Originally Posted by
BA0197
AA is currently running a scheme where kickoff flights (first departures of the day from outstations) ( IAH has 5) should be attempted to be pushed back as early as possible. The station receives points for the amount of minutes an aircraft leaves early, as a result. This is to improve the aircraft schedules, as to not allow a delay at the beginning of the day to effect the aircraft for the rest of the day. Agents are allowed to close the door ANYTIME from T-15 departure. Procedure dictates that GAs should not close the flight before T-10 , unless all passengers have boarded. However, captains, ATC, and weather may all be sufficient reasons to close the flight from T-15, even if everyone has not boarded.
At EA, we used to call those "kickoff" flights EOM's - Early Morning Originators, and yes aircraft were scheduled so tightly that any early delay cascaded throughout the day. However, we were not allowed to push back a flight early unless everyone was on board. We also had to carefully control the time that went into the public side of the FIDS system. If we posted a delay (i.e. from 1700 to 1800), once again, we could not depart before the posted time unless everyone booked was on board.
So my question is: Is AA liable/responsible/obligated to do anything for the PAX on an early pushback? Is this covered by some "rule", or is it at the discretion of the airline?