Originally Posted by
paul21
The DOT delay playbook:
--Adjust times and flight numbers to avoid delay tracking (DOT only reports stats on flights with 10 or more flights and delayed for 2-3 "consecutive" months in the report)
Everyone does this (or could if they were smart enough). Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Originally Posted by
paul21
--Break your regional up into smaller, untracked airlines (even better!) as SkyWest, Envoy, and Expressjet are the only ones left reporting. This leaves Shuttle America, Endeavor, Compass, and GoJet to soak up the delayed routes on DL connection.
Yeah, so? Those are different airlines and should be judged accordingly. DLC != DL.
Originally Posted by
paul21
--Replay the DOT stats (as required and when beneficial) on the website. Avoid reporting your own on-time stats, only those reported by DOT and use those in your advertisements and news reports. (i.e. DL ranked number one "Based on DOT Air Travel Consumer Report statistics for domestic flights 11/14 for flights flown and compared to our competitive set. Competitive set is among major U.S. carriers: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, US Airways, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.")
-Sarcasm-
Yeah, we don't want to hear about DOT stats! Who would want to have a standard metric to measure each carrier? Each airline should report their own data because they'd never cheat! Simply change the definition of "on-time" to anytime within 24hours of scheduled, and now everyone's 100% on-time! Yeay!
-End Sarcasm-
Originally Posted by
paul21
Airlines like Southwest that don't codeshare often end up bottom-barrel in these rankings.
Codeshares have nothing to do with on-time stats. WNs performance is bad because it *is* bad. It's amazing to see how many WN flights are running 2-3 hours late by the end of the day. It wasn't always that way, but IMO, this is what happens when you try to use an efficient turnaround model in airports that don't support it (read: LGA, EWR, BOS, PHL, SFO, etc.).
Originally Posted by
paul21
It's just conjecture of course, but if I was operating under these rules, I'd optimize around avoiding DOT delay lists, wouldn't you?
So now you want to use DOT metrics? Can't have it both ways.