TOTALLY GEEKED!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

United Airlines Customers Outraged After Being Put Up in Military Barracks

Lindley · Guru

That makes me nervous since I will be flying united overseas

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

They didn't have to do that.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Another United story. Anyone who flies United at this point is just plain crazy. (Sorry, Lindley. Not you since you already have your ticket).

-- Edited by Lawyerlady on Tuesday 16th of June 2015 02:36:28 AM

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I knew you'd appreciate this one LL. I had you in mind when I posted it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I can't wait to see how people defend the airline over this. They stranded people without any communication whatsoever.

They might get fined by the FAA over this one.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I have to be honest. I didn't even read the article until AFTER I posted it. I saw the headline and thought, "OMG-TG-LL-FAST!!"

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

They merged with Continental in 2010 - explains a lot. Worst flight experience I ever had was on Continental.

BTW - United Airlines was ranked the MEANEST airline in 2014.
travel.usnews.com/features/Americas-Meanest-Airlines-2014/

karl271 · Guru

This is really sad as United used to be one of the best US carriers. Good rep, service, etc. I wonder if the merger with Continental didn't have a lot to do with its decline.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I saw this story on the news yesterday. Why didn't they at least take the blankets from the plane, or get extras from the hotel?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
I saw this story on the news yesterday. Why didn't they at least take the blankets from the plane, or get extras from the hotel?

flan

Or send someone to fix the heat? Why would you put someone someplace with no heat when it's only 32 degrees? That's freezing!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I saw this story on the news yesterday. Why didn't they at least take the blankets from the plane, or get extras from the hotel?

flan
Or send someone to fix the heat? Why would you put someone someplace with no heat when it's only 32 degrees? That's freezing!

I probably would have tried to start a fire, or something equally stupid...

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

BIL got stuck in Charlotte by United. For 2 days. The first night he slept at the airport. The second night they got him a room.

He was flying to CA from Pittsburgh via Charlotte. They said they would refund half of his ticket cost since he actually flew to Charlotte and then back to Pittsburgh. Yes, they really said that. He fought it, they finally refunded his money.

G has to fly United all the time, but he doesn't gat a say in which airline he flies when he's working...:(

Lindley · Guru

Now I'm really nervous.......

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lindley wrote:
Now I'm really nervous.......

But you flew last time with no problems?

flan

Lindley · Guru

I flew nappon which is a Japenese airlines but under united. They were awesome. This time it is united itself that I would be flying. my connecting flight in Japan will be Nappon.

Ohfour · Hooker

Lindley wrote:
I flew nappon which is a Japenese airlines but under united. They were awesome. This time it is united itself that I would be flying. my connecting flight in Japan will be Nappon.

You have to realize that these extremes are not the norm. Yes, it's a crappy airline, but 99.9% of the flights don't have these major issues.

You will be fine. biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ohfour wrote:
Lindley wrote:
I flew nappon which is a Japenese airlines but under united. They were awesome. This time it is united itself that I would be flying. my connecting flight in Japan will be Nappon.
You have to realize that these extremes are not the norm. Yes, it's a crappy airline, but 99.9% of the flights don't have these major issues.
You will be fine.

Well, on United, I'd say that is more lik 89.9%.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I usually fly United & have never had an issue with them. They damaged my luggage once & sent me to a shop in the airport to pick out whatever suitcase I wanted on them. They did initially say I over packed & it busted open. I pointed out the tire tracks on it & they said oh ok.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

United needs to hire a new PR person. They throw a crying baby off a plane as a "threat" and they say that full soda cans can be weapons while full beer cans are not, and now, they say that the crew was sent to a hotel while the passengers were sent to barracks b/c the crew needed a good night's rest. Uh-huh. Whoever does the PR over there needs to be replaced.

cadiver · Senior Member

Lawyerlady wrote:
United needs to hire a new PR person. They throw a crying baby off a plane as a "threat" and they say that full soda cans can be weapons while full beer cans are not, and now, they say that the crew was sent to a hotel while the passengers were sent to barracks b/c the crew needed a good night's rest. Uh-huh. Whoever does the PR over there needs to be replaced.

The flight attendant in the soda incident was grounded until further traing. The partner airline stated the only policy the have is a can could be served if inventory aloowed, in this case itvdid. There is no policy on unopened VA opened.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

cadiver wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
United needs to hire a new PR person. They throw a crying baby off a plane as a "threat" and they say that full soda cans can be weapons while full beer cans are not, and now, they say that the crew was sent to a hotel while the passengers were sent to barracks b/c the crew needed a good night's rest. Uh-huh. Whoever does the PR over there needs to be replaced.
The flight attendant in the soda incident was grounded until further traing. The partner airline stated the only policy the have is a can could be served if inventory aloowed, in this case itvdid. There is no policy on unopened VA opened.

So that flight attendant was literally making crap up on the spot! And it WAS discrimination, or else she would have just handed over the can and moved on. Wow.

burns07 · Guru

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation

Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Lawyerlady wrote:
burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation
Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.

If they were just going to fly them to New Jersey before they flew them to London, why didn't they get a plane to Canada, pick them up and fly them to Jersey that night, then put them all up in a hotel, then fly them out in the morning? Would have solved all the problems. Yes, it would cost money, but the passengers would have been SO much happier. I doubt if any of those passengers will flay United again. I would not. I think it was unconscionable to leave the passengers alone in the barracks without a rep from the airline there to communicate with them. And housing all those people in a barracks is a safety issue. I would not want to have my children sleeping like that - who knows what could happen in the night? I would not have slept a wink. What about people with babies who may have needed formula, diapers, privacy, etc? A diaper bag can only carry so much.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation
Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.
If they were just going to fly them to New Jersey before they flew them to London, why didn't they get a plane to Canada, pick them up and fly them to Jersey that night, then put them all up in a hotel, then fly them out in the morning? Would have solved all the problems. Yes, it would cost money, but the passengers would have been SO much happier. I doubt if any of those passengers will flay United again. I would not. I think it was unconscionable to leave the passengers alone in the barracks without a rep from the airline there to communicate with them. And housing all those people in a barracks is a safety issue. I would not want to have my children sleeping like that - who knows what could happen in the night? I would not have slept a wink. What about people with babies who may have needed formula, diapers, privacy, etc? A diaper bag can only carry so much.

And let's not forget NO HEAT in freezing weather.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

If it was a barracks, as in bunk beds, no way would I have been comfortable there. One of my DDs was a sleep walker! Can you imagine that in a barracks? With all those strangers? No thank you. I would have been grown in jail because I would have thrown a holy sh!t fit.

ed11563 · Guru

None of those passengers will fly United to or from JFK Airport in the future. United is abandoning JFK. They're moving their New York flights to Newark, New Jersey.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

I avoid JFK and LaGuardia like the plague.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation
Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.
If they were just going to fly them to New Jersey before they flew them to London, why didn't they get a plane to Canada, pick them up and fly them to Jersey that night, then put them all up in a hotel, then fly them out in the morning? Would have solved all the problems. Yes, it would cost money, but the passengers would have been SO much happier. I doubt if any of those passengers will flay United again. I would not. I think it was unconscionable to leave the passengers alone in the barracks without a rep from the airline there to communicate with them. And housing all those people in a barracks is a safety issue. I would not want to have my children sleeping like that - who knows what could happen in the night? I would not have slept a wink. What about people with babies who may have needed formula, diapers, privacy, etc? A diaper bag can only carry so much.

Scheduling flights is not like hopping on the on ramp on a highway. The airline has to have the equipment, air space clearance. Also once a plane leaves US airspace, to come back the passengers have to go through customs which is another scheduling issue. Just not done quickly. It is not all United's fault.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation
Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.
If they were just going to fly them to New Jersey before they flew them to London, why didn't they get a plane to Canada, pick them up and fly them to Jersey that night, then put them all up in a hotel, then fly them out in the morning? Would have solved all the problems. Yes, it would cost money, but the passengers would have been SO much happier. I doubt if any of those passengers will flay United again. I would not. I think it was unconscionable to leave the passengers alone in the barracks without a rep from the airline there to communicate with them. And housing all those people in a barracks is a safety issue. I would not want to have my children sleeping like that - who knows what could happen in the night? I would not have slept a wink. What about people with babies who may have needed formula, diapers, privacy, etc? A diaper bag can only carry so much.
Scheduling flights is not like hopping on the on ramp on a highway. The airline has to have the equipment, air space clearance. Also once a plane leaves US airspace, to come back the passengers have to go through customs which is another scheduling issue. Just not done quickly. It is not all United's fault.

Except these people did go through customs either when they flew into Canada, nor when they flew to Jersey. The safety and well being of the passengers should have made this a priority/emergency. If someone would have had a medical emergency while in the barracks, who would they have called? How would they have called them? What if there was an assault - lots of people in a small space under duress with frayed nerves...I can see someone taking a swing at someone. This was a HUGE safety concern and the airlines couldn't be bothered to do anything about it.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

IT WAS FREAKIN FREEZING IN THERE! Someone is getting hurt if I'm there and it's freezing.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
IT WAS FREAKIN FREEZING IN THERE! Someone is getting hurt if I'm there and it's freezing.

Agreed. And if I had kids with me...its gonna be on like Donkey Kong if they are cold. And sleeping in an open barracks with a hundred other people, without communication from the airlines.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Mellow Momma wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
IT WAS FREAKIN FREEZING IN THERE! Someone is getting hurt if I'm there and it's freezing.
Agreed. And if I had kids with me...its gonna be on like Donkey Kong if they are cold. And sleeping in an open barracks with a hundred other people, without communication from the airlines.

Oh yeah, if there are kids involved I'm not sure a free ticket would be enough.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
burns07 wrote:

airlines don't normally divert flights without cause--so they were inconvenienced--goose bay is one of the most amazing airports / spots on this earth for its natural beauty--simply stunning--the creation of the airport itself, literally in the wilderness, requiring sled dogs for transport initially and temporary shelters for everyone ( including igloos ) is one of the greatest stories in history of aviation
Yes, there was cause - a maintenance issue with the plane. Which is still United's responsiblity.
If they were just going to fly them to New Jersey before they flew them to London, why didn't they get a plane to Canada, pick them up and fly them to Jersey that night, then put them all up in a hotel, then fly them out in the morning? Would have solved all the problems. Yes, it would cost money, but the passengers would have been SO much happier. I doubt if any of those passengers will flay United again. I would not. I think it was unconscionable to leave the passengers alone in the barracks without a rep from the airline there to communicate with them. And housing all those people in a barracks is a safety issue. I would not want to have my children sleeping like that - who knows what could happen in the night? I would not have slept a wink. What about people with babies who may have needed formula, diapers, privacy, etc? A diaper bag can only carry so much.
Scheduling flights is not like hopping on the on ramp on a highway. The airline has to have the equipment, air space clearance. Also once a plane leaves US airspace, to come back the passengers have to go through customs which is another scheduling issue. Just not done quickly. It is not all United's fault.

How is it not their fault? Had they properly maintained or checked the plane prior to take off, their should not have been a mechanical problem bad enough to strand them in Canada. They are also familiar with Goose Bay, Canada and should have known there would not be proper accommodations for that many people. They also didn't even bother to CHECK ON their passengers, nor did they communicate with them to tell them what is going on.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

They weren't in open barracks with 100 other people. They were given rooms, and access to phones and internet. Was it ideal? No, but when there is a need for an emergency landing, you don't exactly get to pick and choose. As it happens, the place they had to land didn't have a hotel that could accommodate. Luckily for them the base was happy to help and offered rooms, transportation, and breakfast. Not ideal, but better than out in the cold all night. As for the airline crew not checking in, it's not like there was an abundance of them, just the handful that was on the plane. Since they are required to have a specific amount of rest to be able to continue, I can see that taking priority over checking in with the passengers. I'm assuming they did want to get on with their trip as quickly as possible. And did any of the passengers try to contact the airline (not the crew) to see what was being done about getting them, out of there? Again, no it wasn't ideal, but it sounds like they did the best they could under the circumstances.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

DemoniaD wrote:
They weren't in open barracks with 100 other people. They were given rooms, and access to phones and internet. Was it ideal? No, but when there is a need for an emergency landing, you don't exactly get to pick and choose. As it happens, the place they had to land didn't have a hotel that could accommodate. Luckily for them the base was happy to help and offered rooms, transportation, and breakfast. Not ideal, but better than out in the cold all night. As for the airline crew not checking in, it's not like there was an abundance of them, just the handful that was on the plane. Since they are required to have a specific amount of rest to be able to continue, I can see that taking priority over checking in with the passengers. I'm assuming they did want to get on with their trip as quickly as possible. And did any of the passengers try to contact the airline (not the crew) to see what was being done about getting them, out of there? Again, no it wasn't ideal, but it sounds like they did the best they could under the circumstances.

Yes, they were given rooms - couples were given a room with a single cot like bed, one sheet and one blanket with no heat. The rooms also attached to other rooms through the bathroom. Space heaters would have been an option, but United probably wasn't even aware of the heat issue b/c they didn't check. And one meal in 24 hours? Really? And "better than out in the cold all night"? That's your criteria for acceptable treatment. If they had properly maintained their planes, it wouldn't have happened in the first place.

It wasn't the passengers duty to try to get United to explain - it was United's duty to communicate with their passengers and let them know what was going on.

I hope the FAA fines them so much they go under.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

So you've never properly maintained a vehicle and still had a issue with it? Even the best maintained plane can have an issue pop up. It's laughable to think otherwise. Per the story, it was a single bed, not a cot. And sharing a bathroom with your neighbor really isn't a huge deal. They have locks that prevent them from entering your room via the bathroom, and locks to be used in the bathroom to keep people from either room out. There was an issue with heat in some of the rooms, not all, and in some of the news stories, it says that the people at the base tried to remedy the heat situation. And yes, considering the alternative had the base not been nice enough to say you can use our facilities was the cold, I would say it was the better option. Do you see a better one that could realistically be done on such short notice? Ideally, it wouldn't happen at all, but it did, so then what? And I'm not saying United is totally blameless, but I don't think it makes them monsters that they accepted the generosity of the base for their passengers when no other arrangements were available. Sure it wasn't a nice hotel, but so what? They also reimbursed the passengers the cost of their tickets for the inconvenience.

And if I want information about what is going on, I don't care who is "responsible" for doing the communicating. I'm going to try do what I can to try to find out. If I can't be bothered to make a single phone call to try, chances are it's not something that bothers me bad enough to whine about my lack of knowledge later.

Again, ideally, things like this would never happen, but realistically things like diversions, emergency landings, and even plane crashes are risks you take when you choose to fly. In this case, they did and I don't think things were handled all that badly when something went wrong.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I don't take 180 people into the sky with my car. And if my car breaks down, it isn't going to fall out of the sky and crash.

And the pictures showed a cot.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?

Ohfour · Hooker

I've been diverted because a goose hit the windshield. Not all maintenance issues can be foreseen. And they didn't get a cot. They got a single bed. A cot doesn't have a mattress. Here is a picture directly from the story. Ever seen a cot with a headboard???

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ohfour wrote:
I've been diverted because a goose hit the windshield. Not all maintenance issues can be foreseen. And they didn't get a cot. They got a single bed. A cot doesn't have a mattress. Here is a picture directly from the story. Ever seen a cot with a headboard???

And that was supposed to sleep 2 adults?

Ohfour · Hooker

Lawyerlady wrote:
And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?

What does that even matter? Maybe the hotel had 5 rooms. Which 5 passengers would get those rooms. They would have been more upset if they pick and chose passengers. Now, I'm not fan of United, AT ALL. But I think this situation was handled the best way possible...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 18th of June 2015 12:30:03 PM

Ohfour · Hooker

Ohfour wrote:
I've been diverted because a goose hit the windshield. Not all maintenance issues can be foreseen. And they didn't get a cot. They got a single bed. A cot doesn't have a mattress. Here is a picture directly from the story. Ever seen a cot with a headboard???

I'm just showing you that is was NOT a cot. It's was a bed. And G and I have slept many times in a twin bed. Since they were evidently so "cold" you would think the body heat would have been welcomed...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Why would you put cold in parenthesis? You don't consider 32 degrees cold?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ohfour wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?
What does that even matter? Maybe the hotel had 5 rooms. Which 5 passengers would get those rooms. They would have been more upset if they pick and chose passengers. Now, I'm not fan of United, AT ALL. But I think this situation was handled the best way possible...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 18th of June 2015 12:30:03 PM

Because if it is good enough for their passengers, it should have been good enough for the crew. Treating the passengers differently shows a disregard for them while the crew was in comfort. And which passengers? Draw straws, or do none, or pick the elderly or babies. NOT the crew.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?
What does that even matter? Maybe the hotel had 5 rooms. Which 5 passengers would get those rooms. They would have been more upset if they pick and chose passengers. Now, I'm not fan of United, AT ALL. But I think this situation was handled the best way possible...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 18th of June 2015 12:30:03 PM
Because if it is good enough for their passengers, it should have been good enough for the crew. Treating the passengers differently shows a disregard for them while the crew was in comfort. And which passengers? Draw straws, or do none, or pick the elderly or babies. NOT the crew.

So you want the pilot & co-pilot to fly the plane the next day with NO sleep?

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

Lawyerlady wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?
What does that even matter? Maybe the hotel had 5 rooms. Which 5 passengers would get those rooms. They would have been more upset if they pick and chose passengers. Now, I'm not fan of United, AT ALL. But I think this situation was handled the best way possible...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 18th of June 2015 12:30:03 PM
Because if it is good enough for their passengers, it should have been good enough for the crew. Treating the passengers differently shows a disregard for them while the crew was in comfort. And which passengers? Draw straws, or do none, or pick the elderly or babies. NOT the crew.

Well, I would feel MUCH better if I knew that the crew got a descents night sleep, even at the expense of my own. I can sleep on the plane. They cannot. They need to be alert, I do not...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
And if it was so perfectly fine - why didn't the flight crew stay there, too?
What does that even matter? Maybe the hotel had 5 rooms. Which 5 passengers would get those rooms. They would have been more upset if they pick and chose passengers. Now, I'm not fan of United, AT ALL. But I think this situation was handled the best way possible...

-- Edited by Ohfour on Thursday 18th of June 2015 12:30:03 PM
Because if it is good enough for their passengers, it should have been good enough for the crew. Treating the passengers differently shows a disregard for them while the crew was in comfort. And which passengers? Draw straws, or do none, or pick the elderly or babies. NOT the crew.
So you want the pilot & co-pilot to fly the plane the next day with NO sleep?
flan

The accomodations were perfectly reasonable - why wouldn't they get any sleep? evileye

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

And if they were bringing in another plane - they should have brought in a relief crew.