Delta Crew Aids Stranded Family at JFK

[ChrisW]

From DeltaDaily, Monday, December 31, 2007:
Delta crew aids stranded family at New York-JFK

Prior to the holidays, Flight 102 from New York-JFK to Shannon,Ireland, was ready to depart when a passenger told Onboard Leader June Smith that he had lost $4,000 and passports for himself, his wife and three grandchildren. JFK Redcoat Winifred DaSilva and Gate Agent Marcia Patino helped search the gate area and nearby locations, but were unable to find the passports and had to escort the family off the plane and have their bags pulled. During the delay, Capt. Stephen Howell told the other passengers about the situation. Several joined in a search of the aircraft. When the search was unsuccessful, the passengers collected donations, and the crew presented $1,600 to the family. The JFK ramp crew was able to locate and retrieve the family's bags, and the flight left an hour and a half late. The captain was given permission to make up the time in the air, and the flight arrived 23 minutes late into Shannon. As the passengers left the plane in Shannon, one said, “I have never flown Delta before, but after witnessing what happened today, we will be back."Sorry for not being able to provide fair use excerpts/link, but this was in a internal newsletter.

[PhilDernerJr]

That's a very nice story. I'm surprised they were able to gather so much money. A nice story for Delta.

What was the aircraft type? 757, right? I know the feeling of finding and pulling a bag like that, especially on a bulk-loaded aircraft. I've gotten lucky and also been very unlucky a couple times.

[ChrisW]

Yeah, DL 102 is a 757ER.

[PHL Approach]

One time they wanted us to pull a few bags off of I think BRU or DUB and we pretty much looked a little and refused because we had 220+ bags in the back and the bags in question by chance were the first to go in. We usually always find the bags on any ETOPS birds. But it was just ridiculous with what they wanted us to do. From a ramper perspective, shouldn't have made 75's international aircraft.

I know that unlucky feeling Phil. Nothing like having 12 cans all filled, K-Loader off a/c, doors shut only to hear on the radio. "We have a GSI on 734 to Manchester, standy for details". Everyone sighs and then you go track down the paperwork and look for that persons name hoping to find the sticker on a sheet for the cans... Nope, it's not on any of them. Ok... start looking in all the cans and the bulk bin that is already filled... :wink: :x

[PhilDernerJr]

Well, rather it happen on a can-loaded aircraft than a bulk-one. I've only worked with LD-8s (large baggage containers that span the full width of the belly of a plane) so there were fewer cans to juggle. I never dealt with LD-3s (smaller, half-wide containers for the bellies), which I assume would be more annoying in an offload.

I've had it happen where the call comes to you to offload some bags while...thank God...the bag is literally on the belt loader and hasn't touched the plane yet. I've also had the opposite...aft hold of a 757 full and you know the passengers' bags were the first ones in there.

For those who are not aware, a passenger's bags have to be offload from an aircraft if that person decides to not fly or is missing documents needed to leave the country (passport). The exceptions is if the person wants to disembark or not board the flight after there's been a mechanical issue (ground turnback, diversion, etc.) or severe weather delay. In those cases, the airline is not obligated to remove the bag to you, preventing further delay to the other pax, and you can meet your bag(s) later or have them shipped back to you.

[flyboy 28]

For those who are not aware, a passenger's bags have to be offload from an aircraft if that person decides to not fly or is missing documents needed to leave the country (passport). The exceptions is if the person wants to disembark or not board the flight after there's been a mechanical issue (ground turnback, diversion, etc.) or severe weather delay. In those cases, the airline is not obligated to remove the bag to you, preventing further delay to the other pax, and you can meet your bag(s) later or have them shipped back to you.

That makes good sense, not having to delay everyone just because of a pissy passenger.

[T-Bird76]

That's a nice story; at least they had some cash to get by for the time being. I know how it feels to lose a passport; on one of my trips home from Canada I flew BUF to ISP via BWI and when I landed in ISP the part of my bag that had my passport was open and no passport. Lucky for me the baggage rep at WN's desk ran back aboard the plane ASAP before it left, sure enough it fell out in the overhead. I would have been screwed because the next day I was leaving for Montreal.