I didn't say that they were bad tables, just that they had issues. Obviously could have been set up better!! I had a great time in the Phils, can't wait to go back
Mabuhay Manila
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
I didn't say that they were bad tables, just that they had issues. Obviously could have been set up better!! I had a great time in the Phils, can't wait to go back
GingerBread Man
Thanks for the great reports, Jay. :clapping:
I was just wondering in that dream when the phone rang, were you kind of jogging in place?
Have a safe trip home. The U.S. Open is just around the corner.
JoeyA
Thanks for the great reports, Jay. :clapping:
I was just wondering in that dream when the phone rang, were you kind of jogging in place?
Have a safe trip home. The U.S. Open is just around the corner.
JoeyA
The long ride home
After a wonderful trip, I had a not so wonderful experience getting back home. My flight was scheduled for 10PM, two nights ago on Philippine Air. We boarded by 10:30 and went right to the tarmac to take off. Problem number one - One of the engines would not start. We sat there for nearly an hour while they worked on the engine to no avail. Finally we are towed back to the gate. More repairs are made and it's back to the tarmac. Still no luck with engine #1. After another hour or so of attempted repairs the passengers are getting VERY restless. We had been on the plane four hours with no air-con and it was getting sweaty and clammy in there. We all wanted off!
It took some time (and some angry passengers) to get them to return once again to the gate and open the cabin doors. When they did the first person led off was a lady carrying a small baby. Everyone else crowded around the exit waiting for the order to go out. I was right there in an exit row seat. People were grumbling and getting antsy. I stood up and walked out the door. The stewardess asked me where I was going. I told her, "I don't want to go on this airplane." She yelled back to me, "Someone will meet you at the gate." Moments later everyone else started streaming out of the plane. Being one of the first two off, we were led to the Customer Relations waiting area. It was 2:30 in the morning and no one was there. Passengers were milling about all over the terminal, no one knowing what to do. We were informed that a bus would be coming for us. Thirty minutes later three large buses pulled up and we begun loading on all 426 passengers. People sat everywhere including the aisles.
They took us to a very nice hotel, The Heritage Plaza, and were led to a large conference room, set up with chairs. After another 15-20 minutes, a small table was brought in with two people sitting at it. One by one, they began handing out room keys, after you showed your boarding pass and signed for the key. This process was chaotic (a huge crowd forming around the small table) and took forever. Some people didn't get their room key for over an hour. Now we are told that a special plane was being readied for us to leave at 1PM that day. We could go to our rooms and rest up for a few hours and the buses would be back for us at 10AM. Breakfast would be served from 6AM until 10AM (it was already after 4AM). No one has any of their luggage, so we must make do with whatever we have in our carry on bags.
I sleep three hours or so and get up shortly after 8. I clean up a little and go downstairs for breakfast. It is 9AM and most of the other passengers are in the restaurant or lobby area. After I eat I check out of my room and join the mob. The buses arrive shortly after 10AM and soon we are off to the airport. Hopefully a better day ahead. How wrong could I be! We arrive at 10:30 and begin boarding the "new" plane at 1:30. Lo and behold, it is the same plane as before. They had towed it to a hangar and supposedly made the necessary repairs. Anxiously we filed on. Shortly after 2PM we were on the runway again. Engine #1 would not fire. We sit there for an eternity. No one seems to have a clue what is going on. We are told once more that repairs will be made. After an hour or so, passengers are getting angry and storming the steward's area right by my seat. They are demanding answers. There are raised voices and angry concerns. I finally have an opportunity to speak. I look directly at the head stewardess and tell her, "I do not want to fly on this airplane! Take me to the gate." She looks at me and says she doesn't want to fly on it either. In 35 years of working for Philippine Air she has not seen such a problem before!
We are off loaded once again, and told to stay in the waiting area. If you leave "voluntarily" you are giving up your seat (and your ticket). It is now 3:30PM and we are told a replacement plane will take us at 4:30PM. At 4:30 another 747 is towed to the next gate. We are first told we will load at 5PM and then that a new crew must be brought in, and we will finally be leaving at 9PM. WHAT??? By now no one believes anything they are hearing and people are beginning to leave voluntarily. They are being promised replacement tickets for a future flight. Many people are still anxious to get to Los Angeles; for jobs, business, family and even court dates. This story of the 400+ confined passengers has hit the media and is being reported on the local TV news. The reporters are allowed to see the passenger manifest and one guy from ABS-CBN recognizes my name. Next thing I know he is calling me on my cell and doing a phone interview. I'm on the "live" news right now. The same reporter keeps calling me back every thirty minutes or so for updates.
At 7:30PM we are finally given some food, box lunches from KFC! All this time they will only allow us to exit the area to use the bathroom. And then you must go back through a security check to get into the waiting area. At first no water is allowed in. That is crazy! And I say so loud and clear to everyone I see. This is the exception that proves the rule! These people are hot and tired. LET THEM BRING THEIR WATER INSIDE! They relent. Shortly after 9PM, a new order comes down. All passengers must be issued a new boarding pass for the replacement flight. We already have boarding passes and seat assignments. Only the flight number has been changed. This last gesture, with 400 weary and disgusted passengers, is sheer lunacy on the part of Philippine Air. WHY!!! I have reached my breaking point after 24 hours in limbo. I yell at the gate keepers, "This is so STUPID!" They are now calling ten names at a time to come up and get their new boarding pass. As they get their pass, they are allowed to board the new plane. Now it takes well over an hour to board in this fashion. NUTS!!!
On board, even the same head stewardess says there was no need to issue new boarding passes. It was done on the orders of her supervisor, who ever that is. I was really antsy about being on this plane now. One more trip back to the gate and I was leaving the airport. At approx. 11PM we finally took off, over 24 hours after our initial departure time. I got into L.A. shortly after 8PM local time, never so glad to make it home safely.
After a wonderful trip, I had a not so wonderful experience getting back home. My flight was scheduled for 10PM, two nights ago on Philippine Air. We boarded by 10:30 and went right to the tarmac to take off. Problem number one - One of the engines would not start. We sat there for nearly an hour while they worked on the engine to no avail. Finally we are towed back to the gate. More repairs are made and it's back to the tarmac. Still no luck with engine #1. After another hour or so of attempted repairs the passengers are getting VERY restless. We had been on the plane four hours with no air-con and it was getting sweaty and clammy in there. We all wanted off!
It took some time (and some angry passengers) to get them to return once again to the gate and open the cabin doors. When they did the first person led off was a lady carrying a small baby. Everyone else crowded around the exit waiting for the order to go out. I was right there in an exit row seat. People were grumbling and getting antsy. I stood up and walked out the door. The stewardess asked me where I was going. I told her, "I don't want to go on this airplane." She yelled back to me, "Someone will meet you at the gate." Moments later everyone else started streaming out of the plane. Being one of the first two off, we were led to the Customer Relations waiting area. It was 2:30 in the morning and no one was there. Passengers were milling about all over the terminal, no one knowing what to do. We were informed that a bus would be coming for us. Thirty minutes later three large buses pulled up and we begun loading on all 426 passengers. People sat everywhere including the aisles.
They took us to a very nice hotel, The Heritage Plaza, and were led to a large conference room, set up with chairs. After another 15-20 minutes, a small table was brought in with two people sitting at it. One by one, they began handing out room keys, after you showed your boarding pass and signed for the key. This process was chaotic (a huge crowd forming around the small table) and took forever. Some people didn't get their room key for over an hour. Now we are told that a special plane was being readied for us to leave at 1PM that day. We could go to our rooms and rest up for a few hours and the buses would be back for us at 10AM. Breakfast would be served from 6AM until 10AM (it was already after 4AM). No one has any of their luggage, so we must make do with whatever we have in our carry on bags.
I sleep three hours or so and get up shortly after 8. I clean up a little and go downstairs for breakfast. It is 9AM and most of the other passengers are in the restaurant or lobby area. After I eat I check out of my room and join the mob. The buses arrive shortly after 10AM and soon we are off to the airport. Hopefully a better day ahead. How wrong could I be! We arrive at 10:30 and begin boarding the "new" plane at 1:30. Lo and behold, it is the same plane as before. They had towed it to a hangar and supposedly made the necessary repairs. Anxiously we filed on. Shortly after 2PM we were on the runway again. Engine #1 would not fire. We sit there for an eternity. No one seems to have a clue what is going on. We are told once more that repairs will be made. After an hour or so, passengers are getting angry and storming the steward's area right by my seat. They are demanding answers. There are raised voices and angry concerns. I finally have an opportunity to speak. I look directly at the head stewardess and tell her, "I do not want to fly on this airplane! Take me to the gate." She looks at me and says she doesn't want to fly on it either. In 35 years of working for Philippine Air she has not seen such a problem before!
We are off loaded once again, and told to stay in the waiting area. If you leave "voluntarily" you are giving up your seat (and your ticket). It is now 3:30PM and we are told a replacement plane will take us at 4:30PM. At 4:30 another 747 is towed to the next gate. We are first told we will load at 5PM and then that a new crew must be brought in, and we will finally be leaving at 9PM. WHAT??? By now no one believes anything they are hearing and people are beginning to leave voluntarily. They are being promised replacement tickets for a future flight. Many people are still anxious to get to Los Angeles; for jobs, business, family and even court dates. This story of the 400+ confined passengers has hit the media and is being reported on the local TV news. The reporters are allowed to see the passenger manifest and one guy from ABS-CBN recognizes my name. Next thing I know he is calling me on my cell and doing a phone interview. I'm on the "live" news right now. The same reporter keeps calling me back every thirty minutes or so for updates.
At 7:30PM we are finally given some food, box lunches from KFC! All this time they will only allow us to exit the area to use the bathroom. And then you must go back through a security check to get into the waiting area. At first no water is allowed in. That is crazy! And I say so loud and clear to everyone I see. This is the exception that proves the rule! These people are hot and tired. LET THEM BRING THEIR WATER INSIDE! They relent. Shortly after 9PM, a new order comes down. All passengers must be issued a new boarding pass for the replacement flight. We already have boarding passes and seat assignments. Only the flight number has been changed. This last gesture, with 400 weary and disgusted passengers, is sheer lunacy on the part of Philippine Air. WHY!!! I have reached my breaking point after 24 hours in limbo. I yell at the gate keepers, "This is so STUPID!" They are now calling ten names at a time to come up and get their new boarding pass. As they get their pass, they are allowed to board the new plane. Now it takes well over an hour to board in this fashion. NUTS!!!
On board, even the same head stewardess says there was no need to issue new boarding passes. It was done on the orders of her supervisor, who ever that is. I was really antsy about being on this plane now. One more trip back to the gate and I was leaving the airport. At approx. 11PM we finally took off, over 24 hours after our initial departure time. I got into L.A. shortly after 8PM local time, never so glad to make it home safely.
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Thats a horror story and a half.
The european union have made a list of appr. 300 airlanes they will not allow into Europe - due to insufficient safety procedures.
Unfortunately all filipino airlanes - including Philippine Air - are on that list.
The european union have made a list of appr. 300 airlanes they will not allow into Europe - due to insufficient safety procedures.
Unfortunately all filipino airlanes - including Philippine Air - are on that list.
Darn Jay that sounds like hell at the airport. You had the patience of a Saint, or at least a superior one-pocket player, to control your temper during that circus show. I believe Philippine Airlines is a superior airlines myself, but it sounds like you encountered a typical management problem that I have seen time and time again in the PI. For some reason, Filipino managers will not break with standard procedural methods (SOP) regardless of the circumstances. So instead of making decisions based on customer service, they will make decisions based on a guidebook (such as issuing new boarding passes) and will not consider altering the procedure based on emergency circumstances.
As for the water issue, I had the same problem flying out with Delta. They allow water all the way until the final security check, and then they will take it from you. There is no warning or notice, and they had quite a collection from the passengers at this final checkpoint. I was a little sick myself, and I needed a drink to keep the coughing down. Unfortunately, there was no provisions allowed for passengers to buy a drink after the final checkpoint. God bless those people that are sick and heading out on a long flight. You just have to buy it onboard. In Japan, I had no problem buying a drink and then taking it onboard.
Well, let's be thankful we had a great trip, made it home safely, and can breathe some fresh air for awhile (at least here in Alabama you can). Thanks for starting this very popular thread Jay and posting regular entertaining updates. You are a super guy to share your experiences with us like you do.
Thanks also to all the AZ Members that provided great information on this thread and helped make my trip very enjoyable. I left 750 Pesos with some lucky 10 Ball Player at Paeng's Skybowl, but I had fun making him sweat a little. See you guys next time...
As for the water issue, I had the same problem flying out with Delta. They allow water all the way until the final security check, and then they will take it from you. There is no warning or notice, and they had quite a collection from the passengers at this final checkpoint. I was a little sick myself, and I needed a drink to keep the coughing down. Unfortunately, there was no provisions allowed for passengers to buy a drink after the final checkpoint. God bless those people that are sick and heading out on a long flight. You just have to buy it onboard. In Japan, I had no problem buying a drink and then taking it onboard.
Well, let's be thankful we had a great trip, made it home safely, and can breathe some fresh air for awhile (at least here in Alabama you can). Thanks for starting this very popular thread Jay and posting regular entertaining updates. You are a super guy to share your experiences with us like you do.
Thanks also to all the AZ Members that provided great information on this thread and helped make my trip very enjoyable. I left 750 Pesos with some lucky 10 Ball Player at Paeng's Skybowl, but I had fun making him sweat a little. See you guys next time...
Thanks Joyren. I had planned on going to Star Billiards, but I had limited time and had to make some decisions on where I would visit and what I would do. In my free time, I decided to watch some of the tournament action at the malls and play pool at locations close to my hotel in Mandaluyong. Star Billiards was up North a good distance and would have required some additional travel problems for me. I started to go last Sunday, but I did not know if the center would be open. Anyway, thank you for the invite. Maybe next time...
Hi Jay, I'm glad you made it in one piece. Have supported PAL for this year, but it seems they are getting worse. Been in so many delays in my life with PAL. Can't stand the aggravation. My last PAL flight will be next week and after that, no more PAL for me. It's either Cathay or Cebu Pacific from hereon.
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Welcome back, Jay. Sorry to hear about your travels woes. I was stuck on a plane once for 4.5 hours in Denver without AC/ventilation at it sucks big time. And they wouldn't serve food or beverages either.
Anyway, thanks much for the thread updates on your trip. It wasa cool that it sort of became the central posting thread for several guys that were there. Very Cool.
See you Saturday? Shoot an email.
Anyway, thanks much for the thread updates on your trip. It wasa cool that it sort of became the central posting thread for several guys that were there. Very Cool.
See you Saturday? Shoot an email.
Welcome back, Jay. Sorry to hear about your travels woes. I was stuck on a plane once for 4.5 hours in Denver without AC/ventilation at it sucks big time. And they wouldn't serve food or beverages either.
Anyway, thanks much for the thread updates on your trip. It wasa cool that it sort of became the central posting thread for several guys that were there. Very Cool.
See you Saturday? Shoot an email.
Saturday, Oct. 2 at 2PM until ???! The big AZ shoot-out at the Helfert Ranch! :thumbup2:
Jay, I have an inkling of what you went through. When I was getting discharged from the Navy back during Viet Nam, I was on the USS Enterprise and was kept on duty until 3 days before the final day of my Navy Contract
(EAOS it was called). Then they gave me a packet of orders Telling me to "Proceed to Treasure Island California for discharge". Mind you, I was still on the "Big E" off the coast of Viet Nam. I was supposed to arrange my own
transportation! I talked to some people at Flight Ops and got a seat on the COD (the mail plane) into DaNang. Then I tried to get a flight to Clark AFB in the PI but I'd just missed the flight and there would not be another for 2
days. I talked to some guys in OPS there who told me if I could get a flight to Bangkok I could fly from there to Clark. They hooked me up with a flight to Bangkok where I had about 4 hours to screw around and flew to Clark
AFB. I then talked my way on a "puddle jumping" flight on an Air Force C-5 that stopped at every island (it seemed) between there and Hawaii. When we arrived in Hawaii we were told that the crew had to be rested 12 hours
before we could continue on to the mainland, so as all good sailors did, we went into town and got drunk and partied until time to leave. When we loaded back on the C-5, (mind you on the military flights all the passenger seats
are facing backwards because it's MUCH safer if the plane ditches in the water or crashes, supposedly) we taxied out to the runway, the pilot announced we were about to take off, he goes to full power and this huge airplane
starts down the runway at full speed. Then all of a sudden, the power shuts down the brakes are applied and the plane comes to a stop near the end of the runway. He turns around and taxies back to the other end where a
jeep and a couple of mechanics start working on something below us. We couldn't see shit but we knew they were fixing something. After about a half an hour the captain announces that the problem was fixed and we were
again ready for take off. Again the plane goes to full power we're heading down the runway and again, the brake go on, the throttle is shut down and the plane goes nose down as we stop again at the end of the runway. Again
we turned around and met the jeep again with the mechanics at the beginning of the runway. The C-5 was the biggest aircraft in the US military at that time and we ended up having 4 aborted take offs before we finally got in
the air. Turned out that they were getting an "indicator light" telling them that the landing gear would not retract, which was a faulty "indicator". By this time they had to refuel the plane again so we could make California. I made
up my mind that if they didn't get the plane off that trip, I was staying in Hawaii for the rest of my life. I'd spent 4 years in the Navy with 2 West-Pac cruises on the Enterprise working on the flight deck and I damn sure wasn't
going to let them kill me just as I was getting out!
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I was thinking, what if the first plane's engine started, but then...
Glad you're back safe.
When we were all sitting around the Manila airport, I overheard some American guy grumbling about our plane being diverted because of a bad motor. I looked over at him and said, "Better here than in the Pacific!" Even the filipinos smiled when I said that. A couple of guys gave me the thumbs up sign.
Wow Jay. What a bummer. Sorry you had to go through all that crap.
My experience with PAL was just great. My flight there and my return flight last Sunday were both fine.
I would have been really pissed if I had to go through what you did.
You are a saint!!
My experience with PAL was just great. My flight there and my return flight last Sunday were both fine.
I would have been really pissed if I had to go through what you did.
You are a saint!!
Wow Jay. What a bummer. Sorry you had to go through all that crap.
My experience with PAL was just great. My flight there and my return flight last Sunday were both fine.
I would have been really pissed if I had to go through what you did.
You are a saint!!
Thanks Russ. I've had nothing but good experiences on perhaps a dozen other flights with PAL. But this time, I think I got a very good roll .... in life!
P.S. You wouldn't exactly call me a saint if you heard me erupt when they wouldn't allow passengers to bring water into the waiting area, after eighteen hours of waiting! I let them all know in no uncertain terms they were way out of line. Rules, smules, give them some goddamn water already! PAL should have been bringing boxes of bottled water to us, not making us beg for it. That incident and the boarding pass fiasco really pissed me off and I didn't care who knew about it. In fact, I made sure they knew how I felt. A couple of times it seemed like I was talking for all of us. Maybe I was just a little bolder. Most filipinos are fairly shy and retiring types. I'm not.
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