[zigzag]

On June 27 our American LGA to CLT flight failed to push back on time due to gate agents who started the boarding process late and were very slow in loading passengers (the equipment and crew were on board and ready). As a result, we sat on the ramp after pushback and lost our ATC take off slot. Then we had to go back to the gate to refuel. Missed our CLT connection and rebooked on a 6 PM departure. Waited on a First Officer and Flight Attendants. At 9 PM the FA's arrived and boarded. At 10 PM the FO arrived to cheers from waiting passengers. As soon as he punched in the flight was cancelled. I asked him why and he replied that the FA's had run out of hours. After a two hour wait we rebooked for the next morning. The hotel then sold our pre-paid guaranteed room and we slept in the lobby.
Point is, why would American operations not know in advance that on a projected 10 PM departure the FA's would go out of hours and cancel us hours earlier, giving us a chance to rebook to what became the last flight to MCO, a 9 PM departure?
Pure incompetence on the part of operations and management.
Where did the $54 billion we gave the airlines for COVID relief end up? Not in training or replacing laid off personnel/crews!

[xcaligirl]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

So, the airline has a plane, a pilot, a co-pilot, flight attendants, and everything else needed to take a trip. They sell tickets to the passengers. They have been doing this for years. But now, when the passengers come to the airport, they are told that the flight is cancelled. WHY?

They laid off many employees during the pandemic and if a pilot doesn’t have hours of flight time, he can’t fly! I think the biggest problem is the “shortage” of pilots. Simple fix..they shouldn’t be selling more tickets until the problem is under control!!

[tibbetts]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

So, the airline has a plane, a pilot, a co-pilot, flight attendants, and everything else needed to take a trip. They sell tickets to the passengers. They have been doing this for years. But now, when the passengers come to the airport, they are told that the flight is cancelled. WHY?

No Jet fuel.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by zigzag

On June 27 our American LGA to CLT flight failed to push back on time due to gate agents who started the boarding process late and were very slow in loading passengers (the equipment and crew were on board and ready). As a result, we sat on the ramp after pushback and lost our ATC take off slot. Then we had to go back to the gate to refuel. Missed our CLT connection and rebooked on a 6 PM departure. Waited on a First Officer and Flight Attendants. At 9 PM the FA's arrived and boarded. At 10 PM the FO arrived to cheers from waiting passengers. As soon as he punched in the flight was cancelled. I asked him why and he replied that the FA's had run out of hours. After a two hour wait we rebooked for the next morning. The hotel then sold our pre-paid guaranteed room and we slept in the lobby.
Point is, why would American operations not know in advance that on a projected 10 PM departure the FA's would go out of hours and cancel us hours earlier, giving us a chance to rebook to what became the last flight to MCO, a 9 PM departure?
Pure incompetence on the part of operations and management.
Where did the $54 billion we gave the airlines for COVID relief end up? Not in training or replacing laid off personnel/crews!

Pre-pandemic over the years I experienced the type of situation you described more times than I can count on AmericaWest, US Airways and American Airlines.

Post pandemic I can understand pilot shortages and other issues. Yet airlines currently are deliberately overbooking heinously. Pre-pandemic they typically overbooked flights by a few passengers and paid a few bucks for them to take later flights but they have gone ridiculously overboard with thousands of cancellations, especially over holiday weekends.

[Otis64]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I and some golfing buddies were flying out of state to golf, and our flight was cancelled until the next day
because of plane malfunction.

We took a taxi to a motel that night and was telling the taxi driver what happen.

He laughed out loud and told us many times the pilots show up at the airport drunk.

This is truly a sad world

My son works for Southwest. One morning he was notified by TSA that a SW pilot just breezed thru smelling of alcohol. When the pilot showed up at his counter to pick up some flight info, my son said, "Sorry, sir, but you're taking out this flight." Pilot said distainfully, "Oh yeah? Who's going to stop me?" Son replied, "Those 2 gentlemen behind you." Pilot escorted away; son had to appear at a hearing in Dallas; pilot lost his license. One less dangerous pilot, thankfully!

[Otis64]

Originally Posted by Otis64

My son works for Southwest. One morning he was notified by TSA that a SW pilot just breezed thru smelling of alcohol. When the pilot showed up at his counter to pick up some flight info, my son said, "Sorry, sir, but you're taking out this flight." Pilot said distainfully, "Oh yeah? Who's going to stop me?" Son replied, "Those 2 gentlemen behind you." Pilot escorted away; son had to appear at a hearing in Dallas; pilot lost his license. One less dangerous pilot, thankfully!

Sorry -- Son told pilot he was NOT taking that flight out.

[coralway]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

So, the airline has a plane, a pilot, a co-pilot, flight attendants, and everything else needed to take a trip. They sell tickets to the passengers. They have been doing this for years. But now, when the passengers come to the airport, they are told that the flight is cancelled. WHY?

Living is easy with eyes closed

[rogerrice60]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

The pilots are too busy to fly as they are shaking down their employers for more pay for less work. More than 1,200 Delta pilots picket at 7 major airports to call for higher pay : NPR

Southwest Airlines pilots picket, say they'''re tired of being understaffed and overworked

Year ago I used to fly AmericaWest (known as AmericaWorst to flight crews as well as passengers). For quite a while the pilots were having flights delayed and canceled for any trivial excuse they could imagine. For months it was a nightmare of missed connections, losing great upgrade seats when they canceled my flights and crammed me into middle seats of other flights, getting stuck overnight in connecting cities and so on. One day I was up in first class and the pilot was pulling some stunt about why he could not take off due to a light on the console not working properly. A guy near me pulled out his FAA credentials and waved them at the pilot and told him to get the plane in the air or he would get written up. We took off in minutes.

Amen, these unions are destroying our country $15 for entry level positions tossing burgers that should be $6 hr

[Captainpd]

Originally Posted by Hardlyworking

Anyone remember Peoples Express? We’d fly from Dulles to Newark pretty regular. You paid for your ticket in flight.

Yep, and People's Express lasted 2 years.

[Captainpd]

Originally Posted by zigzag

On June 27 our American LGA to CLT flight failed to push back on time due to gate agents who started the boarding process late and were very slow in loading passengers (the equipment and crew were on board and ready). As a result, we sat on the ramp after pushback and lost our ATC take off slot. Then we had to go back to the gate to refuel. Missed our CLT connection and rebooked on a 6 PM departure. Waited on a First Officer and Flight Attendants. At 9 PM the FA's arrived and boarded. At 10 PM the FO arrived to cheers from waiting passengers. As soon as he punched in the flight was cancelled. I asked him why and he replied that the FA's had run out of hours. After a two hour wait we rebooked for the next morning. The hotel then sold our pre-paid guaranteed room and we slept in the lobby.
Point is, why would American operations not know in advance that on a projected 10 PM departure the FA's would go out of hours and cancel us hours earlier, giving us a chance to rebook to what became the last flight to MCO, a 9 PM departure?
Pure incompetence on the part of operations and management.
Where did the $54 billion we gave the airlines for COVID relief end up? Not in training or replacing laid off personnel/crews!

There isn't any such thing as a "takeoff slot". Only slots are for landing. Lots of outside influences with the airlines. But are constantly looking for people like you that can predict the future.

[Calisport]

My flights were usually delayed due to not enough ground crew and probably covid sick days. One flight was cancelled so Southwest gave me a $100 voucher so I was happy about that. Got on a plane an hour later than the cancelled one.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

The Delta Pilot were off duty and scheduled an informational picket between 10am-12noon. They have been in protracted contract negotiations for 5 years.

Try not to confuse people with facts!

[Dreah]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

I and some golfing buddies were flying out of state to golf, and our flight was cancelled until the next day
because of plane malfunction.

We took a taxi to a motel that night and was telling the taxi driver what happen.

He laughed out loud and told us many times the pilots show up at the airport drunk.

This is truly a sad world

So many experts complaining about Airline pilots that know nothing of the job. These professionals are responsible for the lives of everyone on board. I guess it's more about you than everyone else.

[Dreah]

Posting a comment about Pilots being drunks is really low.
I guess that says more about your character than that of the Pilots.

[Dreah]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Nope. He was a high up FAA official and he KNEW the pilot was pulling a fast one. It was a time of pilot unrest in that airline.

I flew that airline extensively and was in the Chairman's Club, their top level frequent flier category requiring 100,000 miles flown per year. I knew several pilots, flight attendants and even gate agents in three airports well. Several of them had confided in me what was going on within the ranks. This time it was the pilots; other times it was flight attendants. The airline was not well run. It consequently merged into US Airways (Useless Airways) and then into American Airlines.

I was on this flight. Fortunately the pilot and crew were top drawer! Smoke Detected in lavatory; US Airways Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing | George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster

Growing up near Kirtland Air Force Base early on I developed an interest in aviation. I recall on my first ride as a passenger in a private plane from Ruidoso to ABQ the pilot who was giving me a free hop home told me that he needed to wait until the weather cleared at ABQ before we could take off. We waited a couple hours, got the clearance and took off. He explained to me "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots." I took that advice, unlike JFK Jr! 10 mistakes JFK Jr. made - AOPA

My next door neighbors' best friends' cousin used to know a coworker that met a pilot once.
All the experts here are laughable.