What is Digg?127 Comments
- FlyingPhotog, on 08/16/2008, -5/+104Airlines are not obligated to put passengers in hotels during bad weather events, only for mechanical reasons. It sucks, but it's true.
- absurdist, on 08/16/2008, -1/+39The summary is misleading. Apparently flights were going in and out of the airport; the main problem was that US Airways had run their crew past the legal limits. As someone who flies over 100K miles per year, this doesn't surprise me. US Airways is simply the worst carrier out there. Why anyone would fly them, even given their discount fares, is beyond me.
- mattrmcg, on 08/16/2008, -2/+39At least they could have given them some water and peanuts free of charg....oh wait, forgot its U.S. Airways
- jonmlm, on 08/16/2008, -1/+30i was stranded for a day in guam last week due to a fire at the airport. continental put us all up in an amazing beach front hilton. couldn't have been happier with an airline.
- HappyScrappy, on 08/16/2008, -3/+24What? United did this to me, was supposed to fly to San Francisco, it was socked in out there so they stopped in Reno.
The flight attendant said "All the hotels are booked and all the busses have left town already. Good luck."
Our pilot had tried to get permission to divert to Phoenix or Vegas instead of Reno, since they had rooms open, but the airline wouldn't let her. They sure saved themselves a lot of money by dumping us in Reno, those *****. - elfprince13, on 08/16/2008, -2/+20US Airways has terrible customer service. they bumped our flight out of Ft. Lauderdale to one 2 hours earlier so that we had to leave Summerland Key at 1 in the morning to get to the airport on time, but didn't bump us from our connecting flight in Philadelphia, so we had a 7.5 hour layover. the kicker was, there were 2 flights going to the same same as ours, going 3 and 5 hours earlier with enough empty seats, and they refused to switch us onto the earlier flights unless we paid $120/person. and they very nearly had to ask someone on our flight to take a later flight even though we would have been willing to take a different flight for free. long and the short, never flying US Airways again.
- ihateaubergine, on 08/16/2008, -10/+27Yeah, that's a risk with traveling. These people should have purchased travel insurance, especially when flying down to hurricane-central during hurricane season.
Don't get me wrong, I feel for them, but it's not the airline's fault. Standard operating procedure for any airline. - Lucas123, on 08/16/2008, -6/+19Indicative of U.S. Air. It's the pits. I like SouthWest or JetBlue.
- Deist4Life, on 08/16/2008, -1/+13as a frequent US Airways flier, I can attest to the inadequate service the airline provides. I have frequently caught them in lies about weather delays. Most US Airways flights that I have had canceled was due to maintenance or crew limits. About half the time they try to attribute it to weather. If it were not for the fact that they own the Charlotte airport, I would never fly them again. Hands down the worst airline in the business. USA today has at least one article a week talking about US Airways low customer service ranking and they lead the US in missing on time departures and arrivals.
- JohnReyes, on 08/16/2008, -6/+18Dugg for first Consumerist article that doesn't bitch about Walmart....
- KMartSheriff, on 08/17/2008, -0/+11That's ***** ridiculous. I don't care what their policies are, that's just terrible customer service. It's like paying to be left somewhere where all hotels are booked.
- uncertainty, on 08/16/2008, -3/+13I don't care if it's from foxnews.com. As long as it's true and I find it interesting, I will digg it.
- patosan, on 08/17/2008, -0/+10Read the article again... Other flights were taking off so this wasn't a case of bad weather. This is simply a case of USAir failing to plan since their pilots were over their limit of hours in the air.
- afin, on 08/16/2008, -10/+20thats why all american airlines suck!!!! any other airline would pay for the hotel.... I just got payed by Air France free hotel and free food because of delayed flight due to bad weather!
- beuke, on 08/16/2008, -0/+9@REUYL
It is a reusable pillow and blanket that fits back in it's case. It's a travel size pillow. The standard size of the same brand and model (Cleanbrands Cleanrest) retails for $28.98 on Amazon. You also get a $5 gift certificate from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
It may not be fantastic, but I've heard of worst things. - DangerCollie, on 08/17/2008, -0/+9Whoa. They stranded 274 people in a foreign country and made no provisions for them. Not even a bus to a hotel, seats on another flight, nothing. While no one would worry about stranding you somewhere, some of those people had kids with them. If the SOP's allow that to happen, the SOP's need to change. And conducting themselves with a total lack of common sense and decency is the airline's fault, regardless of what the rule book says.
The only thing worse than corporate behavior in situations like this are the enablers who shrug it off from the comfort of their mom's basement. - throop77, on 08/16/2008, -1/+8Wow, I had always thought South West was great. I don't travel that much, so my opinion is narrow, but every South West flight I've taken has been very cheap, on-time and comfortable.
- REUYL, on 08/16/2008, -3/+9Someone actually likes JetBlue?
...the same JetBlue that charges $7 for a blanket? - Typhoon2009, on 08/16/2008, -0/+6You should look up the definition of "customer service." Not the Indian-guy-who-tries-hard-to-help-you-but-is-distraught-by-the-language-barrier kind, but the "customer first" kind.
Believe me, if US Airways had helped out these people with some sort of accommodations (as Jonmlm described a few posts below(or at the very least let them say in the airport!)), they would've secured them as customers for a while. I bet almost all 274 of those people will never fly US Airways again. - kaosethema, on 08/16/2008, -3/+9dugg because more people need to hear about this. i'm sick of the nickel&diming and now this.
- LuCiFer6, on 08/17/2008, -0/+6Its funny that people make fun or criticize how Southwest is cheap and the way they assign seats (kind of first come, first serve), hell I do the same when I fly with them.
But I've never been hassled about paying more for luggage or changing flight times. I don't know what they're doing but when hear stories like this I happy to have them around. - gforce051, on 08/16/2008, -0/+6Well they wouldn't take double amputee guards very seriously..
- seanovan, on 08/17/2008, -1/+6Do you expect a free blanket when you ride the Greyhound?
- Typhoon2009, on 08/16/2008, -0/+5Airtran was surprisingly good. I had a flight from DC to Atlanta... it was cheap and we got there.
- satori3000, on 08/16/2008, -10/+15they may not be obligated, but the right thing to do in this sort of situation is to run the logistical side of getting these folks a place to stay at a group rate rather than have a bunch of people who don't know where to go or what to do completely fend for themselves.
- kaosethema, on 08/16/2008, -1/+6handguns on their waist = armed
- inactive, on 08/17/2008, -0/+5THE PROBLEM IS... it is always raining somewhere in the US. That causes one delay, and it affects everyone. They then use the weather excuse everywhere for the airlines own ***** up employees, procedures and cheapness.
- DevilInPgh, on 08/17/2008, -0/+5As someone who flies out of Pittsburgh about 3 or 4 times each year, all I can do is laugh, because this kind of ineptitude is not unexpected from me. First US Airways leaves its long-time base of Pittsburgh (from which it began as Allegheny Airlines), new airport and all (which, BTW, US Airways DEMANDED in return for keeping Pittsburgh's hub status), for its "trophy wife", Philadelphia, and its dump of an airport. Second, US Airways charges for even one checked bag, so when people start getting out of their seats early to get their baggage from the overhead, they shouldn't be surprised. Third, when it comes to operating a jetway, US Airways is truly inept. When I came back into Pittsburgh last Sunday (after a 3-hour delay due to weather and other circumstances in Philadelphia), first we didn't have a gate, and second, there was no jetway operator at the gate. When the jetway operator got there 10 minutes later, he tried to pull in, then pulled out. 10 minutes later, we were told that the plane had parked 6 inches short. 5 minutes later, the plane pulled up and the door was opened. Total wasted time = 30 minutes. Oh, and I didn't even mention that most of the delay in Philadelphia, we were forced to sit on the plane with the standard excuse of "we're taking off any minute now". US Airways SUCKS! It truly deserves to be Chapter 7'ed.
- 42Vindictive, on 08/17/2008, -1/+5I do expect a free beheading.
Too soon? Too soon? - castong, on 08/16/2008, -5/+9Vacation insurance, that is all.
- fasda, on 08/17/2008, -0/+4With all the BS you have to go through with airliners I figure the extra time it takes to get places is worth it
- darkphenox, on 08/17/2008, -0/+4because the hurricane was the passengers fault
- elfprince13, on 08/16/2008, -0/+4"Amtrak, getting you there for 2/3s the cost per hour of Greyhound, even if it takes 3 times as long to get there"
- fasda, on 08/16/2008, -1/+4I like Amtrak, they don't have pointless security checks and you can use laptop when you want.
- sensia3, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3Problem is, Amtrak would take days if there was a railway track over Atlantic.
- Pake, on 08/16/2008, -0/+3When I read it, I was thinking armed service members in full uniform waving ARs, not guards with handguns.
- darkbob87, on 08/16/2008, -3/+6The only airline in the USA worth going on now is Southwest Airlines. Coincidentally enough, they are the ONLY US-based airline turning a profit.
- DigitAl56K, on 08/17/2008, -3/+6Maybe so, but that does not mean that they can't choose to act responsibly or treat their customers with some compassion when their flight is first delayed and then canceled. Some of these people are apparently with children, and they were pushed out of the airport by armed security according to passenger accounts.
The passengers also report that other flights were taking off and that the crew were simply over their hours, which would be the airlines fault if it's true. - sirbeta, on 08/16/2008, -2/+5Everyone who is assuming this is a typical weather scenario without reading the article should read it. This seems extremely poorly handled. I do agree some consumerist reports are pretty bad but this seems like a pretty legitimate screw up with no solution in sight.
- mikemaney, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3I was on this flight. The airlines have no credibility on this subject. We were told by someone on the ground that the crew had exceeded its allowable hours.
- darkphenox, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3well if they are not going to put them up in a hotel they could let them stay in the airport, and not be forced out with armed guards
- TomustPain, on 08/17/2008, -1/+4LOL! You're hilarious! You DID insult the passengers, now you're insulting everyone on Digg?? LOL!Quote: "The airlines have no responsibility for your dumb ass if you go on vacation to a Caribbean island during hurricane season!" You can't even remember what you wrote, you twittering little pickle smoker! LOL!!! I was half joking about the Napolean complex thing, but MAN! It looks like my inclination was right on the mark! LOL!!
- EtherGnat, on 08/16/2008, -0/+3Laws and regulations vary. At any rate you don't get anything for free--Air France may have paid for your hotel room but you're going to pay a little bit extra on every ticket for them providing that service.
- inactive, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3that's fine with me it is insurace against a 'bad trip' experience
- sensia3, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3Amen!
- RoflCoptah, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3well, airport + U.S= double ***** in the ass
- jordanlgta, on 08/17/2008, -4/+7Who goes to a location when a tropical storm is looming only days away...then when they try to leave seconds before the storm hits, they act outraged???
- z28com, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3This is why I no longer use airlines for travel. If I can't drive, I don't go there. Taking a plane to go anywhere is too much of a hassle, not to mention the expense.
- TomustPain, on 08/17/2008, -2/+5Lighten up man! What do you have? A Napoleon complex or something? You're insulting 274 people just because they got stranded in the islands? How do you know that each and every one of them had the same exact reaction or expectations from the airline? How do you know that each of them were crying and complaining? Moreover, hurricane season is SIX MONTHS LONG!! Are you suggesting that all international flights be suspended during hurricane season? Don't be a "moron" either and say "only flights to the Caribbean", because hurricanes form all over the Atlantic! OK MORON?? And one more thing... planes DO FLY INTO HURRICANES! MORON!
- InetRoadkill, on 08/17/2008, -0/+3Jet Blue? Isn't that the same airline that imprisoned its passengers for 11 hours with an overflowed sewage system?
Here's a more recent JB horror story: http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?SectionI ... -
Show 51 - 100 of 130 discussions
The Digg Toolbar for Firefox lets you Digg, submit content, and keep track of Digg even when you're not on the Digg site. Download the official 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is