Call you attorney. Call the press.

No, you fake an medical situation that can't be disproven. Claustrophopic anxiety attack or something.

[Samm]

Well on an unrelated matter, in the 80s Thatcher deregulated the railways in Britain and immediately the price of tickets went up and they became VERY unreliable...

I'm not the only one that misses the old days of BR (British Rail)....

Though I'm certainly not advocating that for air travel, I like the competition that makes flying affordable....

The parallel with US Airlines is valid. Under regulation the airline industry ran very well... thrived actually. Air travel was enjoyable and predictable. But like the UK railroads the Airlines were completely unprepared to operate as full competitors under the capitalist system. Yes competition has lowered prices... on the face of it. But to accomplish that, service was the first thing to go and it has only gotten worse. They suck every nickle and dime (actually more like $25 and $50) for every little thing that used to be covered under the ticket price (for God Sake! some airlines even charge to check one bag!); they cancel flights at the drop of a hat so that they can "pack" flights; and they change their schedules without warning then charge you to "change" your reservations. I hate the Airline Industry!

[LouC]

This crap needs to stop! Holding people against their will for 6 hours under any other circumstance is kidnapping. They are doing this to keep from paying overtime! Rediculas!

I would go to jail, because I would not stay patient that long and I would pop an emergency exit and release the slide and get off the plane.

[Samm]

No, you fake an medical situation that can't be disproven. Claustrophopic anxiety attack or something.

:)) That would have been great... 47, 911 medical emergency calls. :D

[Wake-Up]

No problem... I would probably have never gotten on another plane again anyway.

Whomever made the call that they could not enter the terminal because TSA had gone home for the night should be fired. TSA does not inspect disembarking passengers.

The situation is not excusable but you obviously dont travel much or have been stranded in an airport.

TSA does not inspect passengers after de-planning but once the airport is closed and security is gone a passenger can easily exit past the closed security point, and leave via the baggage claim area. Once that happens they have to go back through security which was not open.

Thats what they are referring to. I have been stranded dozens of times in airports near or right after closing. A few times I've spent the night in the airport, normally I leave and get a hotel room but that is how a security breach could occur.

If they closed off the exits through baggage claim restricting stranded passengers in the gate areas where they at least have access to vending machines and rest rooms this could easily be corrected.

Better yet, after 2 hours get them out of there.

[Samm]

The situation is not excusable but you obviously dont travel much or have been stranded in an airport.

TSA does not inspect passengers after de-planning but once the airport is closed and security is gone a passenger can easily exit past the closed security point, and leave via the baggage claim area. Once that happens they have to go back through security which was not open.

Thats what they are referring to. I have been stranded dozens of times in airports near or right after closing. A few times I've spent the night in the airport, normally I leave and get a hotel room but that is how a security breach could occur.

If they closed off the exits through baggage claim restricting stranded passengers in the gate areas where they at least have access to vending machines and rest rooms this could easily be corrected.

Better yet, after 2 hours get them out of there.

I am not unfamiliar with air travel and TSA procedures.

Who cares if they left security? There would be no breach of security. By the time they got a new flight crew to fly them on to Minneapolis the TSA was back at work. Which is worse? Forcing the passengers to spend the night on the plane without food and water and only one working bathroom; or taking a little extra time to run them back through security?

[Dragon1963]

Here's a question to ponder.

Why didn't air traffic control tell the pilot to return to the gate after the first hour or two?

[Samm]

Here's a question to ponder.

Why didn't air traffic control tell the pilot to return to the gate after the first hour or two?

This was not the point of departure, it was an alternate landing due to bad weather in Minneapolis at a small regional airport... The terminal was essentially closed for the night.

[Dragon1963]

This was not the point of departure, it was an alternate landing due to bad weather in Minneapolis at a small regional airport... The terminal was essentially closed for the night.

Then either way the passengers would have been stranded. Although, IMO, the plane would be more comfortable.

[Samm]

Then either way the passengers would have been stranded. Although, IMO, the plane would be more comfortable.

More comfortable!? Six hours in cramped uncomfortable seats with no food or drink, one bathroom, and two screaming babies! Are you kidding me!? :eek:

Airplanes are torture after 2-3 hours let alone 6... particularly after already spending several hours on it in the air. Even those plastic bench chairs in the terminal would be better. At very least you could get up, walk around, get a drink of water and use the bathroom when you needed to.

[Dragon1963]

More comfortable!? Six hours in cramped uncomfortable seats with no food or drink, one bathroom, and two screaming babies! Are you kidding me!? :eek:

Airplanes are torture after 2-3 hours let alone 6... particularly after already spending several hours on it in the air. Even those plastic bench chairs in the terminal would be better. At very least you could get up, walk around, get a drink of water and use the bathroom when you needed to.

You've never sat in those plastic bench chairs for hours on end have you? Smaller airports tend to have fewer amenities than the large ones. I've never found a plane to be cramped or uncomfortable, most planes I've flown on have at least two restrooms, I eat before I fly, and two screaming babies is nothing.

[Samm]

You've never sat in those plastic bench chairs for hours on end have you? Smaller airports tend to have fewer amenities than the large ones. I've never found a plane to be cramped or uncomfortable, most planes I've flown on have at least two restrooms, I eat before I fly, and two screaming babies is nothing.

Why are you so damned sure that I have not had these experiences? I bet I have put more hours in airports and airplanes then you ever thought of (assuming 1963 is your birth year.) Practically the only way in and out of this State is by plane and I have been making such trips since I was two (that would be 60 years) and am a seasoned world traveler.

The news story said one bathroom and two hungry unhappy babies screaming all night long. That may be nothing to you, but I bet it was something to everyone on that plane. At least in the terminal... small or not... there are places to somewhat escape and you can sack out on the floor if the seats aren't to your liking. I have done that while stranded more than once thank you.

[MrShotShot]

Regardless of their excuses, here's what should have happened:

TSA should have agents on call for these situations. One or two agents could staff the checkpoint to ensure that no one leaves the secure areas. In most airports there's only one hallway to leave the area and there's an agent who sits there. That's all it would take.

As for the airline, they should have taken these folks off the plane and either put them up in a local hotel or bring in cots to be set up in the terminal. If food was not available, they should have brought in something for these poor folks to eat.

If nothing else, they should have brought food out to the plane. For goodness sake, there were infants on this plane. I've traveled with my 6 month old and let me tell you, you can generally only bring enough food, diapers, etc. for the duration of the flight. If the mother is breastfeeding, then that can certainly cover the food thing, but if you're bottle feeding you're definitely going to need some supplies.

Frankly what happened goes beyond bad customer service and borders on criminal.

[snagswolf]

I wonder if anyone used the delay as an opportunity to join the '10 Feet High Club'.

[The Bos'un]

Another reason to avoid MSP.

[Pudge]

On O&A yesterday they were talking about this. Jim Norton related another abominable experience with Continental.

His co-worker/booking agent/lumbering fool, an ex-detective nicknamed 'Club Soda Kenny', is an elite flyer with Continental. He learned prior to his flight that he was getting an upgrade to First Class. OK. When they are about to get on the plane, they tell Kenny that they made a mistake, they sold his FC stead, and would have to ride coach. However, they did not give him his old seat, a bulkhead seat, back- they put him in another seat that was way too small for his 6' 5" 250-lb frame. When Kenny complained and asked why he couldn't have his old seat back he was told he had an 'attitude' problem.

I'm with Samm. I hate the airlines, and I've never even been on a plane.

[Samm]

Regardless of their excuses, here's what should have happened:

TSA should have agents on call for these situations. One or two agents could staff the checkpoint to ensure that no one leaves the secure areas. In most airports there's only one hallway to leave the area and there's an agent who sits there. That's all it would take.

As for the airline, they should have taken these folks off the plane and either put them up in a local hotel or bring in cots to be set up in the terminal. If food was not available, they should have brought in something for these poor folks to eat.

If nothing else, they should have brought food out to the plane. For goodness sake, there were infants on this plane. I've traveled with my 6 month old and let me tell you, you can generally only bring enough food, diapers, etc. for the duration of the flight. If the mother is breastfeeding, then that can certainly cover the food thing, but if you're bottle feeding you're definitely going to need some supplies.

Frankly what happened goes beyond bad customer service and borders on criminal.

Just one correction... TSA does not imprison people in secure areas - anyone (who is not being detained for cause) is free to leave anytime they want; their job is to keep un-searched people out of secure areas. No TSA agent was required to let the people off of the plane; only to recheck anyone who had left a secure area before re-boarding.

Also, airlines are under no obligation to put people up in motels for weather related flight interruptions. However, the passengers should certainly be given the chance to go to a motel if there were any in the vicinity.

[DLaw911]

After the 2nd or 3rd hour, I would have called the police & complained of being held on a plane against my will.The police have no jurisdiction once the plane leaves the boarding area. You would have to call the FBI or FAA and good luck even getting their number.

I don't know what I would do if that happened to me .... but I have these thoughts going through my head about forcing open the emergency exit and jumping out ... and ending up jail.

[DLaw911]

Just one correction... TSA does not imprison people in secure areas - anyone (who is not being detained for cause) is free to leave anytime they want; their job is to keep un-searched people out of secure areas. No TSA agent was required to let the people off of the plane; only to recheck anyone who had left a secure area before re-boarding.They actually refer to it as the "sterile" area of the airport. I always thought that term was rather funny.

[Samm]

The police have no jurisdiction once the plane leaves the boarding area. You would have to call the FBI or FAA and good luck even getting their number.

I don't know what I would do if that happened to me .... but I have these thoughts going through my head about forcing open the emergency exit and jumping out ... and ending up jail.

Arrested yes, but no jury would convict you... particularly if the other 46 people jumped ship too.