Houston, we have a problem

[Gravekeeper]

Airline/Hotel people, what the hell happened in Houston? ><

Seems like Continental just imploded. I'm getting buried.

[atomicthumbs]

Not in Houston, but according to Google News Continental just exploded. :P

[auntiem]

They hit the weather trivecta (sp) in their hubs; thunderstorms, wind and snow.
I don't know if you have to talk to the CO reservationists, but at least they are competent and helpful - unlike other airlines I could mention...

[Gravekeeper]

They hit the weather trivecta (sp) in their hubs; thunderstorms, wind and snow.
I don't know if you have to talk to the CO reservationists, but at least they are competent and helpful - unlike other airlines I could mention...

That explains it, though its still just Continental. No other airline has had trouble yet.

Unfortunately no, I don't talk to airline employees that often. The only airline that is regularly nice enough to call to book a room for you and pay for it is Air Canada. Everyone else typically just cuts you loose and doesn't tell you squat except our phone number. -.-

[irish76]

Gravekeeper - 3 hours in, no reports of a problem with CO on our end yet. I work for a travel wholesaler - in Vancouver, just down the street (I think) from your office...

[friendofjimmyk]

I checked the status of Continental flights in Houston - a couple of them anyways and they were delayed a few hours.

[Peppergirl]

Yeah - I was stuck till 1.5 hrs past my shift last night due to a flight taking off from IAH to LA 3.5 hours late and the guy missed his connection to Sydney.

It was all MY fault, of course.

I'm pretty sure it was just bad storms, at least thats what I heard from all the calls we were getting from people being stuck there.

[Gravekeeper]

Gravekeeper - 3 hours in, no reports of a problem with CO on our end yet. I work for a travel wholesaler - in Vancouver, just down the street (I think) from your office...

The fervour died down by 3ish for the most part. Aside from the random late arrivals.

I checked the status of Continental flights in Houston - a couple of them anyways and they were delayed a few hours.

Yeah, all the connections were missed or the flights canceled outright judging from what people were telling me. There weren't too many dicks at least.

It was all MY fault, of course.

Luckily, I didn't have too many blame tossers. I did have a fair number of "zomigawd you mean they don't pay for everything?!". No, no they don't. You're lucky they even gave you a phone number. I can usually deflect such wrath back on the airline though where it belongs. -.-

[Peppergirl]

Luckily, I didn't have too many blame tossers. I did have a fair number of "zomigawd you mean they don't pay for everything?!". No, no they don't. You're lucky they even gave you a phone number. I can usually deflect such wrath back on the airline though where it belongs. -.-

He was the only one I had that was bad, so it wasn't entirely awful - but by 1230a, I was good and annoyed by it since I had to be back in at 9a this morning.

Even after 20 years in the business, it still blows my mind that people think that WEATHER delays = airlines pay for hotels.

And yeah, with the airlines in the shape they're in, it's easy to deflect the BS back on them. I do it all day long.

[Gravekeeper]

Even after 20 years in the business, it still blows my mind that people think that WEATHER delays = airlines pay for hotels.

Weather delays I can see. But I can sympathize with people whose flight was simply late or canceled or something at random because the airline is full of fail. Than they're told oh hey you get to stay in some city you've never been to before for 3 days until we can fly you out. Oh, and you're paying for it.

Would definitely peeve me off a tad too. Especially if they dropped me or rerouted me in the middle of no where, where the only hotel is $250 bucks ( On that note, god help you if you ever get stuck in Anchorage. ) or no hotel at all ( Hawaii. Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER any hotels there that will give you a discount for anything. ).

Like I said, Air Canada, surprisingly, is the only one I know of where they'll cover a room for you if you get stuck somewhere. They'll often call for you too. Even when they don't I can't recall ever getting an angry Air Canada customer. Which is saying something honestly.

[Peppergirl]

The sad part is that if the airline has cancelled due to equipment, crew or (in some casess) air traffic issues, the airline is required to compensate them in the form of a hotel voucher if they're stranded.

But, they always pull that shady shit, acting like they don't have to do it - hoping the customer doesn't push them on it.

[Gravekeeper]

But, they always pull that shady shit, acting like they don't have to do it - hoping the customer doesn't push them on it.

I've noticed what some of them ( Ok, one or two specifically in a couple of select airports ) like to do is simply hide. They give you a phone number to find a hotel as you get off the plane but once you get through customs/security there's not a soul at their help desk or any other place and they tell you utterly nothing. Not even if there's another flight out or when they can fly you out. Than they hide behind the security check point so you can't get back to speak with them and just cut you loose on your own.

Which is remarkably assholish to begin with, but than they end up asking us tons of questions about their flights and what not and of course we can't help them.

[Evil Queen]

We have had some pretty nasty storms in the past day and a half. Luckily it's stopping now.

[Gravekeeper]

We have had some pretty nasty storms in the past day and a half. Luckily it's stopping now.

I hope so, I don't want to be 16 calls deep in queue the second I sit down ( again ) with only me on shift when I go back to work tonight. =p

[Andrew B.]

I hope so, I don't want to be 16 calls deep in queue the second I sit down ( again ) with only me on shift when I go back to work tonight. =p

If it happens, tell us about it on Sunday like you always do and we will offer our sympathies and various treats, like we always do.