stuck on a runway for 4 hours

[ProdigalJunkMail]

last night in ATL...isn't there some rule/law that the airline MUST take you back to the gate after some period of time...I am having no luck finding it so maybe I dreamed that one up.

theProdigal

[Screaming Lord Bob]

1. No - they can keep you out there as long as they want to.

Remember the story of the plane that was on the runway for more than 6 hours and people were getting dehydrated?
THe airlines just defended that action and didn't really change anything...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. yeah...i gathered as much...

just thought something has been passed a while back that was defined to prevent that sort of thing from happening. If my daughter (22mos) has been with us, I would have gone ballistic...

theProdigal

[Screaming Lord Bob]

5. I don't know how I would handle that either (with your daughter)...

you make any kind of scene at all now-a-days and you get arrested for terrorism...

:shrug:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. I don't know how I would be able to impress

upon the flight crew the gravity of trying to control a two-year-old on an airplane...it would not have been pretty. I would have stayed out of jail but I would have been very hot under the collar and might seek a legal resolution.

theProdigal

[trotsky]

2. And the worst part is,

as long as the plane leaves the gate, it counts as an "on time" departure.

At least that's what I've heard...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. yep...on-time departures are all about leaving the gate

arrivals...well, that is another story...

theProdigal

[Divernan]

7. Bottled water and food - don't get on a plane without them.

I fly every week - and have learned to be prepared for getting stuck in a plane. Last week I got stuck in the boarding area from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. before my plane was boarded. One of the landing strips at Newark was closed down - or at least that's the excuse we were given. But that was better than being stuck IN a plane. At least we could get up and walk around, buy a newspaper, etc.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. when it is just me...no problem

i can read or sleep or whatever (I fly a lot, too). But there is no amount of goodies that can contain the exuberance that is my 22mos old daughter. And trying to hold her in my lap or keep her buckled in a seat for four hours BEFORE taking off would be a disaster. In the boarding area we could survive...but on the plane...I dread that thought.

theProdigal

[Spinzonner]

9. Serious question

Are there any sedatives and doses that are considered safe for the age. For worst case scenarios.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

15. well, we have been told by the doc

that Benadryl is ok in small doses to knock them out...but not really comfortable unless a REAL emergency...and this would be merely a REAL pain in the ASS (not just for us but for the people getting to listen to my daughter freak out).

theProdigal

[Surf Cowboy]

10. I've heard of marathon fashion shows, but 4 hours is ridiculous...

:silly:

[RubyDuby in GA]

11. Nope

I waited for 9 hours one day (in Atlanta too - world's busiest airport).
I thought of hijacking my way off, but I don't look good in neon orange.

[BlueCollar]

12. what do you expect?

just how much did you pay for the ticket?

I'm getting just a little sick and tired of all the whining coming out of the airline passengers who demand low fares and first-class service...

you get what you pay for...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. why should it matter?

this had NOTHING to do with class of service. This is about common decency. I am fine if the plane is delayed but FUCK 'em if they want to hold passengers hostage on an airplane, stuck on the tarmac, for four or more hours. Take the plane back to the goddamned gate and let people off.

And my fare was purchased at the last minute...you care to guess how I got screwed on that one???

theProdigal

[BlueCollar]

16. and I'm sure Delta or AirTran

had a gate immediately available just for you since you paid full fare...

maybe you wanted your car brought around for you too...?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

17. i take it you have never been stuck in this situation

and that it is ok for a corporation to hold 150+ passengers hostage on a plane rather than allow them to deplane and seek other options. You can take your smug attitude and stick it...BlueCollar...

theProdigal

[Screaming Lord Bob]

18. what service?

Sit on a runway for 4 hours, and like it dammit!!
I think the first class people had to sit there too....

[bbernardini]

13. Something like that happened on my HONEYMOON!

Picture it...Philadelphia, 2000. Some really bad rain hit the area, causing delays everywhere. The plane we were supposed to take had to circle so long it had to fly up to Newark to refuel, and then come back. After a four-hour delay, we were finally able to get on the plane. We taxied out onto the runway, when it was determined that the luggage was loaded incorrectly, so the plane was not balanced. We had to go back to the gate while they fixed the problem, so we sat on the plane for another two hours. Wouldn't you know it, it was the end of July, and the air conditioning was also on the fritz, so hot air was blowing out on us.

We don't have much luck when it comes to air and train travel. :)

[ProdigalJunkMail]

19. man...that is pretty bad

my wife and I were delayed on our orginating flight and missed our connection to Ireland...missed one whole day...but the rest kicked ass so I ain't complainin'!

theProdigal