UA870 SYD-SFO Mon 27 Jan - why delay?

[ozslf]

Curiosity questions:
Does anyone know why the flight went down the end of the taxiway to the start of 34L, then turn around and go back? I happened to be at the nearby beach and saw it.
Also, when it taxied back, it still had leading edge and flaps deployed. If it was returning to the gate, why would the crew leave them deployed instead of retracting?

PS. Mods - please to another forum if not appropriate for D&G (or ANZP as it's now called)

[Atlas Shrugged]

FO left the iron in the hotel.

:ugh::ugh:

[Duane]

might have just retaxied for a no notice runway change? happens.

[Jack Ranga]

They are the worlds oldest B744's (with the worlds oldest F/A's) there's bound to be issues.

[XM02A]

It would be more noteworthy when they go out on time.

[PittsS2A]

Was told by the engineer "Problem with the Loadsheet"

[BNEA320]

think it's seniority with F/A's. Apparently trips to OZ are very popular, so older bidders are more successful in getting trips to OZ.

Few years ago when had absolutely no money & had to fly UA, (airline of last resort) noted that one of the flight attendants who looked older than my grandmother, seemed to have Parkinsons, but was being protected by other old flight attendants.

[DUXNUTZ]

I believe it. Last year we travelled on United to LAX and one of the Golden Girls was doing drinks in a track suit and pumps in economy.

Flying retirement village.

[Chocks Away]

Fellas, sure it's a discussion board but if you don't know and have no idea, sit on the bench with the oranges and wait for the answer, please.

BNEA320 - What a total crock of waffle! :ugh: How does F/A seniority have the authority to turn an aircraft back to the gate? Sure, when Delta first came in, the seniors bid for "gravy trips"... that was and still is the case on some days (longer overnights trips), given they are on codeshare with other carriers and don't come daily.

XMO2A - UAL on time? Yuh dreamin!:D:}

Pitts : Spot on. EICAS message to crew after taxi to the Holding Point regarding "Trim", so returned to refuel and the tailplane ("Stabiliser tank") was loaded with fuel.

Happy landings and stay safe :ok:

[Jack Ranga]

Fellas, sure it's a discussion board but if you don't know and have no idea, sit on the bench with the oranges and wait for the answer, please.

Why?

dumdedumdedum...........

[underfire]

Ranga you had it right They are the worlds oldest B744's

I just flew from LAX to SYD, and it was a disaster. First off, the flight was packed, because of the previous days cancellation. 5 hours into the flight, at 3am, a passenger in front of me started hitting the call button.
When the attendant got there, he was livid, and held up his laptop...it showed the flight had been cancelled due to a fuel issue. This is how we found out we were inbound to LAX.
There was a bunch of scurrying around, then the Capt announced that due to a fuel issue we were returning to LAX, so after 7 hours of flight time, we were back at the DEP.

I spoke with the attendant, she was much more forthcoming than she should have been, but the issue was that the flight had been cancelled the day before due to a fuel issue, and that 2 days before, it had stopped in HI to take on more fuel.

They were going to drop us at HI, but since it was a center tank issue, it would not have been able to repair the ac in HI, so back to LAX.

Back at LAX, they brought in a different 747, that left at 0130, which if you know LAX, it shuts down at 2300. The only good thing was the flight was empty becuase most people filled up the QUANTAS flight instead of waiting.

Once at SYD, they put me up overnight to get the next United 747 flight from LAX, to get to YMML.

Lonfg story short, these old 747 on this route seem to be always down for some reason...The ac is older than the attendants. Hopefully, United will expedite the 777 on this route...until then, roll the dice

[Jack Ranga]

I've flown United ONCE, never again. NEVER again.

[noip]

uf,

You should be an aviation journalist ... you have the knack, and the same level of accuracy with the facts. Whilst I'm sure the experience was frustrating, the crew at least did the right thing by you - I doubt they had much fun either.

From what I could gather, United looked after you.

N

(N is grumpy after working all night out of his preferred time-zone. His tolerance for ignorant whining is very low right now.)

Chair in the Sky

[DUXNUTZ]

All airlines have broken planes at some point. :ugh: