wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler) (06/20/84)
Last week I took a trip on United, and all four of my flights were canceled! In the Denver airport I noticed that several other flights had also been canceled. When I asked why one of my flights had been canceled, they told be because of mechanical problems. But I asked someone else later, and they said because of weather. The flights I ended up on seemed to be more full than normal. I'm suspicious -- Is there any possibility that an airline might cancel flights that are less than full, and rebook the people on another flight? By flying the same number of people but fewer actual flights (by filling flights more) they would save a bundle of money. Would an airline that was in financial trouble stoop to something like this? I'm not trying to cast aspersions on United, as an airline I generally like them, but I'm curious if other people out there have had similar experiences or suspicions. A related question: If an airline did this openly, but gave significantly cheaper fares, and guaranteed that they would give you more than (say) 5 hours notice, and that they would get you on a flight within (say) 2 hours of your originally scheduled one, or else pay your way on another airline, would you fly them? Most flights I've ever been on seem to be less than half full. If an airline could double the number of passengers per flight, they could probably halve their fares. People used to fly standby alot, and you weren't even guaranteed a flight! Wm Leler tektronix!tekchips!wm
eac@drux3.UUCP (CveticEA) (06/22/84)
>Last week I took a trip on United, and all four of my >flights were canceled! In the Denver airport I noticed >that several other flights had also been canceled. >When I asked why one of my flights had been canceled, >they told be because of mechanical problems. But I asked >someone else later, and they said because of weather. >The flights I ended up on seemed to be more full than normal. >I'm suspicious -- >Is there any possibility that an airline might cancel flights >that are less than full, and rebook the people on another >flight? > Wm Leler > tektronix!tekchips!wm Its funny but I have had the same suspicions! A friend of mine said that they do indeed do this but I don't think he could substantiate the claim. I was returning to Denver from Newark one night and the weather was really bad in Denver. United cancelled all flights to Denver--they said the airport in Denver was closed. I called my husband and he said he just saw a news report that said the airport was still open, but there were delays. As it turned out, the airport was never closed that night. I went to Continental, they were still flying, but with a 3-4 hour delay. It is true however, that about half the time I fly on a United DC-10, they really do have some kind of mechanical trouble! One night I sat in Chicago for 4 hours while they practically rebuilt one of the engines! If its not engine trouble, its electrical problems. Usually, the problems are such that they can't show a movie or the audio system doesn't work. (Better that than no brakes, flaps, etc.) Betsy Cvetic ihnp4!drux3!eac
warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery) (06/22/84)
I doubt that they do this regularly intentionally. I have flown United lots, and the only times I could remember this happening was when there were two flights with essentially identical departure and arrival times and they cancelled one. The airlines don't have spare planes in many areas they serve, so if one flight is cancelled, it fouls up the schedule for some time, because the planes don't arrive where they are supposed to. I have flown from Chicago to Newark on empty planes many times, on flights that United flew only to get the plane to Newark in time to load up with passengers going someplace else from there. You would think that they could plan better, but scheduling isn't easy, particularly when it isn't under their control all of the time. If they were to plan to dump a half full flight, they would have to make sure that the plane wasn't needed where it was going. (Both of my experiences of cancellations were with flights returning to Chicago from popular vacation areas in the off season, so I would guess that they simply scheduled extra capacity year round and cancelled a whole round trip in slack periods. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH x2494
tackett@wivax.UUCP (Raymond Tackett) (06/22/84)
I had the same experience on Eastern several years ago. They had
two Atlanta - Boston flights leaving about the same time. One
had an extra stop in Hartford. They cancelled the nonstop
(perfect weather at each end) and put everyone on the plane to
Hartford. Even with that, the flight wasn't crowded.
Of course, I enjoyed arriving in Boston 90 minutes late in the middle
of rush hour after baking on the ground in Hartford for a while.
--
Random Access is IMMORAL!
Ray Tackettron@brl-vgr.ARPA (06/24/84)
A not uncommon airline practice is to make you change airplanes even on direct or (occasionally) non-stop flights. The reason they do this is simple. They have to get that plane to one of their service centers and it is more profitable to fly it with passengers in it than emtpy. -Ron
wildbill@ucbvax.UUCP (William J. Laubenheimer) (06/26/84)
> A not uncommon airline practice is to make you change airplanes even > on direct or (occasionally) non-stop flights. > -Ron Change on a nonstop flight, huh? This I've simply GOT to see! "This is your flight attendant speaking. Truly Wretched Airlines regrets the inconvenience, but due to unforseen circumstances, the plane on which you are now flying has been diverted to Boise. For those of you who wish to continue on our Truly Wretched service to New York, we have made arrangements for you to transfer to a DC-7 1/2. Those of you on the left side of the plane can see it out your windows a couple of hundred feet below. We have descended to 12,000 feet and slowed to 200 miles per hour in order to ease your connection. Now, in a few minutes, we will be opening the passenger exits on the left side of the plane. Our Truly Wretched flight crew on the DC-7 1/2 is standing by with a fish net. Now, when we open the doors and the green light begins to flash, you may come up to the door and JUMP. We regret that your baggage will go to Boise with the plane. Thank you for flying Truly Wretched Airlines..." Any resemblance to actual airplanes or airlines is simply the product of a deranged imagination. I'm not sure whether it's yours or mine. _ _ / | ____ | \ Bill Laubenheimer / / / \ \ \ UC-Berkeley Computer Science ______/ / | o o | \ \______ ucbvax!wildbill <______.<----------()---------->.______> \ \...Killjoy was here!/ / \ \ / / \_| |_/
mkg@whuxle.UUCP (Marsh Gosnell) (06/27/84)
I was stuck in Baltimore several years ago. The flight I was taking to JFK was finally cancelled due to equipment problems (I could see the plane out the window and could see the mechanics fooling with the engines for several hours). The airline was nice to us (free phone call and dinner) and said we could either take another airline (didn't do me any good because I'd miss my connection) or wait for the next flight (about 4 hours later). An hour or so later, I was suprised to find the later flight cancelled also! I inquired and found out that the plane for the original flight was supposed to return to Baltimore and be the plane for the later flight! Anyone not knowing about the earlier cancellation and the reuse of the plane would have been wondering why (and grumbling) also. Marsh Gosnell whuxle!mkg