More Travel Troubles at Philadelphia Int. Airport (US Airways nightmare)

WPVI - Philadelphia ^ | March 18, 2007 | Chad Pradelli and T.J. Alexander

[SamAdams76]

Travel is getting better at Philadelphia International Airport. Flights are getting airborne and travelers are getting to their destinations. But U.S. Airways, the largest carrier at the airport, has been hit the hardest by this storm, and again had more problems Saturday night.

At 9 pm U.S. Airways was in a standstill after the airline's computer system crashed. Weary travelers tried to find refuge on baggage check in stations as baggage checkers just stood there and watched.

In the late morning Philadelphia International Airport contacted the airlines and notified them that they have extra gates, transportable gates, tarmac busses and other amenities for them if they needed to get their passengers off of stranded planes on the tarmac.

But it wasn't until 4:15pm that the airport says U.S. Airways notified them for assistance. U.S. Airways tells us they waited several hours to call for assistance because they were still hoping the planes would be able to take off. They tell us they were trying to get passengers to their destinations and didn't want to cancel things until absolutely necessary. Once ice started falling, thats when U.S. Airways called PIA.

However that is just one aspect of the nightmare that has been unfolding for travelers at PIA. At 3pm Friday the airport said they were 95 percent shut down to incoming and outgoing flights. The 5 percent were planes en route that had to land.

Hundreds were left stranded, resorting to an uncomfortable stay in the airport. The lucky ones were able to make arrangements, but getting to their hotels was a seemingly impossible task as well. Taxis were scarce. Hundreds of stranded travelers waited in the pounding sleet to catch one. One man said he had been waiting in line for two hours.

At 6 pm Saturday ticket lines were still long at U.S. Airways. Passengers had waited up to 6 hours to just get confirmed on a flight.

Jim Morris of Stockton Springs, Maine told us, "They don't give anyone any direction. Everyone is confused. They just wait in line ... you can wait in a line for hours and when you finally get up there, they say you're in the wrong line."

Elwood Williams and his wife are trying to get to Orlando for their 25th wedding anniversary. It's been 2 days now ... patience is running thin.

"You look out across here and there are about 40 ticket counters and about a third of them are occupied," said Williams.

U.S. Airways told Action News at least 10 flights were stranded on the tarmac for up to three hours. Travelers on those planes will get a full refund or a $400 voucher.

[PAR35]

. Apparently the employees at the counter decided that they needed a break and proceeded to sit down - behind the counter - and read the newspaper with all those people standing in line.

Sounds like a good way to start a riot.

America West should have probably done with USAir what AA did with TWA employees.

[Thirteen_bravo]

Not exactly true. Many Muslims who observe Halal look for the Kosher symbol on food products. They're obviously not interchangeable, but they do follow very similar guidelines.

[Swanks]

Imagine if Greyhound bus arrived at their terminal and everyone had to stay on the bus because the driver couldn't get approval to open the bus door.

What the h*ll's the difference with USAir, except a portable set of stairs to exit an aircraft...

[andy58-in-nh]

On March 7th, I was left stranded overnight in Philadelphia due to the utter incompetence and outright deception of U.S. Airways (formerly known as Allegheny Airlines, a/k/a "Agony Airlines". It was no comfort that we enjoyed the company of other trying to get home to other destinations. The computer system not only crashed, but we were left at the mercy of U.S. Airways employees who were completely unprepared and untrained as to how to handle the elements of the system that remained on-line. We were treated like mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed nothing but bullsh!t. I travel a great deal, and have for years, and I have never witnessed such a complete breakdown of a major carrier in their main hub.

[NHResident]

Every flight on US Air through Philly that I've had has been a real pain. As for the employees taking a break - I've had the same experience in both Philly and at Kennedy - the staff just stop whatever they are doing, pick up a paper and take a break - it's insane!

[andy58-in-nh]

See my post #24. I have flown either to or through Philly about 10 times during the past year (mostly on Agony Airlines), and each time, it has been a royal PITA. Their employees would have to take a two-week intensive training session just to reach the level of "incompetent". And then, there's the real morale-building experience of seeing the massive billboard just outside the Philadelphia Airport proclaiming just how much their pilots HATE U.S. Airways. I always feel much better once we touch down and brake to a safe speed.

[Alouette]

Given the current attitudes of state, fed, etc. government today the Muslims would -- b/c they could -- have that place shut down in a heart beat.

Actually if Muslims cannot obtain "halal" they will eat kosher food.