Crying babies, overflowing toilets

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^

[djf]

MINNEAPOLIS

[ClearCase_guy]

I feel like I’m living in a third world country. The only thing really missing are the roving gangs of looters and thugs with rifles. But I’m patient. I’m sure they’ll show up any day now.

[Crazieman]

At some point I’m going to start beating the hell out of flight attendents preventing me from getting out of the jet.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Morons run these airlines. No wonder their stock sucks.

[tgusa]

You sound like you’ve flown on a PAL gooney bird with the goats and chickens.

Seriously, I’ll bet there are about 50 people who will avoid Continental et. al. like the plague from here on out.

[Ditter]

How awful! I am kind of claustrophobic I would have had a meltdown. I probably would have faked a heart attack and called an ambulance and the police on my cell phone.

[poobear]

You would almost be better off opening the door, pulling the emergency landing slide and getting arrested. At least you’d be in the terminal with a clean restroom.

[djf]

Well, holding someone against their will - no matter what the circumstances - is kidnapping. Plain and simple.

[bert]

It can be worse. After experiencing the delay for hours, the crew times out and the flight is canceled. You get hauled to a holiday inn at 1;30 AND HAVE A 6;00 wake up call for the bus to take you back for th3 7:00 am resumption of the flight.

[Ditter]

I can’t imagine that at least one of the 50 people on board didn’t do something to get out. Did they all just sit there like sheep?

[Perdogg]

that is true. However, I am sure that federal law permits the airline holding people against their will.

[tenthirteen]

If you start beating the hell out of flight attendants preventing you from getting out of a jet, then “they” will most likely put you someplace where you can’t get out of at all. Better to go to Plan B.

[sniper63]

"I’ll bet there are about 50 people who will avoid Continental...

I used to fly Continental, but after three trips in a row with 7 to 14 hour "Maintenance" issues I quit using that airline. Last one I flew two techs were on a hi-lift looking at the tail section, when they got out a manual and started paging through it. That was enough to scare me away form that airline.

[madinmadtown]

Don't underestimate the tactics the bigger airlines use to discourage other competitive airlines. The rules of when and where these airplanes can come to the terminal is sometimes so regulated by the government or company that oversees the terminal can be the death knell to real competition.

[Red Boots]

Well, holding someone against their will - no matter what the circumstances - is kidnapping. Plain and simple.

Yeah- maybe call 911 and report that you're being held hostage, which they were... And call the local TV station. That would probably get you off.

[Red Boots]

Last one I flew two techs were on a hi-lift looking at the tail section, when they got out a manual and started paging through it.

Why I do not fly...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Didn’t congress pass legislation limiting the time stuck on a parked airplane ?

[tgusa]

Almost all the ‘maintenance issues’ I’ve experienced have been on the commuters. Of course, commuters are handling more and more traffic these days.

[SamAdams76]

I just don’t understand the reasoning behind keeping people on a sitting aircraft for hours and hours. Even if gate space is not available, drive a set of stairs up to the plane and let the people off! At least they will have the option to hang out in the terminal, find other flight arrangements or leave the airport altogether.

[magslinger]

Yesterday's Non Sequitur