JFK-MSY is a 3-1/2 hour flight?
Nov 5, 2019, 6:22 am
#16
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JFK has one runway closed until November ??, 2019. In August I was on a flt from JFK to ZRH, the doors closed at T-0 but we sat at the gate (due to NOT major weather) for 1 hour, at T+30 a GA conversed with a push-back agent (I had a window seat). We taxied around the airport (passing the same point a second time) as we neared the t/o queue the captain noted the closed runway to our left...we took off over 2.5 hours late.
Nov 5, 2019, 7:07 am
#17
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And if they didn't pad, OP and others would come here complaining about missing connections or other important events because the flight timing was too tight and didn't account for JFK traffic.
You can't win with this stuff -- give me the huge padding any day of the week. At least when they have big padding (combined with their on-time rates that track to that padding) that I will be arriving to my gate at or before the time stated on the ticket and plan accordingly (and if it ends up being early -- great I can get started on my vacation / work trip / ride to the hotel / etc., earlier).
You can't win with this stuff -- give me the huge padding any day of the week. At least when they have big padding (combined with their on-time rates that track to that padding) that I will be arriving to my gate at or before the time stated on the ticket and plan accordingly (and if it ends up being early -- great I can get started on my vacation / work trip / ride to the hotel / etc., earlier).
Nov 5, 2019, 8:04 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
And if they didn't pad, OP and others would come here complaining about missing connections or other important events because the flight timing was too tight and didn't account for JFK traffic.
You can't win with this stuff -- give me the huge padding any day of the week. At least when they have big padding (combined with their on-time rates that track to that padding) that I will be arriving to my gate at or before the time stated on the ticket and plan accordingly (and if it ends up being early -- great I can get started on my vacation / work trip / ride to the hotel / etc., earlier).
You can't win with this stuff -- give me the huge padding any day of the week. At least when they have big padding (combined with their on-time rates that track to that padding) that I will be arriving to my gate at or before the time stated on the ticket and plan accordingly (and if it ends up being early -- great I can get started on my vacation / work trip / ride to the hotel / etc., earlier).
Also for those of us who live in metro areas the day and time you're departing matters a lot driving, so why wouldn't it matter for flying? In MSP, if you're headed up to Northern MN on a summer Friday afternoon, it can take twice as long than heading up Wednesday before rush hour.
Nov 5, 2019, 8:25 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
OK, it ended up taking about 2:50 from gate departure to touchdown. The attendant said that they "do not have to wait on the tarmac". It also seemed to be a bit roundabout; perhaps there was some bad weather along the geodesic. Got to experience the old MSY terminal one last time; Concourse D is so much better than the other ones.
Nov 5, 2019, 2:11 pm
#20
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It's also good to point out that JFK has the largest peak/off peak traffic difference of any large US airport. Late afternoon into early evening is when the majority of the flights depart, so flights are padded more (20+ minutes) during these hours than mid-AM flights.
Nov 5, 2019, 3:13 pm
#21
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LGA/JFK - RDU PM flights are usually scheduled for 2 hours -- it's a 50 minute flight wheels up to wheels down (plus the maybe 5 minute RDU taxi) but it's usually spot on due to the wait time getting out of LGA/JFK.
And then I'm fine because I've planned my arrival home based on the scheduled arrival -- and on the rare occasions where the stars align and you get right out I am happy to get home 30-45 minutes early
Nov 6, 2019, 3:56 pm
#22
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As my name would imply, I've flown the route 300+ times.
Block time has been from 3 to 3:30 as far back as I can remember, especially in the summer/fall when huge detours are common due to WX.
The flight time is usually 2:30-3:00 on the way down and about 10-15 minutes faster on the way up.
I've had 2 4+ hour flights and one nearly sub 2 hour flight in the last few years
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...853Z/KJFK/KMSY - 4 hour flight last week
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...140Z/KJFK/KMSY - 2.25 hour flight in October
Block time has been from 3 to 3:30 as far back as I can remember, especially in the summer/fall when huge detours are common due to WX.
The flight time is usually 2:30-3:00 on the way down and about 10-15 minutes faster on the way up.
I've had 2 4+ hour flights and one nearly sub 2 hour flight in the last few years
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...853Z/KJFK/KMSY - 4 hour flight last week
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...140Z/KJFK/KMSY - 2.25 hour flight in October
Nov 6, 2019, 8:57 pm
#23
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FWIW, Southwest blocks LGA-MSY at 3h50m in January, and that's for a mid-day LGA departure when traffic should be lighter. (Though for 12/5 it's only 3h35m).