Originally Posted by
wiggy
Yes, "Planned alternates are exactly for problems at the destination airport. Weather, closed runways etc.",
Which this was. I would think that a planned alternate somewhere near the original destination would be preferable to having the plane end up half way around the world from it's original schedule. Not to mention the replacement crew that got left behind in New York and subsequent flights planned for that equipment and personnel. All which could have been solved with a few cab/bus rides had LGA or somplace in New Jersey been used for the diversion.