One reason I switched to US from CO is EWR. Unfortunately, I still have to fly to/through EWR frequently because my company's headquarters is not too far from EWR.

I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like I find that most of my flights out of EWR tend to find itself in a long queue. Yesterday was a good example. The plane left the gate about 5 minutes after scheduled departure (does this mean CO get's credit for departing on time?) but since we were #16 for take off, we waited 1 hour and 10 minutes before the plane actually took off (It was a nice sunny day in EWR yesterday). And they want to add more flights in and out of EWR? I generally don't believe in government involvement but this insanity has got to stop.

if you didn't already realize it http://www.flyertalk.com/airports/ftairports_forum/wink.gif, flight schedules leaving newark are padded with almost an extra hour of time, to account for "ground delays".
It's a given thing, when you fly out of EWR. Even more "fun" is the Friday night crush, that lovely time between 4-8pm when it's basically gridlock on the taxiways.

Wonderful Newark!

I'm surprised you haven't experienced the same kind of waiting at LGA. US Airways-- and I'm sure other airlines--has also padded some of it's pm flight times so they can claim that they're ontime. The solution to the problem is very simple: Less flights in and out. The airlines don't want to hear that because it will mean flying larger planes to keep moving the same number of passengers, spending more $$ on fuel, and fewer flights mean a better chance that passengers will go to a competing airline for convenience. And be sure that fares will go up. One thing's for sure, getting in and out of the 3 major NY airports is rarely easy or quick.

I don't know if it's a fluke but I've flown of JFK twice this year already-- minimal delays.

It's not really fair to blame the airlines for this, particularly at LGA. The airlines are responding to customer demand and are stuck in a prisoner's dilemma. If any single airline were to reduce flights, that airline would lose out on revenue, while the others would gain. There would unlikely be any change in overall traffic, as other airlines expanded to fill those new landing slots and everyone would still be late.

There are really only three options:

The first is what we had before -- more government restrictions on flights. This is really the worst solution. It results in fewer seats and higher fares.

The second is to allow the airlines to work together to set schedules and flights into and out of LGA. This is illegal unless the government grants specific immunity. The two problems are 1. the airlines may not be able to reach agreement and 2. collusion could result in artificially high fares.

The final solution, which is really the best in my opinion is to raise landing fees during peak times. This will encourage smoother demand. Airlines will have incentive to schedule flights during off-peak times. Passengers who need to fly at peak times will of course have to pay the higher fares resulting from higher fees, but this will reduce demand during those times. Passengers will still have frequent flights and a choice between low fares and travel during peak times.

[This message has been edited by Dudster (edited 07-15-2001).]

The only time I get out of EWR without hanging on the tarmac is on a real early flight departing 6-6:30am or so.

Re JFK - I live in Morris Cty NJ, about 20 min ride from EWR, but usually elect to go right by it and drive another hour to JFK. I figure its worth the extra time (especially on a transcon) to go for a widebody, and not be stuck on the ground with the seatbelt light illuminated for an hour+.

------------------
Who is John Galt?
------------------