United Airlines Broils Passengers in 100+ Degree Cabin

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4122187

Around 7:30, the chief flight attendant got on the intercom and said "we know it's over 100 degrees." She said she had notified the captain how bad it was in the cabin and that he said the engine start would come within two minutes.

About the same time, Glawe was giving his own ultimatum to company officials -- supply air for the start or empty the plane. He was worried about heatstroke in the cabin.

"I was right on the verge of getting everybody off the airplane," he said today. "The plane was so heat-soaked that it was going to be warm until we got to altitude."

Monday night, just after the the doors were closed on the 777, Glawe, a United veteran and former pilots' union chief, had told passengers that it had been "one of the goofiest and most frustrating afternoons I've ever spent with the airline."

<snip>

One frustrated flight attendant came down the aisle telling passengers to call United's headquarters and let executives know how bad it was. "Otherwise it will never change."

[Karenca]

1. I recently returned from London on British Airways, a 777

THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 6 HRS AND 45 MINUTES.

iT WAS SO HOT---Everyone was complaining--
We were told that as soon as we hit high altitude. the AC would kick in.
It never did....One passenger vomited.

I t was really bad.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

2. Sounds like hell on earth - what airline was it?

[Karenca]

16. British Airways. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. I'd suggest complaining to them

but British Airways have some of the worst Customer Relations people I've ever come across. They seem trained never to admit there was anything wrong with what the company does. If there's a viable alternative, I'd always tell people to avoid British Airways, because when they screw up, they'll never lift a finger to put it right.

[CountAllVotes]

9. boy is that ever true!

Beyond disgusting!

UAUA has tanked badly lately and they deserve it! Check it out here - just the past 5 days! http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=UAUA&t=5d

Buh bye UAUA and no, I won't miss your stupid ass "Friendly Skies" one damn bit (Friendly Skies not!)

May United Airlines rot in bankruptcy hell where they will soon return too!!!!

They outsourced all of their Customer Service employees and they run crappy flights that are late and they treat their "passengers" like sh*t warmed over!

:grr:

Needless to say, I HATE THIS GREEDY COMPANY that was once a GREAT AMERICAN company!

:argh:

:kick:

[unda cova brutha]

4. there were probally a majority of brown people on board

which is why United didn't care about letting them cook inside the airplan.

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. No, it sounds like the OUTSOURCING of customer service

No stake in the company, no concern about the outcome.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. My nephew had a similar experience...

He was flying from Dallas to Phoenix last Thursday and missed the connecting flight to San Francisco. From Phoenix they put him (three hours later) on a plane that had no been started up yet. The passengers got on and it was stiffling hot -- no air cirulation at all. Poor Bill was on the sunny side of the plane, to boot. They sat that way for awhile, with the passengers complaining repreatedly. Bill said there was an elderly couple behind him that were on the verge of getting ill.

[Mandate My Ass]

6. This happens a lot

Last summer I sat on a USAirways airplane for 1 hr and 20 minutes in similar heat while the plane was waiting for runway clearance. The flight attendants were horrible. I demanded a bottle of water and I got it but the attendant said "You had better not tell anybody I gave you that." I loudly said, "Thanks for the water. It's the least you could do under the circumstances."

[itsrobert]

7. I wonder if this is a cost savings thing

It seems to be happening more and more.

[Turbineguy]

8. Save money...

no matter how much it costs!

Welcome to DU!!!:bounce:

[Radio_Lady]

10. Regulations prohibit planes from running their A/C while at a terminal.

That's what I've been told.

It's a pollution abatement program at large airports around the country.

[karlrschneider]

12. That might be a company policy but it's not an FAA regulation

...

edit: I've seen 15 to 20 planes with ALL engines running inching their way down the taxiway in
line for departure hundreds of times. So the 'pollution' excuse is bullshit in any case.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Well, you could be right. Anyone I've talked to said it was some

kind of a new regulation, whether it was federal or local, or only company policy. I've complained about flights in which we've been buckled in, cabin door closed, and there is simply no cool air at all.

I would have insisted in getting off this flight, as I am terribly heat sensitive.

My experience was being locked up in a plane that sat for ELEVEN HOURS on the tarmac at O'Hare airport on December 24, 1997, during a sudden snowstorm.

Luckily, there was plenty of heat -- and people broke open their Christmas presents and shared with everybody.

I did complain to the airline, and I was given two free flight coupons.

[karlrschneider]

15. I've been on a few 11 hour FLIGHTS but never had to sit on the

ground like that...yikes! I suspect it's a monetary issue, you might not know this but a jet engine
uses as much fuel per hour at basically "idle" on the ground as it does flying at high altitude.
(Sounds crazy, I know but it's their nature)
:-)

[karlrschneider]

11. I don't get this. Aside from the fact a broken APU should be a no-go

item, (maybe the 777 has some other backup for electric/hydraulics that I'm not familiar with) why the hell couldn't they have kept 1 engine running when they took it back to the gate? That makes no
sense to me.
:eyes:

[BlueCollar]

14. APU isn't even required for ETOPS on the trip 7

elec/hydraulics can run of the RAT...but I agree with the engine question. Should be enough to run the A/C packs on the ground...

[karlrschneider]

17. Yeah, haha "Engines Turn Or Passengers Swim"

:D

I think it's a dumb policy but they didn't ask me. Do you know if either engine on a 777 can be
spun up with bleed from the other? I can see maybe having to shutdown the packs for a start but that only takes a couple minutes...

[lindisfarne]

18. One more reason to avoid flying if at all possible. n/t

[lindisfarne]

19. Will it take a death for regulations to be passed requiring airlines to

maintain a safe temperature within planes?