EWRTR

I was asked to cover/coach the new agents for Newark's Ticket Counter. I've been here for 4 days and all is going pretty smooth. The AC agents are very smart and I feel very capable to handle us. They keep saying that our passengers are so nice. Maria, the Station Manager is awesome. She really cares about the operation and it's people. Alas, she does have everything on her mind. This was a complete vendor change here. From the CSA's to Ramp and Fleet. We are now located at the beginning of the A Terminal and gate 18. EWR is a pretty funky airport. No terminals are linked with security. It's a multi level building, you go to the top for checkin, and half a level down for the gates, and another half a level to baggage. It's not very friendly for the disabled. You have to catch the Airtrain to get from one Terminal to the next. We even have to catch that to get to the hotel pickup location.
On the 18th, the weather people predicted thunder and lightning storms at 10pm. Yea, we thought, since our flights leave at 608pm and arrive at 942p. No problem. WRONG. It was a bad night. Started off with a mechanical delay for the departure. The Captain and the mechanics exchanged (non-friendly) words. The F/A's insisted the lavs be re-done, words with the Fleet service person, who by the way once the F/A's found out she was our employee, they backed down. Anyway, once power boarding was done, the Captain came up to tell us they're on a ATC hold till 800pm. At about 815pm, as I was looking at the connections, there was a big (I mean big) flash, followed right after with a loud (I mean loud) clap of thunder. Then came the wind, rain, and hail. WHAT THE ____????? It went on for about 15mins, then it was clear. Well, that 15mins was all it took to create havoc at EWR. The ATC hold went from 30mins to 90mins just like that. At about 900pm, I went down to the plane because people wanted off to stretch. Well, after checking flifo for the inbound, went down to deal with it. I talked to the captain and told him that we need you off the gate by 915pm because the inbound was due in at 921pm. We have no other gate in EWR, and even if we did, it was occupied. He was waiting for the fuel truck to arrive. (it happen to arrive as we were discussing) So, basically there was no other options other than for them to gas and leave the gate and wait at the hardstand for clearance. And if anyone wanted off, the have to grab their carryons and leave to be rebooked. Anyway, he agreed, and finally left the gate at 930pm. The inbound must have had priority landing, cuz it landed at 912pm, so it was out in the storm waiting. So, now it was a waiting game. I went home at 1115pm, (thanks for Claudia for relieving me). Did I mention that another thunder and lightning storm came in, and stuck around till I left ? Anyway, checked flifo the next day (exactly 8hr turn) and it was off at 1145p and arrived in SEA at 230am. EEEKKK
More on the EWR adventure later....I'm on my days off (Thursday and Friday) so off to the CITY!