After going like clockwork for so long, time for it to go a little pear-shaped
After boarding the aircraft in London the airbridge was removed in preparation for departure. Then the delays started. Apparently the weather enroute was a problem, and they were waiting to see if it cleared. Then they tried rerouting us. Then we needed a takeoff slot. Eventually, more than two hours late, we left.
My ample connection in LA was looking a little shaky as we made our final approach, but as we taxied towards the stand it looked like I would be OK (but not have time for a lounge visit). Then the final act of the farce began. We would be parking at Terminal 4 (the American Airlines terminal from where my Washington flight would depart) but would be clearing customs and immigration at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) next door. This would mean a long walk in underground tunnels. Oddly, sometimes Qantas will park at TBIT and clear customs and immigration at T4. Then they showed on the TV screens which gates various connections would leave from. The Washington flight was leaving from 48A - the furthest gate from security. And then the plane stopped. One of the pilots announced that although our gate was empty, the adjacent one had a 747 in it, so there was no room for us until the 747 was towed away. Eventually we moved again until we were nearly at the gate, but then we stopped again. Pilot came back on saying that we had to be towed to the gate, so there would be a delay while the engines were shut down and the towing vehicle was attached.
When we finally arrived I was first off the aircraft. I reached immigration (eventually) to find only a short line. After the formalities I went to wait for my suitcase. In LA they generally use two luggage carousels for large international flights - one for priority luggage (First and Business class and any other priority gained via frequent flyer status) and the other for the rest. Then they announced that one of the two carousels to be used had developed a fault, so all luggage would come out on the one carousel. That was the final straw, because it then meant a long wait for the bags to come out.
Knowing it was almost certainly in vain, I went to the luggage transfer area, but they wouldn't accept the bag because it was too close to the departure time. My only hope would be for a delay in the flight, so I fought my way out of TBIT and across to T4. The flight was delayed, but not by enough. By the time I arrived at the check-in desks it was 10 minutes too late to check in.
The agent was very helpful and we discussed a couple of options. Finally I was put on the flight the next morning and American Airlines paid for a room for me at the Crowne Plaza LAX.
My ample connection in LA was looking a little shaky as we made our final approach, but as we taxied towards the stand it looked like I would be OK (but not have time for a lounge visit). Then the final act of the farce began. We would be parking at Terminal 4 (the American Airlines terminal from where my Washington flight would depart) but would be clearing customs and immigration at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) next door. This would mean a long walk in underground tunnels. Oddly, sometimes Qantas will park at TBIT and clear customs and immigration at T4. Then they showed on the TV screens which gates various connections would leave from. The Washington flight was leaving from 48A - the furthest gate from security. And then the plane stopped. One of the pilots announced that although our gate was empty, the adjacent one had a 747 in it, so there was no room for us until the 747 was towed away. Eventually we moved again until we were nearly at the gate, but then we stopped again. Pilot came back on saying that we had to be towed to the gate, so there would be a delay while the engines were shut down and the towing vehicle was attached.
When we finally arrived I was first off the aircraft. I reached immigration (eventually) to find only a short line. After the formalities I went to wait for my suitcase. In LA they generally use two luggage carousels for large international flights - one for priority luggage (First and Business class and any other priority gained via frequent flyer status) and the other for the rest. Then they announced that one of the two carousels to be used had developed a fault, so all luggage would come out on the one carousel. That was the final straw, because it then meant a long wait for the bags to come out.
Knowing it was almost certainly in vain, I went to the luggage transfer area, but they wouldn't accept the bag because it was too close to the departure time. My only hope would be for a delay in the flight, so I fought my way out of TBIT and across to T4. The flight was delayed, but not by enough. By the time I arrived at the check-in desks it was 10 minutes too late to check in.
The agent was very helpful and we discussed a couple of options. Finally I was put on the flight the next morning and American Airlines paid for a room for me at the Crowne Plaza LAX.
posted by Alan at 11:52 AM
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