Originally Posted by username

I looked at united.com both times. It seems the arrival time is set when the plane pulls in - I think the parking break sends a message via ACARS for the arrival?

If passengers can't get off the plane, has the plane really arrived?

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Obviously "Door Close" time for departure and "Parking Break On" time for Arrival make the numbers look better but....

Originally Posted by steve64

Airlines are required by FAA Regulation to track each flight's out/off/on/in (ie: departure/takeoff/landing/arrival) times. A Dispatcher is assigned to each flight and takes follow-up action when a flight is unreasonably "over-due". By legal definition, your flight (and subsequent tracking of it) ended when the parking brakes were set at the gate. Most airlines use automation to report these events. From my time at AA, it was my understanding that the aircraft's computers reported the "in" event when the parking brake was set and at least one exterior door opened.

All airlines use the this same FAA required reporting method to update their passenger service displays. I know my reply does nothing to ease your frustrations, but as for reporting that your flight arrived early, UA was following the industry standard.

Even though legal tracking of your flight ended with the brakes being set, the Captain still should radio into operations if there were any subsequent issues. It sounds as is this took place.