This brings up an issue I have been meaning to ask.

I have noted recently on Channel 9 that UA seems to be flying slower than normal to save fuel. It made me start to wonder whether they are or will start to pad their schedule times to compensate. Of course, if this happens, then when ATC doesn't let them fly slowly, they will arrive early.

Case in point: flying SAN-SFO last week, the pilot asked ATC for reduced speed to save fuel (the exact words he used over the radio were "fuel-saving experiment") and the controller denied the request saying it would be fine with him but "the guys behind you probably won't like it"

I've heard anecdotally that various airlines are flying slower than normal these days, so UA may not be alone in this regard.

(By the way, this brings up an interesting question -- would you pay 10% more for a ticket if you could get to your destination 10% sooner, or conversely would you be willing to lengthen your flight by 10% if it meant you could save 10%?)