Originally Posted by ClassCAir
Airlines need to give more straight answers. The delay was in fact ATC. I completely understand that the delay was not their fault, but they shouldn't quote a delay unless they are pretty darn sure that it will take that long. Otherwise there is no use telling pax that there is a delay.... and neither the information online or over the phone tells you what the delay is for so you can't expect the pax to know that an ATC delay is very contingent on many things.
One way an airline can minimize the inconvenience of a delay is to keep pax from waiting around a gate endlessly because they won't give proper information. If it looks like there might be a delay give the pax an ontime departure time followed by the words "Delay likely" and if they are sure the delay will occur, give us a new time and let us wander or come to the airport later.
here is the problem -- it is not the airlines fault -- at all. this is the fault of the FAA and ATC for the NY region. ATC is the one that hands out the delays, and then changes their minds whenever they feel like it when space opens up.
example (i know for a fact) -- on july 1st ATC at ORD issued an announcement that they were now on a 1hr05min arrival delay program due to winds. therefore, all incoming flights to ORD should antcipate they will be delayed that amount of time and will not be granted clearance by ATC to take off until that new window. i was to be on an AA flight from OMA to ORD to connect up with the AS ORD-ANC flight. after the hour delay passed, ATC then issued another 1hr departure delay. so AA, which hoped to originally have the flight out at 430 and then changed it to 535 now was told to change the dept time to 635pm. at 540pm, AA came on the PA system and told all pax to board immediately, ATC in ORD wanted that flight to now depart at 600pm. if the flight didnt take off at 600pm (ie waited until the new posted time of 630pm), most likely that slot would no longer be open and the flight would be delayed even longer.
i agree at times there are straight answers because the frontline personnel dont know what is going on. but when you have ATC delays, the FAA has no rhime or reason for what they do...they simply say you have this window to take off. and the airlines cant anticipate this.
EWR is one of the worst airports for ATC delays (alongside with LGA) because of the approach into the NYC area airports. and when these delays go into action (they are called programs i believe by the FAA), there is nothing you can do. it affects all flights departing for EWR -- even if the flight is from the west coast and there is a 5hr flight time.
AS is caught in the middle here. if they leave the original time posted, people will get to the airport and will be upset that the flight is delayed due to traffic reduction programs, something AS knew about. if AS posts the delay upfront they risk having pax miss the flight when ATC changes that time. what is an airline to do?