It's Inevitable! The Delay Problem at LaGuardia Airport

It started off as a typical flight on a Delta A321 from LaGuardia Airport to Palm Beach. I've done this many times before but this time around, it took over 3 hours to leave the gate. This is my story as a passenger on a flight that was delayed.
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[@Westlander857]

This is what annoys me about all those ridiculous conspiracy theories about Denver International. Its runway layout (often compared to a swastika) was specifically designed to avoid situations like the one you see at LaGuardia. It was designed to give pilots plenty of options and plenty of room depending on a number of weather situations, and also how much congestion there is at any given time. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s good planning. I applaud LaGuardia for what they’ve done with their new terminals. They turned one of the most disgraceful and uncomfortable airports on earth into one that’s world-class. Unfortunately though, that does nothing to address the runway layout and the efficiency issues it causes.

[@PeterMasella]

And the airspace constraints as well!

[@FsnGoldandSilver]

Peter do you do anything besides fly between NY and FL? What app are you using to find the airplanes route with updates?

[@kaitak98]

Sometimes “Blue Water” routes are the only way out of the NY Metros. You were on a WAT (formerly WATRS) route. Full overwater equipment is required but HF is not.

[@PeterMasella]

That was the only way out

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing you love of the airline industry. Happy 4th of July to you.😊

[@PeterMasella]

Same to you!

[@BenKrauss-lx9zn]

You would not believe what happened to me. I was on my way home from Florida on United to Newark and we got diverted due to weather all of the way to pittsburgh. Luckily we were only stranded there for an hour and a half but we were already delayed 2.5 hours getting out of Florida so it made me and my family very mad.

[@PeterMasella]

Yikes!

[@RogerBurton-q2s]

After many times experiencing multiple hour delays and cancellations on regular flights to NY from Montreal, I just gave up and drove the last dozen or so times.

[@PeterMasella]

Wow!

[@SamuelDean-cx2kj]

@@RogerBurton-q2s good job

[@Durantfitness]

I have experienced this issue recently. I was on an American Airlines flight from LGA to DFW on the 26th. We were delayed for 40 minutes because of an overbooking issue on the flight. After we pushed back we were in a huge line to get to the runway until we lost too much fuel to continue our new route to Dallas after they canceled our previous 2 routes. After we pushed back there was an even longer line with the intense thunderstorms. There was a huge holding pattern for planes wanting to land. We were on line for about 3 hours till we had to go back to refuel. It was about an 8 hour delay at this point when they shut down our 4th route to Dallas and the flight was canceled. I just don’t think LGA is meant to handle that much traffic with such little space, as even the ATC sounded stressed.

[@PeterMasella]

Typical LaGuardia story! This has happened to me too!

[@Durantfitness]

@@PeterMasella Quite a horror story

[@Greg_P611]

This video is exactly why I like flying in out of Tweed, or Westchester. Living in Yonkers it’s actually faster on the ground as well

[@CockpitScenes]

Landing at PBI from the cockpit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJaZdmBvitiij6ssi=eHonhjdDip3wfnXT

[@PeterMasella]

Cool!

[@andywayne5356]

GREAT video. If I could change one thing... I'd rather listen to the jet then the loud music.

[@PeterMasella]

The music covers up the sound of kids yelling!

[@aviation_nationclips]

Great video, Peter! Very interesting to watch. I was actually at ATL when the huge weather system was happening. I was taking AA1230 from ATL - PHX on May 27th. We got delayed by more than 2 hours because the ramp shut down for all flights. No traffic left or came in due to the weather. It was terrible. Missed my connecting flight to Hawaii, got there a day and a half late due to the weather. The thunderstorms were crazy.

[@PeterMasella]

Yikes!

[@DrewsWorld10]

Another great video! Thanks Peter! I always like your delay videos! You make a great experience out of it and tell us what’s going on with your flight rather than complain. Sorry for the delay, but I loved the tour of the new 60-69 concourse and the full video from the other week. Do the gates down at the end still have no seats? That was my main problem with the old concourse. It was a disaster

[@PeterMasella]

Thanks! I did see seats there!

[@DrewsWorld10]

@@PeterMasella of course! It’s great seeing your positivity. Ok great thanks for letting me know

[@johnkim8957]

Another wonderful video❤sorry for the delay Peter, I am originally Northwest Airlines, never worked for Delta, but still get Delta flight benefits, I’m thrilled Delta flies to Taipei from Seattle, a good break for me❤️

[@PeterMasella]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnkim8957]

I remember back in the 70’s/80’s ATC delays on purpose, what a nightmare back then, and ATC is STILL pulling that CRAP🥲

[@DePaul31]

At least the delay gave you plenty of time to explore the new terminal and gate area!

[@PeterMasella]

Yes

[@TylerCoolGuy88]

Very crazy weather. For me i would be afraid to take an afternoon flight especially with congested airport like Laguardia and would normally try to take a morning flight if i can avoid delays. But sometimes weather is the boss and airports can't fight it, and sometimes, people's schedule makes it where they have no control what time they can leave.

[@PeterMasella]

Very true!

[@mikewilson4852]

Great Video! Leave it to thunderstorms to really screw things up but good! I had and hour and 50 minutes late departure from O'Hare to Minneapolis due to morning thunderstorms in and around O'Hare. I feel for ya!!!!

[@PeterMasella]

Yikes!

[@billpenna]

With the flight path that far out into the Atlantic was your plane using HF communications?

[@PeterMasella]

I don’t think so

[@sensei1x]

How do you know what’s going on with flights and what routes they’re taking? Your enthusiasm for airlines is infectious.

[@brianmanuel1202]

Flightradar 24 ....good app to track.

[@PeterMasella]

I’ve been doing this for a long time!

[@sensei1x]

@@PeterMasella did you work for ATC?

[@PeterMasella]

@@sensei1xno

[@sensei1x]

@@PeterMasella last question. Do you travel with a radio so you can monitor ATC traffic when you do your videos? Don’t mind me I’m just in awe of your knowledge of flight procedures.

[@RichardLewis-g4e]

Please don’t use that landing music again! Thanks.

[@PeterMasella]

ok

[@grahamcracker659]

this is very scare, my cat is sad

[@NYCLight]

Have you ever landed on LGA’s runway 13?

[@PeterMasella]

A few times.

[@Da__goat]

Close Riker's, close the marine air terminal and convert it into a living and working landmark and aviation history museum you walk through in order to get to a fully rebuilt Terminal A that runs across the entire western side of the airport. Remove all of the parking, put in a tram line that runs down Ditmars blvd all the way to the N & W stop at 31st street, continuing down to Astoria Park then turning down to head along the River until it arrives at Queensboro Plaza, that way it directly connects to the subway and provides a work-around for people to get to Laguardia on two different subway lines. Fully Extend Runway 13/31 by 4,000 feet to enable heavier aircraft operations. Convert the land that Riker's sits on to a massive sprawling International terminal E complex that can handle wide body aircraft and add a taxiway on the northern side of the newly extended runway 13/31 so that widebody aircraft can easily taxi off without getting in the way of existing narrowbody operations. Remove the Francis Buono memorial bridge and build an underground, prefabricated rail tunnel sunk into the soil of the bay. Provide Terminal E with a branch off the aforementioned tram line. Connect the newly rebuilt Terminal A and Terminal E to the ferry system from piers along the East River all the way up into the Bronx, and into Westchester and Northern New Jersey. In addition, convert Calverton airport into a proper international airport to offer some relief to LGA and JFK. Build a rail connection from Penn station/Grand Central to Stewart airport and reconstruct that airport into a more proper international airport so that it becomes convenient to use it. With two fully operational airports now added into the New York area, it should reduce capacity constraints at laguardia and JFK. As for where the prisoners would go from Riker's, they would be dispursed across the boroughs in smaller floating detention centers that are much more efficient, cheaper to run and cheaper to maintain than an entire facility.

[@PeterMasella]

What a plan!

[@DePaul31]

Nice shot of the parked 757 in the background while you were taxiing

[@PeterMasella]

What a rare plane!

[@maureenkramanak7003]

I didn’t know LGA could handle 757s.

[@saxmanb777]

@@maureenkramanak7003767s and DC10s use to serve LGA!

[@MarinePilot]

@@maureenkramanak7003 Laguardia doesn’t handle the 757, the 757 handles LaGuardia

[@shaunganley]

Peter, was this earlier this week? I recall a day down at LGA where it looked like planes were staged all over like this. We had a rough day in Boston a few weeks back, when 30 inbound flights had to divert to other airports. Great video, as always!

[@PeterMasella]

Thanks! It was not earlier this week.

[@BIGDAVE5352]

I pissed through my adult diaper during a departure delay on a Delta flight to FLL out of LGA last year. That was not supposed to happen. Being diabetic and can’t go to the lavatory sucks!

[@PeterMasella]

Yikes!

[@aas51506]

THANKS FOR THE VIDEOS!

[@PeterMasella]

My pleasure!

[@afterhoursxo8485]

Damn watched the whole video but jeez get a mic because you are loud and yes ive seen you in person

[@skycubbie2010]

As a platinum medallion aren’t you able to purchase Sky Club membership? Not as ideal as having it as a perk but at least you would have access to the Club whenever you’re in LGA - or any other airport that Delta operates a Club in.

[@PeterMasella]

I don’t want to put any more money in since they no longer let me have it for free. I feel less valued so I don’t want to spend more.

[@skycubbie2010]

@@PeterMasella you’re one of the biggest ambassadors for both Delta and their LGA hub. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start surprising you with the occasional visits into the Sky Club. They know what influence social media has and how much power an influencer like you can wield.

[@PeterMasella]

@@skycubbie2010 I don’t know. The problem is that 100% of my travel is personal and not associated with any company. It’s rare because most people don’t travel as often as I do for personal reasons, but Delta tends to focus on people who are associated with a company that brings in more revenue than I do.

[@skycubbie2010]

@@PeterMasella your situation is a unique one and highlights the goings-on at one of their crown jewel hubs. I think they’ll be taking notice.

[@christopherlewis5934]

Wow Peter 7 hours delay

[@PeterMasella]

That was a long one!

[@maureenkramanak7003]

Great video of what happens during irregular operations. Thanks!

[@PeterMasella]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@felixguerrero2284]

Love the livery on that 757 🇺🇸

[@ronaldckrausejr7762]

Please do not claim weather is weather. There are even private planes which can fly, take off, or land through any weather short of a hurricane. The same for commercial passenger jets, can fly through most any weather, even zero visibility. Makes one wonder what the real excuse could be

[@aviation_nationclips]

Then why did all planes have to be held? I was there during the worst parts of the weather. Weather is weather...

[@sethpython8968]

Its weather. If you want we could go back to the 1980s when planes crashed regularly due to microbursts near the airport.

[@kaitak98]

Please tell me which aircraft can fly thru wind shear, microbursts and lightning strikes. Commercial aviation safety is built a decades of experience from incidents and accidents. We owe it to those lost to take onboard these lessons and never stop improving.

[@saxmanb777]

No aircraft can fly through thunderstorms, windshear, or microbursts. But it’s not just weather. It’s the traffic volume that causes delays due to the storms planes can’t fly through.

[@brianmanuel1202]

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