Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
Not angry or upset, just curious: how did the DL flight get a wheels up while the UA flights are being pushed back?
Because DL has five afternoon flights to ORD or whatever, and UA has dozens. You're focusing on ATL-ORD, but that's not how it works. You're being pushed back in favor of an arrival from LHR, or LAX, or.. etc.
Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
Did UA pushing back so early affect the possibility of getting out sooner?
UA can (and will) pull times back in after the initial estimate is posted. It's why they tell you to be at the gate at the original posted time. I've nearly been bitten by this myself.
Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
They are all widebody crafts
None of them are widebodies. The word you want here is "mainline."
Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
but is DL's better?
DL is flying a 757 and UA is flying a 73G. Both of them are capable of ILS Category III landings, although I don't know if either UA or DL authorize them. AFAIK, if conditions at the target field are so bad that it would require an Category III landing, and that's known at time of departure, a passenger airline will wait.
Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
Or is it the pilot rating?
See previous statement.
Originally Posted by
DawgmanOH
I'm assuming it is FAA making the decisions but very interested to know how one airline got a flight out with minimal delays while the UA flights are being pushed back for "Severe Weather" at the same airports.
The FAA (well, specifically, ATC) determines how many flights are allowed to take off and land and on which runways. They then allocate those amongst the airlines operating scheduled flights, who are allowed to prioritize which flights they want to operate when, to have the least passenger impact.