Today's instance of AA stupidity
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
Today's instance of AA stupidity
Today's version of how stupid can AA be...
5582 CLT/IAD sched takeoff 15:35, arrival 16:57
5582 IAD/CLT sched takeoff 17:28, which makes boarding time 16:58
So they really think 1 min is enough? No wonder they can't operate on schedule
5582 CLT/IAD sched takeoff 15:35, arrival 16:57
5582 IAD/CLT sched takeoff 17:28, which makes boarding time 16:58
So they really think 1 min is enough? No wonder they can't operate on schedule
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY, BJX, QRO; previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM
Posts: 18,363
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY, BJX, QRO; previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM
Posts: 18,363
Im saying that keeping an asset in operation is far more important than being able to board an aircraft that takes maybe 15 minutes to board at exactly T-30.
#5
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
i guess this is somewhat normal? took jal at the start of this year, my 1st flight was delayed, so i only had 20-25 minutes from the time i touch down to my connecting flight taking off. when i informed the check in agent that i had an extremely short transit time and will likely miss the connecting, she replied that they expect the 1st flight to be ahead of [the new] schedule, so i would be fine. lo and behold, we didnt arrive ahead of schedule, but even later than expected, 10-15 minutes before connecting flight took off. it was a mess at the connecting bridge; there was a ton of jal officers trying to get hold of passengers as i think many others also missed their connecting.
#6




Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ILM, NC
Programs: AA EXP / UA Silver / AC Silver;Hilton Gold /Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,165
Looks like they got off a few minutes early with a very early arrival expected into CLT which will get eaten up by taxi delays placing them right about on-time.
#7



Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AVL (used to be BMI)
Programs: AA EXP, United, Delta, Amtrak, Hertz PC, AVIS
Posts: 768
30 minute turns for ERJ-145s and CRJ-700s are pretty common. As Dlnewbie says above the plane arrived in today at 4:51 (6 minutes early) and departed at 5:25 (3 minutes early) and expected in CLT 10 minutes early after a very long taxi time at IAD (although that could easily change due to CLT taxi times). One could argue AA does a lot of stupid things but 30 minute outstation turns and schedule padding are both reasonable airline operations.
Last edited by KBMIFlyer; Mar 11, 2025 at 4:18 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA the REAL Washington; occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: AS MVPG 100K (Atmos Titanium) / 0.5MM; DL fallen PM (1.58MM = Complimentary Annual GM); AA Gold
Posts: 24,491
realistically, prob more appropriate for the “Stupidest and Least Substantive Thing You Can Complain About” thread (esp since OP’s profile says AA Plat and FT member since 2009) 
this, x1000

this, x1000
#9
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
30 minute turns for ERJ-145s and CRJ-700s are pretty common. As Dlnewbie says above the plane arrived in today at 4:51 (6 minutes early) and departed at 5:25 (3 minutes early) and expected in CLT 10 minutes early after a very long taxi time at IAD (although that could easily change due to CLT taxi times). One could argue AA does a lot of stupid things but 30 minute outstation turns and schedule padding are both reasonable airline operations.
I get that today it worked out. However, in the event that things are simply on schedule and not early (or heaven forbid a few minutes late, this is AA after all), how is this possible?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott LT Plat | Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 13,303
AA is famous for their unrealistic departure times. Yesterday at 9:39 PM, AA was saying the flight is departing at 9:40 PM. Meanwhile I'm at the bar nearby as they haven't even started boarding.
This is not normal - far better performing airlines (see DOT data) don't do this.
This is not normal - far better performing airlines (see DOT data) don't do this.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA the REAL Washington; occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: AS MVPG 100K (Atmos Titanium) / 0.5MM; DL fallen PM (1.58MM = Complimentary Annual GM); AA Gold
Posts: 24,491
OP wasnt ranting about a published connection; the comment deals with the fact that the jets arrival and departure times for the IAD turnaround dont comport well with the reality of ground operations, even at an outstation that only sees half a dozen AA flights a day
#13


Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 699
#14
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
30 minute turns for ERJ-145s and CRJ-700s are pretty common. As Dlnewbie says above the plane arrived in today at 4:51 (6 minutes early) and departed at 5:25 (3 minutes early) and expected in CLT 10 minutes early after a very long taxi time at IAD (although that could easily change due to CLT taxi times). One could argue AA does a lot of stupid things but 30 minute outstation turns and schedule padding are both reasonable airline operations.
What's the point of having a schedule then? If you can reliably count on it arriving early, adjust the arrival time and allow for a proper turn time.
#15



Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,807
A 30 minute turn makes sense, sure. But this isn't scheduled to be a 30 minute turn. On paper, it is a 1 minute turn.
What's the point of having a schedule then? If you can reliably count on it arriving early, adjust the arrival time and allow for a proper turn time.
What's the point of having a schedule then? If you can reliably count on it arriving early, adjust the arrival time and allow for a proper turn time.


