Earlier Transatlantic Departure Times from PHL
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Earlier Transatlantic Departure Times from PHL
Hi all,
Anyone else noticed that for the summer, a few TATL departure times from PHL seem rather early?
ATH - 16:30
MUC - 16:30
MAD - 17:10
MUC is really the one I've noticed as it makes connecting from DCA quite annoying (only a 08:24 flight connects). Is this due to the new BUD and PRG flights?
Anyone else noticed that for the summer, a few TATL departure times from PHL seem rather early?
ATH - 16:30
MUC - 16:30
MAD - 17:10
MUC is really the one I've noticed as it makes connecting from DCA quite annoying (only a 08:24 flight connects). Is this due to the new BUD and PRG flights?
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Hi all,
Anyone else noticed that for the summer, a few TATL departure times from PHL seem rather early?
ATH - 16:30
MUC - 16:30
MAD - 17:10
MUC is really the one I've noticed as it makes connecting from DCA quite annoying (only a 08:24 flight connects). Is this due to the new BUD and PRG flights?
Anyone else noticed that for the summer, a few TATL departure times from PHL seem rather early?
ATH - 16:30
MUC - 16:30
MAD - 17:10
MUC is really the one I've noticed as it makes connecting from DCA quite annoying (only a 08:24 flight connects). Is this due to the new BUD and PRG flights?
#3
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
I believe ATH has always been relatively early. I did not realize MUC and MAD were that early. The current winter timing for PHL-MAD is a 6:50pm departure and PHL-MUC a 6:45pm departure. The 6pm hour during the summer is packed with TA departures so they might need to space some flights out.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 2,085
ATH has always been an early flight. 4:30 is actually a little later, as a couple summers ago when I took it, it was at 4:10. Since the flight is longer, you land in ATH at around 9:00a local, which isn't too bad. But I agree that for MUC and MAD, those times seem ridiculously early. As others have said, it could be due to scheduling restrictions, however this summer's TATL schedule isn't the busiest it's been (as in years past flights have also operated to TLV, BRU, OSL, MXP, EDI, BHX, and ARN during the summer season and PHL has accommodated them just fine).
Last edited by GotCalcio4; Jan 31, 2018 at 4:54 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
ATH has always been an early flight. 4:30 is actually a little later, as a couple summers ago when I took it, it was at 4:10. Since the flight is longer, you land in ATH at around 9:00a local, which isn't too bad. But I agree that for MUC and MAD, those times seem ridiculously early. As others have said, it could be due to scheduling restrictions, however this summer's TATL schedule isn't the busiest it's been (as in years past flights have also operated to TLV, BRU, SNN, OSL, MXP, EDI, BHX, and ARN during the summer season and PHL has accommodated them just fine).
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
Programs: AA:EXP/1MM. Accor/Radisson:Silver; HH:Gold; ICH:Plt Amb.
Posts: 22,307
There always used to be a 4pm hour bank of flights to Europe in the summertime. IIRC, when US flew PHL-MXP, it also used to depart around that time of day.
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
ATH has always been an early flight. 4:30 is actually a little later, as a couple summers ago when I took it, it was at 4:10. Since the flight is longer, you land in ATH at around 9:00a local, which isn't too bad. But I agree that for MUC and MAD, those times seem ridiculously early. As others have said, it could be due to scheduling restrictions, however this summer's TATL schedule isn't the busiest it's been (as in years past flights have also operated to TLV, BRU, SNN, OSL, MXP, EDI, BHX, and ARN during the summer season and PHL has accommodated them just fine).
#9
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: US Airways, American Airlines, United
Posts: 224
I have a flight to ATH in late May originating from DCA. I did not want to take that early flight to PHL from DCA so I am taking a 10:50 am flight to CLT and a flight from CLT to PHL to connect. It is a mini-mileage run. I hoping that schedule changes including a later added flight to PHL (around noon would be great) will allow me at some point to avoid a mini-mileage run.
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
6/25 TA departures by hour
4:00 - 5:00
ATH, MUC
5:00 - 6:00
MAD, DUB (EI), FRA (LH)
6:00 - 7:00
FRA, FCO, ZRH, VCE, BCN, LHR (BA), AMS, PRG, BUD
7:00 - 8:00
LHR (AA), GLA
8:00 - 9:00
LHR (AA), DOH (QR)
9:00 - 10:00
CDG, LHR (BA), DUB, SNN, LIS
So there is a bit of a log jam in the 6pm hour.
4:00 - 5:00
ATH, MUC
5:00 - 6:00
MAD, DUB (EI), FRA (LH)
6:00 - 7:00
FRA, FCO, ZRH, VCE, BCN, LHR (BA), AMS, PRG, BUD
7:00 - 8:00
LHR (AA), GLA
8:00 - 9:00
LHR (AA), DOH (QR)
9:00 - 10:00
CDG, LHR (BA), DUB, SNN, LIS
So there is a bit of a log jam in the 6pm hour.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
These early departure times are awful. I flew AA 100 from JFK-LHR over Christmas. I think it left at 1800. We pulled into the gate at 5 am way too early and your day is shot because it's too early. I will now take the late 10 pm flight if possible.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
Somewhat off-topic, but I wonder how long AA and BA can sustain so much capacity to LHR - 3 daily flights, and another 3x weekly BA flight coming this May? Here's the seat map for AA 736 yesterday (1/30), about 30 min prior to departure - so pretty much everyone booked on that flight should have had seat assignments already.
The late AA flight to LHR wasn't much better, and today's flight load is also pretty light.
J is mostly full, with only a few seats unassigned (J2 R1 D1 I0 today).. Does J cabin actually pay for the entire flight?
The late AA flight to LHR wasn't much better, and today's flight load is also pretty light.
J is mostly full, with only a few seats unassigned (J2 R1 D1 I0 today).. Does J cabin actually pay for the entire flight?
#14
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
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Posts: 12,466
Somewhat off-topic, but I wonder how long AA and BA can sustain so much capacity to LHR - 3 daily flights, and another 3x weekly BA flight coming this May? Here's the seat map for AA 736 yesterday (1/30), about 30 min prior to departure - so pretty much everyone booked on that flight should have had seat assignments already.
The late AA flight to LHR wasn't much better, and today's flight load is also pretty light.
J is mostly full, with only a few seats unassigned (J2 R1 D1 I0 today).. Does J cabin actually pay for the entire flight?
The late AA flight to LHR wasn't much better, and today's flight load is also pretty light.
J is mostly full, with only a few seats unassigned (J2 R1 D1 I0 today).. Does J cabin actually pay for the entire flight?
I'm flying JFK-HEL tomorrow, at this time there's maybe 30 seats tops taken in the back of the AY A330.