Storm in Denver - My Kid May Not Get Home Until Sunday

[otohara]

now.....He's going to go to Chicago, sleep in airport, hope to get out on standby - but that's not going to happen is it?

[LisaM]

1. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that

it's been a terrible weather year (I'm in Seattle and there's people here who might not get power until AFTER Christmas....)

I hope he makes it. Is he on United? I've had problems flying them when there are weather issues. For some reason, they don't seem to want to keep anyone apprised of what's really going on.

[kstewart33]

2. United has cancelled all flights at Denver Int'l Airport.

Looking outside in my neighborhood, it's a big blizzard.

[Jim__]

3. O'Hare is not the best place to be stranded.

I've been there when all the surrounding hotels filled up and you had no place to go but the airport.

But, hopefully, if he's at the airport, he'll be able to get out as soon as they resume flights into Denver. My guess is that will happen tomorrow afternoon.

[otohara]

4. He's At Midway

does that help matters?

[Jim__]

6. I don't know - I've never been at Midway. n/t

[karlrschneider]

10. It doesn't matter too much, the weather will be the same. Midway might actually

be a better situation as it has much less traffic scheduled.

[Parche]

16. DEN

Hey otohara, I am in the travel business, he is at Midway, where is his final destination
and I can check the schedules and what airline was he on?

[otohara]

30. Denver

I booked him a flight on Southwest already to come home on Sunday. But....I'm hoping since Colorado has been declared a state of emergency - that people flying into Colorado tomorrow from Midway - say...old folks like me coming to see their family here, might consider staying put. Colorado highways are a mess, and some will still be closed tomorrow. People might not be able to get out of their driveways still by tomorrow. Thus, my kid might get on a standby!!!

Am I dreaming?

Southwest was his original airline and I just checked, they have 7 flights leaving on Sunday - and 3 have now been sold out. I love Southwest, it's a gem of an airline.

[Parche]

31. southwest

Select Departing Flight
Chicago (Midway), IL to Denver, CO (Sunday, December 24 2006)

Depart Time: Before Noon Noon-6pm After 6pm Anytime Depart Date: Thursday, Dec 21 Friday, Dec 22 Saturday, Dec 23 Sunday, Dec 24 Monday, Dec 25 Tuesday, Dec 26 Wednesday, Dec 27


Fares do not include government fees and taxes.
Flight Depart Arrive Stops Travel
Time
(hh:mm) Refundable
Anytime
$235
681 7:00am 8:30am N/S 02:30 Unavailable
1194 10:50am 12:20pm N/S 02:30 Unavailable
865 2:30pm 4:00pm N/S 02:30 Unavailable
781 3:45pm 6:25pm 1 03:40 Unavailable
2865 6:30pm 8:00pm N/S 02:30
3371 9:05pm 10:35pm N/S 02:30

I show the 24Dec is the only opening, but standby is not a bad idea, since they have 6flights a day
if he gets on the list soon, and keeps tabs on it, as sometimes they move other people up.

They are one of the best airlines in the US, they have made a profit every year since they began flying, they fly the newer 737-800/900 jets (the one I fly on my flight simulator)

[XOKCowboy]

34. Do Not Come To Denver...

It's blizzard conditions outside. Some people have been sitting on the Boulder Turnpike in one place for 2 hrs. What normally would have been a 15 minute drive home was almost 4 hours for me and I left at noon.

It's supposed to be heavy snow with high winds all night and up till noon tomorrow. The last I heard was that DIA wasn't planning to open till noon tomorrow so I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Oh and I hate Southwest with a passion. LOL No offense. :)

[otohara]

35. Why Do You Hate SW

airlines?

I'm already in Denver, it's my collge kid who is trying to get back home.

[XOKCowboy]

37. The "Cattle Call" seating and the ABC lines...

They're like the WalMart of flying to me. lol

I hope that your kid has a hotel room or a place to stay. This storm doesn't look like it's going to break till afternoon tomorrow. We're getting buried and the system is stationary.

Good luck to your son.

[Warpy]

5. Here in central NM, the word is out that if people want to go to

Chicago, "it should be OK by Sunday."

Folks, this storm is a real monster and it's heading east.

[phusion]

7. Exciting storm, huh?

Are you in Albuquerque, too? I haven't seen snow like this in quite a few years...

[displacedtexan]

8. My daughter just drove through Albuquerque

on her way home for Christmas from L.A. to DC. She said the roads aren't
too bad (she's in a 4X4 Jeep Liberty). I've been checking the Doppler
along I-40, and she'll go from snow & ice to heavy rain once she gets
past OKLA City.

She's lucky she missed the really bad NM stuff yesterday.

[Warpy]

9. She's lucky she missed it this morning

Both interstates were closed this morning due to black ice.

NM snowstorms are usually great, it looks pretty and is gone from pavement within a couple of hours.

Not this one. It's a stinker.

[halobeam]

14. I've been trying to get a clue as to where "east" this is going?

NY? I admit, I didn't like gardening in my shorts and tee shirt today, breaking a sweat. I want it to feel like winter. Too freaky, this close to X-Mas. Of course a blizzard is a nightmare for travelers, so my heart goes out to them, but I do love the snow.

[karlrschneider]

11. Your kid is in Denver now? Where does he need to end up?

Chicago weather is fine this evening but Denver is almost shut down.

Denver WX is zero ceiling, 1/4 mile visibility. (edit after checking)

[otohara]

15. He's On His Way to Midway

from NY. The college's throw these kids out - Boulder kids in same situation, CU closing down today - kids can't get out of Denver. We live in Denver.

[karlrschneider]

20. Okay, I was a little fuzzy on the itinerary. I think DEN will be opened back up tomorrow

morning. They're pretty good at cleanup but have to wait for the blizzard to quit. Happy holidays.
ks

[otohara]

25. Yes, But...

all those flights for tomorrow are already full with other passengers. Chances of him getting on a standby are slim pickings - he's coming home Sunday

Happy Holidays to you too.

[karlrschneider]

29. What about a train? (If all else fails)

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2FSchedules_Page&_searchType=destinationTime&xwdf_cmsorigin=%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D%2FtravelSelection%2FjourneySelection%5B1%5D%2FdepartLocation%2Fsearch&wdf_cmsorigin=chi&xwdf_cmsdestination=%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D%2FtravelSelection%2FjourneySelection%5B1%5D%2FarriveLocation%2Fsearch&wdf_cmsdestination=den&%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D%2FtripRequirements%2FjourneyRequirements%5B1%5D%2FdepartDate.monthyear=2006-12&%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D%2FtripRequirements%2FjourneyRequirements%5B1%5D%2FdepartDate.day=21&%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D%2FtripRequirements%2FjourneyRequirements%5B1%5D%2FdepartTime.hourmin=12%3A00&_handler%3Damtrak.presentation.handler.request.rail.AmtrakCMSRailSchedulesSearchRequestHandler%2F_xpath%3D%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D.x=54&_handler%3Damtrak.presentation.handler.request.rail.AmtrakCMSRailSchedulesSearchRequestHandler%2F_xpath%3D%2FsessionWorkflow%2FproductWorkflow%5B%40product%3D%27Rail%27%5D.y=12

edit: OOPS, looks like they're booked too. Sorry!

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

40. Just out of curiosity...how often do you check out Frontier, who got the most flights out today?

They're based in Denver (central location) and got 40 + flights out today, more than any other airline. MKJ

[NavyDavy]

12. its part of trvling thru Denver in the winter.....I work for an airline

and we were swamped with all the canx flt....some of these people deserve to be stranded how hateful they are on the phone, not saying your kid deserved it....

[otohara]

18. I Already Booked Him A Flight

on Southwest for Sunday to Denver.

Snow storm much better than having a Tsunami dumped on you right before Christmas, like in 04, or a levy break People don't have a clue about what inconvenience truly means.

Sorry to hear about the abuse you're having to deal with.

[blm]

13. So sorry to hear that..... wishing you the best of luck with this.

.

[janx]

17. I AM GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING!

Why oh why did I book his flight through Denver? I can't stand that airport. And UNITED AIRLINES SUCKS!

[otohara]

19. It's Not The Airline Janx

there's a major blizzard happening here. Everything is closed down, I mean everything.

[janx]

21. I know--I used to live in Colorado and my daughter lives

in Denver now. My son is stranded, currently, in Seattle.

But get this: When I tried to call United multiple times today, the "automated" customer service line cut me off...EVERY TIME!

[karlrschneider]

22. It looks like UAL got the last flight out before they closed the airport

a bit over 2 hours ago. I'm sure their phone lines are jammed. Maybe they should put on a recording saying "We apologize for the weather, we are attempting to contact Jesus but his line is busy"
:evilgrin:

[janx]

23. The automated voice thing was so frustrating and humiliating.

I finally jumped into the Jeep and drove to the Albuquerque airport! The United employees there were pissy.

UAL got a flight out TODAY? I thought they closed the DIA this morning, no? I've been fighting this thing all day, wondering whether or not to book another flight for my son or let UAL suss it out. To make matters worse, the Albuquerque sunport was closed for awhile last night, so flights are really backed up.

[karlrschneider]

27. Closed around 2:30 pm MST, it was a flight to Cancun.

I didn't know about ABQ last night, but it's up and running fine today.

[janx]

32. Yes indeed it is!

I like that airport.

[karlrschneider]

33. Me too, it's one of the few 'principal' airports in large cities I enjoy going into.

The air traffic controllers there are great - highly professional yet somehow casual and friendly.
(and the ARTCC 'center' peeps are mighty fine too) :D

[janx]

42. Are you a pilot?

?

I've heard (and experienced) some fun air currents upon landing at the Sunport. Its location is interesting too.

[karlrschneider]

44. Missed your question last night, sorry!

Yes I fly planes for a living. I don't recall noticing any odd airflow patterns at ABQ particularly, but that can happen most anyplace from time to time. ;-)

[XOKCowboy]

39. LOL I thought the same thing..

They've got what about a 1000 or more fights a day out of Denver with say 200 passengers on each one and the passengers and their relatives are all calling....

Something tells me they were pretty darn busy. Some people were stuck on the tarmac for for 8 hours! The news here just said that DIA is closed down until at least tomorrow EVENING!

Not to minimize the OPs frustration but it's a cluster F___ outside here right now.

[otohara]

24. Southwest Is A Gem of An Airline

use it in the future if you can... I already spoke to a nice lady and booked my kid on a Sunday flight. Which by the way is the only airline I could find w/ Sunday flights available.

[janx]

26. I'll attempt to do that if UAL can't find a way to get him here

within a reasonable period of time. I spoke with a travel agent earlier, and he recommended the same thing. :hi:

[Parche]

28. southwest

They are the best, and being in Denver for only a short time, they will have more availability
then the other airlines.

[XOKCowboy]

36. I fly over 50K miles a year out of DEN mostly on United....

and I love both. Truthfully the airport is as user friendly (once you get to it) or more than most around the country. MIA, SFO, LAX and DFW are ALL worse airports than DEN IMHO.

Now for United. I live in Denver and if you fly a lot out of Denver you'll be on United a lot. That being the case I'm now Executive Premier with United. So I love flying them because I can easily upgrade and are way up in line for standby status, shorter lines to check in, I get to go through the Premier line at security when I fly them, etc. IMHO again United beats Southwest hands down even if I wasn't EP. Frontier is only slightly better. I won't even mention America Worst.

No offense!

[janx]

41. I lived in Colorado for 11 years,

and I don't like DIA. In the first place, it was like driving to Nebraska to get there (I lived in Boulder County). In the second place, it was just too big.

The real complaint I have about United is the experience (or non-experience) I had with their customer service. If they have a big hub in Colorado, they need to have customer service support that will withstand blizzards. I don't remember this kind of thing happening in 1998 or 2003--and each of those storms dumped more snow than this one.

The problem, I think, is the population rise in Colorado. So very many people...

My son is still stuck in Seattle. If United can't get him up in the air tomorrow, he's taking the first Amtrack train to Portland to stay with his aunt and uncle until he can fly to Albuquerque. At least that way he'll have good food, conversation, love, and a comfortable place to sleep.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

38. BTW, Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, got 40 + flights out today.

I'm a fan of Frontier, based in Denver, deals with blizzards. MKJ

[janx]

43. Yeah, I've had good experiences with Frontier from and to Denver.

Delta is good also. But now, when I fly north or northwest, I prefer a Delta flight with a connection in SLC. It's very efficient.