Originally Posted by
nyknicks8
Looks like most people do what I already do. Yes I usually backtrack the flights and check the incoming flight and it’s schedule. The only possibility that I cannot account for is if they use a different plane. I rarely arrive to the airport for the original departure time if it’s delayed especially if I’m coming from home. I can’t see myself waiting at the airport for 3 hours. I departed from SMF so it’s not a hub for anything. The plane ended up leaving at the delayed time and I made it to the destination.
Originally Posted by
Often1
OP has not told us anything other than just how valuable his time is.
Knowing the carrier and departure airport would help.
Most carriers, including DL, UA, and AA if this is US domestic, all specify that one must be at the gate within X minutes of scheduled departure. Thus, unless you are at some small outstation where there is no realistic chance of an aircraft substitution, you put your ticket at risk if you no show and have not checked with your carrier.
In particular, estimates for aircraft repair, weather, and ATC delays are all subject to change. Even at a small outstation, there may be a ground hold for the inbound flight. But, that could disappear and your 3-hour delay turn into 30 minutes in a split second.
So, you have to decide whether your time is too valuable to waste waiting for a delay or waiting for the next flight.
3 posts above yours, the OP said that he flew out of SMF. Did you neglect to read all of the posts in your rush to lecture us (again)?
ETA: In the initial post he said "My current instance is with Southwest". So apart from the carrier and airport, what information did he leave out?