From: utzoo!utcsrgv!utcsstat!wagner
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Title: Re: On-ground holds for ATC
Article-I.D.: utcsstat.302
Posted: Fri Aug 13 19:38:58 1982
Received: Fri Aug 13 21:28:47 1982
References: genradbo.428

I also experienced an on-ground hold - in my case, for ATC at
the destination of the flight.  Since I had to make a 
connection there, I was a little concerned.  But I did have 
45 minutes to make the connection, and the hold was only for
15 minutes.  Well, to make a long story short, we were held
for an hour.  ATC kept us in LA to relieve a congestion problem
at Ohare, but the congestion problem couldnt have been all
that bad - they let the Chicago-Toronto connecting flight out
right on time.  So I spent the night in Ohare.  Only partly
paid for by the airline, by the way.
2 Questions:
1) Why is congestion less of a problem for the landing plane
   than the plane taking off?  Or was the congestion problem
   on the ground?  Incidentally, it wasnt just a few people
   making the connection - about 30 of us.
2) The airline found me a sheet of paper claiming that they are
   no longer liable for the cost of puttingme up if ATC made 
   them do it.  Do anyone know if this is for real or not?
   How do I check that ATC really did it to me?  I have only
   the airlines say so - and it is clearly in their best
   interests to say so.  And if so, how do I express to ATC my
   feelings about their  being unable to handle regularly
   scheduled flights?  I dont mind them cutting down their
   comittments because Reagan gave it to them in the ear, but
   I do resent the airlines not being able to come through on
   their comittment to get me home for essentially predictable
   load reasons.  From the point of view of the user (me), ATC
   is part of the transportation (like the works department for
   a road), and if the bus company and the repair department 
   cant co-ordinate their schedules with repairs, I think I
   have a right to complain.  What do other people think?

Michael Wagner, UTCS