Fallout from America West computer glitch continues--128 flights now cancelled

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Wonder if America West will be filing for bankruptcy...

Computer glitch cancels America West flights

Saturday, February 19, 2000

By TRACY JOHNSON mailto:tracyjohnson@seattle-pi.commailto:tracyjohnson@seattle-pi.com

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

SEA-TAC -- Weary travelers slumped against their luggage or stood haplessly in line at the America West counter, some sorting out scrambled vacation plans and some wondering if they would ever get home.

A glitch in a computer system that prepares crews' flight plans prompted the airline to cancel 128 flights nationwide. America West workers forced smiles last night as they struggled to book irritated customers on other airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Wheeling a suitcase, Brian VanderWilt trudged toward the ticket counter and eyed the line. He had already spent three hours waiting in Minneapolis, where an America West agent assured him the quickest way to Phoenix would be through Seattle.

But when he got to Sea-Tac, he learned he was actually on standby for an Alaska Airlines flight that had no seats to spare.

"So here I sit," he said, clutching the sack lunch an airline agent had given him and shaking his head.

The 45-year-old Iowa man was supposed to meet his family in Phoenix, where his mother lives, at 3 p.m. By 6, he still did not have a flight, a place to spend the night or any idea when he might get to Arizona.

"A cookie and a muffin is what I've got, and I'm thrilled," he said with a cheerless grin.

America West workers did not return phone calls seeking information about the delays. Employees at Sea-Tac referred inquiries to corporate headquarters, where calls were met with busy signals.

The glitch was the latest in an array of unrelated problems for America West. The airline had to pay $2.5 million in fines after the Federal Aviation Administration found maintenance and safety violations in July 1998, and it has been consistently ranked one of the country's worst airlines.

America West also had the highest rate of passenger complaints to the Transportation Department and the poorest on-time arrival record of any major airline in 1999.

The Arizona-based airline is the nation's ninth-largest carrier.

As the airline operated on a backup computer system yesterday, thousands of travelers were also stuck in Phoenix.

The airline gave away 1,500 hotel rooms there on Thursday night, but others camped out at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Yesterday morning, Ernesto Martinez wrapped himself in a blanket, sprawled across a row of black vinyl chairs and tried to get some sleep.

Back at Sea-Tac, Rae Ann Engdahl, an Eastlake High School teacher, was looking forward to her hiking trip in Sedona, Ariz.

Her canceled flight disrupted her plans.

"That's really disappointing," she said, "but we have to keep these things in perspective."

http://www.postintelligencer.com/local/fly19.shtml

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 19, 2000

Answers

If they get to the point where 1,100 flights have been cancelled then there is a chance that maybe they have replaced the non-compliant chip in all of the autopilots.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), February 19, 2000.

We'll never get anywhere,just talking about it,why not list all the Names and Addresses and Phone Numbers of all the responsible CEOs,VPs and Owners.There may be a Lot of People out there,that want to thank them personally for the fine Job,they are doing,mismanaging the Business.

-- Sucker (Fly@Your own.Risk), February 19, 2000.

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