Well this has never happened to me before - and I don't like it.

[Timeforatincture]

19:30 flight from Lanzarote ponced about for ages on the tarmac then threw us all off at 23:30. No offer of accommodation or any indication of time of replacement flight. At least a cafe is open (poor sod at the till) and we had a bottle of gin. You had this?

I would suggest that anyone whose boss gave them grief after Eyjafjallajökull erupted should find another job, if they haven't done already.

I'm autistic and tend towards neuroticism in the HEXACO model, so I naturally want to rip my hair out when something changes my plans for me. It doesn't help me though, whereas taking a minute to breathe slowly and then asking myself "what can I practically do right now to make this situation better?" does help. Suggesting this approach to others doesn't indicate a lack of empathy, it indicates a desire to help.

Ex cabin crew here. The only reason your flight will have been delayed is either because the aircraft had technical problems, if the weather made it unsafe, and/or if the crew went out of hours or if there was a medical emergency. Bear in mind that the crew may have already flown out from LGW to Lanzarote the same day so if there were technical problems delaying the flight home, they would legally not be allowed to fly. The captain doesn’t ‘choose’ to fly heavy. The aircraft would just have all the passengers luggage on it as normal with minimal, if any, freight. The reason they couldn’t go one direction was because of weather. The other direction was prohibited due to weight. Remember that the weight of the aircraft also includes the fuel to get back home. The only way to reduce the weight would be to offload passengers and luggage which I’m sure would have made them even more unpopular. Crew and airlines really hate being delayed as much as you do and safety always comes first. I’m sorry you had such a long delay.

@HeidInTheBaw nails it.

I don't pilot but my ex has a private pilot licence. I was surprised to learn that he has to train and get certified on every type of aeroplane he wants to fly because each airframe behaves differently. It would be like me having to take specific Ford Focus training to replace my Renault with a Ford. It's hard for us self-loading freight to comprehend that two different aircraft doing the same work of moving people around can behave so differently. It's this different behaviour that has your plane sitting on the taxiway because of "the wrong wind" whilst others are taking off and landing. That doesn't make you not delayed, but some people find that knowing why can help.

@selffellatingouroborosofhate

It's hard for us self-loading freight to comprehend that two different aircraft doing the same work of moving people around can behave so differently. It's this different behaviour that has your plane sitting on the taxiway because of "the wrong wind" whilst others are taking off and landing.

There’s sort of an element of truth in that but there’s not that much difference between the brands. The airliner manufacturers tend to certify their aircraft to be able to operate to very similar limits - if they didn’t do that they’d be handing the opposition an advantage.

It’s a bit different when/if you get a (minor) defect on a single aircraft that, whilst safe to fly with, can reduce things like allowable take-off weight…then you really can end up as you describe, watching everyone else taking off while you wait for a change in conditions…I still suspect that might well be what happened in the OPs situation.

That doesn't make you not delayed, but some people find that knowing why can help.

Very true and the crew are very aware of that but with some problems and delays doing that briefly in a non-technical easily understandable way can be tricky.

7:30 am flight delayed till 15:30 due to fixing engine issues. Takes off 15:30 engine explodes after 2 min, emergency landing, escorted from plane. 23:30 replacement plane boards. They haven't re-checked names against boarding and people are missing off-boarded again. 01:30 re-boarded and new plane takes off. Receiving airport only operates daytime, diverted to alternative airport with onward transfer by bus. Several hours. Arrive, go to see the sea, sit down, fall asleep through exhaustion and get severe sunburn in top of lising a days holiday.
How's that?

That missing plane did not have full capacity of passengers because it was carrying gold bullion.

Well we are home so so you can carry on not reading the full updates and read into things that you wish!

I have to say that’s the benefit of package holidays. Even if you purchased flights only there will be others in package deal. Over last few years with costs of flights escalating I think the security and no cost differential means package holidays are better with more generous luggage allowances. Also recommend Tui.

Easyjet I think has better customer service than Ryanair.

@Dogsbreath7 it is why we have booked packages for our last few holidays. DH has to take loads of medications and medical equipment with him on holiday, and spending a night on a chair in an airport could be a massive problem for him.

We really rate Jet2 and have had good holidays with Tui as well.