How big should the compensation be?
 

I'm thinking of taking this all the way to the Supreme Court if I have to. Here is the story:

UA - EZE(Buenos Aires)-MVD(Montevideo) - scheduled to depart at 12:20pm, flight time ~30 minutes.

Delayed to 1pm. Finally allowed to board, but then told we have to wait for arriving Chicago flight as there are MANY paxs connecting to MVD. Doors close at ~1:45. ~15 minutes later we are informed by the captain that either the battery and/or the battery charger is out and needs replacing. It should take minutes, so nobody is allowed to leave the plane. The FAs pass out a can of soda in Y. About an hour later the lights come on and it looks like we're finally ready to go. About 1/2 way to the runway, we stop. The captain comes on to inform us that some hydraulic switch seems to be acting up, but there may not be a need to do anything. He just needs time to consult with mechanics. ~30 minutes later we are informed that the local mechanics gave the go ahead for this short flight. Start moving again, but stopped just short of the runway again. This time it's the US based mechanics on the phone and they want to think about it little more. The tower moves us to a remote area of the airport. Another 30 minutes passes. Some of the passengers start to get very angry and surround the FAs and start yelling. They are the same ones that refuse to sit down when finally the captain says it's a go. It takes another 15 minutes to get everybody seated and in some cases only after a threat of ejection from the flight and/or arrest. (these were the same guys that were upset at being delayed, go figure!

I didn't have a watch with me, but I believe we finally took off ~4:15pm and landed in MVD at ~4:45 pm (5:45 local time).

BTW, I felt so powerless without any UA/* status, not that there was anything I could have done when still sitting on the plane, but I had visions of us getting back to the gate and waiting in long lines to get a hotel, meal vouchers, especially with the hotheads yelling and screaming.

<b>I'm just kidding about compensation</b>. The delay was frustrating, but I understood and preferred that the captain took all the necessary precautions before take off. As the say - s__t happens.

and another btw, it really sucks back in the Y section, especially during the delay. I bought this separate ticket for my South America tour for $71.50 R/T all in. I was give a chance to upgrade to econ plus at the airport for $79 one way, but it was suppose to be a 30 minute flight, so I refused. J was ~$200 more one-way. Majority of the other flights are in F/J on AA, BA(btw, not very impressed AGAIN, yesterday, during a 2.5 hour flight from GRU to EZE), and LA. The BA F crew was very nice and accomodating, but the suites actually sucked IMHO, and the breakfast was lacking, but at least the flight was on time.


Reporting from the Four Points Sheraton in Montevideo. Now it's time to go to sleep....:0-D

While delays are frustration, I am going to assume that afer a nice meal and some sleep you will realize that dalays happen and you would most likely not want to fly in a defective plane.

If misery loves company, my husband boarded a plane in Boston for a 70 minute flight to Washington and left the ground 6 hours later - with 2 15-minute breaks into terminal.

&quot;The delay was frustrating, but I understood and preferred that the captain took all the necessary precautions before take off.&quot;

Two thumbs up for this! I couldn't agree with you more--safety trumps all other issues.

Have a great holiday, AAFF.

Anselm

And welcome to coach, where a lot of us have no choice but to sit......

Take what to the Supreme Court?

Delays are part of travel. If that's all you have to bitch about, you're lucky.

Besides, the Supreme Court is busy taking us back to 1950.

You'd have been better off on the Buque-Bus hydrofoil, or Aerolineas Arg out of Aeroparque. You were right to refuse the upgrade as it should not have cost more than one 500-miler cert, $50.

<b>verspentine</b>

perhaps you should read the ENTIRE post before replying???



Reporting from Buenos Aires Hilton. I did change my flight from UA to AA. UA check in was ridiculous. I bought a one way ticket from AA, checked in, and walked by the same people I was standing in line with at UA and they have not moved an inch.....

Anyway, I'm happy I made it to this great city. Meeting up with friends tomorrow and scheduled a River Plate game for Sunday. If I don't report by Monday, please call your local police...:-D

I've lost track, AAFF - is this your IPC trip too?

This is the one. I'm here for 6 nights before moving on to Santiago for 3 nights and 3 nights??? somewhere in Chile before flying out to Easter Island.