Day of the Airline Damned (a true tale by your pal, NuclearNed)

[Jeffg010]

US Airways use to be ok in the early 90's, but it all fell apart when they started to cut corners. My mom use to work for them as phone system annalist. It all went down hill when they deiced to move everything to Atalanta and that is when all the corner cutting went full blown. US Airways seems to have far more on time problems then all the other airlines.

"They are more likely to cancel a flight these days with the new rules and huge fines for keeping customers waiting. Before, they might have boarded you while the plane was being fixed, so you could take off as soon as it was repaired. Now they can't take the chance."

Don't ever wish for that. I was stuck on a plane and you guess it US Airways and they turned the plain off for 2 hours in the middle of summer. It worst thing that ever happen to me on a flight. It got so hot that I want to rip off my seat belt and kill someone for not getting me back to the terminal to cool off.

 

[AreaCode707]

Marked for later enjoyment.

 

[Genx87]

Reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy where they're trying to get a flight to Chicago.

Richard Haden:"Hi this is earth, have we met?"
Airline idiot: "I dont think so?"

 

[dank69]

Haven't finished reading the story yet, just wanted to say:

Fuck USAir. Fuck them right in the face.

My company once booked me a flight from CT to Pittsburgh, PA on USAir. 3 leg flight to get the equivalent of a 8-9 hour drive away.

1st flight takes me from CT to Newark. As I'm waiting for my second flight from Newark to Philadelphia, I notice when I look out the window that my plane is not there yet. 'Great' I think 'my flight is gonna be delayed. Par for the course with USAir...' But no, they call for boarding on time and lead us down the jetway to...wait for it...a bus on the fucking tarmac. So as I am sitting on my 2 hour bus flight to PA I am thinking 'well at least it can't get any worse, right?' Of course it can.

Being the lucky guy I am I was sitting in seat 1A, yeah the one right there next to the door, and as we start speeding down the runway I hear a 'thunk' come from the door. I couldn't see the door because there was a small divider there, but I did see the stewardess who is sitting directly in front of me facing me look towards the door. Then I see her eyes get as big as saucers and see her remove her seatbelt and lunge for the door. Apparently the flight crew for the third leg (third leg haha) didn't finish safety training because just before we reached take off speed the door flew open just as she started lunging. The guy in 1D was actually closer to her and must have seen the door partially open (the original thunk) because as he grabbed her as she started to lunge as the door flew open.

Did I mention it was a prop plane? Well luckily the door didn't rip off the hinges and fly into the propeller and thanks to 1D the attendant didn't either. After pulling her to safety, 1D began banging on the pilot door because they weren't slowing down, until another guy told him to stop because the pilots were already aware since they have indicator lights. We were past the point of no return, so the pilot had to take off, then loop around and land immediately. Of course he banked towards the open door so I got a nice view straight down to the ground on the way around, and that didn't help settle down the other terrified passengers.

Long story long, by the time I was able to catch an alternate flight I could have rode my dick and pedaled my balls from CT to Pitt in less time. And my laptop would have been safer, too.

Cliffs: Fuck USAir right in the face.

 

[BoomerD]

US Airways has always been bad, but things really went to shit after their 2nd bankruptcy filing. Then, being acquired by America West...the downward spiral continued.

Once upon a time, I had to travel a LOT for my trade. The company would fly me around to set up their rental cranes and "train" the operator and oiler if needed. US Airways was the only one of the major carriers I ever had problems with for transporting my tool boxes. Plus, as has been mentioned, their customer service is perhaps the worst in the industry, as is their reliability.

Nowadays, US Airways doesn't even get considered when I have to fly somewhere.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Haven't finished reading the story yet, just wanted to say:

Fuck USAir. Fuck them right in the face.

My company once booked me a flight from CT to Pittsburgh, PA on USAir. 3 leg flight to get the equivalent of a 8-9 hour drive away.

1st flight takes me from CT to Newark. As I'm waiting for my second flight from Newark to Philadelphia, I notice when I look out the window that my plane is not there yet. 'Great' I think 'my flight is gonna be delayed. Par for the course with USAir...' But no, they call for boarding on time and lead us down the jetway to...wait for it...a bus on the fucking tarmac. So as I am sitting on my 2 hour bus flight to PA I am thinking 'well at least it can't get any worse, right?' Of course it can.

Being the lucky guy I am I was sitting in seat 1A, yeah the one right there next to the door, and as we start speeding down the runway I hear a 'thunk' come from the door. I couldn't see the door because there was a small divider there, but I did see the stewardess who is sitting directly in front of me facing me look towards the door. Then I see her eyes get as big as saucers and see her remove her seatbelt and lunge for the door. Apparently the flight crew for the third leg (third leg haha) didn't finish safety training because just before we reached take off speed the door flew open just as she started lunging. The guy in 1D was actually closer to her and must have seen the door partially open (the original thunk) because as he grabbed her as she started to lunge as the door flew open.

Did I mention it was a prop plane? Well luckily the door didn't rip off the hinges and fly into the propeller and thanks to 1D the attendant didn't either. After pulling her to safety, 1D began banging on the pilot door because they weren't slowing down, until another guy told him to stop because the pilots were already aware since they have indicator lights. We were past the point of no return, so the pilot had to take off, then loop around and land immediately. Of course he banked towards the open door so I got a nice view straight down to the ground on the way around, and that didn't help settle down the other terrified passengers.

Long story long, by the time I was able to catch an alternate flight I could have rode my dick and pedaled my balls from CT to Pitt in less time. And my laptop would have been safer, too.

Cliffs: Fuck USAir right in the face.

You kidding? I would have paid to experience that.

 

[dank69]

You kidding? I would have paid to experience that.

What? The bus ride? You can buy those anytime you want.

 

[Slew Foot]

Southwest owns. Everything else is dog shit.

 

[BoomerD]

Southwest owns. Everything else is dog shit.

Meh...Southwest is like Greyhound of the skies.

They do have the best overall safety rating and highest customer service reports of the major carriers though...

 

[dank69]

Meh...Southwest is like Greyhound of the skies.

They do have the best overall safety rating and highest customer service reports of the major carriers though...

Its because they fly on time and their flight attendants don't hate you before you even get on the plane.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Southwest owns. Everything else is dog shit.

Sun Country is nice but they are pretty small and most people outside of Minnesota haven't heard of them.

They were the only (good) way to fly back before Southwest began operations out of MSP. Of course there was also Northwest (barf).

 

[DaveJ]

I'll add to the USAir hate... I once had a USAir flight delayed over an hour (while we were on the plane) because there weren't enough napkins onboard. *facepalm*

 

[gimmewhitecastles]

Remember the plane that had to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River in downtown NYC? You guessed it. US Airways. Because a pidgeon flew into one of their engines.

 

[Blackjack200]

Remember the plane that had to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River in downtown NYC? You guessed it. US Airways. Because a pidgeon flew into one of their engines.

I think it actually flew through a flock of Canadian Geese, with both engines suffering multiple bird strikes.

 

[nanette1985]

Thanks Ned, good story. Glad I don't fly much these days.

 

[K1052]

Of course there was also Northwest (barf).

Air Teredactyl ?

At least the merger with Delta means they can retire the early model DC-9s they've been keeping on life support.

 

[BoomerD]

Sun Country is nice but they are pretty small and most people outside of Minnesota haven't heard of them.

They were the only (good) way to fly back before Southwest began operations out of MSP. Of course there was also Northwest (barf).

I'm old enough to remember when Northwest Orient Airlines was one of the best carriers around...

 

[MedicBob]

I despise flying now. Used to and have flown all over the place.

Between the security, delays, add on fees, and general poor service I basically drive everywhere I need to.

 

[coxmaster]

Remember the plane that had to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River in downtown NYC? You guessed it. US Airways. Because a pidgeon flew into one of their engines.

Wow, i really hope that this was a joke of some sort.. That is the dumbest complaint against an airline ever. If you had tried to blame it on the pilot I could sort of see your point (almost) but holding that against the airline?

 

[Spikesoldier]

southwest can offer better service due to lower operating costs of the major carriers.

they use only one single model of plane (B73X) which offers savings in certifiying the crew, mechanics, ground crew, and not to mention parts commonality. (although, now two different models with the acquisition of AirTran.)

this fleet selection beats airlines such as Northwest (now Delta) that had many different models in their fleet from different manufacturers that was a factor in their demise.

On the international flights, I hear that Delta's economy cabin is better than the other US flag carriers. I recently flew on fourteen and twelve hour flights in Delta's BusinessElite cabin, and while I didnt get to see or sit in the economy seats, they have 3-3-3 seating on a B772 in economy, where ive seen 3-4-3 on other carriers.

 

[marvdmartian]

Yeah, I pretty much gave up on US Air about 30 years ago, when I was flying home after my US Navy "A" school, from Chicago O'Hare, through Philly, to upstate NY. Had a 30 minute layover in Philly, which should have been more than enough.....

....except my flight out of Chicago was 25 minutes late taking off, and they didn't make up any time in flight. Being 18 years old, I sprinted from the plane to my next gate, getting there just in time to see the plane taxi away for take off. The gate agent told me I'd have to go see the folks at the front of the airport to reschedule (which leads me to believe they knew what a pain in the butt I was going to be).

Speaking to the desk agent, I told them "we have a problem", to which they asked what the problem was. I replied that I'd missed my flight, and before being given a chance to tell them WHY, they spouted out with, "Well, I don't see why that makes it OUR problem!!" Yeah.....great customer service!

 

[Jeff7]

Idea for airlines:
1) Human-sized boxes.
2) Mild sedatives
3) UPS' or Fedex's logistics operation.

You know, I can order something from Mouser or Digikey up until 8pm CST and have it in the morning on the next day, reliably and consistently.

So go to an airport, and they will get you to your destination by 10am, guaranteed.

 

[boomhower]

10/10 as usual.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

nice work ned

closest experience ive had was when continental cancelled all the flights from newark to iad, ended putting us on the amtrak instead (after some convincing). better than the alternative, which was hang out in the airport overnight trying for standby the next day. anyways, that didnt even bug me, what did was when it took them 4 days to send our luggage, and when they did they sent it to a different airport and said they were done because the bags made it to the destination city...

 

[marvdmartian]

I think it actually flew through a flock of Canadian Geese, with both engines suffering multiple bird strikes.

Yes, but this being the internet (and, specifically, ATOT), the story will soon be that the engine ingested a feather, spat it out, ingested same feather into the other engine, causing both engines to fall off the plane, the pilot screamed like a little girl and fainted, and one of the passengers (with years of Microsoft Flight Simulator experience) was forced to dead stick land the plane. Coincidentally, he was a regular poster on ATOT.