Stranded...

[DrA]

Why would there be a need for a "rescue flight"? If you ended up there because a weather event at the final destination, then why can't the same aircraft and crew be used to complete the journey once the weather event has passed? If there is a mechanical problem with the aircraft or issues with operating crew that prevents it from completing the original journey, then it would seem that the airline can no longer claim the delays are the result of a weather event outside their control.

Flight goes Guam-Chuuk-Pohnpei-Kosrae-Kwaj-Majuro-Honolulu. They refused to try again at Chuuk because of fuel and pilot flying hours. Which I totally understand, but the issue was the way United handled the stranded passengers in Pohnpei.

Can we ask the cost to get out? Was it to buy a seat or to expedite assistance from the ground staff?

And I'm still unclear why the original aircraft hasn't/can't fly out? Is the 737 still sitting on the ground there?


I'm also surprised UA hasn't arranged a rescue flight. Not astounded but mildly surprised.

I initially said that I'd pay to get a seat in J. They told me it was confirmed, then backtracked. I refused to go away because they kept changing their minds. I ended up slipping a couple of hundreds in my passport and miraculously I got a confirmed seat in Y 15 minutes later.

The original aircraft continued on to Kosrae-Kwaj-Majuru-Hololulu as it's an island hopper flight. I got on the reverse route today back to Chuuk. Everyone else is stuck in Pohnpei until Saturday at the earliest. Most are looking at mid next week to get out.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm agape. This is 'mainline' United ... correct? (ie not some local subsidiary .. not that it should make a difference ..).

I really hope you take this as far as you can within United ...

 

[DrA]

I'm agape. This is 'mainline' United ... correct? (ie not some local subsidiary .. not that it should make a difference ..).

I really hope you take this as far as you can within United ...

Yes, my understanding is that it's mainline United. United bought out Continental and it is the old Continental Micronesia route. Everyone's been telling me it all went to hell since United took over.

 

[TomVexille]

Yes, my understanding is that it's mainline United. United bought out Continental and it is the old Continental Micronesia route. Everyone's been telling me it all went to hell since United took over.

While your (and your fellow pax) plight is disgraceful. Continental actually took over United. So those people only have CO management to blame.

 

[DrA]

Fair enough. All I know is that it operates as United.

 

[TomVexille]

Fair enough. All I know is that it operates as United.

Absolutely. And United didn't do enough in this instance

 

[Sprucegoose]

This was the old Continental route. UA not a very good look if they can't justify a genuine weather issue.

Crew hours?

 

[opusman]

Looks like United are starting to make a habit of this:

Hundreds of fuming United Airlines passengers 'abandoned' in remote barracks in Canada for 20 HOURS after 'faulty' Chicago-London flight made emergency landing (while their crew spend the night in a 'comfy hotel') | Daily Mail Online

 

[DrA]

This was the old Continental route. UA not a very good look if they can't justify a genuine weather issue.

Crew hours?

Pilot hours and fuel load. They apparently wouldn't have made it to HNL if they'd had another go at landing and would have had to turn back to GUM.

For the record: most people are now out of Pohnpei, the last few are making it out to Chuuk tomorrow, a week late.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Pilot hours and fuel load. They apparently wouldn't have made it to HNL if they'd had another go at landing and would have had to turn back to GUM.

For the record: most people are now out of Pohnpei, the last few are making it out to Chuuk tomorrow, a week late.

I was in Pohnpei about 25 odd years ago. Remote and relatively untouched then. What about these days. Sorry OT

 

[DrA]

I was in Pohnpei about 25 odd years ago. Remote and relatively untouched then. What about these days. Sorry OT

Still remote. Mostly untouched from what we could see from the town in Kolonia near where the airport is. I know some of those stranded for more than a day went for a scuba dive there and they raved about it - even though it wasn't Chuuk.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looks like United are starting to make a habit of this:

Hundreds of fuming United Airlines passengers 'abandoned' in remote barracks in Canada for 20 HOURS after 'faulty' Chicago-London flight made emergency landing (while their crew spend the night in a 'comfy hotel') | Daily Mail Online

some reports are suggesting the Goose Bay incident may have been fairly serious.

onemileatatime has a first-hand report from a passenger on the flight, 'freezing conditions' may turn out to perhaps only have affected a couple of the buildings... other ones were heated.

if the reports are true, could be a case of #middleclassproblems?

 

[JohnK]

Really sad to read this incident.

Not that it makes a difference but was this a holiday? You lose time and money for something beyond your control.

 

[DrA]

Working holiday.

Just landed back in CNS after more shenanigans on the way back. The island hopper flight leaving Pohnpei got delayed leaving for Chuuk because the battery on the vehicle that pushes the plane back in Pohnpei was dead. What was initially a 1 hour transit in Guam that everyone told me "not to be concerned about" suddenly turned into a 40 minute connection in Guam - during which time I had to clear immigration, customs, and TSA screening. A number of us got some very strange looks while running through the airport, but we did make the plane. As did our bags - surprisingly enough.

All in all, United kind of suck. I'll be writing a nice letter to their CEO once I get home later today.

Right now I'm musing the fact that Cairns airport isn't open 24 hours.