Two words: "Alaska Airlines"
How long do pilots wait for passengers of connecting flight to board before the door is closed ?
- Thread starter Dave Hess
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We've been left at the gate only once in the past twenty five years, and that was in 2019 at PHL.
We had booked a published connection on AA using their site DAY to SJU via PHL both ways.
Due to delays in getting the inbound from SJU to the gate and deplaning it as well as delays with the bus that you can take from one concourse to the rest, which was held up by a canyon blue aircraft awaiting ground crew to marshal it into its gate, we just missed the RJ that would have taken us back to DAY.
AA comped us some on meals and lodging and we got a flight the next morning after a night in a Clarion, which I selected because they're typically pretty decent.
A tight published connection at an airport we're familiar with that just didn't work out on that day.
We had booked a published connection on AA using their site DAY to SJU via PHL both ways.
Due to delays in getting the inbound from SJU to the gate and deplaning it as well as delays with the bus that you can take from one concourse to the rest, which was held up by a canyon blue aircraft awaiting ground crew to marshal it into its gate, we just missed the RJ that would have taken us back to DAY.
AA comped us some on meals and lodging and we got a flight the next morning after a night in a Clarion, which I selected because they're typically pretty decent.
A tight published connection at an airport we're familiar with that just didn't work out on that day.
I missed a connection once, in the mid 1980s on what was then an independent Continental Airlines. I was flying from Newark to Albuquerque, with a connection in Dallas, or maybe it was Houston. The plane was late getting off the ground in Newark. They put me up at a hotel for the night and I was on the next flight out the next morning.
More recently, in January, I was taking Amtrak from Chicago to Tucson. This train is supposed to connect to a New Orleans to Los Angeles train in San Antonio, but that train was cancelled due to snow in the south (the tracks down there are apparently unable to do switching in sub freezing weather). So, they put me up in a three star hotel for three nights in San Antonio until the trains were moving again. What is ironic about this is, I was traveling on a 10 ride excursion pass that I had bought for $299 for 10 rides over a 30 day period. The 3 nights in a hotel exceeded the cost of my 30 day pass.
More recently, in January, I was taking Amtrak from Chicago to Tucson. This train is supposed to connect to a New Orleans to Los Angeles train in San Antonio, but that train was cancelled due to snow in the south (the tracks down there are apparently unable to do switching in sub freezing weather). So, they put me up in a three star hotel for three nights in San Antonio until the trains were moving again. What is ironic about this is, I was traveling on a 10 ride excursion pass that I had bought for $299 for 10 rides over a 30 day period. The 3 nights in a hotel exceeded the cost of my 30 day pass.
I’ve got over 800,000 miles on United as a Paying passenger, tickets I bought, or the Navy bought, and about the same as a “non-rev” employee traveling about. I’ve missed a lot of connections. A lot. My wife and I missed one going to Phoenix last winter due to a maintenance issue in Norfolk. I missed going home Sunday night from Newark because we were 4 hours late coming out of SFO (Newark has been in the news lately, I’ll spare you the details). So, did my laundry and stayed at the Marriott, flew to Denver last night. I’ll get home tomorrow.
Things happen. Weather happens.
If you have a wedding, or a funeral, or a critical meeting, give yourself some time.
The United App allows lots of rebooking and refund options, really a great service that didn’t exist back when I was flying a lot (and had need of rebooking) and when we were sitting at the gate in Norfolk, and saw that we were going to misconnect in Denver, we rebooked to a later flight, same class of service. Easy day.
That said, let me tell you about a time when I had an airplane held for me.
Flying Norfolk to Bahrain, through Dulles and Frankfurt. Circa 2008. I was an elite level flier, a “1K” on United, which is Diamond Medallion on Delta, Executive Advantage on American. The 767-300 from IAD-FRA had to return due to a generator problem. We got another airplane, re-boarded, and took off for Frankfurt 4 hours late. I had a 4 hour 15 minute connection in Frankfurt.
It wasn’t looking good. No wifi back then. No app. I figured that I would be spending a night or two in Frankfurt. Slept during the flight, what else could I do?
I had a good seat, so I was one of the first ones off the airplane. On the jet bridge was a young lady in Lufthansa uniform, holding a sign on which was written my name. She took me down the stairs to a waiting Mercedes SUV.
We zipped across the entire airport, from the West side arrival gates to the East side ramp. The SUV stopped in front of a waiting Lufthansa A-330. I walked up the stairs and the door closed behind me. I took my seat and engines started moments later.
Made it!
Here’s the impressive part. When I got to Bahrain, I decided to stop by baggage claim - no way my checked bag was whisked across the airport as quickly as I was, but…there, on the belt, was my checked bag.
Well done. In the days before cell phones (I had a blackberry) and information that we now take for granted, they took great care of me. They likely knew that the next flight to Bahrain was in two days, and they had the bit of wiggle room in the ground time in Bahrain, or in the flight time getting there, to hold the airplane just long enough to get me on board.
Things happen. Weather happens.
If you have a wedding, or a funeral, or a critical meeting, give yourself some time.
The United App allows lots of rebooking and refund options, really a great service that didn’t exist back when I was flying a lot (and had need of rebooking) and when we were sitting at the gate in Norfolk, and saw that we were going to misconnect in Denver, we rebooked to a later flight, same class of service. Easy day.
That said, let me tell you about a time when I had an airplane held for me.
Flying Norfolk to Bahrain, through Dulles and Frankfurt. Circa 2008. I was an elite level flier, a “1K” on United, which is Diamond Medallion on Delta, Executive Advantage on American. The 767-300 from IAD-FRA had to return due to a generator problem. We got another airplane, re-boarded, and took off for Frankfurt 4 hours late. I had a 4 hour 15 minute connection in Frankfurt.
It wasn’t looking good. No wifi back then. No app. I figured that I would be spending a night or two in Frankfurt. Slept during the flight, what else could I do?
I had a good seat, so I was one of the first ones off the airplane. On the jet bridge was a young lady in Lufthansa uniform, holding a sign on which was written my name. She took me down the stairs to a waiting Mercedes SUV.
We zipped across the entire airport, from the West side arrival gates to the East side ramp. The SUV stopped in front of a waiting Lufthansa A-330. I walked up the stairs and the door closed behind me. I took my seat and engines started moments later.
Made it!
Here’s the impressive part. When I got to Bahrain, I decided to stop by baggage claim - no way my checked bag was whisked across the airport as quickly as I was, but…there, on the belt, was my checked bag.
Well done. In the days before cell phones (I had a blackberry) and information that we now take for granted, they took great care of me. They likely knew that the next flight to Bahrain was in two days, and they had the bit of wiggle room in the ground time in Bahrain, or in the flight time getting there, to hold the airplane just long enough to get me on board.
Are they good or bad ?
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Three words: Over a Barrel
Forced to use them. Stranded. Missed the next two flights. Next day. No plane for earliest flight. Etc. Nearly every time!
That was very nice of them and everyone involved in making sure you caught the flight.
Who makes the decision to ‘let’s go’ without the late passengers ?
Flight dispatch ?
Management ?
You’ve left out quite a few departments/stakeholders.
Like customer service, zone control, aircraft routing, station operations, and others.
Delaying the aircraft impacts every single one of them.
The decision, therefore, tends to be collaborative, since there are several with equity in the outcome of that decision.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
February 2013, was in Montgomery, AL for some consulting work, and had some spare time before flight back home to San Diego. Sitting in Starbucks, got a call from Delta: "can you make it to earlier flight?" I am like: Yeah.
OK, got to MGM, then to ATL, then to SAN.
At MGM they printed tickets, both flights 1A seats
ATL-SAN in 757 and they were generous ith Woodford Reserve
OK, got to MGM, then to ATL, then to SAN.
At MGM they printed tickets, both flights 1A seats
ATL-SAN in 757 and they were generous ith Woodford Reserve 
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Flight dispatch doesn’t get involved with that kind of stuff with my airline.
Operations decides if a flight will hold, or leave without connecting passengers.
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The only situation that allows me, the Captain, to not push back is for safety reasons ( or I think we will exceed the max duty day allowed ).
When I release the park brake, it’s considered an electronic signature that says I am conversant with all policies, procedures, status of the aircraft and am happy with the flight plan dispatch generated.
After take off, the Captain can deviate from the mutually agreed upon flight plan, policy and procedures only for safety reasons.
Holding for passengers, even if they were my own VIP connecting family, is not something I am allowed to do ( I would if it was my last flight and it was my wife
).
When I release the park brake, it’s considered an electronic signature that says I am conversant with all policies, procedures, status of the aircraft and am happy with the flight plan dispatch generated.
After take off, the Captain can deviate from the mutually agreed upon flight plan, policy and procedures only for safety reasons.
Holding for passengers, even if they were my own VIP connecting family, is not something I am allowed to do ( I would if it was my last flight and it was my wife
).
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American Airlines is piloting the tech to hold planes for layovers.
https://news.aa.com/news/news-detai...customers-this-summer-OPS-OTH-05/default.aspx
https://news.aa.com/news/news-detai...customers-this-summer-OPS-OTH-05/default.aspx
Yeah - that’s American. “Piloting”? More like a couple steps behind the competition.
Five years after United rolled out the tech, American answers with their own.
https://united.mediaroom.com/2019-0...Ever-with-ConnectionSaver?ref=hir.harvard.edu
It always annoys me how people are so darn slow getting off the plane.
How about moving with a sense of urgency!
How about moving with a sense of urgency!
Yep. And boarding the aircraft, very very slow fumbling with their carry on.
Some geezer younger than me took 5 minutes just to get one arm in his jacket while holding up a full plane from disembarking
Most delays on the ground caused by occupied gates, holding a gate push, alley blocked, mx, etc are difficult to make up time. Going faster in the air (domestically, especially shorter haul flights) does little to improve time unless it's a major shortcut. Making up time would be landing on a preferential rwy and immediate short taxi to the gate but still allowing for a typical two minute cool down for the engines. That...doesn't happen much. Early or delayed happens on ground time (unless holding). Psgrs saying "go fast" don't realize not much can be done in flight unless perhaps a long haul.
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True for shorter flights.
I shave off about 15 minutes each leg air time ( and save gas ).
3 minutes cooling period now , versus 2 minutes last year A320 my airline.
Edit: Guaranteed to push, and taxi late if parked beside an A220 and they push even a few minutes before you.
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