Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisH
Did you ever stop to think about the fact that there may have been a reason that it took so long to board the aircraft, and that it wasn't due to "unprofessionalism" by the AA employees. Did you ever stop to think about the fact that those employees who were on their cell phones, were using the phone to contact someone about an issue with the flight. I've had to use my personal phone to do just that on more than one occasion. For that matter, the employees on their cell phones may not have been AA employees. Many of the skycaps, and other airport workers, wear similar uniforms to many of the airline employees, some almost identical.
If the flight before, going to the same destination, SFO, was canceled, did you ever stop to think that the weather may have still been playing an issue in SFO, and that is why it took so long to board. The aircraft could have been on a ground delay, and yet the crew still said it was okay to board, but they wouldn't be departing for 1.5 hrs, so, "take your time". I've had that happen on more than one occasion.
I'm not trying to be rude, or discount your complaint, I'm just pointing out that there may have been much, much more to it, than you know, or understand. Passengers almost always have their own perspectives, and make assumptions, without knowing the details as to what is really going
on, and why certain things happen as they do.
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Dear ChrisH,
Here are the details: The passengers of said flight were diverted from gate C8to gate D8 (about 20 yards away), where new boarding cards where issued for those, who were primarily booked on the flight before at 0740pm, which was cancelled due to "high winds on the ground". In my opinion, this flight could have started with delay, after the wind had eased, but it looked like they could squeeze all passengers into one plane, and they finally fit in. During the issuing of boarding cards the gate C was deserted, though it could have been used also to issue boarding cards for the remaining passengers. When I boarded the plane at 1007pm (the captain boarded at 0957pm) the sign at the counter of gate D displayed a delay of 10 minutes or 1010pm. There were no activities outside the pane, nor an explanation about a possible technical delay. During the waiting in my seat, I kept in touch by mobile phone with one of the passengers at gate D, who was on standby and finally received a boarding card too. I was informed, that the AA employees did not give a hoot about speeding up the process, knowing, that for most passengers SFO would be the final port of call, though there were complaints of other passengers about the snail pace at the gate. Referring to the "....may not have been AA employees." I can assure you that they were AA employees and easily recognized as such by looking at their badge. Lets put it together:
1. The first cancelled flight could have taken of after the winds eased, and in this case, the boarding of the second flight, as well as the take off would have been on time. I do not mind saving a flight, when you can squeeze all passengers into one plane, but those passengers sufferd a massive delay already. But not a single action was taken to ensure that the 1000pm flight is on time.
2. The AA-terminals at gate C8 were not being used to issue boarding cards, which could have cut the delay by half, thus enabling the passengers with a connecting flight, to make it to their flights at SFO in time. The next flight from gate C8 was scheduled at 1155pm to Portland, and it was not even clear if it would take off.
3. As you know the proceedings at a gate, you have to admit, that a boarding time more than 1 1/2 hour for an MD 80(!) is ridiculous, and could have been avoided easily.
4. The Minimum I do expect, when I write a certified letter to Mr. Thomas Del Valle, who is the Senior Vice President of the Airport Services at AA, is an answer, an explanation, or whatever. It could have been done by email, or even by phone. But ther was no response whatsoever. That is an explicit sign for an airline, which does not value the customer, but only their portemonnaie
, even when they take it out of a charity fund
. But thank you ChrisH for your interest in this matter.
Best regards.
Waltere Breymann
PS: The View-Society - View e.V. is a charitable organization and recognized as such by the German government. Donations are tax deductable. Donators can view the complete accounting online. They know where their money is being spent. You cannot find that at i.e. at UNICEF.