Flight Aware accuracy question
 

Relative to two Delta flights, how accurate can I assume Flight Aware is when checking the status of the inbound flight?

I am on DL1012 tonight ORF-ATL, and it is delayed due to mechanical about one hour and forty minutes. My planned connection, DL300, ATL-MSP is also delayed but most likely not enough to be able to catch it when I arrive in ATL.

When I look at the inbound flight in FlightAware for DL300 it is DL1012!

Both are MD-90's, so possibly the original plan was to use the same equipment but they replaced DL300 when it went MX, probably easier to do at a hub

They just announced a further delay....

Cheers,
Pogopossum

FlightCaster.com shows that the plane making up DL300 is DL147 DCA/ATL

http://flightcaster.com/show/271407310

Neither one really adds up at the moment, because, DL1012 is slated to arrive at A26, DL147 is slated to arrive at T1, but DL 300 is slated to depart from A2. Of course, gates can change in a heartbeat!

NOW it makes sense!!!!

FlightAware now shows DL1977 ORD/ATL making up DL300, which arrives at A2, and DL300 leaves from A2. It's awaiting takeoff at ORD, and currently estimating an 18 minute early arrival, I hate to tell ya!

edited to add . . . . .

The plane (DL1012) hasn't even left ATL yet to go to ORF, then turn around and go back. Ya better scout a RedCoat and get a hotel voucher!

Davetravels,

Thanks for a new link! FlightAware also just updated the flight info. So much for the convenience of having my outbound flight the same as the inbound!

They are now sending out different equipment for 1012 and we will get to Atlanta sooner or later.

Now, I can watch the line of thunderstorms starting to come through Norfolk.


Cheers,
Pogopossum

Well, I guess you can choose between a night on the town in beautiful Norfolk, or HotLanta! :D Ya ain't gettin' to MSP tonite unless you call these people!!!

http://www.deltaprivatejets.com

:D

Atlanta it is. Better chances to get to MSP from there tomorrow rather than Norfolk. Hope I can trust Delta to rebook me! The Orbitz and Travelocity travelers on this flight are nervous...

Cheers,
Pogopossum

Hmmmmmm . . . . What's wrong with this picture?!?! ;)

Rebooked in First for the 9:05 flight tomorrow morning - none of this getting up at 6 am for the first flight when I won't be in Atlanta until after midnight.
Good thing I'm not in a rush! :)

Hotel voucher also. But now I feel obligated to start a "How much compensation" thread, but I promise I won't.

Cheers,
Pogopossum

They gave you a hotel voucher for a hotel at ATL - - - at ORF??? Yikes! That's a little scary! Hope it works out for you! :)

It's not the actual voucher, just a computer printout that says "Attn ATL gate agent or red coat leadder pls provide hotel accomodation for this pax due to flt1012" and then some other info.

Still in ORF, though...

Cheers,
Pogopossum

Ahhhhh!! Good to know they can do that!!!

12:21 AM ETA for you now into ATL. DL300 is boarding!

Best of luck to you!! :)

edited to add . . . . Don't forget to let us know how much comp you end up with!!!
:D ;) :D

FlightAware can be pretty darned accurate. A few weeks ago it accurately tracked an AC flight that went YYZ-YYZ-CLT. Yes, you read that right. They got halfway to Buffalo when some kind of warning light went on, so they turned around and went home, fixed it, and left again. FlightAware even showed the actual track of the flight.

Usually FlightAware is quite accurate about things like inbound flights and the like. I've found it can fall apart when IROPS occur, but I suspect that's because it's relying on a system somewhere that is tracking flights by registration number, and DL (or especially its regional carriers) don't always update the future flights of a plane when IROPS occur.

As an example, I was flying BOS-MEM today on a 9E CR9. As of yesterday afternoon, the plane was supposed to be N912XJ and fly BNA-DTW last night and then DTW-BOS-MEM. Then as of last night, N912XJ was sent out on a 3-hour delayed DTW-PIT flight but still showing that it would fly DTW-BOS-MEM today in spite of the fact that there was no PIT-DTW flight that would get there in time to go DTW-BOS-MEM. I woke up this morning to discover my plane was switched to N933XJ, which flew BWI-DTW-BOS-MEM today.

By the way, if you didn't know it, for DL and most of its connection partners, you can search by registration like this:

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N912XJ

Update
 

Good information about FlightAware, thanks. I'll have to explore that site a bit more.

Made it to MSP today on the 9:05 flight, upgraded to FC. All the stars were aligned: my bag was one of the first off, the tram was waiting for me, and the light rail arrived as I came down the elevator (I had to park at the Humphrey Terminal last Wednesday). Seat 5A to my driveway in under an hour!

Compensation was $12 in food coupons at ORF, and $16 in food coupons at ATL plus a hotel room (Courtyard). Overall, everyone was helpful, so I have no complaints on how it was handled.

I'll post if I get any bonus miles. :)

Cheers,
Pogopossum