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santafe5000 · 12-19-2005, 04:06 PM

This past July i made my first flight in 20 some odd years. Had to fly out west to attend a wedding in Calif.
Boy have things changed.
Booked on America West from DFW to Phoenix to Reno.
First leg was OK, just cattle car full.
Had a 1.5 hr layover in Phoenix, then boarded another plane to Reno. We sat at the gate for an eternity(45 mins) and then they come on the intercomm to say the winds are to high to land in Reno, so we will wait for more weather info.
After about 30 mins they say we are going.
We push back from the gate and all of the sudden we hear this awful banging noise from the underside of the plane.
From my seat i can see the ground crew( in the reflection of the windows) trying to remove the towbar from the front landing gear and are having all sorts of trouble.
The guy is beating on something and that is where the noise is coming from.
They pull the towbar away with part of the landing gear strut still attached.
We promptly return to the gate and are told, DUE TO WEATHER, THIS FLIGHT IS CANCELLED.
The gate agent says we are on our own for hotels and we will be put on a flight tommorrow if space is available.
After hearing this, one of the passengers steps forward and informs the agent that he is with the FAA and there are no delays with landings in Reno and the airline caused the mechanical problem and would have to put us all up in lodging.
Boy did the agent get flustered. He agreed with the FAA guy and we all got hotel rooms for the nite. As well, I got put on a flight the next morning in first class.
The return flight was uneventful.
About 6 weeks later, I got a voucher for $100 from America West.
It wasn't the lines to check in or the crowded planes that i object to, it's them lying about the plane and not owning up to their respondsibility to the passengers that i find upsetting.
They broke the plane so either get another or put me in a hotel overnite.
That is the law.
If they can't make money by the fares they charge, RAISE the prices.
People will pay if that is how much it costs.

BY the way, i seriously doubt i will be flying again soon. Cram un in planes and no services is not worth the hassles. I'll drive wherever i need to go.

12-19-2005, 04:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
santafe5000 EVIL! Location: Southwest of nowhere	This past July i made my first flight in 20 some odd years. Had to fly out west to attend a wedding in Calif. Boy have things changed. Booked on America West from DFW to Phoenix to Reno. First leg was OK, just cattle car full. Had a 1.5 hr layover in Phoenix, then boarded another plane to Reno. We sat at the gate for an eternity(45 mins) and then they come on the intercomm to say the winds are to high to land in Reno, so we will wait for more weather info. After about 30 mins they say we are going. We push back from the gate and all of the sudden we hear this awful banging noise from the underside of the plane. From my seat i can see the ground crew( in the reflection of the windows) trying to remove the towbar from the front landing gear and are having all sorts of trouble. The guy is beating on something and that is where the noise is coming from. They pull the towbar away with part of the landing gear strut still attached. We promptly return to the gate and are told, DUE TO WEATHER, THIS FLIGHT IS CANCELLED. The gate agent says we are on our own for hotels and we will be put on a flight tommorrow if space is available. After hearing this, one of the passengers steps forward and informs the agent that he is with the FAA and there are no delays with landings in Reno and the airline caused the mechanical problem and would have to put us all up in lodging. Boy did the agent get flustered. He agreed with the FAA guy and we all got hotel rooms for the nite. As well, I got put on a flight the next morning in first class. The return flight was uneventful. About 6 weeks later, I got a voucher for $100 from America West. It wasn't the lines to check in or the crowded planes that i object to, it's them lying about the plane and not owning up to their respondsibility to the passengers that i find upsetting. They broke the plane so either get another or put me in a hotel overnite. That is the law. If they can't make money by the fares they charge, RAISE the prices. People will pay if that is how much it costs. BY the way, i seriously doubt i will be flying again soon. Cram un in planes and no services is not worth the hassles. I'll drive wherever i need to go. __________________ When all else fails, QUIT. Last edited by santafe5000; 12-19-2005 at 04:10 PM..