Stuck on tarmac for over an hour

[Eric 951]

Actually it was 1 hour and forty minutes. I am still pissed, not to mention tired as all get-out.
Quick synposis--flew Pit to New Orleans LA Sunday for a Monday-morning site meeting.
Attend meeting, take measurements--very hot in production area--sweating like a pig. Meeting over--quick change socks, boots, shirt--head to airport for flight. NO-to Newark(no direct flights)all is okay. Newark to Pit--land in a driving rainstorm--much turbulence upon approach--the pilot did a great job getting us down. Arrive at 10:00PM Then we taxi to the gate and stop about 50 yards away. and wait, and wait, and wait. Pilot comes on intercom--"sorry folks, our gate is occupied, we are waiting for the plane at the gate to push back, should be within 10 minutes."
I look at the driving rain and don't see any planes heading out for take-off, I immeadiately know that they aren't going to allow any planes to take-off with the rain as it was, so we wait, and wait. After another 15 minutes--pilot repeats earlier message, sans the 10 minutes. Time keeps ticking, rain keeps falling. I see another Conitnental/United plane which was behind us pull around the terminal to a gate. 1 hour passes--pilot shuts of (1) engine. I see (2) airtran planes proceed to their open gates in the same terminal. Clock is ticking, we are the only plane waiting.
Stewardesses offer water and granola bars--rain keeps coming. Finally after 1 hour and forty minutes of sitting 50 yards from the terminal, the other plane pushes back, and we make it to the gate--get home around 12:30 AM.
I am going to contact customer servie today and see what they will offer--although I am sure they will tell me to pound sand because it was weather-related.

I have never been more frustrated on a plane before--and I air-travel ALOT. Sorry United/Continental--no more business from me. Just had to vent.

[recycled sixtie]

Well Eric there can be many reasons for this. It is indeed frustrating that your wait time can be as long as your flight! If the flight is designated a gate, sometimes you have to wait for it. Reasons I can think of ? Not enough gates. Another the ground handlers/marshallers may be busy with other flights.(safety reasons aircraft must be marshalled in, you cant just park it as the pilots would likely get into trouble). Bureaucracy in a large airline may prevent openmindedness and overlook the fact that there is a vacant gate next door.
I remember 15 years ago at night our aircraft was broken down. I phoned dispatch and said there was a good one next to us. Put the passengers and more fuel onto the next a/c and away we went. Hope this helps

[Zeke]

I wouldn't want to wait for 1:40 but I'd take that over 5 to 8 as some have.

[recycled sixtie]

is possibly because of the weather. If you have lightning in the area, the union for the ground handlers I believe tells them not to risk getting struck by lightning. You said the weather was bad and that could have been the case there. Our country the union would say no working while lightning is in the area. The flip side is that if the weather was bad, heavy rain and lightning, then you are lucky to be on the ground. Could have been holding for the weather to improve and possibly diverting to another airport!. Think of the alternatives and your outcome is good!Steady rain and crosswinds should be no problems. Throw lightning and turbulence in there and it gets too hairy, time to divert or hold.
Cheers, and hope this helps

[masraum]

I would think that it had less to do with United/Continental than the airport.

1:40 sucks, but I've been in a lot worse. Welcome to life.

[scottmandue]

Yeah... it is like being screwed by the banks and oil companies...

Accept it!!!!

[Mrmerlin]

there is one thing to remember,
If you can have a B!tC4 to pitch the next day, then it means you are on the ground and your safe.

I always wondered if the Boss would even think about this when the captain decided to not take a trip or fly a leg due to some reason and the Boss was upset that he missed his meeting.

Bottom line ... time to spare go by air!

[Eric 951]

Yeah--it just sucks after the travel from the day before, getting up early, getting dirty/sweaty at a project site, transfering in Newark, and then sitting there, helpless for longer than the duration of the flight--50 yards from the gate just staring at people walking through the terminal and going home.

I didn't even get to enjoy any seafood in LA because my flight down was delayed in Washington DC.

Definately not putting any blame on the pilot or crew--as I mentioned in the intiial post--they did a great job in less-than-ideal conditions getting us down safely.

[Zeke]

I think I'd start polling the female passengers to see who I could hit on.

After all, where can they run to?