I'm seething, and I'm usually a very calm and happy person. I arrived at GSP for a 142P flight GSP-ATL-PIT. It was supposed to be a tryout for next year, as some travel I'll have fits DL much better than UA. I figured that ExpressJet/SkyWest had made strides in fixing ASA. They haven't.
Upon check in, I was told that the plane would be leaving 15 minutes late. No biggie, there's usually lots of padding. Finally,we board up, and eventually push back ~20m late, taxi out and are hit with a 10m ATC hold (which I don't ding DL for, but isn't New Years Eve supposed to be a lighter travel day?). We land and taxi to Concourse C at 300P, only about 10 m late overall. I should just make.
Here's where the inexcusable happens. We pull up and are told that we're waiting for a plane to vacate our gate, even though there are at least 6 others vacant that can take us. We're already late, and we proceed to wait another 15 minutes for the one next to ours to clear. I run all the way from C, making it to my T gate 6 minutes after departure. Now I'll be four hours late getting home. No meal vouchers, TCVs, or apologies. Apparently, my time isn't that important. Back to the tulip....
I take it you haven't connected in ATL very frequently.
I did mainline-mainline on a much heavier travel day (the 21st), and it went like clockwork. But other than that, I've mostly been via IAD/CLT/ORD this year.
I take it you haven't connected in ATL very frequently.
+1
Never assume that just because it's an empty gate, means any aircraft can park there. Sure it seems easy for you to park there, but no one else will be ready for a different city's arrival into that gate, which then throws everything off, yes, even if it is one gate down.
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I take it you haven't connected in ATL very frequently.
That is why I at every post assuring some poor hapless noobie that their 39 minute connection in ATL is a cakewalk.
In this case, DL.dumb sold the OP what appears to be a 36 minute layover.
And, had he tried to be proactive and research the on-time performance of his GSP to ATL flight, he would likely have found out that such information is darned hard to fond for commuter carriers.
FWIW, flights between GSP and ATL, in the noon to 3:00 PM time frame are on time 93% of the time, but when they are late, they are an average of 48 minutes late:
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Last edited by StayingHomeIsBetter; Dec 31, 12 at 4:21 pm..
Reason: Some details
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GSP flyer
I did mainline-mainline on a much heavier travel day (the 21st), and it went like clockwork. But other than that, I've mostly been via IAD/CLT/ORD this year.
Never count yourself as arrived until you're off of the plane. Gates can and will change for a variety of reasons, and an empty gate is worthless if there's no one there to operate it, if it's scheduled for a different flight, if your gate is expected to be ready momentarily, etc.
It sounds like you booked a pretty tight (36 minute?) connection. Why do this if you distrust ASA so much?
Also, out of curiosity why do you expect a meal voucher or a voucher? You've made no indication of any sort of mechanical delay, just a plane that was delayed for an unknown reason + ATC, and a passenger on a very tight connection who bet on the wrong flight.
Also I hate to break it to you, but the tulip is dead.
Never assume that just because it's an empty gate, means any aircraft can park there. Sure it seems easy for you to park there, but no one else will be ready for a different city's arrival into that gate, which then throws everything off, yes, even if it is one gate down.
Actually, they changed the gate:
Dec 31_20:17_3:17 PM_3:17 PM_Airline_Gate Adjustment_Arrival Gate Changed From C48 To C50
__________________ Bring decency back to DieMiles®. Don't let Anderson steal miles from widows and orphans. Fight the Delta Airlines 100% death tax! ... after all, you are going to die sometime.
Never count yourself as arrived until you're off of the plane. Gates can and will change for a variety of reasons, and an empty gate is worthless if there's no one there to operate it, if it's scheduled for a different flight, if your gate is expected to be ready momentarily, etc.
It sounds like you booked a pretty tight (36 minute?) connection. Why do this if you distrust ASA so much?
Also, out of curiosity why do you expect a meal voucher or a voucher? You've made no indication of any sort of mechanical delay, just a plane that was delayed for an unknown reason + ATC, and a passenger on a very tight connection who bet on the wrong flight.
Also I hate to break it to you, but the tulip is dead.
I've calmed down a bit. Yes, it was rather tight, but the gate staff in Greenville insisted I'd be fine. I also did the math in my head and thought I'd make it. I just feel it's inconsiderate to take an already late plane and make us sit there as we watch our connections get blown. Basically, I expect effort, and the ATL ramp staff at C didn't seem to be in much of a hurry.
Maybe I'm just used to United where gate assignments tend to be a lot more fluid, especially on the Express side (good for arriving pax, bad for departures like musical gates at ORD).
As for the voucher, I got one last year on a PIT-ATL flight after an M90 went mechanical. It was only $6, but it was at least a nice gesture, and I was only an hour late. I'm going to be at least four now.
It sounds like you booked a pretty tight (36 minute?) connection. Why do this if you distrust ASA so much?
...
Perhaps you have provided your own answer in your earlier post:
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattsteg
I take it you haven't connected in ATL very frequently.
Folks who have not traveled a lot thru ATL don't become enlightened until they have been burned a few times.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GSP flyer
I've calmed down a bit. Yes, it was rather tight, but the gate staff in Greenville insisted I'd be fine. I also did the math in my head and thought I'd make it. I just feel it's inconsiderate to take an already late plane and make us sit there as we watch our connections get blown. Basically, I expect effort, and the ATL ramp staff at C didn't seem to be in much of a hurry.
Maybe I'm just used to United where gate assignments tend to be a lot more fluid, especially on the Express side (good for arriving pax, bad for departures like musical gates at ORD).
Gates at ATL are very fluid as well, especially if you're early or late - they'll somewhat often change 2-3 times while you are on the ground. That doesn't mean that they can always change things arbitrarily as they have an awful lot of other planes coming and going that they need to account for.
The ground staff and FAs are always going to tell you you'll be OK if it's at all believable. It makes you happy and keeps you from pestering them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GSP flyer
As for the voucher, I got one last year on a PIT-ATL flight after an M90 went mechanical. It was only $6, but it was at least a nice gesture, and I was only an hour late. I'm going to be at least four now.
Mechanical is the key there. Presumably your current delay is not a mechanical one.
The ground staff and FAs are always going to tell you you'll be OK if it's at all believable. It makes you happy and keeps you from pestering them.
...
So True. A behavior pattern that is not limited to DL, or the airline industry.
It's the travel industry mindset of "Tell them what they want to hear so that they go away."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StayingHomeIsBetter
So True. A behavior pattern that is not limited to DL, or the airline industry.
It's the travel industry mindset of "Tell them what they want to hear so that they go away."
Knowing what they go through in terms of unpleasant customer interactions with unrealistic expectations, I can't say that I blame them too much.
These situations are when I'm reminded just how operationally nice it is to originate in a hub, especially if you want to play with fire with tight afternoon and evening RJ connections.
Knowing what they go through in terms of unpleasant customer interactions with unrealistic expectations, I can't say that I blame them too much.
...
Good point.
On the other hand, I have been told some real doozies in the last quarter of the year.
__________________ Bring decency back to DieMiles®. Don't let Anderson steal miles from widows and orphans. Fight the Delta Airlines 100% death tax! ... after all, you are going to die sometime.
1. At the time DL told OP he would make it, he would have made it. Circumstances intervened. Anytime it's even close, the default has to be to go for it.
2. While DL can round up rampers for an empty gate, locate a GA and so forth, even at a hub, that still takes a couple of minutes.
3. No comp due for non-MX delay.
I don't fault OP for trying a 36-minute connection given that the next best was 4 hours. But, it's a risk and when it went wrong, there's nobody to blame.
As for the voucher, I got one last year on a PIT-ATL flight after an M90 went mechanical. It was only $6, but it was at least a nice gesture, and I was only an hour late. I'm going to be at least four now.
The Delta Contract of Carriage specifies meal vouchers for delays of 4 hours or more. I suspect if you ask someone nicely and explain your situation and the CoC stipulation, they will provide you with one.
ASA dba ExpressJet
at every post assuring some poor hapless noobie that their 39 minute connection in ATL is a cakewalk.
