US Airways diverts plane to pick up smirk twins - really

[donsu]

http://www.nbc4.com/news/3611999/detail.html?subid=10101441

President's Daughters Get Ride On Diverted Flight
Airline Defends Decision To Divert Plane

US Airways confirmed Tuesday that a scheduled flight between Boston and D.C. was diverted on Saturday so President Bush's daughters could get on the plane.

The Bush twins were picked up, along with 22 other passengers. However, News4's Tony Dorsey reported that the move caused a two-hour delay for those traveling from Boston.

The US Airways Shuttle flight between Boston and D.C. was already 20 minutes behind schedule when, just before take-off, passengers were told their aircraft would be making an unscheduled stop. The plan was going to Albany, N.Y., to pick up President George W. Bush's twin daughters.

A mechanical problem with another US Airways flight stranded Jenna and Barbara Bush. The twins and 22 other passengers were added to the Boston-to-D.C. flight. The plane arrived at Washington Reagan National Airport two hours late.

A representative for US Airways said the decision to divert the plane had nothing to do with the Bush twins. In fact, the representative said US Airways often diverts planes for such problems, but could not provide an exact number when asked.

Dorsey talked to several passengers at Reagan National Airport who said they have never heard of such treatment.

Industry experts say such diversions are extremely rare.
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however 'diversion' is the bushgang's middle name

[Literate Tar Heel]

1. I wonder why though.

You'd think they'd have been just as happy to sit in the airport bar until another plane could be found.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Diverting a SHUTTLE!!!???

for such a short distance? You could take the train to DC for almost the same amount of time. Did the passengers know before hand?

If not, I am sure they are pissed. And righfully so. Couldn't the Six-Pack Sisters spring for their own flight to DC instead of inconveniencing everyone else. Wait, no, of course not - they are a chip off the old blockhead.

[jackstraw45]

3. Ask yourself this: Would US Airways do this for YOU?

Of course, you don't help decide what kind of corporate welfare bailout the airlines get.

Looks like the twins are following in daddy's footsteps...born on third base thinking they hit a triple....

[OneTwentyoNine]

4. Move along,nothing to see here. Now back to bashing Kerry's looks...

SBJ,the Daily show,Letterman and others should have a field day with this one. Hell,Letterman should call them personally and see if they'll pick him up somewhere.

David

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

5. Article implies it was the Twins and 22 'ordinary people'

who were picked up. So we're supposed to believe the Twins "just happened" to be there for the diverted flight. But do you really think the Twins travel alone? I would imagine they have at least six Secret Service members (one for each twin pulling eight hour shifts), a publicist and a personal aide to each twin. That makes it nine so far, and that doesn't count reporters (print and broadcast), photographers, and miscellaneous hangers on that we generally don't know about.

Last night a DUer who is a retired airline captain said that in the course of his entire career he had exactly one "flag stop" diversion, and that the change requires coordination of the dispatcher, scheduler and approval of the pilot.

Yeah, the Twins "just happened" to be there when the airplane diverted. And there were WMDs in Iraq.

[lanparty]

7. The Twins are campaigning ...

Have no doubt that this was a chartered flight for the Bush Campaign that broke down. The other people in the party (in addition to secret service) were Bush campaign workers.

Don't worry, what goes around comes around. And the airline in question will likely see a drop in business do to this little stunt. The Bush campaign has a BUTTLOAD of money. If they want to treat Jenna and Barbara like princesses, they should just rent a plane for their full-time personal use.

[lanparty]

6. If this were a hotel ....

They would have forced 15 rooms of their "normal" customers to share so that the Bush people could have their normal accomodations. Of course, they could have just booked them on another carrier as is the normal practice among both airlines AND hotels.