AA 1257 DCA ORD, today. Push back right on time. I knew storms were just outside the beltway, but things were looking good. “Flight attendants prepare for takeoff.” Delta MD80 blasts off beside of us. I spot the windsock and notice there’s a pretty stiff tailwind. This doesn’t bode well for an AA MD82/3 off of a 6,800 ft runway. 
We taxi to the side… Captain announces we are waiting for the storm to come through…. and we wait, and we wait some more.
Finally, taxi to the other end of the airfield after the storm blows through and take the active…. throttles up…. takeoff aborted. Back to the gate for an “indicator light.” Maintenance adjusts in minutes…. wait a little more…. finally, we take off. None of this would matter, were it not for our 5PM connection to Rome and the vacation we’ve been planning since April 2009.
Block into the ORD gate at 4:37pm…. still a hope…. (in my mind at least). Agent announces our names and to meet them at the counter. No dice…we are too late. Could’ve made the flight, but it doesn’t matter. Been rebooked ORD-LHR-FCO…. still in Biz all the way, even the BA leg from LHR to FCO. Could’ve been worse, but still…. We COULD have made that flight.
Thanks for listening. I just felt like venting.
ORD is just a mess this week. I was doing GSO-ORD-YYZ yesterday, the flight to ORD was delayed 2.5 hours, and then my YYZ flight was delayed even more to the point where a later flight to YYZ actually left earlier than my flight
Voices her irritation and disappointment. I’m in the same clothes for over 30 some hours AND I miss a full day of vacay in Rome. I’m officially behind on my gelato!
Don’t know if you’re on a mileage run, but a nonstop from IAD to Rome would have avoided that. O’Hare is pretty far out of the way, and both Washington and Chicago experience thunderstorms.
Not on a MR. Actually starting a 3 week vacation. Not like we don’t have time…but still. This is actually an AAdvantage award trip, but I’m still disappointed nonetheless. Could’ve made that connection if they’d only let me try.
Darn shame that AA closed the flight 9 minutes early at 16:51.