Originally Posted by ClassCAir
I've been noticing this a lot lately. AS will call a delay and post a "New Time" on the TV monitors, online, or over the phone and then push it up substantially to either on time, or well before the new time.
Yesterday I called about my EWR flight. The system said that the 8:55 flight was now estimated for a 10:00am departure. So I stayed at home for an extra hour. I contunued to check and there were no changes until about 8:30 when they said the flight was estimated to depart at 9:10!! What a panic! They moved up the flight by 50 minutes! I pulled some strings and made it on the flight, but what is the point of the flight status information if you can't use it? Have you noticed this problem with your flights?
estimated times are just that -- an estimate. many factors change. i know flying in and out of ORD frequently, flights are often delayed by ATC because of traffic, weather, etc. quite frequently you are put on an hour delay, but 10 minutes into that delay ATC calls up and will tell the pilot he/she has a 5 minute window to take off and get into the pattern if the aircraft is ready to go. it is not uncommon (at least out of OMA flying into ORD) to load up and sit on the runway waiting for ATC to call with an opening in the traffic flow.
i know this happens at some of the bigger hubs (EWR, LGA, DCA, ORD, ATL) -- not sure how AS fits in to it. bottom line is i always show up for the scheduled deptarture time unless i know the aircraft hasnt arrived yet from the originating city.