Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Today's instance of AA stupidity

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 2:59 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
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
Antarius and robertablake like this.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 3:04 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY, BJX, QRO; previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM
Posts: 18,363
Originally Posted by bchandler02
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
That flight will operate on time far more often than not. Most often it will arrive early, and with an aircraft barely larger than a VW bug, they can turn it very quickly. They also get a chuckle out of you calling them stupid.
Blumie is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 3:20 pm
  #3  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
So you are saying they bank on it being ahead of schedule? That makes no sense.
robertablake likes this.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 3:22 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
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.
Blumie is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 3:54 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1,752
Originally Posted by bchandler02
So you are saying they bank on it being ahead of schedule? That makes no sense.
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.
Caspavio is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 4:03 pm
  #6  
500k
30 Countries Visited
80 Nights
20 Years on Site
 
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.
dlnewbie is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 4:12 pm
  #7  
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
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
KBMIFlyer is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 4:16 pm
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Countries Visited
2M
Community Builder
15 Years on Site
 
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)

Originally Posted by KBMIFlyer
… 30 minute outstation turns and schedule padding are both reasonable airline operations.
this, x1000
scoonee, SCChris, wrp96 and 1 others like this.
jrl767 is online now  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 6:22 pm
  #9  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
Originally Posted by KBMIFlyer
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?
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 7:06 pm
  #10  
20 Countries Visited
30 Nights
5M
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: lax
Posts: 4,055
Was this the only way to book this trip? I would never take that chance!
skylady is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 7:16 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
30 Nights
1M
50 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
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.
Antarius is offline  
Old Mar 11, 2025 | 8:37 pm
  #12  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Countries Visited
2M
Community Builder
15 Years on Site
 
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
Originally Posted by skylady
Was this the only way to book this trip? I would never take that chance!
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
jrl767 is online now  
Old Mar 12, 2025 | 5:56 am
  #13  
All eyes on you!
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 699
Originally Posted by bchandler02
So you are saying they bank on it being ahead of schedule? That makes no sense.
It's a 322 mile flight blocked for 82 minutes. Yes, they should plan on it being ahead of schedule most of the time.
upinsmoke is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2025 | 6:48 am
  #14  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
500k
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Plat, National EE, AA Plat
Posts: 2,539
Originally Posted by KBMIFlyer
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.
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.


Originally Posted by upinsmoke
It's a 322 mile flight blocked for 82 minutes. Yes, they should plan on it being ahead of schedule most of the 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.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old Mar 12, 2025 | 7:10 am
  #15  
10 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MHK
Programs: AA Exec Plat - some level of status in IHG, Marriot & HIlton
Posts: 1,807
Originally Posted by bchandler02
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.
Not really a 1 minute turn. Sure, it is 1 minute from the scheduled boarding time, but in reality those planes don't need more than 10 minutes to board. I fly out of MHK and it seems like most flights have a scheduled 30-35 minutes between plan arrival and the next one leaving. If the arriving plane is anywhere close to on time, the departure is on time. American knows the true time it takes to turn and is willing to schedule the flights like that. They don't want to publish a later boarding time because they don't want the passengers to cut it too close and of course there is a decent chance that the plane arrives 10 minutes early and they can start boarding 30 minutes ahead.
ksucats is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.