Originally Posted by
Pilot37
Just wondering if anybody else has noted this over the last few weeks?
Both my European short-haul flights out of T5 over the past week updated to an estimated departure time of 5mins prior to the scheduled departure time. One flight was to Geneva, the other to Düsseldorf, both evening flights. We ended up pushing back on-time (scheduled time) on both flights, but was just wondering if it's a ploy by Ops to try and get everybody to the gate and boarded a little earlier, and thus ensure an on-time departure.
I'm happy with the concept, and in a forum of lots of BA's moans (many fair), I thought I'd post an inquisitive / less inflammatory question. (And not ask how many avios I should be entitled too for the 5min inconvenience!
)
Pilot37
It is an attempt to grasp an opportunity for an early departure when possible. It all helps to ensure that BA is above all a punctual airline.
This is all well and good but they just forget to either consult with the crew so they stick to their departure processes, which are tightly controlled in terms of time. Unless the crew are ailable early then Ops are just whistling in the wind.