http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57502077-92/united-airlines-network-outage-snarls-air-travel/
According to the Daily Mail, United are having to rely on handwritten tickets: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2194960/United-Airlines-Computers-passengers-given-handwritten-boarding-passes.html
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Fly Maybe: part 2
Before leaving the hotel, I rang the airport and spoke to the airline representative. I explained my concern from my last trip to Edinburgh and wanted to make sure the airline had a back up plan. He tried to reassure me that there would be a back up plan but added "you may have to take a boat up North!"
Once I arrived at the airport to check in and drop off my luggage, I asked the check in steward about the flight status and weather in Wick. He said that everything was fine but told me to check my bag at the "oversized bag" check in desk. My bag's dimensions are 50x34x18/23 cm or 19¾x13½x7/9 inch. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I followed his instructions.
Behind me in line, was the family with their 10-12 month old baby from my first trip. I later learned that the airline made the baby's parents put airline baggage tags on both of the baby's feet. Does this airline consider babies to be the new baggage?
I felt like a tourist in the Edinburgh airport, snapping photos for foursquare, tweeting, etc, all this while I waited for my plane. The waiting was longer than I had expected. The plane I was finally told, was late coming from the North. My first thought was "at least there is a plane coming." The plane, to my surprise was packed. "Why are all these people coming up to Wick," I asked my fellow passenger. Her response, "not a clue!"
Once we finally boarded, an hour late, things were starting to look positive. Sadly things took a turn for the worst. The famous Haar had joined our trip meaning that we would try to land but that a back up plan would be created. We circled for an hour above Wick airport (our final destination) in the hopes that the Haar would disappear. After three attempts the pilot announced that we would have to land at another airport. The passengers beside me started betting on which airport we would land at. Would it be Orkney, Shetland, Inverness, Aberdeen or even back to Edinburgh? If only Wick airport and it's planes had instrument landing, then this would not be a problem.
The pilot decided to land the plane in Inverness, a 3-hour bus ride would then bring us to Wick airport. Upon landing in Inverness, we were told to go to the airline desk and await instructions on how we were to be transported to Wick airport. At the airline desk, the stranded passengers were given a £3.50 voucher. Unfortunately this did not even cover the cost of a sandwich. So much for looking after the stranded passengers!
As we loaded onto the bus, another passenger said how he thought there must be some sort of travel curse, explaining that this whole bus, train, no-plane experience had happened to him 4 times already. Maybe 2012 is becoming a crazy year to travel.
The bus driver was not as quick as the other driver and the road to Wick was bumpy and shaky, not exactly what any passenger wants to go through. I could help but think: "I hope I'm
taking one for the team!" This is in reference to all our guests visiting who have to take the same plane.
Once I arrived at the airport to check in and drop off my luggage, I asked the check in steward about the flight status and weather in Wick. He said that everything was fine but told me to check my bag at the "oversized bag" check in desk. My bag's dimensions are 50x34x18/23 cm or 19¾x13½x7/9 inch. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I followed his instructions.
Behind me in line, was the family with their 10-12 month old baby from my first trip. I later learned that the airline made the baby's parents put airline baggage tags on both of the baby's feet. Does this airline consider babies to be the new baggage?
I felt like a tourist in the Edinburgh airport, snapping photos for foursquare, tweeting, etc, all this while I waited for my plane. The waiting was longer than I had expected. The plane I was finally told, was late coming from the North. My first thought was "at least there is a plane coming." The plane, to my surprise was packed. "Why are all these people coming up to Wick," I asked my fellow passenger. Her response, "not a clue!"
Once we finally boarded, an hour late, things were starting to look positive. Sadly things took a turn for the worst. The famous Haar had joined our trip meaning that we would try to land but that a back up plan would be created. We circled for an hour above Wick airport (our final destination) in the hopes that the Haar would disappear. After three attempts the pilot announced that we would have to land at another airport. The passengers beside me started betting on which airport we would land at. Would it be Orkney, Shetland, Inverness, Aberdeen or even back to Edinburgh? If only Wick airport and it's planes had instrument landing, then this would not be a problem.
The pilot decided to land the plane in Inverness, a 3-hour bus ride would then bring us to Wick airport. Upon landing in Inverness, we were told to go to the airline desk and await instructions on how we were to be transported to Wick airport. At the airline desk, the stranded passengers were given a £3.50 voucher. Unfortunately this did not even cover the cost of a sandwich. So much for looking after the stranded passengers!
As we loaded onto the bus, another passenger said how he thought there must be some sort of travel curse, explaining that this whole bus, train, no-plane experience had happened to him 4 times already. Maybe 2012 is becoming a crazy year to travel.
The bus driver was not as quick as the other driver and the road to Wick was bumpy and shaky, not exactly what any passenger wants to go through. I could help but think: "I hope I'm
taking one for the team!" This is in reference to all our guests visiting who have to take the same plane.
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Fly Maybe: part 1
Scotland, as one friend put it, "seems to be helping my blog!"
Let me elaborate, this is part 1 of a very long trip.
Tuesday I was supposed to fly down to Edinburgh from Wick. That morning there happened to be a freak storm with lightening, thunder, on-and-off rain and of course the horrible Haar (heavy fog).
I checked the airport website and there was no mention of any flight cancellations or delays, so I assumed everything was fine. Once I got to he airport, however, things were quite different. Not only were there delays, but my flight had been cancelled.
The passengers on the cancelled flight included tourists and locals. There were a few single people as well as a family with a 10-12 month old baby. Everyone was angry and frustrated about the lack of communication as to a back up plan.
After a small black bus pulled up to the airport, we learned about the back up plan: a bus and then a train which would take over 7 hours just to get down to Edinburgh. As we loaded onto the bus, we noticed 1) how small it was, and 2) that there was no loo. The size of the bus meant we all got to squeeze in together, but the lack of a loo meant we would have to rely on the bus driver's pit or refuel stops. Anyone who has travelled by car south of Wick will know how twisty the roads are and that sitting so closely and backwards doesn't help motion sickness!
A few hours into the bus ride, I received the following message: "Cancelled 1 of your flights." This would have been helpful several hours earlier, but that was not to be.
Three hours into the trip, we reached Inverness and passengers were allowed to take another bus, or train or even fly if there was such a flight available. Fortunately there was a train stopping in Inverness shortly. The train was quite scenic and I felt like a tourist myself! During the trip, I successfully rescheduled all my meetings for Wednesday and Thursday, it would be a busy schedule, but I knew I could accomplish it. Several hours later, I was in Edinburgh. An hours flight never seemed so long.
Let me elaborate, this is part 1 of a very long trip.
Tuesday I was supposed to fly down to Edinburgh from Wick. That morning there happened to be a freak storm with lightening, thunder, on-and-off rain and of course the horrible Haar (heavy fog).
I checked the airport website and there was no mention of any flight cancellations or delays, so I assumed everything was fine. Once I got to he airport, however, things were quite different. Not only were there delays, but my flight had been cancelled.
The passengers on the cancelled flight included tourists and locals. There were a few single people as well as a family with a 10-12 month old baby. Everyone was angry and frustrated about the lack of communication as to a back up plan.
After a small black bus pulled up to the airport, we learned about the back up plan: a bus and then a train which would take over 7 hours just to get down to Edinburgh. As we loaded onto the bus, we noticed 1) how small it was, and 2) that there was no loo. The size of the bus meant we all got to squeeze in together, but the lack of a loo meant we would have to rely on the bus driver's pit or refuel stops. Anyone who has travelled by car south of Wick will know how twisty the roads are and that sitting so closely and backwards doesn't help motion sickness!
A few hours into the bus ride, I received the following message: "Cancelled 1 of your flights." This would have been helpful several hours earlier, but that was not to be.
Three hours into the trip, we reached Inverness and passengers were allowed to take another bus, or train or even fly if there was such a flight available. Fortunately there was a train stopping in Inverness shortly. The train was quite scenic and I felt like a tourist myself! During the trip, I successfully rescheduled all my meetings for Wednesday and Thursday, it would be a busy schedule, but I knew I could accomplish it. Several hours later, I was in Edinburgh. An hours flight never seemed so long.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Sand and rocks don't mix well at the airport
On a recent trip to the Bahamas, I was stopped by a security officer who asked me to remove my shoes before going through the X-ray. This was pretty normal procedure, so I did not make a fuss. However, after my shoes had gone through the X-ray, he asked me what I had in my shoes. My initial reaction was my feet! However, the officer didn't think I was being honest and decided to tear apart my shoes.
As he did this, a few rocks and some sand spilled out. He then asked me again what I had in my shoes. I explained that I had gone for a walk in the beach and headed straight to the airport. He looked at me as if I was speaking another language. When he finally decided to let me go, he suggested that I not go to beaches right before heading to an airport! I wanted to laugh, but feared I might not make it onto my flight. Since then, I have made sure that I take out my feet and empty any rocks or sand in my shoes before heading through an airport X-ray.
As he did this, a few rocks and some sand spilled out. He then asked me again what I had in my shoes. I explained that I had gone for a walk in the beach and headed straight to the airport. He looked at me as if I was speaking another language. When he finally decided to let me go, he suggested that I not go to beaches right before heading to an airport! I wanted to laugh, but feared I might not make it onto my flight. Since then, I have made sure that I take out my feet and empty any rocks or sand in my shoes before heading through an airport X-ray.
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
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