New printed flight schedule - bad timing??
Jul 5, 2009, 8:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: OH & NV
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, WN CP, Latin Pass Bonus
Posts: 3,707
New printed flight schedule - bad timing??
I picked up the new printed flight schedule, dated 28 June. 265 pages!!
Note that the majority of flights changed on 6 JULY. So they had to print the 28 Jun - 5 Jul schedule and then also the 6 July and on (in red) in the book. Well over 60% of the schedule was for the later dates because they put "effective 6 July on a line below the later schedule.
If they are trying to save money, why not just withdraw all the books about 20 June and then not replace until 6 July with only the later schedule?? Would have saved about 150 pages. After all, who depends on these books -- which are not at all stations all the time anyway.
Note that the majority of flights changed on 6 JULY. So they had to print the 28 Jun - 5 Jul schedule and then also the 6 July and on (in red) in the book. Well over 60% of the schedule was for the later dates because they put "effective 6 July on a line below the later schedule.
If they are trying to save money, why not just withdraw all the books about 20 June and then not replace until 6 July with only the later schedule?? Would have saved about 150 pages. After all, who depends on these books -- which are not at all stations all the time anyway.
Jul 6, 2009, 4:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Midwest United States (and anywhere a cheap fare takes me)
Programs: Marriott (Gold), Hilton (Gold), SWA (CP), Hertz (5*), UA (Nobody), AA (Lifetime Gold)
Posts: 854
It's a "Retro" Thing
I noticed a copy of the schedule by the door of our SFO-MDW plane yesterday. I commented to my wife that when we started flying SWA the schedule was more like a pamphlet. She noted the the current one looks like a telephone book. (And, IMHO, is about as useless.)
Agree with you on the cost, SAPMAN, not to mention the environmental impact. Other than their "collectable value" ("Props" to Red Belly Radio), do they really sell tickets?
Agree with you on the cost, SAPMAN, not to mention the environmental impact. Other than their "collectable value" ("Props" to Red Belly Radio), do they really sell tickets?
Jul 6, 2009, 6:22 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: WN CP
Posts: 6,360
Jul 11, 2009, 2:49 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LAS
Programs: AA PLT, WN A-List, Avis First
Posts: 14
It sounds like I'm one of the few that religiously carry a schedule. I was lamenting the fact that the March 8th ones were no longer valid but the new ones weren't printed yet.
I have the "honor" of being on call all the time. It is sadly not uncommon for me to be told "You're going to LAX/DAL/MCO/MEX...RIGHT NOW!", and in those cases (except MEX, of course) the schedule is easiest to use. This is doubly true for determining the possibility of rebooking for an earlier flight. I appreciate that the mobile site is much improved, but it is still a little buggy and doesn't work in the concrete basements I end up in oh-so-frequently.
A number of my co-workers also swear by the printed schedule for the same reasons, but I realise we are in the minority. It will be a sad day for us all if it goes away.
I have the "honor" of being on call all the time. It is sadly not uncommon for me to be told "You're going to LAX/DAL/MCO/MEX...RIGHT NOW!", and in those cases (except MEX, of course) the schedule is easiest to use. This is doubly true for determining the possibility of rebooking for an earlier flight. I appreciate that the mobile site is much improved, but it is still a little buggy and doesn't work in the concrete basements I end up in oh-so-frequently.
A number of my co-workers also swear by the printed schedule for the same reasons, but I realise we are in the minority. It will be a sad day for us all if it goes away.