Originally Posted by
storewanderer
However here is one theory- let's say the plane is late for flight 123. If they are fully stocked for service on flight 123 then cancel service on flight 123, can they in theory turn the plane around faster at the next destination? I know the turnaround process with baggage, replenishment of service items, etc. is supposed to happen simultaneously but it doesn't always. So could some captains look for a reason to cancel service to try to "make up some time" during the next turnaround?
Southwest only has ground personnel come onto the airplane and refresh the drink/snack supplies in a fraction of their cities. Southwest serves approximately 100 cities and I believe only between 15-20 of those cities have employees who replenish catering supplies.
So the number of flights that would make up any time during the turnaround by not providing service on the inbound flight is probably very limited.