padalyn
Truth is stranger than fiction - you really can't
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2005
Unfortunately it could happen with any airline. Are you able to take an earlier flight so there are backup flights later just in case? Any flight attendant, pilot or dispatcher could give you more scenarios than you want to hear about the possible "what-ifs" they have encountered. Not just plane maintenance, but weather (spring thunderstorms), other passenger medical emergencies, waiting on a group of connecting passengers who had weather in their area, etc - and waiting too long or a diversion could put a flight crew too long to be legal to fly, then looking for a replacement crew per FAA guidelines.
Just some of the delays I have been on as a passenger include: a man complaining of tightness in chest (diverted takeoff, return to terminal, then coerce the man off the plane... and he had previously had a heart attack and didn't want to get off yet had no clue medical care is much better at ground level versus 35,000 feet in the air), some jerk in a business suit who refused to get off his cell phone (return to terminal from end of runway and deplane the idiot who became hostile), a plane that looked nice to a flock of birds... one getting sucked up in the engine so when we landed it had to go for maintenance (that wasn't a nice smell...), a faulty light on an airplane in air (we had to turn around to DFW after already being around our destination because AA had no maintenance facility where we were landing - that 45 minute flight arrived 6 hours later... which we ended up having an emergency landing at DFW complete with fire trucks waiting on us - my first flight with my 2 year old by myself of course), a luggage bin latch that would no close correctly because a passenger used a fist to "help" it close by pounding it (so bags had to be offloaded for that bin), and don't even get me started on the Aloha Air flight that was 8 hours late to go from Maui to Kaui (and our luggage arrived over 24 hours later - that we got to drive 45 min back to LIH to pick up ourselves just sitting there in the terminal). None of these were weather related or planned delays. Those are just some of the delays I have experienced (granted out of hundreds of flights, so still a small percentage). Not to scare you, but some things that are completely unplanned can wreak havoc on a schedule. That's why I suggested considering an earlier flight if possible.
Ugh, just thinking through some of my delays - coming home from the Virgin Islands this Spring the girls and I got stranded in Miami on AA. Finally got out of there and overnighted at Orlando, but of course we arrived after every restaurant had closed. Another one of those I was thankful for whatever snacks I had stuffed in my bag. (one of those trips where it was cheaper to buy a ticket to Orlando vs Miami although the plane had a connection in Miami - that was over a 2 hour delay)
Mandy - I am very well aware of what can happen with flights. Trust me on that one! I dated a flight attendent for a few years...so I heard all the horror stories. As well as my own horror stories - I have traveled quite a bit. Ask me about my planes, trains, and autos story some time!
That being said - no, there really aren't any earlier flights that we can afford. They all are over 700 for the two of us, and we are stretched as tight as we can go. This new booking cost us our onboard DVD most likely. We had booked the Jet Blue flight on rewards points - now we had to pay over 450 for the airfare. I am graduating that morning - the ceremony is from 8am to 2pm - there is just no way we can make any of the afternoon flights. We have looked at this for months - even after we booked the Jet Blue flight (we were on the 245 flight - had to move it an hour later when my school announced the graduation date and time - 5/17!) Jet Blue lost the bid for the 9pm route completely - not reassigned - just lost the bid.
We are connecting through Midway (I think that is O'Hare - right?) we are not changing planes - we are on the ground for about an hour I think. Air Tran isn't telling us the time exactly - I figured it out from the times of the other flight (I can find the Southwest flight from Chicago to Hobby as a solo flight - but not the PHL to Chicago - go figure).You're connecting through O'Hare? Are you changing planes or just stopping in Chicago? It can be a mess for connections, I don't believe you will be stuck in Chicago... too many options for that but I do think you could be delayed which could throw off your already tight schedule.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any stress. I just wanted you be prepared.
I realize no one is trying to cause stress - it happens. This just all happened so fast, I was sitting in an orientation lecture for a new job - just found out I won't be scheduled to work for a month (ouch...lost shifts = lost money) and then the Jet Blue email hits my phone. I spent my lunch hour on the phone with Cathy (my wonderful, amazing fiance) who managed to calm me down, locate a flight and book it. She is new to travel and the websites...me? I live for Kayak and Orbitz...
All is good on the stress level. I am just not familiar with Southwest as a carrier. I have used them once in 20 years...and that was a bit of a mess (not with the airline - all the connections I had arranged fell apart and I ate a Taxi ride from Port of LA to Long Beach Airport - not cheap!).
So, I am going to roll with it - worse case? We have to fly in that morning and beat feet to the port! Been there, done that...really didn't want a t-Shirt!
I can imagine...good luck with that one. We are doing the Icelandic Air - new airline to me also.I should have put mine that way - not meaning to cause stress. Just be prepared for whatever could happen.
I have Spirit Air booked this Spring, and I know they are not that good, but they were half the price of anyone else for our routing (international). Dreading that flight for sure.
If I can warn anyone - please be careful booking on SAS - the seats are VERY small. I am not huge, but I was sitting on one cheek for the whole flight. I think the heaviest person that could fit in those seats wears a size 12. Not a fun 7 hour flight. In the AirBus 370 the configuration was 3 - 5 - 3...ouch!
Cayla