Flight Departure Times
Jun 27, 2019, 2:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 66
Flight Departure Times
Hey guys,
I am due to fly first class for the first time on Tuesday on BA297 to ORD. I have included some screenshots from Flightradar24 below and I can see the flight seems to depart quite frequently an hour after the listed time.
I was wondering... will this likely be due to late boarding (so hanging around the gate) or will I be chilling in my first class seat just waiting for the plane to depart?
Many thanks!
I am due to fly first class for the first time on Tuesday on BA297 to ORD. I have included some screenshots from Flightradar24 below and I can see the flight seems to depart quite frequently an hour after the listed time.
I was wondering... will this likely be due to late boarding (so hanging around the gate) or will I be chilling in my first class seat just waiting for the plane to depart?
Many thanks!
Jun 27, 2019, 2:46 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
Not necessarily !
As already mentioned, there can be a myriad of reasons for delays on any given day, for any given flight ; including delayed boarding due to late arrival of an inbound aircraft.
As already mentioned, there can be a myriad of reasons for delays on any given day, for any given flight ; including delayed boarding due to late arrival of an inbound aircraft.
Jun 27, 2019, 3:01 am
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,031
24th : 16:26, takeoff 17:02
25th : 16:43, takeoff 17:07
26th : 16:26, takeoff 16:56
which confirms the OPs observation that this flight consistently pushes late.
To summarise the OPs screenshots for easier reading :
Last edited by Oxon Flyer; Jun 27, 2019 at 3:06 am
Jun 27, 2019, 3:39 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 303
I'm seeing similar performance on BA11 (LHR-SIN) which I am due on next week. Hasn't been on-time for a few weeks.
I guess this is late departure from LHR coupled with longer flight times avoiding Pakistan (and now Iran?).
Oddly FR24 briefly showed a B744 scheduled on Monday which worried me a bit, until about an hour before departure when it reverted to A388. That part will be filed under the "FR24 isn'talways often accurate with airframe allocation" I presume?
Could do with the timing improving though, don't want to miss evening cocktails and canapés at the Intercontinental!
I guess this is late departure from LHR coupled with longer flight times avoiding Pakistan (and now Iran?).
Oddly FR24 briefly showed a B744 scheduled on Monday which worried me a bit, until about an hour before departure when it reverted to A388. That part will be filed under the "FR24 isn't
Could do with the timing improving though, don't want to miss evening cocktails and canapés at the Intercontinental!
Jun 27, 2019, 4:36 am
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 63,791
In my experience, 20 minutes taxiing and queuing at LHR is close to the minimum you see, it only gets a bit less early / late / Saturdays when things are quiet, and you're in a nippy A319 or something. They won't push back from the gate if the queues are too long, or if they do they'll park up somewhere off the airbridges for a bit.
40 minutes is my "going rate" for longhauls, over an hour is a bit tedious but not unheard of.
So at least some of the timings above are consistent with on time performance since this will be padded into the schedule. Thereafter jetstream is what it is.
In terms of the OP's question, boarding can and does close 20 minutes before advertised departure time. It's often a bit later, but particularly bus gates you can't count on it. But that is the time a passenger needs to regard as the final time, and of course you need to get to that gate.
40 minutes is my "going rate" for longhauls, over an hour is a bit tedious but not unheard of.
So at least some of the timings above are consistent with on time performance since this will be padded into the schedule. Thereafter jetstream is what it is.
In terms of the OP's question, boarding can and does close 20 minutes before advertised departure time. It's often a bit later, but particularly bus gates you can't count on it. But that is the time a passenger needs to regard as the final time, and of course you need to get to that gate.
Jun 27, 2019, 7:32 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
Unless you are specifically advised on the day of travel that you may remain at the lounge or, more precisely, that you may delay your gate time, you should plan on being at the gate prior to the gate deadline. Playing statistical games is a bad idea. That flight could operate an hour late on each of the last 89 days and on your specific date, operate on schedule.
It also is not worth timing around a 15-20 minute hold on the push while the taxi time is irrelevant to the passenger and is all included -- not added on --- to the scheduled time for the flight.
It also is not worth timing around a 15-20 minute hold on the push while the taxi time is irrelevant to the passenger and is all included -- not added on --- to the scheduled time for the flight.
Jun 27, 2019, 7:42 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,184
Since January:
Average variance between scheduled and actual (pushback) departure time is 18 minutes. Range is between -9 and 189 minutes.
Average taxi time (pushback to airborne) is 27 minutes. Range is between 16 and 55 minutes.
Average variance between scheduled and actual (pushback) departure time is 18 minutes. Range is between -9 and 189 minutes.
Average taxi time (pushback to airborne) is 27 minutes. Range is between 16 and 55 minutes.
Jun 27, 2019, 12:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
Got time on your hands or a good app? 😊