British Airways kicks 20 passengers off flight because heat wave made plane too heavy

more at
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/0...too-heavy.html

British Airways booted 20 passengers off one flights from London City Airport -
because the hot weather made the plane too heavy.

The airline said the blistering 95 degree heat affected the air pressure,
meaning aircraft could not take off unless they shed weight.

City airport’s short runway means jets have to take off at a steeper angle than
at most other airports.

Passengers told of their fury as they were told they wouldn’t be going off on
their holidays on the busiest day of the year for air travel.

Travelers were asked to leave 14 flights - but one plane bound for Ibiza saw 20
travelers bumped off shortly before boarding on Friday.

The Hopkins family were on their way to visit relatives when they were told that
they wouldn’t be allowed on the plane.

Mom of three Mhairi told The Sun Online her daughter Chloe, who suffers from
Downs syndrome, had been “counting down the days” to seeing her granny and was
heartbroken when they were booted off their flight.

Mhairi, her husband Tom, and their kids, Sebastian, 14, Chloe, 12, and
ten-year-old Dominic, were jetting out to scatter her father’s ashes on the
Balearic island.

The 43-year-old fashion buyer from West London said, “We were [lining up] having
been told to get to the gate when they asked if anybody wanted to be bumped off
the flight.

“Nobody came forward and then they said we’re going to have to pick 14 people
because it’s so hot we need to carry more petrol in order to take off.

“Then they read out the names of some people and said ‘family Hopkins’. There’s
five of us, one with special needs, and they didn’t seem to care at all.

“I had to explain to my daughter, who has been counting down the days till going
on holiday, that we weren’t going to be going out to see her granny in Ibiza but
we were going to have to go to a hotel.

“Then they said we’ll book you on the 11:15am flight from Heathrow tomorrow
morning, which we later found out was not guaranteed and that we had to join
another queue to get ourselves onto another flight.

“At that point I was so furious because my daughter was getting incredibly
upset.

“I mean it’s not a surprise it’s hot today, it was hot yesterday, and that is
what I think everyone was so furious about.

“And to bump off a family with a daughter with special needs and not to care was
extraordinary.

“They were completely unable to cope with the situation.

“I think we got out just before it properly kicked off because more and more
flights were being canceled.”

The airport said, “London City Airport was affected by the extreme heat which
meant, to operate safely, unfortunately passengers needed to be offloaded from
14 British Airways flights.

“We’re working with the airline to ensure passengers get to their destination as
quickly as possible and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

A BA spokeswoman said, “Like other airlines operating from London City today,
British Airways flights were affected by the extreme heat.

“Because of the unique nature of the airfield, with a short runway and steep
take-off, extreme temperatures affect air pressure so aircraft weight has to be
reduced.

“This meant regrettably we were forced to offload 20 customers from our Ibiza
service.

“We are working with them to provide hotel accommodation and re-book them on
flights tomorrow.”





*

On 29 Jul 2018 16:44:48 -0700, Miloch
wrote:

more at
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2018/0...too-heavy.html

British Airways booted 20 passengers off one flights from London City Airport -
because the hot weather made the plane too heavy.

The airline said the blistering 95 degree heat affected the air pressure,
meaning aircraft could not take off unless they shed weight.

City airport’s short runway means jets have to take off at a steeper angle than
at most other airports.

Passengers told of their fury as they were told they wouldn’t be going off on
their holidays on the busiest day of the year for air travel.

Travelers were asked to leave 14 flights - but one plane bound for Ibiza saw 20
travelers bumped off shortly before boarding on Friday.

The Hopkins family were on their way to visit relatives when they were told that
they wouldn’t be allowed on the plane.

Mom of three Mhairi told The Sun Online her daughter Chloe, who suffers from
Downs syndrome, had been “counting down the days” to seeing her granny and was
heartbroken when they were booted off their flight.

Mhairi, her husband Tom, and their kids, Sebastian, 14, Chloe, 12, and
ten-year-old Dominic, were jetting out to scatter her father’s ashes on the
Balearic island.

The 43-year-old fashion buyer from West London said, “We were [lining up] having
been told to get to the gate when they asked if anybody wanted to be bumped off
the flight.

“Nobody came forward and then they said we’re going to have to pick 14 people
because it’s so hot we need to carry more petrol in order to take off.

“Then they read out the names of some people and said ‘family Hopkins’. There’s
five of us, one with special needs, and they didn’t seem to care at all.

“I had to explain to my daughter, who has been counting down the days till going
on holiday, that we weren’t going to be going out to see her granny in Ibiza but
we were going to have to go to a hotel.

“Then they said we’ll book you on the 11:15am flight from Heathrow tomorrow
morning, which we later found out was not guaranteed and that we had to join
another queue to get ourselves onto another flight.

“At that point I was so furious because my daughter was getting incredibly
upset.

“I mean it’s not a surprise it’s hot today, it was hot yesterday, and that is
what I think everyone was so furious about.

“And to bump off a family with a daughter with special needs and not to care was
extraordinary.

“They were completely unable to cope with the situation.

“I think we got out just before it properly kicked off because more and more
flights were being canceled.”

The airport said, “London City Airport was affected by the extreme heat which
meant, to operate safely, unfortunately passengers needed to be offloaded from
14 British Airways flights.

“We’re working with the airline to ensure passengers get to their destination as
quickly as possible and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.”

A BA spokeswoman said, “Like other airlines operating from London City today,
British Airways flights were affected by the extreme heat.

“Because of the unique nature of the airfield, with a short runway and steep
take-off, extreme temperatures affect air pressure so aircraft weight has to be
reduced.

“This meant regrettably we were forced to offload 20 customers from our Ibiza
service.

“We are working with them to provide hotel accommodation and re-book them on
flights tomorrow.”

One would hope BA does all it can to appease these customers; but
aerodynamics doesn't give a hoot about people's vacations - and pretty
sure those folks would choose the inconvenience over riding the jet
into a fiery hole at the end of the runway.

"Bob (not my real pseudonym)" wrote in message
...

One would hope BA does all it can to appease these customers; but
aerodynamics doesn't give a hoot about people's vacations - and pretty
sure those folks would choose the inconvenience over riding the jet into a
fiery hole at the end of the runway.

And I though SNA had a short runway (5,700 ft.). I'd imagine their takeoffs
(4,900 ft.) would be even more exciting: https://tinyurl.com/ybcupv6x

I'm surprised transatlantic service operates out of LCY (A318)

On 31/07/2018 17:00, Byker wrote:

I'm surprised transatlantic service operates out of LCY (A318)

The New York flights make a fuel stop at Shannon Airport due to weight
restrictions on departure. The stop is also used for US Customs and
Border Protection pre-clearance, meaning that passengers arriving in New
York do not need to go through immigration there.

Laurie

"Laurie" wrote in message ...

On 31/07/2018 17:00, Byker wrote:

I'm surprised transatlantic service operates out of LCY (A318)

The New York flights make a fuel stop at Shannon Airport due to weight
restrictions on departure.

Headwinds, of course

"Laurie" wrote in message ...

On 31/07/2018 17:00, Byker wrote:

I'm surprised transatlantic service operates out of LCY (A318)

The New York flights make a fuel stop at Shannon Airport due to weight
restrictions on departure. The stop is also used for US Customs and Border
Protection pre-clearance, meaning that passengers arriving in New York do
not need to go through immigration there.

"The A318 has a passenger capacity of 107 in a two-class configuration,
however, British Airways operates the aircraft with just 32 seats across the
Atlantic."
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...airbus-318-100

That's why I was surprised. With 32 pax, they'd have to charge an arm and a
leg to make it profitable:
https://thepointsguy.com/2018/03/ba-...om-lcy-to-jfk/

At least you'd get lots of leg room:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSWLgk_3JZI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPOP4Q_NEaM

In article , Laurie says...

On 31/07/2018 17:00, Byker wrote:

I'm surprised transatlantic service operates out of LCY (A318)

The New York flights make a fuel stop at Shannon Airport due to weight
restrictions on departure. The stop is also used for US Customs and
Border Protection pre-clearance, meaning that passengers arriving in New
York do not need to go through immigration there.

Laurie

Better to take a bus...ignoring than that water thingie, it'd prolly be a lot
cheaper.




*