Author Topic: Shabbat and my United Flight  (Read 30860 times)

Offline keemster26

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #40 on: October 28, 2016, 01:39:31 AM »
No idea what that is. I never had any luck sleeping on planes. :( 

I once took Advil PM, didn't help me. Slept same 20 minutes as always.
You need an airplane pillow. I'm usually out cold when I use it.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #41 on: October 28, 2016, 03:45:37 AM »
I don't think it's halachically permitted, but I know people who would book such a flight. Not with 10 children in tow, but even with a child. Bnei Brak (with a q if you fancy) is a 10-15 drive away & candle lighting takes 20 seconds.
Sometimes just getting out of the airport from the moment you land could be a delay.

When people question me as to why I will not fly ELAL, I contrast my ELAL experience with my BA experience. I once went for a friend's wedding in Yerushalim scheduled to land in TLV on Thursday afternoon and leave the next morning, expecting to be back at JFK around on Friday afternoon (Elul time of year). Upon landing in JFK I explained Shabbos to the flight attendant, and asked that in case there is any delay getting to the gate, I should be the first one off. Upon reaching the gate an announcement was made requesting everyone to remain seated, flight attendant took my hand luggage and escorted me off the plane ahead of everyone else. I got home before Shabbos.

Contrast that with the insensitivity I experienced with ELAL when going to my father's funeral, and anyone understands why I have blacklisted ELAL.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline henche

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #42 on: October 28, 2016, 09:52:04 AM »
Since we're guessing; How about they weren't SS and after being delayed that long they just thought they'd use that as a reason to get off the flight and possibly be refunded?

How about they had a munkatcher passport, but it doesn't work on shabbos?

Offline joe1234

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #43 on: October 28, 2016, 11:37:20 AM »
to me the most amazing part of this story is the second group that obviously had a tough nisayon and they finally withstood the nisayon. maybe the whole thing happened just so that they can withstand the nisayon... who knows...

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #44 on: October 28, 2016, 12:24:30 PM »
What cabin you flying?
Economy :)

Wish I could fly business on the next trip..

Offline henche

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #45 on: October 28, 2016, 12:28:17 PM »
to me the most amazing part of this story is the second group that obviously had a tough nisayon and they finally withstood the nisayon. maybe the whole thing happened just so that they can withstand the nisayon... who knows...

or that the flight was cancelled anyway, so it all didnt matter.

Offline ar

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #46 on: October 28, 2016, 01:30:47 PM »
Contrast that with the insensitivity I experienced with ELAL when going to my father's funeral, and anyone understands why I have blacklisted ELAL.

If I may ask, what was the story then?

Offline slnyc

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #47 on: October 28, 2016, 01:43:59 PM »
to me the most amazing part of this story is the second group that obviously had a tough nisayon and they finally withstood the nisayon. maybe the whole thing happened just so that they can withstand the nisayon... who knows...

I think you and some others are missing the point of my posting this story. It's about how the actions of a few negatively impacted a large group of people, and how that could have been avoided with some foresight and better planning. It's not a commentary on religious practices.

Offline joe1234

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #48 on: October 28, 2016, 01:49:08 PM »
I think you and some others are missing the point of my posting this story. It's about how the actions of a few negatively impacted a large group of people, and how that could have been avoided with some foresight and better planning. It's not a commentary on religious practices.
I actually fully understood your point and even fully agree with your point that proper planning and foresight is necessary. I was just simply adding my own .02 about what I personally thought was an amazing part of your story.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #49 on: October 29, 2016, 09:40:11 PM »
If I may ask, what was the story then?
Flight was landing about an hour before sunset. Levaya was waiting for me, and if we had missed sunset shiva would be extended by another day. I had an exit row seat, but my wife had a seat a few rows away. I asked flight attendant to please allow us off ahead of everyone else, and got such an inconsiderate and rude response, that the non-frum person sitting next to me felt compelled to rebuke the flight attendant for lack of sensitivity.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline aygart

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #50 on: October 29, 2016, 09:42:47 PM »
Flight was landing about an hour before sunset. Levaya was waiting for me, and if we had missed sunset shiva would be extended by another day. I had an exit row seat, but my wife had a seat a few rows away. I asked flight attendant to please allow us off ahead of everyone else, and got such an inconsiderate and rude response, that the non-frum person sitting next to me felt compelled to rebuke the flight attendant for lack of sensitivity.
My experience was about as opposite from that as possible. They really helped my father aunt uncle and myself get off quickly. The issue was then waiting for the aron.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #51 on: October 29, 2016, 10:24:42 PM »
My experience was about as opposite from that as possible. They really helped my father aunt uncle and myself get off quickly. The issue was then waiting for the aron.
It was my personal experience, along with the overall Israeli attitude, especially towards frum people, that causes me to avoid them (not to mention their miserable FF program, and worst seat pitch, no lie flat seats in J).

I do understand that other people feel differently, and have acknowledged somewhere on DDF that if someone really flies frequently on TLV-JFK route their best bet is probably LY, as they do have the best schedules and have a reputation of treating real frequent flyers very well.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline ash

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #52 on: October 30, 2016, 12:50:02 AM »
I have a friend that was on the UA motzai Shabbos Flight EWR - TLV and they took off and then returned to the airport due to a malfunction and they had to missed the first days of yomtov in Israel ........................

Offline ar

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #53 on: October 30, 2016, 01:05:28 AM »
Flight was landing about an hour before sunset. Levaya was waiting for me, and if we had missed sunset shiva would be extended by another day. I had an exit row seat, but my wife had a seat a few rows away. I asked flight attendant to please allow us off ahead of everyone else, and got such an inconsiderate and rude response, that the non-frum person sitting next to me felt compelled to rebuke the flight attendant for lack of sensitivity.

That's upsetting and very insensitive.

However I wouldn't label EL AL like that just because of this story. They go out of their way to accommodate people who need to get to Israel because of a funeral. They overbooked the flight which can sometimes mean bumping people. DL and US won't do that.

In regards to Erev Yom Tov flights - EL AL is the most reliable since they know about Yom Tov and also cannot fly then. So if you're ever taking a flight so close to Yo"t your best bet is LY.

United messed up badly this year as we saw in this thread and Delta messed up a few years ago with a flight on Erev Yom Kippur.

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #54 on: October 30, 2016, 07:55:18 AM »
That's upsetting and very insensitive.

However I wouldn't label EL AL like that just because of this story. They go out of their way to accommodate people who need to get to Israel because of a funeral. They overbooked the flight which can sometimes mean bumping people. DL and US won't do that.
That is known to be their policy, however I didn't mention that in my specific scenario it was a Motzoei Shabbos flight, I had been up the entire Shabbos saying Tehillim (as I suspected something was wrong but didn't know the actual fact). I called a friend who is a travel agent immediately after Shabbos, who told me to get to the airport and go to the LY ticket counter with the info, as there are no seats available to book. And despite their policy (and the fact that they actually did let me on to the flight) that was not the impression they gave me at the counter, they just said "we'll put you on the wait list". Not something I was ready to hear at that time, just a little more insensitivity on their part.

As for other airlines and Shabbos, I've already mentioned my BA experience.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline JTZ

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #55 on: October 30, 2016, 08:49:39 AM »
I think you and some others are missing the point of my posting this story. It's about how the actions of a few negatively impacted a large group of people, and how that could have been avoided with some foresight and better planning. It's not a commentary on religious practices.
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Offline henche

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #56 on: October 31, 2016, 01:16:25 PM »
My personal experience with elal is also that they are needlessly obnoxious to frum people. 

Offline yakov116

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #57 on: October 31, 2016, 01:48:41 PM »
My personal experience with elal is also that they are needlessly obnoxious to frum people. 
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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #58 on: October 31, 2016, 02:10:30 PM »
My personal experience with elal is also that they are needlessly obnoxious to frum people.
Maybe its because of the many stories that come out of how very frum people are obnoxious themselves

I've only flown elal once and they were nice to us. but that was like 6 years ago.

Offline Yammer

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Re: Shabbat and my United Flight
« Reply #59 on: October 31, 2016, 02:21:31 PM »
Maybe its because of the many stories that come out of how very frum people are obnoxious themselves

I've only flown elal once and they were nice to us. but that was like 6 years ago.
You may be correct, but the bottom line is that they come with that perception which results in negativity seen above.