Originally Posted by
schwarm
Thank you UA for holding 940 yesterday ORD-FRA!
Our incoming flight from LAX had been delayed due to mx (lavatory). We managed to land at ORD with plenty of time, but there was no gait available. It certainly is stressful waiting in the taxiway for a gait to open at T-25, T-20, T-15, T-10, T-5 ...
There were 4 of us in business/first (all separate travelers).
940 managed to pull back only a few minutes late and we made it to FRA on time (although at a remote gate).
I don't understand who was hurt by UA keeping the door open for an extra 15 minutes. How could it have been good business to close the door?
Most posters are talking about domestic flights, and not last flights of the day or international flights. Since you were on the last flight to FRA, it would benefit UA flight to be a few minutes delayed as not to have to put you on LH to MUC w/connection to FRA or put you up in a hotel and delay you by a day, since it was a MX issue.
I'm glad you made your flight, but holding a domestic flight 15 minutes can have a tremendous negative effect. First, if a flight is delayed 15 minutes past a schedule departure, it may encounter an FAA flow problem causing it to be further delayed with a ground hold. Then there are passengers who's 30 minute connection window is now down to 15 minutes or less for their connection. What about the plane or flight crew who made be needed for other flights that day?
Lets say your LAX-ORD did not have a a mx problem. Your 757 plane was flying in from SFO before going on to ORD and was delayed because it was waiting for late passengers. Since there was heavy fog at SFO that morning, this flight is furthered delayed during taxing as only 1 runway was being used for take offs. When this plane finally gets to LAX, there is crew change, now there is another delayed as a flight crews have to be switched out and security checks/plane cleaning must be done. Now you are finally going to ORD after all these delays, but upon arrival you have been assigned another gate since your flight is late. Now you can't pull into the gate because that plane is waiting 15 minutes for late passengers. And you are watching those minutes count down for your FRA flight. Oh by the way did you know your LAX flight is arriving at gate B-16 and your FRA is leaving at gate C-8. How stressed would you be now? See how holding a domestic plane for 15 extra minutes, may really mess things up.
Just to let you know, the OP was not on the last flight of the day and there were flights after the one the OP almost mis connected. The OP did not miss the flight but lost their e+ seats as they missed the cutoff.
Safe Travels!
