I worked at Continental in Newark for about a year while I was in college back in 1987. <BR> <BR>I was working a gate with a colleague one evening. The public reason for the delay, "a minor mechanical problem that should take just a few minutes." <BR> <BR>The real reason, the idiot flight attendant (and the station that the plane left from) neglected to tell us there was an "Unaccompanied Minor" on board the plane. The girl, who was in her early teens, got off the plane by herself. By the time the F.A. mentioned the girl, the flight had been on the ground for about 10 minutes. <BR> <BR>The manager on duty made the flight attendant lead the search party for the young lady. Fortunately, the girl was smart enough to head to baggage claim. We found her and brought her to her waiting parents with bags in hand. They really appreciated that extra service we provided. <BR> <BR>Moral of this story, if you send your child on a plane by themself, make sure you meet them at the gate.

From the many delays, the one that they should have made up something better.... <BR> <BR>After sitting on the runway for four hours, the announcement finally told us that we had to sit there that long with no power for the plane to cool down so that they could replace a sticker that fell off of the cockpit "dashboard".

Well, after sitting on the (running) plane for oh, a couple of hours or so, we were told that we would be sitting there a while longer, because there was not enough fuel to get us all the way to England. So they fueled up the plane (I guess), and we sat there for another 30 minutes or so, and then the flight attendant announced that we would be sitting there another half hour or so (actually, it was another hour and a half) because they put too much fuel in the plane and we had to burn some of it off.

With Sabena, from Brussels to Lisbon. We had to wait in the plane, for almost three hours, because some technical problem. After an hour more details where available - the front toilet. <BR>And we where waiting for a technician. <BR>And I did see some "land plumber" with large "plumber tools" going to the front toilet. 45 minutes later we took off. <BR>

I don't know if this was true or not, but at Paris CDG, my flight to IAD (Wash DC) was delayed about 3 hrs by Air France because they said the plane needed a part that had to be flown in from the US (NY I think). Given Paris is their hub, I thought maybe they should have spare parts there. Maybe the "part" was a pilot or something, who knows.

The Air France story is interesting. My daughter was delayed by a day out of Newark on Air France because they were waiting for a part from France!

London to Manchester - 35min fligth, 5 to 8 a day, tickets can be paid on board. <BR>We are taxing to take off, Cap. starts informing passangers ,that we will be arriving in Manchester within the schedule. <BR>Lady passanger next to me, asks me : <BR>"Did he say Manchester??" <BR>I:"That is what I heard and why I'm in this plane" <BR>Lady:"ohoh, but I'm going to Edinburgh", so rings te bell, and assistant comes over, she flashes a red (Diplomatic) passport, says "I must go to Edinburgh". <BR>And he gets passport, goes to cabin and the planes turns back to drop her. <BR>"Official excuse" - the truth - passenger on the wrong plane. <BR>Actual departure - almost two hours later. <BR>

I can no longer remember which airport, or which airline (there have been so many), but the most succinct response I've received to date about why my flight was delayed was, " the plane is broken". <BR> <BR>PB

Nope. The incoming flight was coming from Boston. Weather was beautiful all up and down the East Coast. <BR> <BR>Maybe it was really Tropical Storm Cockin' Bull.

Friend of mine, en route from Uganda to Heathrow, took in stride the following: "they're searching the bars for the pilot so he can fly the plane."

I forget where it happened (in the US somewhere), or what airline it was, but the funniest we ever saw was the time we were delayed boarding due to mechanical difficulties, then pulled back from the gate but aborted the takeoff due to, yep, mechanical difficulties. The truth was more like mechanic difficulties. The lower emergency hatch opens, a head pops up through the floor, and we hear a voice saying, "Be patient, dammit, I know that f***ing wrench has to be in this engine somewhere. I've checked twice and it's not in my toolbox. This was the last place I had it."

Our flight out of Kauai was delayed by 3 days when Hurricane Iniki blew down the control tower. (The only good excuse of the bunch I would say).

Just have to top this one! <BR>Great bunch of stories :-)

British Airways flight from Lyon, France to Heathrow: We are waiting to rollback from the gate and the pilot comes on the PA system to announce, "It appears we'll be a bit delayed, as the French Air Force has just decided to have military maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Lyon." The jets flew around for about an hour...

Not being the world's greatest passenger, I was delighted to hear the Captain's voice coming over the intercom on our BA flight from Gatwick to Antigua - "I expect you are wondering why we are surrounded by fire engines on our right side. Our smoke detectors have signalled a fire in the hold! As we have one particular hazardous item on board we will be off loading this as soon as possible." Personally, I thought a full compliment of 747 passengers would be more important and I was ready to off load myself! <BR>On the same flight we stopped at Barbados to refuel. The air con was switched off and the doors opened. Obviously it started to get quite warm in the cabin. It finally emerged that the reverse thrust on the engines were not working properly and they were trying to find the engine diagrams to fix it. It took yonks!

Great rush to the airport to catch the early plane from Guilin to Guangchow. Past the X-ray, into the lounge, and we sit...for 12 hours. Why? Dust on the runway, we are told. While other planes arrive and depart. And until we have bought enough in their gift shop and snack bar.

The gate agent told us that our flight (JFK to Montego Bay, Jamaica) was "delayed " because the plane had been confiscated by federal agents in Miami. It seems a nervous drug dealer had attempted to flush certain goods, bags and all, down the toilet in the bathroom, causing an enormous flood on the plane, and putting an immediate end to his career.

ttt

"We're having trouble securing the musk oxen in the cargo compartment." Nome, Wien Consolidated Airlines (RIP).

Flying from San Juan to MayaguezSaying the weather was to bad to fly. Then telling other people that they missed the flight. They just didnt want to fly since there were only 4 of us. We flew on a very tiny plane.