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Samantha Corbin was scheduled to fly from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on May 31st. The Boeing 777 went mechanical and what followed was an odyssey involving 51 hours at the airport and seven passport stamps before she eventually made it back to the Bay Area.
The SFO-bound passenger logged 9 miles walking around an airport and seven passport stamps from the same country.
📝: https://t.co/yXdNsvAg84 pic.twitter.com/TEFVnM2vaG
— SFGATE (@SFGate) June 7, 2024
SFGate reports that Crobin boarded her flight on May 31st around 9:15 AM. The plane “stalled on the tarmac” so that the “maintenance team could service” it. The mechanical delay lasted so long that the crew timed out and the flight was cancelled. Passengers were left on board the aircraft for four hours and reportedly were only provided with Stroopwafels and water during this time. Once passengers were deplaned, Corbin did not wait for United to rebook her. She took it upon herself to book another flight as she feared waiting for all of the other passengers to be reaccommodated. She said:
And so the only way to get a new flight when hundreds of people are about to be stranded is to pay out of pocket for the flight and hope that you get reimbursed.”
This to me is mistake one here as she should have called United or gotten an agent. The article above says that she is an elite member with United. She got herself onto United flight UA331 and boarded. Unfortunately, that aircraft also had a mechanical issue (this time with the door). The flight was then cancelled and she went to a hotel. The next day she returned to the airport and tried again. After more cancellations she ended back in a hotel in Paris. Finally, she was able to get on a flight the next day and get back to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The final flight was delayed three hours, but she made it home.
Anthony’s Take: United’s Boeing aircraft have been plagued by mechanical issues recently. So much so, that the airline has been under investigation by the FAA. This story is sad in that it took so long for this passenger to get home, but I’m not going to say that I’m surprised. I just hope she (and the other passengers) seek reimbursement from United under EU 261, which offers cash compensation for delays and cancellations.
(Featured Image Credit: United Airlines.)
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3 comments
Well, sounds like my experience with UA in CDG on Christmas eve, 2013. We went back to the gate due to a mechanical issue, and it was rolling delay until the crew timed out 2 days in a row (through Christmas Day). UA had to ferry a rescue plane from IAD to take us back the day after Christmas.
Since this was before the CO and UA workgroups were integrated, the original CO crew could not work on the new flight. Instead, because the original CO plane did not have a first class, and the new UA plane does, the entire first class was taken up by the deadheading crew – none of the first class seats were given to passengers.
Since she bought two tickets can she could apply for EU261 twice?
….and United couldn’t accommodate her on LH or any of the half dozen Star Alliance carriers based in Europe? I thought United has AI that automatically rebooks you.