There are hundreds of people here, some with kids, at the airport for almost 24 hours. Many have flown from elsewhere to connect here and many have connections after this flight. And @united cannot “cater” one plane. Just noting that these are deliberate consequences of choices.
-
-
Well, we are moving off the gate. Honestly, at this point the only other feasible option was to abandon the plane to the feral passengers. Still, nobody’s taking anything for granted until wheels up.
Show this thread -
Well! Kinda moving. Next update at landing I guess. I hope! Looong flight. Hopefully they don’t make us do a pitstop for “catering” in the middle.
Show this thread -
We returned to gate for a service issue. Once again, if nobody takes charge crew will time out because it’s a long flight. You’d hope
@united logistics would know but after deplaning twice, I don’t think so. (This time, I brought food on board. Last time we were stuck for hours).Show this thread -
There has been no flying so far. Get on plane, wait for hours without food or water, get off the plane, stuck at airport get on plane, repeat. I think we’re refueling now also! Why and how now? Who knows?https://twitter.com/riceysu/status/1159469875171143680 …
Show this thread -
For example, now approaching a 20 hour delay,
@united could start having a new crew ready to step immediately into the plane. Passengers have been deplaned twice, can’t do it three times. But like yesterday they will likely just wait till it happens because it’s cheaper.Show this thread -
We’re now apparently waiting to be refueled! Still at the gate. Why? I dunno. If that was going to need to happen, why didn’t it happen immediately? I don’t know. What happens if it takes too long? Who knows?
Show this thread -
Too soon. There’s a chance that
@United will try to get people off this plane for the third time but now after a sleepless night. Last night wasn’t pretty, I can’t imagine what might happen now.https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1159476120401694721 …Show this thread -
#MyUnitedJourney is now a delay of more than 20 hours, a looming threat of being taken off the plane for the third time. I think we sat at the gate, seatbelts on, unable to move maybe eight hours of that time? Opening door at gate again.Show this thread -
And the important point here is that this didn’t have to happen this way. There is of course a way to run things that anticipate and manage these hiccups without making the passenger suffer this much. Costs are externalized while airlines make profits.https://twitter.com/jack_dele/status/1159477616849670144 …
Show this thread -
Ha ha we heard “prepare doors for departure.” Yeah right. Fourth attempt. Our formerly chipper third crew is now worn down too. The passengers are kind of like the veteran prisoners who have broken down the latest batch of new inmates.
#myunitedjourneyShow this thread -
If I don’t update soon, either we have actually taken off, or created our own self governing commune on the plane on the tarmac.
It is totally feasible with the bonding and know-how accumulated among the passengers. And we have a mostly-stationary plane at our disposal.Show this thread -
Still on the tarmac! Stationary! I’m mentally measuring where to put the pots in the plane for growing mint.
Show this thread -
-
Updating from the air! We are still on our way and I have since learned a bit more. It’s even more outrageous in some ways, if you can believe it. (These are “nazar” emojis, supposed to ward off bad luck. Hope they work better than United’s logistics operation.


)Show this thread -
I've since learned: We left gate—THIRD TIME—hours late due to catering delay. After an hour, United goes back to gate kick out unhappy passenger. We must also now refuel? Refuelers are late—also can't align hose. We were ONE MINUTE AWAY from crew timeout and being deplaned AGAIN.
Show this thread -
To update everyone: I have finally arrived at my destination. :-)
https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1159733270872911872 …
0:22Show this thread -
I shouldn't be ungrateful to
@United's failure of logistics. Upside of being stuck in an airport overnight is that I'm suffering less from jet lag in Hong Kong—up most of the night in US, so up during the day Hong Kong time. It's a weekend of protests here.. so onward.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.





