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Thread: question about delay due to "flight crew availability"
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Old Jul 1, 2014 | 9:54 am
  #3  
eghansen
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: San Diego
Programs: Star, Oneworld, Skymiles, SPG
Posts: 243
Originally Posted by JNelson113
Quick question, everyone. I am in Amsterdam with friends. Tomorrow they are scheduled to fly UA 908 AMS to ORD using my award miles. The flight is scheduled for 10:55am, but today I received an email informing me that the flight is now scheduled for departure at 12:18pm due to "flight crew availability".

I have to drive them to the airport and it would be far more convenient for me to not leave the hotel until 9am (30 minute drive to the airport). Is it safe to assume that the plane really won't go until then? Or do we need to treat it as if the plane could go at 10:55 and if they just have to sit the extra 1.5 hours that's how it is?
Yes it is safe to assume the plane won't depart before 12:18. And yes, the aircraft could depart at 10:55, but can't because it needs a crew.

Crew scheduling rules are just as strict as aircraft maintenance rules to the FAA. This particularly true after the Continental Express Q400 crashed in Buffalo which was attributed in part to crew fatigue.
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