Diversion of Flight for Politician?
Aug 4th, 2004, 07:54 AM
#1
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Diversion of Flight for Politician?
US Airways diverted a flight in apparent preferential treatment for a politicians relatives. Was anyone who is reading this on the Boston to Washington DC flight? Shouldn't this be illegal? At the very least the politician or his campaign fund should have to reimburse the inconvenienced passengers, in my opinion.
http://www.wral.com/news/3612076/detail.html
http://www.wral.com/news/3612076/detail.html
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:08 AM
#2
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Before you make this into anything, please do some research.
USAir has been known to divert this exact flight many times. It beats putting up many stranded passengers up for the night and give them vouchers.
One time I was a beneficiary of a diverted flight. I'm not a member of any political family. I was alo a victim of a diverted flight another time, and I lost my seat because of that. I had to sit in a jump seat with the FAs, believe it or not. It wasn't a complete loss, I did get treated like a king and I did get a phone number before it was over
USAir has been known to divert this exact flight many times. It beats putting up many stranded passengers up for the night and give them vouchers.
One time I was a beneficiary of a diverted flight. I'm not a member of any political family. I was alo a victim of a diverted flight another time, and I lost my seat because of that. I had to sit in a jump seat with the FAs, believe it or not. It wasn't a complete loss, I did get treated like a king and I did get a phone number before it was over
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:11 AM
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I'm no fan of special treatment nor, as most who have seen my posts know, this administration. But this wasn't preferential treatment for just any politician's relatives -- it was for the sitting president's daughters, like it or not. Would you have preferred they be carted around on Air Force 1?
I agree that traveling on commercial airlines is already disagreeable enough without being inconvenienced for the privileged -- but it happens all the time, I'm afraid, you just don't always hear who is involved (an athlete, movie star, big corporate whosis?).
I agree that traveling on commercial airlines is already disagreeable enough without being inconvenienced for the privileged -- but it happens all the time, I'm afraid, you just don't always hear who is involved (an athlete, movie star, big corporate whosis?).
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:22 AM
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So, I just made up my stories?
If you fly enough you will find yourself in these predicaments.
Give it a break, there is no story here. It just happened that they were there. It had nothing to do with them. If they were not, you would never hear about this, although, ohhh, surprise, it happened before.
If you fly enough you will find yourself in these predicaments.
Give it a break, there is no story here. It just happened that they were there. It had nothing to do with them. If they were not, you would never hear about this, although, ohhh, surprise, it happened before.
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:36 AM
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How do you know that this flight has been diverted many times? According to the article
"Several passengers at Reagan National Airport said they have never heard of such treatment."
I bet many of those passengers have flown the same route before.
I've flown hundreds of times and the only time a flight has diverted and made an unannounced stopover was due to passenger illness.
"Several passengers at Reagan National Airport said they have never heard of such treatment."
I bet many of those passengers have flown the same route before.
I've flown hundreds of times and the only time a flight has diverted and made an unannounced stopover was due to passenger illness.
Aug 4th, 2004, 08:48 AM
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"A representative for US Airways said the decision to divert the plane had nothing to do with the Bush twins. In fact, the representative said US Airways often diverts planes for such problems"
<b>http://www.kirotv.com/news/3612076/detail.html</b>
<b>http://www.kirotv.com/news/3612076/detail.html</b>
Aug 4th, 2004, 10:47 AM
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For those too lazy to check the story out completely, there were 22 passengers total whose flight had been canceled. All 22 were picked up by the diverted flight.
Time to give it a rest and worry about Roger Clemmens sunflower seed habit. That's something you can really sink your teeth into.
Curious
Time to give it a rest and worry about Roger Clemmens sunflower seed habit. That's something you can really sink your teeth into.
Curious
Aug 4th, 2004, 10:57 AM
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Also for those too lazy to check out the story quote
"Industry experts say such diversions are extremely rare."
To think that this has nothing to do with political connections or an airline seeking favors is naive. The passengers that were inconvenienced deserve compensation, according to FAA Rule 240.
"Industry experts say such diversions are extremely rare."
To think that this has nothing to do with political connections or an airline seeking favors is naive. The passengers that were inconvenienced deserve compensation, according to FAA Rule 240.
Aug 4th, 2004, 11:07 AM
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RBC....There is NO "FAA Rule 240"...It went away with deregulation...
http://www.fly.faa.gov/FAQ/faq.html
I hope this helps.
http://www.fly.faa.gov/FAQ/faq.html
I hope this helps.
Aug 4th, 2004, 11:38 AM
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Sorry BeachBoi it is still a regulation
"Before airline deregulation in 1978, Rule 240 was literally a federal requirement. Nowadays, it's a term describing what individual airlines will do for late or stranded passengers. In fact, the major airlines have filed "conditions of carriage" with the U.S. Department of Transporatation (DOT) guaranteeing their respective Rule 240s."
You can look up any airlines "conditions of carriage" which they filed with the DOT at the following link:
http://www.mytravelrights.com/
USAirs "conditions of carriage" are:
"US Airways
SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY Schedule Irregularity means any of the following irregularities: Delay in scheduled departure or arrival of a carrier?s flight resulting in a misconnection, or Flight cancellation, omission of a schedule stop, or any other delay or interruption in the schedule operation of a carrier?s flight, or Substitution of equipment of a different class of service, or Schedule changes which require rerouting of the passenger at departure time of the original flight. Exception: Schedule Irregularity does not include Force Majeure Events as defined. When a passenger will be delayed because of a schedule irregularity, any carrier causing such delay or in the case of a misconnection the original receiving carrier(s) will transport the passenger without stopover on the next flight on which space is available in the same class of service as the passenger?s original outbound flight at no additional cost to the passenger: If space is available on a flight(s) of a different class of service, acceptable to the passenger, such flight(s) will be used without stopover at no additional cost to the passenger only if the flight will provide an earlier arrival at the passenger?s destination, next stopover or transfer point.
As used in this rule "Force Majeure Event" means:
1.Any condition beyond US Airways? control (including, but without limitation, meteorological conditions, acts of
2.God, riots, civil commotion, embargoes, wars, hostilities, disturbances, or unsettled international conditions),
3.actual, threatened or reported or because of any delay, demand, circumstances or requirement due, directly or
4.indirectly, to such condition; or
5.Any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout or any other labor-related dispute involving or affecting US
6.Airways? service, or
7.Any government regulation, demand, or requirement; or
8.Any shortage or labor, fuel, or facilities of US Airways or others; or
9.Any fact not reasonably foreseen, anticipated, or predicted by US Airways.
US Airways may, in the event of a Force Majeure Event, without notice, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, or delay any flight or the right of carriage or reservation of traffic accommodations and determine if any departure or landing should be made, without any liability except to refund in the original form of payment in accordance with involuntary refund rules any unused portion of the ticket.
AMENITIES / SERVICE FOR DELAYED PASSENGERS Lodging: The passenger will be provided one night?s lodging, or a maximum allowance for one night?s lodging as established by each location, when a US Airways flight on which the passenger is being transported is diverted to an unscheduled point and the delay at such point is expected to exceed 4 hours during the period 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Exception: Hotel accommodations will not be furnished: To a passenger whose trip is interrupted at a city which is his/her permanent domicile or, When the destination designated and the flight on which the passenger is on the passenger?s ticket is:
Baltimore;Washington
Dulles Airport Baltimore
Washington National Airport Newark
White Plains / Islip/New York City
Ft. Lauderdale;Miami
Greensboro;Winston-Salem Winston-Salem
Greensboro Islip;Newark / New York City / White Plains
"Before airline deregulation in 1978, Rule 240 was literally a federal requirement. Nowadays, it's a term describing what individual airlines will do for late or stranded passengers. In fact, the major airlines have filed "conditions of carriage" with the U.S. Department of Transporatation (DOT) guaranteeing their respective Rule 240s."
You can look up any airlines "conditions of carriage" which they filed with the DOT at the following link:
http://www.mytravelrights.com/
USAirs "conditions of carriage" are:
"US Airways
SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY Schedule Irregularity means any of the following irregularities: Delay in scheduled departure or arrival of a carrier?s flight resulting in a misconnection, or Flight cancellation, omission of a schedule stop, or any other delay or interruption in the schedule operation of a carrier?s flight, or Substitution of equipment of a different class of service, or Schedule changes which require rerouting of the passenger at departure time of the original flight. Exception: Schedule Irregularity does not include Force Majeure Events as defined. When a passenger will be delayed because of a schedule irregularity, any carrier causing such delay or in the case of a misconnection the original receiving carrier(s) will transport the passenger without stopover on the next flight on which space is available in the same class of service as the passenger?s original outbound flight at no additional cost to the passenger: If space is available on a flight(s) of a different class of service, acceptable to the passenger, such flight(s) will be used without stopover at no additional cost to the passenger only if the flight will provide an earlier arrival at the passenger?s destination, next stopover or transfer point.
As used in this rule "Force Majeure Event" means:
1.Any condition beyond US Airways? control (including, but without limitation, meteorological conditions, acts of
2.God, riots, civil commotion, embargoes, wars, hostilities, disturbances, or unsettled international conditions),
3.actual, threatened or reported or because of any delay, demand, circumstances or requirement due, directly or
4.indirectly, to such condition; or
5.Any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout or any other labor-related dispute involving or affecting US
6.Airways? service, or
7.Any government regulation, demand, or requirement; or
8.Any shortage or labor, fuel, or facilities of US Airways or others; or
9.Any fact not reasonably foreseen, anticipated, or predicted by US Airways.
US Airways may, in the event of a Force Majeure Event, without notice, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, or delay any flight or the right of carriage or reservation of traffic accommodations and determine if any departure or landing should be made, without any liability except to refund in the original form of payment in accordance with involuntary refund rules any unused portion of the ticket.
AMENITIES / SERVICE FOR DELAYED PASSENGERS Lodging: The passenger will be provided one night?s lodging, or a maximum allowance for one night?s lodging as established by each location, when a US Airways flight on which the passenger is being transported is diverted to an unscheduled point and the delay at such point is expected to exceed 4 hours during the period 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Exception: Hotel accommodations will not be furnished: To a passenger whose trip is interrupted at a city which is his/her permanent domicile or, When the destination designated and the flight on which the passenger is on the passenger?s ticket is:
Baltimore;Washington
Dulles Airport Baltimore
Washington National Airport Newark
White Plains / Islip/New York City
Ft. Lauderdale;Miami
Greensboro;Winston-Salem Winston-Salem
Greensboro Islip;Newark / New York City / White Plains
Aug 4th, 2004, 11:47 AM
#18
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RBC.....Read: not an "FAA" rule.....That was the point of my post...Next time you are at a ticket counter, ask to see a copy of their "Conditions of Carriage"....There is supposed to be one at every ticketing position(FAA rule!)...you'll probably get at the very least a look of surprise.....
Aug 4th, 2004, 03:14 PM
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Before everyone gets all in an uproar over this there are some things that need to be brought up.
1. There were 22 passengers. Not just a politician's family as originally stated.
2. Both the quoted articles say there was a two hour delay. The actual delay could have been 1 hour and 47 minutes. We don't know for a fact that the actual delay was exactly two hours or over. This does matter. Also were the original 20 minute delay included in this two hours?
2. News articles that state "several passengers" and "industry experts" as their sources are not believable. You learn this in Journalism 101 in college. Anytime someone uses these sources they lose credibility. Name the names or drop the source.
I would be mad too, if I was on this flight. But why the compensation?
There is no big story here.
1. There were 22 passengers. Not just a politician's family as originally stated.
2. Both the quoted articles say there was a two hour delay. The actual delay could have been 1 hour and 47 minutes. We don't know for a fact that the actual delay was exactly two hours or over. This does matter. Also were the original 20 minute delay included in this two hours?
2. News articles that state "several passengers" and "industry experts" as their sources are not believable. You learn this in Journalism 101 in college. Anytime someone uses these sources they lose credibility. Name the names or drop the source.
I would be mad too, if I was on this flight. But why the compensation?
There is no big story here.
Aug 4th, 2004, 03:59 PM
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According to the Albany Times Union
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories...sdate=8/4/2004
(link probably doesn't copy right) the "twins" were scheduled for a 5:17 flight, but the regional jet was grounded for mechanical problems. 38 passengers, including the 22-year-old twins and their contingent of Secret Service agents, held reservations, but not all chose to accept the detoured BOS-DCA flight. The diverted craft (with 40-some original passengers) landed at least 1 hours later than its scheduled 8:36 p.m. arrival at DCA.
They could have put the Albany passengers on the 8pm Southwest flight & bused them down to DC, or even put them on the USAirways 5:25 (#355/#8124) flight to IAD (changing at PHL) ... but that - arriving at IAD or BWI would have been a little inconvenient, right? (not that the BOS-DCA were inconvenienced).
I fly from ALB often, and the only accomodations I've ever been offered for cancelled flights is a trip to a different DC area airport. Yes, I think the names were the reason for the diversion, and would be plenty steamed were my arrival delayed.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories...sdate=8/4/2004
(link probably doesn't copy right) the "twins" were scheduled for a 5:17 flight, but the regional jet was grounded for mechanical problems. 38 passengers, including the 22-year-old twins and their contingent of Secret Service agents, held reservations, but not all chose to accept the detoured BOS-DCA flight. The diverted craft (with 40-some original passengers) landed at least 1 hours later than its scheduled 8:36 p.m. arrival at DCA.
They could have put the Albany passengers on the 8pm Southwest flight & bused them down to DC, or even put them on the USAirways 5:25 (#355/#8124) flight to IAD (changing at PHL) ... but that - arriving at IAD or BWI would have been a little inconvenient, right? (not that the BOS-DCA were inconvenienced).
I fly from ALB often, and the only accomodations I've ever been offered for cancelled flights is a trip to a different DC area airport. Yes, I think the names were the reason for the diversion, and would be plenty steamed were my arrival delayed.
