Originally Posted by
KRSW
I've had B6 actually do this multiple times when JFK is stuffed. One of the times the pilot actually made the announcement from the gate podium, explained that JFK was backed up and thought we'd be more comfortable in the terminal than in a tin can. He even ordered pizza for everyone since the airport's restaurants had already closed for the night.
That represents the Captain's judgment that he knows how long the delay will last or that he knows that the delay will last at least a given period of time. This is fine for B6 at JFK where dispatch / Ops may advise the Captain that the departure will be delayed at least X minutes and won't realistically be less.
I would be surprised if a B6 Captain sat around eating pizza at a gate if Ops advised him that there might be a departure break in 10 minutes or perhaps 30 or perhaps 90.