11 hour flight delay

[sam_gordon]

I can't believe there's no thread on this yet...

An Allegiant Air flight took off more than 11 hours behind schedule Monday night for an hour-and-a-half trip -- with many steaming passengers on board.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57609736/allegiant-air-flight-delayed-more-than-11-hours/\

A couple points... the passengers weren't stuck on the tarmac, they were allowed back into the airport between plane changes.

Personally, while I know what the airline did was within the contract of carriage, I think their effort to mollify the passengers leaves a little something to be desired. I'm not sure what would have made me "happy", but I don't think this would do it...

Allegiant points out that, "Every effort was made to keep the passengers as comfortable as possible, providing food and beverages, $100 dollars off vouchers and the option to cancel or reschedule the flight at no additional cost."

 

[taitai]

I think these people who are complaining are idiots. You fly a small airline out of a smaller airport, you have to expect these things. Did they really want the airline to fly a plane with faulty steering? Smaller airlines do not have have loads of extra planes just sitting around waiting to be back-up. They certainly don't have them at smaller airports where they fly only a couple times a day. They are operating on thinner margins and with less of a safety net.

I generally fly a major legacy carrier as its hub is in our town. Situations like this rarely occur as they have a deeper equipment field with which to back-up when there are issues.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think these people who are complaining are idiots. You fly a small airline out of a smaller airport, you have to expect these things. Did they really want the airline to fly a plane with faulty steering? Smaller airlines do not have have loads of extra planes just sitting around waiting to be back-up. They certainly don't have them at smaller airports where they fly only a couple times a day. They are operating on thinner margins and with less of a safety net.

I generally fly a major legacy carrier as its hub is in our town. Situations like this rarely occur as they have a deeper equipment field with which to back-up when there are issues.

Oakland is a "smaller airport"? They couldn't have made arrangements to get people to San Fran or San Jose?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I can't believe there's no thread on this yet...

Why? While this was extremely annoying and inconvenient for those involved, it isn't that unusual. I've been delayed for almost as long or had flights cancelled because of mechanical problems, weather or crews timing out a number of times. Stuff happens; do you want to fly on an unsafe plane? This is a non-story.

None of the complainers must be very experienced travelers to think that this never happens or that the airline owes them more than they got. Any savy traveler would have tried to rebook on a different flight when it became apparent things were going south - amateurs.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Oakland is a "smaller airport"? They couldn't have made arrangements to get people to San Fran or San Jose?

What good would that have done? Allegiant is a small airline, they don't fly from SJC or SFO.

Having very limited options when things go wrong is a risk you take with an airline like this. I believe that Allegiant does not have any interline agreements.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've been on planes with mechanical problems before also. No, it's not surprising to me they had to fly in another plane. I AM surprised they had to fly in a THIRD plane. No, they shouldn't fly the planes if they are not safe. I think it is telling it took three tries to get a plane that's safe to fly though.

 

[taitai]

Oakland is a "smaller airport"? They couldn't have made arrangements to get people to San Fran or San Jose?

I do not believe Allegiant has interline agreements with other airlines so busing them to San Jose or SFO would not have helped. It is a risk one takes with smaller airlines with thinner equipment inventory.

 

[MillauFr]

I do not believe Allegiant has interline agreements with other airlines so busing them to San Jose or SFO would not have helped. It is a risk one takes with smaller airlines with thinner equipment inventory.

Plus those MD83 are old junky planes. Just look at the statistics. Allegiant has some of the oldest planes in the industry and subsequently has far more mechanical issues than an airline with new planes. Every time I fly on Alaska they always have newer 737 planes. I have never been delayed due to a mechanical issue. Yes they do charge more but in this case I think you get what you pay for.

 

[Lewisc]

I'll take the opposite position. Allegiant offers low fares. They're using old aircraft. I'm impressed they were able to get two replacement planes to the airport and got their passengers to their destination same day.

Allegiant could have cancelled the flight giving their passengers the option of a refund or accommodations on the Allegiant's next flight with available space. Possibly days later.

Allegiant's actions exceed the level of service I'd expect from this airline. People who don't agree, including myself, shouldn't book an airline like Allegiant (or Spirit).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'll take the opposite position. Allegiant offers low fares. They're using old aircraft. I'm impressed they were able to get two replacement planes to the airport and got their passengers to their destination same day.

Allegiant could have cancelled the flight giving their passengers the option of a refund or accommodations on the Allegiant's next flight with available space. Possibly days later.

Allegiant's actions exceed the level of service I'd expect from this airline. People who don't agree, including myself, shouldn't book an airline like Allegiant (or Spirit).

I agree. It appears they did everything they could to resolve the problem.

 

[dudspizza]

I'll take the opposite position. Allegiant offers low fares. They're using old aircraft. I'm impressed they were able to get two replacement planes to the airport and got their passengers to their destination same day.

Allegiant could have cancelled the flight giving their passengers the option of a refund or accommodations on the Allegiant's next flight with available space. Possibly days later.

Allegiant's actions exceed the level of service I'd expect from this airline. People who don't agree, including myself, shouldn't book an airline like Allegiant (or Spirit).

I agree. It appears they did everything they could to resolve the problem.

I'm with you two...... these are the chances you take flying Allegiant or other smaller, budget carriers. Allegiant did the best they could to get the people to their destination....... frustrating, of course, but they did what they could.

 

[caselaw3]

well while this has me freaked out about my upcoming flight on Allegiant - I have to say that I think they did the best they could and that even larger airlines have had long delays due to all kinds of situations - heck my tickets cust just around $100 round trip so I can't complain if I am delayed a little bit - better than driving AND 1/4 of the cost of flying Southwest

 

[mikehn]

buy travel insurance

 

[caselaw3]

buy travel insurance

i don't know if it would help - allegiant is the only airline that flys from this airport and it is 4 hours away from home

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

buy travel insurance

The passengers were provided food and drink by the airline; they would also have been required to provide lodging if the flight were delayed overnight. Travel insurance would not have helped in this situation.

 

[MillauFr]

buy travel insurance

How would that help? Not much I would guess.

Yes the airline tried their best, but by flying old airplanes that are prone to breaking down Allegiant is far more likely to have this happen to them than an airline with new airplanes.

 

[MillauFr]

Allegiant average fleet age 21.8 years
Alaska 9.7 years
JetBlue 7.2 years
Southwest 11.9 years
Virgin America 4.2 years

Yes Allegiant flies very old planes that are prone to problems.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I was stuck in Tulsa on Delta for 10 hours because our plane was late, trying to repair before it got there, then the replacement plane broke down we would have to wait for a third plane from the Cincinnati airport. Things happen, it's if it happens often there is a concern.
Oh, I didn't even have an offer of a meal let alone $100 voucher. No idea why, maybe because I sat off to the side watching the board quietly, i drank coffe, read, a nap and watched flights in/out, while staying connected to the son whose buddy worked for Comair at the time. I finally snatched a first class seat out when his buddy told me to request a rebook same airline to Atlanta to the second airport of choice.

My Allegiant flights were the best landings ever. I didn't even know we were on the ground. I don't think they make planes like they use to. Rather be in a sturdy beast then tin can. A few other airlines were so noisyand vibrated so bad my ears hurt.

 

[dis_guy]

i don't know if it would help - allegiant is the only airline that flys from this airport and it is 4 hours away from home

I hear you! We also have a longish (3 hours in winter conditions when we go to WDW) drive to our only "nearby" airport. Luckily we have several choices in airline. While we have to connect with nearly all flights to MCO, United still has the routes and prices we prefer.

 

[nacho113]

Stuff happens whatever airline you're on.
Had a few late departures on Allegiant but never more than 30-60 minutes.
Had to spend a night in Toronto when our Air Canada flight was delayed and caused us to miss our connect.
Everytime we fly United there seems to be an issue, delays, mechanical problems etc. Last February we boarded a United flight at 5:15am. After about 90 minutes on the plane with a warning light that would not go out, the captain had us deplane. Flight was cancelled and we were booked on a Delta flight at 3:30pm. The Delta flight was snowed in at Minneapolis and finally arrive at 8:45pm. Our 10:30am arrival at MCO turned in to a 1:00am arrival the following morning.

Sometimes ... stuff just happens, gotta roll with the punches.