Gate Changes -- Frequencies
 

My flight to DTW today has changed gates 4 times since mid morning. The inbound plane hasn't changed it's still the inbound from RIC.

Is this a product of poor scheduling?

Happens a lot at MIA. I think this has to do with the large number of flights in banks of flights and therefore it's a non stop game of chess with gate assignments.

So many things going on behind the scenes but it isn't an indication of poor planning.

Would you rather wait for a gate and have a delay?

I’d rather not wait for a gate nor a plane.

It's a game of efficiency as well, it costs money (and time) to send people across the airport to work another flight, but keeping them at the same gate wastes time while they wait for the next inbound flight. Also the need to make sure the gate has the right equipment for the aircraft, as well as arriving destination (ie sterile path to CBP). It's just the algorithm at work to save the most money.

...thus we have gate changes.

Would you rather they take the approach that BA uses and not assign a gate at all, until maybe an hour before the flight?

A few weeks ago I flew GRK-DFW-SLC. While I was waiting for my GRK-DFW flight I received at least 3 messages about the gate for DFW-SLC.,and I think there were more after I had turned off cell service For someone going through DFW, I don't think it really matters until the incoming flight lands. At that point I'll check the app and see how far I need to go (I prefer to walk at DFW).
I guess since you are driving to DFW, it matters for parking. Do you have to check in at the terminal where your flight departs from, or can you check in at any AA counter?

Or private/charter

At DFW I don't think I've ever checked in at the terminal my flight ended up departing from. I prefer the AC in D, so I always head to my flight from there anyways.

They could implement the LHR system where Gate numbers are not published until bordering is pretty much ready to start!

In my experience most gate changes are due to a change in the actual aircraft (and it seems they usually change to a plane that is not arriving until after my flight is supposed to begin boarding). Since many of these happen at t<4 hours, they are generally not greeted with delight.

My gosh does AA change the aircraft a lot, I was going to fly tomorrow just to get a ride on the TWA painted 738 but they've changed the routing on that tail number so much that I said forget it.

It's all pretty normal and when it is done far enough ahead of departure there is little impact on the pax. When I look at my connecting gates in the app a day or two before the flight I can be pretty sure those will not be the actual gates.

Yeah, the last AA flight I was on they must have changed it 5 times. Sometimes they go back and forth between the same aircraft multiple times.

It’s somewhat annoying when scheduled on an aircraft type that has different seating configurations (e.g. 321, 772).

I like this system. You can head out to the right spot at the right time and mostly never have to wait.

When I fly AA they will assign a gate almost at 24 hours before departure but it will often change several times before I actually fly.
On Delta, I've found they typically wait a little longer before assigning a gate.

I don't mind either way.

I hate it. You are forced to stay in a crowded "mall" area (unless you have lounge access) until your gate is announced in hopes that you will spend more money.

Calgary built a new terminal with such a system a few years ago and everyone hated it to the point where they had to make adjustments.

https://globalnews.ca/video/3089914/...to-gate-set-up

Don’t like it at all either, even with lounge access at LHR.

same here, I hate having to stay somewhere in the middle just to ensure that I am not too far from my gate. LHR is not my favorite airport

Funny you mention that because that seems to be what happens literally all the time on AA.