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America West

Al of Las Vegas (6/29/04):
Passengers held hostag! On Sunday, June 27, 2004, flight 601 America West was scheduled to depart from McCarran Airport, Las Vegas, at 11:29 am. While waiting for this flight, it was announced that it would be arriving instead at 11:40 am. This aircraft did not arrive until 11:50 am and boarding began at 12:10 pm. Nothing new for an airline. Flight 601 is a 1.5 hour flight from Las Vegas to Denver, CO. This trip would end with all 200+ passengers arriving at Denver, CO, through Phoenix, AZ some 12 hours after its scheduled departure time and arriving not as Flt 601, but as Flight 7412, (The Lost Flight).

Though this was only the start of the debacle of misinformation and torture subjected to the passengers of this flight. The term torture is in reference military interrogation guidelines by subjecting individual to sitting in uncomfortable positions for long, long periods of time. To continue with this story, once all passengers were boarded, we were seated for more than an hour. The initial explanation was because of weather in Denver, CO. The plane eventually was pulled back from the terminal. After what appeared to be another hour, we were told that because of the time spent waiting for clearance from the air traffic control tower, we had expended more fuel than expected and that the airplane no longer had enough fuel to make the trip to Denver, CO. Back we went to the terminal for more fuel.

At this time it was also mentioned that the weather was no longer a factor and that clearance had already been given by the air traffic tower. After an hour or so of waiting for fuel, we were told that the current crew was not able to complete the trip to Denver, CO due to FAA rules. We were then allowed to get off the airplane. Another hour passed before we were told that the aircraft was ready to depart and that another crew was ready to take us to Denver, CO. All passengers again boarded the aircraft; this was the last time we would see the inside of an airport terminal for 8 hours.

While waiting for pull back from the terminal, which we waited again for what seemed two or more hours, this time without being allowed to exit the aircraft, we were told that the current crew could not take us directly to Denver, CO, again because of FAA rules. The explanation was that the crew was required to end their shift only in Phoenix, AZ. After another hour or so we were then told that since the aircraft would now be going to Phoenix, AZ instead, we had too much fuel. Again we waited for another hour or so for the fuel to be siphoned from the aircraft for our trip to AZ.

At this time the America West representatives handed out food vouchers for AZ so that everyone would have something to eat. OK, where can you get a decent meal at an airport for $7.50! Though, because the fuel removal took so long, we were told that instead the airlines would provide us with food that would be exchange for the $7.50 voucher. They also handed out a letter of explanation for the flight cancellation and new flight number. As the flight crew prepared for takeoff, the lead flight attendant determined that someone was in the rear restroom. After 10 minutes of announcing that “we cannot leave until everyone is in their seat, so that they can make an accurate count”, then announcing that they would have to call in paramedics, this one still is a mystery, one America West representative was proactive enough to check the restrooms, only to find that no one was in the restrooms!

Finally after almost 8 hours at McCarran Airport the airplane was actually moving. We arrived in Phoenix at 7:30 pm, waiting on the plane while the crew again was changed. During our 45-minute stay America West provided dry cold sandwiches, (about the size of a White Castle burger) to all 200+ passengers. Along with chips and a cookie. Uggghhhhhhh!!!!! All this for $7.50, wow what a deal!!! The nightmare finally ended at 12:35 am MST, June 28, 2004 in Denver, CO. To add insult to further injury, the plane parked at the furthest point of terminal C. No other planes were visibly present at any of the other terminal doors.

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