“Departing early” becoming more common?
Oct 28, 2019, 7:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MSY
Programs: Bonvoy (Titanium) . Delta (Platinum)
Posts: 531
“Departing early” becoming more common?
Over the last week, I’ve noted most (almost all) of my flights posting as “early” departure by 5 minutes. As I post Monday morning, all of the MSY -ATL departures, even until this evening, as posted with an early departure. Is this a new trend/initiative? I can understand if happening close-in with a light passenger load, but 9 hours out on a flight that probably has a lot of legs before it even gets to the origin? What’s the strategy?
Oct 28, 2019, 7:47 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SAN
Programs: DL DM / 2MM - Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 1,517
Not sure on strategy but I've been loving that lately they board late then start yelling at people to sit down because they want to leave early. Like its totally our fault. Very irritating!
Oct 28, 2019, 8:19 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
AA & UA do the same thing. No reason not to.
All three require passengers to board domestic flights by T-15. If everyone at the gate by T-15 is boarded, why hang around? Even more the case if the empty seats are filled by standbys right at T-15 and it does not even matter if a late arrival does show up.
At the same time, all three are doing a better job of holding flights for late connections when the stars align, e.g. crew has the time and routing as well as enroute weather means the arrival won't be delayed.
All three require passengers to board domestic flights by T-15. If everyone at the gate by T-15 is boarded, why hang around? Even more the case if the empty seats are filled by standbys right at T-15 and it does not even matter if a late arrival does show up.
At the same time, all three are doing a better job of holding flights for late connections when the stars align, e.g. crew has the time and routing as well as enroute weather means the arrival won't be delayed.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:12 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York
Programs: SPG LT Gold, DL PM 1MM
Posts: 692
AA & UA do the same thing. No reason not to.
All three require passengers to board domestic flights by T-15. If everyone at the gate by T-15 is boarded, why hang around? Even more the case if the empty seats are filled by standbys right at T-15 and it does not even matter if a late arrival does show up.
At the same time, all three are doing a better job of holding flights for late connections when the stars align, e.g. crew has the time and routing as well as enroute weather means the arrival won't be delayed.
All three require passengers to board domestic flights by T-15. If everyone at the gate by T-15 is boarded, why hang around? Even more the case if the empty seats are filled by standbys right at T-15 and it does not even matter if a late arrival does show up.
At the same time, all three are doing a better job of holding flights for late connections when the stars align, e.g. crew has the time and routing as well as enroute weather means the arrival won't be delayed.
I think it's annoying. Also I assume the boarding cut off at T-15 still holds based on the STD so it doesn't really have that much power to move the few late people around. That said, I do imagine that instead of 70% of pax are waiting at the gate by T-30, now 80% are there waiting around, so it does help the efficiency for boarding a bit.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:15 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,837
I got screwed one time when my connecting flight left 10 minutes early. It left without me. Frustrating.
And with the tight turnarounds it is really annoying for them to announce that we need to hurry up, due to their unrealistic scheduling.
And with the tight turnarounds it is really annoying for them to announce that we need to hurry up, due to their unrealistic scheduling.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:30 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
I was in the ATL A SkyClub on Friday and was told that flights in and out of ATL are being moved up by 5 minutes for flow control due to runway repairs.
Oct 28, 2019, 10:00 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
Most of my flights to ATL that close the door early are held at the gate or tarmac for flow control anyway.
Oct 28, 2019, 10:09 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
Didn't make a lot of sense to me either, but I suspect they are adding in the extra 5 for potential delays as you noted.
Oct 28, 2019, 10:13 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
DL has been doing this at JFK for years, actually posting a new departure time 5 minutes early......it's extremely annoying to see especially when your inbound has any sort of delay (regionals from DCA etc).
Oct 28, 2019, 11:04 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
I had a 5 minute "early" departure the other day. Was a little jarring to see early until I noticed it was only 5 minutes.
So let me ask this, if they leave 5 minutes early, and arrive on time... is this really on time, and fair to count as "on time"? Isn't it 5 minutes late?
So let me ask this, if they leave 5 minutes early, and arrive on time... is this really on time, and fair to count as "on time"? Isn't it 5 minutes late?
Oct 28, 2019, 11:05 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MKE
Programs: DL 2 MM
Posts: 905
On Friday morning I looked at my flights - through ATL - for Saturday, and they were both already showing as 5 minutes early. So what they told you was true in my case - although I agree the logic doesn't make much sense if ALL flights are moved up.
Oct 28, 2019, 11:23 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
This has been going on for years. Going not just for 5, but 15, sometimes even as much as 30, minutes early departure out of NGO, KIX (also was FUK, before DL shut it down).
When DL schedules flights already too early (often 2+ hours earlier than JL, 3-4 hours earlier than D7, flights on the same route) and then departs even earlier, it sure makes it inconvenient. Even when you arrive with plenty of time to spare, it's a rush to get to the gate as they want to close it 30 minutes before scheduled departure time. It also means check-in desk closes earlier, as the staff from there go to the gate early, so it's very important to do OLCI.
When DL schedules flights already too early (often 2+ hours earlier than JL, 3-4 hours earlier than D7, flights on the same route) and then departs even earlier, it sure makes it inconvenient. Even when you arrive with plenty of time to spare, it's a rush to get to the gate as they want to close it 30 minutes before scheduled departure time. It also means check-in desk closes earlier, as the staff from there go to the gate early, so it's very important to do OLCI.
Oct 28, 2019, 11:51 am
#15
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: DL 4MM; DM
Posts: 1,397
All of my flights (10) over the last 2 weeks have posted the "Early". While the door did close early on a few of those, only 1 pushed back early (and it sat on the tarmac due to flow control into ATL).
None of those flights began boarding until 5-10 minutes after the original boarding time. T-35 (original) seems to have been the norm for starting boarding on almost all my flights for the last year. Very few actually beginning boarding at T-40. And, unless we were late due to late inbound; missing crew or late catering-none of those flights pushed later than scheduled.
Perhaps I've just been unlucky at how this is being executed. But, at least so far, I am not seeing a real reason for this new "early" boarding.
None of those flights began boarding until 5-10 minutes after the original boarding time. T-35 (original) seems to have been the norm for starting boarding on almost all my flights for the last year. Very few actually beginning boarding at T-40. And, unless we were late due to late inbound; missing crew or late catering-none of those flights pushed later than scheduled.
Perhaps I've just been unlucky at how this is being executed. But, at least so far, I am not seeing a real reason for this new "early" boarding.