Comments on: What a Way to Start the Year… http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/ Thoughts on Photography, Digital Imaging, and Travel Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:08:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Linda W http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10527 Linda W Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:39:23 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10527 What an ordeal! And with the newly-increased security measures, passengers face even more embarrassment before reaching the gate. Many of us find airports so stressful, we avoid flying except when absolutely necessary. No wonder the airlines aren't making much profit. What an ordeal! And with the newly-increased security measures, passengers face even more embarrassment before reaching the gate. Many of us find airports so stressful, we avoid flying except when absolutely necessary. No wonder the airlines aren’t making much profit.

]]> By: Tim Grey’s Blog » Blog Archive » Newark, Take Two… http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10513 Tim Grey’s Blog » Blog Archive » Newark, Take Two… Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:19:17 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10513 [...] I had just such a sigh of relief last Sunday after I boarded Continental flight 1881 at Newark Liberty International Airport, headed home to Seattle. It was bitterly cold on the east coast (at least to this California native, with apologies to those in the midwest), and strong winds had moved in, promising a bumpy flight. Those winds also led to flight delays, with the delay for my own flight being estimated at about 45 minutes. But at least I was in my seat, with my seatbelt fastened and carry-on bags stowed, ready to head home. In fact, I was so relieved and relaxed (and tired) that I soon fell asleep. Then I was awakened by the pilot’s announcement, only to face the "adventure" I described in my previous blog post. [...] […] I had just such a sigh of relief last Sunday after I boarded Continental flight 1881 at Newark Liberty International Airport, headed home to Seattle. It was bitterly cold on the east coast (at least to this California native, with apologies to those in the midwest), and strong winds had moved in, promising a bumpy flight. Those winds also led to flight delays, with the delay for my own flight being estimated at about 45 minutes. But at least I was in my seat, with my seatbelt fastened and carry-on bags stowed, ready to head home. In fact, I was so relieved and relaxed (and tired) that I soon fell asleep. Then I was awakened by the pilot’s announcement, only to face the "adventure" I described in my previous blog post. […]

]]> By: Lynne Royce http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10511 Lynne Royce Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:45:53 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10511 This was an interesting blog because I heard the announcement on Channel 4 about the terminal problem at Newark and that flights had been delayed. Like most everyone else; hoped everything would turn out fine; no one hurt and planes fly safely to destination. But your blog puts in perspective what this entire event meant to travelers ejected from their planes and others whose flights delayed and then cancelled. You were told that you could not get another flight until THURSDAY and that you could not get your luggage. You had to absorb the cost of staying for three nights paying for lodging and clothes and throwing a monkey wrench in your schedule. That is mind boggling. Hope that you somehow are back in Seattle and not still stuck in Jersey waiting for a Thursday flight. Unbelievable blog/story. Hope you're safely home and considering Amtrak for next trip. This was an interesting blog because I heard the announcement on Channel 4 about the terminal problem at Newark and that flights had been delayed. Like most everyone else; hoped everything would turn out fine; no one hurt and planes fly safely to destination. But your blog puts in perspective what this entire event meant to travelers ejected from their planes and others whose flights delayed and then cancelled. You were told that you could not get another flight until THURSDAY and that you could not get your luggage. You had to absorb the cost of staying for three nights paying for lodging and clothes and throwing a monkey wrench in your schedule. That is mind boggling. Hope that you somehow are back in Seattle and not still stuck in Jersey waiting for a Thursday flight. Unbelievable blog/story. Hope you’re safely home and considering Amtrak for next trip.

]]> By: Sandy Thomas http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10510 Sandy Thomas Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:22:20 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10510 OH MY GOLLY! I heard all about this on the news and just couldn't believe what I was hearing or seeing...the mass of humanity. One guy goes the "wrong way" in an airport and they feel the need to check out every single human within a 10 mile radius to see if they are him? WHAT? Can you say, "over reaction" in the grandest way! So sorry to hear you were/are caught up in this AND they won't even let you have your bags OR a reimbursement of any kind. This is positively mind boggling and I'm sure doesn't make ANYONE feel safer flying. Best of luck getting home, hope you get there before Thursday! Let us know if your saga continues! OH MY GOLLY! I heard all about this on the news and just couldn’t believe what I was hearing or seeing…the mass of humanity. One guy goes the “wrong way” in an airport and they feel the need to check out every single human within a 10 mile radius to see if they are him? WHAT? Can you say, “over reaction” in the grandest way! So sorry to hear you were/are caught up in this AND they won’t even let you have your bags OR a reimbursement of any kind. This is positively mind boggling and I’m sure doesn’t make ANYONE feel safer flying. Best of luck getting home, hope you get there before Thursday! Let us know if your saga continues!

]]> By: rusty rae http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10509 rusty rae Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:58:34 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10509 Tim -- I think for us Seattlites that Newark is just some sort of a hellhole to befuddle our travel needs -- particularly if you are flying on Continental. On a trip to Paris through Newark, Continental left Seattle two hours late due to a depression in the Newark area, telling me that if my flight left late the connection to Paris would leave late as well. No way Jose! The connection to France left about 90 minutes late and I was left holding the bag. In this case Continental did little to help 300 folks or so who were also left high and dry and would just smile at you and say "We don't control the weather, so we can't do anything for you." I lost a day of vacation and what really was irksome is that Continental's Liberty team did not really seem to care one way or the other. C'est la vie -rr Tim — I think for us Seattlites that Newark is just some sort of a hellhole to befuddle our travel needs — particularly if you are flying on Continental.
On a trip to Paris through Newark, Continental left Seattle two hours late due to a depression in the Newark area, telling me that if my flight left late the connection to Paris would leave late as well.
No way Jose! The connection to France left about 90 minutes late and I was left holding the bag. In this case Continental did little to help 300 folks or so who were also left high and dry and would just smile at you and say “We don’t control the weather, so we can’t do anything for you.”
I lost a day of vacation and what really was irksome is that Continental’s Liberty team did not really seem to care one way or the other.
C’est la vie
-rr

]]> By: Suzanne H. http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10508 Suzanne H. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:13:42 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10508 Here's my advisce. Rent a car and drive home. It'll take you 3 or 4 days. It'll be way less stressful than being held captive back east. Take the watch the weather, it's bad. You'll have more material for the blog, a moment to take a breather and maybe some fun. Just watch the weather. Enjoy, I've done it myself although not quite that far. Suzanne from San Luis Obispo Here’s my advisce. Rent a car and drive home. It’ll take you 3 or 4 days. It’ll be way less stressful than being held captive back east. Take the watch the weather, it’s bad. You’ll have more material for the blog, a moment to take a breather and maybe some fun. Just watch the weather. Enjoy, I’ve done it myself although not quite that far.

Suzanne from San Luis Obispo

]]> By: Ed Cordes http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10507 Ed Cordes Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:57:51 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10507 The situation for you and the others was bad enough, but not having any announcements seemed to have compounded the situation. The decision not to disseminate information is unconscionable. I am an experienced traveler, but would not have handled this situation very well. I am not sure why they couldn't have tried to book you out of JFK or LaGuardia sooner than Thursday. Heck, even flying to Charlotte or Pittsburgh or even Chicago or Denver could have gotten you to another hub and a flight home earlier! The situation for you and the others was bad enough, but not having any announcements seemed to have compounded the situation. The decision not to disseminate information is unconscionable. I am an experienced traveler, but would not have handled this situation very well.

I am not sure why they couldn’t have tried to book you out of JFK or LaGuardia sooner than Thursday. Heck, even flying to Charlotte or Pittsburgh or even Chicago or Denver could have gotten you to another hub and a flight home earlier!

]]> By: wtlloyd http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10506 wtlloyd Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:42:59 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10506 3 years ago, my two teenaged sons and I were similarly dumped in Dallas, TX. We were coming back from a two week Christmas holiday in the UK. We were catching a connecting flight in Dallas/Fort Worth, back to California. Due to weather, we were first in a holding pattern, then diverted to Nashville to refuel - We finally, after a few hours on the tarmac, made it to Dallas, where all outgoing flights were cancelled. We were given a hotel voucher for one night, but told it would be several days before we could catch a flight out. School was starting in two days, so we rented a car and drove 1200 miles nonstop in 24 hours. Actually, the boys kinda liked that part. 3 years ago, my two teenaged sons and I were similarly dumped in Dallas, TX. We were coming back from a two week Christmas holiday in the UK. We were catching a connecting flight in Dallas/Fort Worth, back to California. Due to weather, we were first in a holding pattern, then diverted to Nashville to refuel - We finally, after a few hours on the tarmac, made it to Dallas, where all outgoing flights were cancelled.
We were given a hotel voucher for one night, but told it would be several days before we could catch a flight out. School was starting in two days, so we rented a car and drove 1200 miles nonstop in 24 hours.
Actually, the boys kinda liked that part.

]]> By: Mike http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10505 Mike Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:24:29 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10505 So as I write this, (Monday Jan 4) you are still back there? I have said before and your story confirms for me that if you need to travel anywhere in the lower 48, just drive. If it is summertime, I would include Alaska in that. One can come and go at will, eat when you want and for an added bonus not have to put up with TSA or airline idiots. Someone might mention that it is more dangerous on the road, but to answer that, why is it logical that the only members of any airline that know what they are doing is the pilots? So as I write this, (Monday Jan 4) you are still back there?

I have said before and your story confirms for me that if you need to travel anywhere in the lower 48, just drive. If it is summertime, I would include Alaska in that. One can come and go at will, eat when you want and for an added bonus not have to put up with TSA or airline idiots.

Someone might mention that it is more dangerous on the road, but to answer that, why is it logical that the only members of any airline that know what they are doing is the pilots?

]]> By: Bob Bruce http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10504 Bob Bruce Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:18:15 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10504 I recently received an article from a friend, regarding airport security. I was re-reading it when your newsletter arrived, containing this blog entry. Talk about coincidence! I'm not going to copy the whole article here, but I am including a link to the website. This was published in the Toronto Star December 30, 2009. You can see the actual article at: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother Right after hurricane Katrina destroyed our Gulf Coast, I sent an email to my two Senators, suggesting that we ask the Dutch for assistance in keeping the ocean out of New Orleans. Considering that they have some of the best hydraulic engineers in the world, who are involved in keeping the ocean out of their entire country, they certainly must have some ideas on how to keep one small city dry (if it was necessary to rebuild New Orleans below sea level again, anyway). What I got back from our government was standard political drivel, with promises to spend more money and find fault with the administration. If you follow the link above to read about the Israelification of our airports, you will see some real intelligence at work. Would our self-centered political ruling class ever think of anything similar? I doubt it. My flying-on-business days were over long before 9-11-2001 happened, so I can only imagine what airport life is like now. My sincere condolences, and hopes for better experiences in the future. I recently received an article from a friend, regarding airport security. I was re-reading it when your newsletter arrived, containing this blog entry. Talk about coincidence! I’m not going to copy the whole article here, but I am including a link to the website. This was published in the Toronto Star December 30, 2009. You can see the actual article at:

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199—israelification-high-security-little-bother

Right after hurricane Katrina destroyed our Gulf Coast, I sent an email to my two Senators, suggesting that we ask the Dutch for assistance in keeping the ocean out of New Orleans. Considering that they have some of the best hydraulic engineers in the world, who are involved in keeping the ocean out of their entire country, they certainly must have some ideas on how to keep one small city dry (if it was necessary to rebuild New Orleans below sea level again, anyway).

What I got back from our government was standard political drivel, with promises to spend more money and find fault with the administration.

If you follow the link above to read about the Israelification of our airports, you will see some real intelligence at work. Would our self-centered political ruling class ever think of anything similar? I doubt it.

My flying-on-business days were over long before 9-11-2001 happened, so I can only imagine what airport life is like now. My sincere condolences, and hopes for better experiences in the future.

]]> By: Michael http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10503 Michael Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:16:54 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10503 If enough people just sat down and refuse to go anywhere without food, water and guaranteed flight the message might be that something needs to be done about the stupid theater put on at every airport by the TSA. It would be great television coverage to see the police move in to arrest thousands of people who are simply trying to get home. Somehow I don't feel any safer by what you had to put up with yesterday. Good luck. I just added Continental to by "no fly" list. If enough people just sat down and refuse to go anywhere without food, water and guaranteed flight the message might be that something needs to be done about the stupid theater put on at every airport by the TSA. It would be great television coverage to see the police move in to arrest thousands of people who are simply trying to get home. Somehow I don’t feel any safer by what you had to put up with yesterday. Good luck. I just added Continental to by “no fly” list.

]]> By: John Steele http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10502 John Steele Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:07:41 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10502 Wow Tim, not a good way to start off the new year. Sure hope everything works out and that the rest of the year is nothing like that when you travel. Wow Tim, not a good way to start off the new year. Sure hope everything works out and that the rest of the year is nothing like that when you travel.

]]> By: Ed http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10501 Ed Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:04:50 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10501 So, Tim, were you really stuck at Newark for several days sans clean clothes and amenities? As one who spent many years flying out of Newark on business trips, I feel your pain. Fortunately, I was never stuck there for days. My worst "event" was leaving work in NYC at 2PM one day and not getting out until the following morning on what should have been a day out/day in turnaround. I wasn't exactly "fresh" for my meeting. My best experience was the one-year anniversary of 9/11. Seems everyone else feared that terrorists would strike at a time when I was fairly certain that even the dumbest thug in the world would avoid such heightened security. Sure enough, Newark was a ghost town. The airport and airline employees were super-relaxed and friendly because, hey, no travelers...except for lucky me. Happy New Year anyway! Cheers. Ed So, Tim, were you really stuck at Newark for several days sans clean clothes and amenities? As one who spent many years flying out of Newark on business trips, I feel your pain. Fortunately, I was never stuck there for days.

My worst “event” was leaving work in NYC at 2PM one day and not getting out until the following morning on what should have been a day out/day in turnaround. I wasn’t exactly “fresh” for my meeting.

My best experience was the one-year anniversary of 9/11. Seems everyone else feared that terrorists would strike at a time when I was fairly certain that even the dumbest thug in the world would avoid such heightened security. Sure enough, Newark was a ghost town. The airport and airline employees were super-relaxed and friendly because, hey, no travelers…except for lucky me.

Happy New Year anyway!

Cheers.

Ed

]]> By: Mac http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10500 Mac Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:06:05 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10500 Wow, that's a really terrible way of handling things. If I could get a refund I'd try and book a flt out of JFK or Drive to PHL or BWI. Waiting until Thursday is utterly ridiculous. Good Luck! Wow, that’s a really terrible way of handling things. If I could get a refund I’d try and book a flt out of JFK or Drive to PHL or BWI. Waiting until Thursday is utterly ridiculous. Good Luck!

]]> By: Luke McGuff http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10499 Luke McGuff Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:42:36 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10499 This is security theater at its worst. Thanks for the detailed report, I hope a lot of people see it. But it's terrible you had to go through all this. This is security theater at its worst. Thanks for the detailed report, I hope a lot of people see it. But it’s terrible you had to go through all this.

]]> By: Elton http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10498 Elton Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:42:32 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10498 I'm sure they'll do a _fine_ job with health care though! I’m sure they’ll do a _fine_ job with health care though!

]]> By: Daniel Sheehan http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10497 Daniel Sheehan Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:39:28 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10497 So sorry to hear you were caught up in that mess. That $300 sounds like a great deal with hindsight, if you took it you would probably be already home by now on that later flight with $330 in you pocket. You need to get a time machine that just goes ahead 8 hours and helps you make wiser decisions. So sorry to hear you were caught up in that mess. That $300 sounds like a great deal with hindsight, if you took it you would probably be already home by now on that later flight with $330 in you pocket. You need to get a time machine that just goes ahead 8 hours and helps you make wiser decisions.

]]> By: Earle Hoyt http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10496 Earle Hoyt Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:56:04 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10496 The terrorists have clearly won. Hell they don't even have to tie up two more airports in the NYC area! On WC Field's tombstone is: I would rather be in Philadelphia. Did you try that? :-( -Earle The terrorists have clearly won. Hell they don’t even have to tie up two more airports in the NYC area! On WC Field’s tombstone is: I would rather be in Philadelphia. Did you try that?

:-(

-Earle

]]> By: BonnieB2 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10495 BonnieB2 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:11:14 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10495 Absolutely the worst airport situation one could imagine. So, um, are you still there, at that airport? If not, how did you get home? Absolutely the worst airport situation one could imagine. So, um, are you still there, at that airport? If not, how did you get home?

]]> By: Anne Archambault http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10494 Anne Archambault Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:59:19 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10494 Wow Tim - that's horrible! I was in Ottawa trying to fly to Seattle via Newark but our flight was mysteriously delayed by hours. Since we were going to miss our connection to Seattle, we chose to stay in Ottawa for the night and catch an Air Canada flight to Seattle via Toronto the next day -- and good thing we did! I guess we would have had to spend 3 days in NYC too... Hope you manage to get home sooner than Thursday -- and happy new year! Wow Tim - that’s horrible! I was in Ottawa trying to fly to Seattle via Newark but our flight was mysteriously delayed by hours. Since we were going to miss our connection to Seattle, we chose to stay in Ottawa for the night and catch an Air Canada flight to Seattle via Toronto the next day — and good thing we did! I guess we would have had to spend 3 days in NYC too… Hope you manage to get home sooner than Thursday — and happy new year!

]]> By: Sean Duggan http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10493 Sean Duggan Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:39:32 +0000 http://timgrey.com/blog/2010/what-a-way-to-start-the-year/#comment-10493 Hi Tim...Sorry to hear you got caught up in that...what an ordeal! The overbooking notice was, indeed ironic. That is one of the most nefarious practices that airlines engage in. Good luck with the unwanted Newark adventure and hopefully in getting home before Thursday. Hi Tim…Sorry to hear you got caught up in that…what an ordeal! The overbooking notice was, indeed ironic. That is one of the most nefarious practices that airlines engage in. Good luck with the unwanted Newark adventure and hopefully in getting home before Thursday.

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