In hindsight, I should have just taken the morning flight on AA. Got put on UA 1517 from IAD. Between weather, crew rest issues and crew location and them parking an a319 in the wrong spot (first time I've ever seen this happen), the 10 pm departure took off at 4:28 AM.

And UA, channeling their best AA impression gave rolling delays (10:00 PM, 10:40 PM, 12:00 AM, 12:40 AM, 2:40 AM, 3:00 AM, 3:30 AM) that ensured we slept in IAD on a bench. Ugh. And to cap it off, they didn't even load our bags on a nonstop flight. Reminded me why I moved to AA from CO after the merger and another reminder that the grass isn't really greener, no matter how frustrating AA can be.

I was talking to a CK last week based in CLT. They were outbound for vacation May 3, ultimately to IST on AA/BA in J. Plane cancelled, all they could get was Y to IST TATL to get there late. Kinda sucks when a CK can't even get rebooked in the paid class on AA. Fortunately we were on UA and got in to EWR on the return (same cruise as the CK), but T storms cancelled us there and we flew the next day in Y, so same story, different carrier, different airport. DFW does this a lot.

UA just wanted to make sure you didn't miss the full AA experience.

An average of 10 minute delays is a "meltdown"?

I hope you request compensation from United and emphasize that the delays were (at least largely) due to crew issues and a misplaced A319. Add that the rolling delays were failed customer service. Tell them this flight was uniquely delayed among IAD departures (if true). They'll probably whine that it was weather and give you $50, but maybe you can double-dip by complaining to AA.

I imagine your guess would probably be wrong then.

Airlines deadhead crews from Canada, Mexico and near Caribbean destinations all the time only to have them work another domestic segment.

I'm trying to avoid CLT this summer with the C club closed (to who knows when) and an airport never designed for the volume it gets. What I'm noticing now is cheaper connections out of LGA on E175s. True, LGA is no picnic from a delay standpoint but with a new AC and brand new spacious terminal I'll take LGA over CLT. Not to mention as an EXP you can be 95% sure of an upgrade on the 175.

AA continues to schedule more flights than they can staff. 100% deserve the heat that comes their way over that, I've been saying that for months. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that you have X number of staff, which can handle Y number of flights, and you can't go over Y.

I got this same excuse in DFW a few weeks ago. Crew was coming off a MEX-DFW flight and onto DFW-OKC. 10AM flight.. 10:20 delay due to crew stuck in customs waiting to clear... will be 10 mins. 10:40... same thing. 11:00... same thing. Finally boarding around 11:30. We all know it doesn't take long for crew to clear in customs as they have their own lanes. The gate agent was particularly snotty to folks as well and threatened to not let me board because I called her bovine fecal matter.

All in all, just more mismanagement at AA. Otherwise known as "business as usual".

No matter how snotty, this is a high risk and zero reward choice.

IME, the most frequent reason for the rolling delays is late-arriving crew - whether it be from a delayed inbound, stuck in traffic, stuck in customs (whether BS or not), stuck on the toilet. To an extent it's just the human element that you can't always control. Friend had this on DL (regional) the other day, they just didn't know where the pilot was. Had it once on AA - when a FA called in sick and they were able to get a reserve, but they just didn't know exactly how long it was going to take them to get to the gate (I think their contract allows them a certain amount of time if they're called in, they may well have been coming from home). Of course I don't know who wants to arrive at a gate to hoots and hollers from passengers who have been standing there for an hour waiting for you, so you'd think it would be in their interest at least to communicate effectively (of course this could be the airline's fault as well).

I arrived on a flight from ATL and sat for over an hour waiting for a gate, only just made the connection to DCA after they reopened the boarding door. I had visions of being stuck sleeping in the airport, or the PA having to drive us to Washington.

Yep, I know, but I was prepared for having to get from DFW to OKC using alternate methods. She threatened to deny boarding and I told her to call her supervisor immediately to explain why. She backed down quickly.

Isn�t the issue at least in part due to the tight connections common there.

10 minutes late in average us a lot with a 35 minutes connection and early closing of doors

https://viewfromthewing.com/a-warnin...-in-charlotte/

This. Also doesn't help when you have to run from E35 to B15 with broken walkways and no mass transit option. They need to just tear it all down and start over, instead of just adding to that convoluted mess. I swear that place looks like a refugee camp at times.