US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Early Departure to PHL???

I'm sitting in the club at RDU, and the woman at the desk just got on the PA system and made the following announcement: "If anybody is on flight 1180 to PHL, please go to the departure gate. They need to push back early and they're missing a few people." Since when is anything ever done "early" where PHL is concerned??? I asked the desk agent (whose mouth by that time was full of chocolate I had given her) what that was about, and she said she didn't know. She was called by the gate & asked to make the announcement.

Looked at flight status.. departed at 3:16 for a 3:30 sched. departure... that's pushing it. Arrival is scheduled more than 30 min early too.

My guess is ATC gave them an option to do this, and that there was/is going to be some ATC restrictions going down, that they needed to get the plane in the air or lose their slot. I wonder if there was a light load on top of that and the decision was made to get that bird in the air.

It happens once in a while.

Bad weather is brewing on the East Coast and they're probably trying to stay ahead of it.

That makes sense, but I'm flabbergasted that PHL was doing something pro-actively.

All good thoughts.

However, the timing matches the Iggles first field goal to extend their lead to 24-7. Someone must have figured that a couple of rampers would leave the TVs a little earlier than usual. :D

All good thoughts.

However, the timing matches the Iggles first field goal to extend their lead to 24-7. Someone must have figured that a couple of rampers would leave the TVs a little earlier than usual. :D

I guess staffing had better do some anticpation for next Sunday. Dem Iggles won and will play the Falcons at the Linc next Sunday.

Guess they have the same concerns next Sunday for PIT too. ;) Go Steelers. ^

And for the US lurkers, let your folks show their hometown pride. (I know I saw the posted article from the PPG about it yesterday.) The point is US has enough morale problems... a small show of hometown pride could go a long way. Thanks for letting them be able to tastefully be fans.

We pushed back over 5 minutes early CLT-PIT last night. Got in Waaaay early (at least 20 min. maybe 30 need to check). I was the last person to board and made it by only a few minutes-wonder if anyone else missed the flt.