Dozens of outraged airplane passengers are threatening to sue Continental Airlines , claiming they were left stranded on a plane and grounded for hours in hellish conditions.
Because of bad weather, Continental’s July 19 Flight 1669 from Caracas, Venezuela, to Newark, N.J., was diverted to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, where it landed at 1:50 p.m. Passengers said after sitting on the grounded plane for hours, they began protesting by banging on overhead compartments, clapping their hands and even signing a petition asking to be let off.
“We were not provided with food,” said passenger Caroline Murray. “There were passengers who were ill. There was one woman who was diabetic. There was a pregnant woman with small children. It was shocking to me.”
Much as I despise litigation in almost all its forms, I’d love to see a couple of these airlines hauled in on charges of fraud, breach of contract, and false imprisonment. Seriously.
On the other hand, opening those exit doors over the wings doesn’t take a lot of skill or muscle…
The moral of the story is don’t fly through Newark. My family arrived at the Newark airport on a Continental flight from Paris at 11:00 am last month with a 1:30 pm connecting flight home to Kentucky. The flight we were waiting for was delayed for several hours departing the terminal in Norfolk, VA and then ended up being cancelled. We finally boarded another flight at about 6:00 pm and then we sat on the tarmac for two hours before returning to the terminal because the crew had “timed-out.” We didn’t get on our way home until after 11:00 pm. Business as usual for Newark, according to our flight attendant. Since all of the delays were “weather related,” passengers have no recourse and receive no compensation from the airline.
Stuff happens, but my fly/drive decision has moved out to about 10 hours driving. At least I know that I have a hig probability of getting there with my luggage.
Figuring the time to and from the airport on both ends, the arrive 1 – 2 hours early depending on the airport routine, the time to find a parking place and get to the terminal, the time to recover (most) of your luggage, the time to get a rental car – I could have been at least 200 miles down the road. Gas is expensive, but don’t forget the $10 or more per day to leave your car at the airport….
Think I’ll just stay home…..
Evan, you think that flying through LaGuardia or JFK is better? How about Atlanta, Philly, Dallas, or any other large airport? Some are better to a degree, but flying these days is too often an ordeal.
We got starnede like this going on AA through Dallas on a trip to Tucson last fall. Bring plenty of snacks whenever you fly, and diabetics and others with health problems should have supplies on board as well.
Airline companies see us as the equivalent of cattle these days. They ain’t got nothin’ on Greyhound.
TonyiCNY,
Flying anywhere is an ordeal these days, but I have never had problems in Atlanta, Dallas, JFK or La Guardia anything like as bad as Newark. Makes one nostalgic for the days or ocean and rail travel!
…Chicago and Miami, on the other hand, are very nearly as bad as Newark!
Evan, I’m guessing you don’t go to PHL much – it’s just as bad, if not worse, than EWR.
My favorite is IAH, where to date I have had the least problems. Also, I like PHX, as long as you are not on US Scareways.
#9,
You’re right, I’ve never been through PHL. Now that I’ve been warned, I’ll definitely avoid it in future!
My family started taking Amtrak to visit the in-laws in Montana. I have a lot of leave time. So does my wife. Much more civilized way to travel and, on some trips, cheaper than the airlines.
Check it out. Maybe you’ll switch too.
Maryland Brian
After Continental Airlines ruined a once-in-a-lifetime trip for me and the 40 students I was taking to England for the Queen’s Jubilee, I refuse to fly with that airline. (I had misgivings when the tour company booked Continental for us but we couldn’t get it changed.)
Get this — we took off from Houston and were in the air for about two hours. Suddenly, one of my students asked me, “Ma’am, why is the plane going back on the screen?” I looked up and, sure enough, the plane was near Nashville but was heading back! Then, a few of my students started screaming as they looked out the window and saw flames shooting out of one of the engines!
The pilot came on and started babbling about engine failure and an oil leak — that he knew there was an oil leak before we took off but thought he could make it! To London! Then he says we’re going back to Houston and they’re preparing for a crash landing. Geez, I had 40 scared, weeping kids whipping out their cellphones to tell their parents we’re going to crash and I’m trying to convince them not to call and worry their parents.
We landed OK in Houston, a bit rough, and they escorted us off the plane. By this time, it’s been four hours and we hadn’t even gotten a drink or snack. As the article said, they lined us up single-file with security around and we were left to stand in an enclosed area. I asked a flight attendant if I could get at least some drinks for my students and she started shouting at me that I should be glad they saved our lives and I had the nerve to ask for drinks! It was miserable.
We stayed like that for a few hours until they could find another plane to take us to England. By the time we got to London, we had missed all of the Jubilee festivities, grrrrrr. There were no apologies or anything from Continental. They announced that we would get free headphones for the movies and a coupon for a free phone call because of our inconvenience and they gave us a coupon book for free alcoholic drinks which, of course, my students couldn’t use. I had all of the students call their parents with the coupons, though, to assure them we were OK.
I really hate Continental Airlines!
How about this: Last October, my wife and I flew back to upstate New York for my 50th year high school reunion. We made the mistake of flying on Southwest Airlines, and we had to drive from our home in Los Banos to San Jose’s Norman Y. Mineta International Airport to John Wayne Airport in Pasadena, and then to Las Vegas and on to Chicago, then to Buffalo. Our return route was from Buffalo to Baltimore to San Antonio to Los Angeles to San Jose; followed by a 1 1/2 drive home. We had to provide our own meals, which had to be bought at the airports, and never ONCE were we allowed to de-plane for even a few minutes. We averaged 10 1/2 hours each way!
NEVER AGAIN!
Fly out of Chattanooga if you live north of I 285 in the Atlanta area. It’s more expensive but oh so pleasant. You can park near the terminal, get there 45 minutes ahead of time, drift through security where the folks are pleasant, then wander to the gate. Lovely experience. When I figure the time to drive to Hartsfield, the need to get there 2 hours or more early, the unpleasant folks in security…well, Chattanooga is a delight, even if it does cost more!
I can’t wait until Richard Branson’s Virgin America expands! Right now they’re only flying between LA and San Francisco to NYC and Washington, D.C., but they have plans to expand to 40 more cities. The prices are really inexpensive and there are a ton of amenities on-board, including entertainment stations at every seat and the ability to order food and drinks from your seat! They are REALLY going to give Southwest a heart attack, which is why Southwest and the gang fought hard to prevent Virgin America from taking off! Hee-hee!