Boarded an APU-less Air France A318 for an on time departure on LHR-CDG last Saturday knowing I was looking at a two hour delay. Active and moving thunderstorms in the area had thrown the program into disarray with lots of refiling on other SIDS only for the cells to move by the time the plan got to ATC. Credit to the flight crew, Captain left FD open and came out to apologise. He spoke to handling agent asking to depland and was told no and worse, the air con truck was on the blink and they had to borrow one from Alitalia for engine start!
So they did their best. The Captain ordered loads of bottled water and personally helped the cabin crew load it. The rear door was cracked open, roped off and guarded and we were invited to take turns at standing on the jetty where it was much cooler. The result was a "we're all in it together" mentality and nobody got angry, ill or hacked off. Making the best of a bad thing is the best that they could do, with any connecting passengers being met at CDG.
I was quite impressed.
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 29th Aug 2012 at 12:12.