Late for his flight, a Delta Air Lines passenger began banging on the door at his boarding gate in New Orleans. Perhaps he did not realize that when this door is closed there’s literally no one on the other side of it to open it back up. Pounding on the door won’t get a staffer’s attention.
Once the door is closed it is highly unlikely to be re-opened. You need a gate agent, and it’s only the rarest circumstances that anything can or will be done. This man wasn’t giving up, though.
He decided to make an announcement, broadcast on the airport’s public address system, to demand that he be allowed to board. His language does get a bit ‘NSFW’ as he implores someone to “open this ‘m-f’ gate.”
@kieraadavisss Never a dull moment when traveling #delta #neworleans #airport ♬ original sound – Kiera
Not only isn’t this a strategy to make it onto his scheduled flight, it isn’t a strategy for getting rebooked quickly to make it to his destination as soon as possible either.
(HT: Off the Beaten Points)
Once, I arrived after the door was closed but caught the gate agent just as she was exiting the jetbridge – she was kind enough to allow me on.
Also, a couple days ago flying JFK-BNA on SkyWest, a pax approached the forward FA after the door closed and the jetbridge had been retracted (gate agent closed the door 10+ mins early on a small E175). The pax said her sister had just arrived at the gate, and asked could she be let on. Incredibly, the FA spoke with the pilot, who contacted Ops, and together they tried to move heaven and earth to get the sister on, but the gate agent had just peaced out, probably done for the night and rushing to get home. Poor pax had to find another way to Nashville. I gave the FA a JWD cert for her heroic efforts, though.
He sounds like a reject from Spirit Airlines
Another entitled person who thinks the world revolves around them.
@ Alan — Racist much?
@Gene
Says more about you than Alan with your accusation.
Do you think so low of black people?
@ Chad — Get a clue, dude.
I find is fascinating that this ***h**e ” Gene throws out the liberal “race card” when there is NO…NONE..ZERO, BUPKIS mention of race. Merriam Webster defines racism: a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. So, Gene the a**h**e, I’d be really curious as to where you decided that race has anything to do with Alan’s comment? Go ahead…I’d… we’d love to understand what you mean. As far as the passenger…hopefully Delta didn’t relent AND if he causes a disturbance…take his boarding pass, refund his money and ban him from flying for a couple of months. 2nd time…ban him period.
Our departing airport was DFW. We had a connecting flight at San Francisco going to Honolulu. The weather was bad at San Francisco so we were delayed leaving DFW. By the time we got to San Francisco our flight was long gone. I went to the back of a long line hoping to get some help. An airline employee saw my son’s wheelchair and took us to the front of the line. He booked us on the next flight out. I told him just get my son a seat. I’ll sit on the wing if I have to! He ☺ smiled.
Yup, it happens…I’ve missed a flight because of a delayed connection. I arrived at the gate just a moment or two after the door had closed, and the agent told me she could not open it again. Sigh…I was nice, though harried, and after explaining my situation, she assisted me in getting a seat on the next available flight. Breath, stay calm, carry on. You’ll get there.
Excessive sweating can be an embarrassing and uncomfortable issue, especially when it’s happening on your most used chair. If you’ve noticed sweat stains or patches on your favorite chair after sitting in it for a while, you’re likely dealing with bum sweat.
@Gene can you share your thoughts on how the comment by @Alan is racist? I see him talking about the person being a “Spirit” passenger. He didn’t make any reference to the passenger’s race or infer that everyone who flies Spirit is a person of color. I’d value the opportunity to understand your thought process.
The guy is obviously a low life and a tool. Good thing he wasn’t on board as he would have likely caused a disturbance resulting in the crew needing to make an unscheduled landing. His sorry azz should be forever barred from flying. Jerk.
Like Forest Gump says “stupid is as stupid does” the passenger falls under the latter while our commenter Gene falls under the former. No point in arguing with either.
As someone who flys a lot, brother is a retired 747 captain, and sister in law who was a retired cabin chief, there is a lot of back ground event a lament passenger may not know. There are checklist after checklist that crew has to go through and initiated once the door is closed. This isn’t a greyhound bus driver just open the door. Once a door is reopened, a checklist routine has to be initiated. Many checks are for safety sake. If the pilot has to reinitiate, it take more time; and we may lose the takeoff spot or get stuck on plane alleyway; or tarmac. Worst scenario is they have to file a new manifest, and you lose the crew if the flight is long trip. Do you really want to vouch for some who disregard everyones schedule for you time and most important of all safety? Even if you got the gate late because of connection, that’s still not the responsibility of the passengers and the crew fault on the schedule flight. If you fly enough direct us always the best, and connection always risks of missing it. If you watch air disasters; distracted pilots, weathers, mechanical issues are recipe for disasters. No thank you. I’d take the next flight. There is no excuse to act like juveniles.
Looks like I pressed someone’s buttons. 🙂
These comments are more entertaining and insightful than the article.
@Gene, no you made a stupid comment
LOL Mike…..As someone who’s FAMILY may (or may not have really) worked at an airline… .I just that just about makes you an expert!
I guess Chris is for people to be @$$holes and inconsiderate.
What an idiot commandeering the PA system! That is why I carry a bullhorn because I can use it in the terminal and inside the plane.
So where are the police.?
Armchair commentators should be more understanding. After our compelled pause and pivot, our Golden Age of Travel involves ULCC passengers doing many tasks once done by ground staff: self-check-in kiosks, self-baggage tagging, self delivery of bags over to the security scanner machine staff, self-corralling into boarding groups, self-scanning of tickets at the gate, self-carrying multiple massive carry-ons, self-carrying self-bought food and beverage from overprices airport concession restaurants. DIY. I mean, where is the division of tasks between passenger and ground staff? Why not self-activiate the gate doorbell/doorknocker that should be there, and self actuate the PA system?
Gets back to my theory that a departure board is needed in the airport bar(s).
I know the city is focused on revenue, but a monitor would lead to less drama at the gates and concourse.
Poor fellow misses his plane… Funny how @Gene made the comments about himself… lmao
We had this happen a few weeks ago on Delta because the airline scheduled us with insufficient time to make the connection from another Delta flight. This was at Salt Lake City which is a chaotic airport, the arriving plane did not even go to the terminal, instead we had to take a bus from the airplane to the terminal. Technically we made it to the gate while it should have been boarding. They did re-open the door however and then the plane sat on the tarmac for 15 minutes as it was still loading luggage.
I had a late-arriving flight, and the airline reasonably moved my connection to a later flight. But the original connection was late as well; I hustled over and arrived just as it was finishing boarding. So I explained the situation, and asked the GA I could have a seat if there was one. She said, “no”, and went down the jetway.
A second agent soon came over and started to close the door, I asked him, and he ok’d it. So I went down the jetway, moving briskly past the first GA at the end.
Before you ask: I had no checked bag, so that wasn’t an issue.