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Gate Changes -- Frequencies

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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 1:12 pm
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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?
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 1:16 pm
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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.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 3:12 pm
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So many things going on behind the scenes but it isn't an indication of poor planning.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 3:16 pm
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Would you rather wait for a gate and have a delay?
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 5:22 pm
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Originally Posted by dls25
Would you rather wait for a gate and have a delay?
Id rather not wait for a gate nor a plane.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 5:29 pm
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Originally Posted by MiamiAirport Formerly NY George
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.
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.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 5:46 pm
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Originally Posted by enviroian
Id rather not wait for a gate nor a plane.
...thus we have gate changes.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 5:49 pm
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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?
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 5:54 pm
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Originally Posted by dls25
...thus we have gate changes.
Or private/charter

Originally Posted by aztimm
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?
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.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 6:45 pm
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They could implement the LHR system where Gate numbers are not published until bordering is pretty much ready to start!
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 6:49 pm
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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.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 9:27 pm
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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.
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Old Aug 27, 2021 | 9:38 pm
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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.
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Old Aug 28, 2021 | 1:37 am
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Originally Posted by FlyDeltaMD88
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.
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.

Its somewhat annoying when scheduled on an aircraft type that has different seating configurations (e.g. 321, 772).
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Old Aug 28, 2021 | 8:22 am
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Originally Posted by rstruthe
They could implement the LHR system where Gate numbers are not published until bordering is pretty much ready to start!
I like this system. You can head out to the right spot at the right time and mostly never have to wait.
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