FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Why are airlines allowed to significantly exaggerate flight times?

Jun 28, 2022 | 2:18 pm

#33

navylad

Join Date: Oct 2015

Location: London, UK

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxon Flyer

30 minutes is, quite literally, only possible on a perfect day with the wind behind.

Just picking a MAN-LHR service at random, say BA1387, and working backwards from today, the in-air times have been 40, 43, 41, 35, 29, 36, 34, 43, 37, 37, 32, 40, 36, 38, 38, 36, 35, 32, 35, 38, 38, 42, 48, 38, 42, 40 mins.

This clearly shows that the planning allowance should be at least 38 - 40 minutes. Once you add on pushback, taxi at each end and a short line-up hold, then 1h10m seems an entirely sensible assumption for the normal gate-to-gate time. Certainly not a significant exaggeration.

not true, there is a pilot who puts his foot down- have had a 24 minute flight before (with an ATC shortcut admittedly), most fly at a more economical speed though. But far from impossible.

But back on topic, can understand the frustration but it’s really not that big a deal- if you plan for the punished time and your early and a 3 hour delay to get compensation is rare on this flight.

Last edited by navylad; Jun 28, 2022 at 2:30 pm

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