Flight Delays and Brits Abroad

[Sweep]

Once landed in New York before taking another flight onwards. Queuing for the second flight a Continental Airlines rep asked if we were travelling with kids. We said no. "Oh, that's great" she says " as there are only 2 of you, we can process you quicker" and tells us to go to another desk. We wait and wait until we are told the flight has left and they couldn't get us on because they were over booked and they had to prioritise travellers with kids. "Come back tomorrow and we will fly you then". An actual transcript of my response would gain an infraction, but after a night in a grotty hotel paid for by Continental, we finally left 16 hours later.
On the same trip, flying from Orlando to London, they diverted us via Houston, which is approx 800 miles the wrong way. apparently Continental have a reputation for over booking. Personally I would rather walk than fly with them again.

 

[Val]

Once landed in New York before taking another flight onwards. Queuing for the second flight a Continental Airlines rep asked if we were travelling with kids. We said no. "Oh, that's great" she says " as there are only 2 of you, we can process you quicker" and tells us to go to another desk. We wait and wait until we are told the flight has left and they couldn't get us on because they were over booked and they had to prioritise travellers with kids. "Come back tomorrow and we will fly you then". An actual transcript of my response would gain an infraction, but after a night in a grotty hotel paid for by Continental, we finally left 16 hours later.
On the same trip, flying from Orlando to London, they diverted us via Houston, which is approx 800 miles the wrong way. apparently Continental have a reputation for over booking. Personally I would rather walk than fly with them again.

Just as well then don't exist anymore, merged with United a few years ago and keep the United name.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Delayed for 11 hours earlier this year when we flew back from Naples to Stanstead.
am sure I am not the first to say this but seriously check for what you can claim for being delayed. We/ Missis Tash ran off a form form the Martin Lewis website which we sent onto Easyjet. Five of us flew and received €400 euro per person 2000 total. boom.
criteria, at least one airport must be in Europe.
Must be delayed for at least 4 or 5 hours ( me and Tashygirl arguing over that one.
stick to facts, there not interested in lack of info, whining kids etc etc
there is different refunds for different lengths of flight delays. Good luck
turn a bad experience into a positive one.

Not a delay, as such, but BA once cancelled our flights to Denver the day before we were due to fly. Was a major headache sorting out alternative flights with a different carrier but I think it was £600 each in compensation after a strongly worded letter, quoting all the relevant legislation, from my resident legal advisor!

Of course, they don't volunteer this info and dragged their heels before paying some of our friends who sent less lawyer-sounding claims in.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

How Brits behave abroad is simply a reflection of how we think and behave at home. Fear, anger, resentment, selfishness and entitlement have pervaded the thinking and actions of many and that is what you see in the airport.

 

[Tashyboy]

Not defending some gobby Brits, but I don't think, no I am sure it's not just us.
whilst waiting at Naples for 11 hours some of the Italians were going mental. And that was just the women.
Americans, now they can be gobby and obnoxious without any delays, remember an guy from Boston once spent all night apologising to Tashygirl saying "not all Americans are like them".
russians. Don't even get me started on them.
strange thing is ave not really had any probs with the Germans.

 

[Rooter]

I flew on September 12th 2001. There were quite some delays, i think about 7hrs. And i was only flying Stanstead to Aberdeen!

 

[Neilds]

5 hrs at Belfast Int. Back then everything closed before midnight, and eventually took off about 1:30am...

The plane was found to have an engine problem. Wonder if it was the one I had flown in on that morning. The grinding noise from the right side of the plane for about half the flight had the passengers sat deathly quiet.

As an engine specialist, I can tell you that you shouldn't be worried about the strange noises, you should really begin to worry when the engine goes quiet!!!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As an engine specialist, I can tell you that you shouldn't be worried about the strange noises, you should really begin to worry when the engine goes quiet!!!

what if your plane is pulled to the side and an engineer gets on a platform and starts whacking one of the engines (just the cowling it looked like) with a spanner

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I flew on September 12th 2001. There were quite some delays, i think about 7hrs. And i was only flying Stanstead to Aberdeen!

I'm surprised you where never late for the flight