DL continues to weaken operationally (Summer 2022 Meltdown)
Jun 27, 2022, 2:27 pm
#451
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,225
Watching ATL arrivals on FR24. Lots of MAPs, and looks like diversions are starting. Pancakes over the NW and NE gates. DL not going to get a break today.
MUC inbound broke off an 8R approach and looks like he's going to BNA.
then DUB just missed on 8R then FRA missed. MEX also missed
Last three might be joining the pattern again.
MUC inbound broke off an 8R approach and looks like he's going to BNA.
then DUB just missed on 8R then FRA missed. MEX also missed
Last three might be joining the pattern again.
Jun 27, 2022, 2:48 pm
#453
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,225
Great question. As someone who used to make these calls, I'll try to explain.
Lets say you have 10 flights going to LGA from ATL, exactly one hour apart and every other one is a DLC flight. If a published GDP (Ground Delay Program) comes out every flight within the GDP scope gets assigned an EDCT (Estimated Departure Clearance Time) more commonly referred to as a "wheels-up" time. Lets say each of the 10 flights is delayed an average of 90 minutes. What carriers are allowed to do is cancel rounds (a landing and takeoff) and substitute another flight into its EDCT. Let's say the first round in my 10 hypothetic rounds happens to be a DLC regional flight. If DL (as the marketed carrier) calls up Endeavor (or whomever) and requests they cancel that round. they can take their time slot and move all of the other 9 flights into earlier EDCTs. So perhaps instead of having 10 flights delated 90 minutes each, you have one cancellation, and then 9 flights that operate ~30 minutes late. In reality, it's a lot more complicated, because you have probably a few hundred flights in the program from many different destinations. Some have protection, some don't. Some cause significant downline disruption (crews out of place, or missing MX redlines), etc. etc. There are some great software products that make these decisions easier.
The carrier I worked for had a "decision making pod" made up of dispatch mgr, maintenance, crew skd, ATC coordinator, pax svc corrdinator, etc (I worked both of the last two jobs over my career). We would work together to figure out when and which rounds to cancel on a bad weather day. We also made calls to regionals to cut their rounds. This might sound like a terrible deal for them, but it really isn't. They would get paid like 90% of the negotiated price to NOT fly the flight.
Lets say you have 10 flights going to LGA from ATL, exactly one hour apart and every other one is a DLC flight. If a published GDP (Ground Delay Program) comes out every flight within the GDP scope gets assigned an EDCT (Estimated Departure Clearance Time) more commonly referred to as a "wheels-up" time. Lets say each of the 10 flights is delayed an average of 90 minutes. What carriers are allowed to do is cancel rounds (a landing and takeoff) and substitute another flight into its EDCT. Let's say the first round in my 10 hypothetic rounds happens to be a DLC regional flight. If DL (as the marketed carrier) calls up Endeavor (or whomever) and requests they cancel that round. they can take their time slot and move all of the other 9 flights into earlier EDCTs. So perhaps instead of having 10 flights delated 90 minutes each, you have one cancellation, and then 9 flights that operate ~30 minutes late. In reality, it's a lot more complicated, because you have probably a few hundred flights in the program from many different destinations. Some have protection, some don't. Some cause significant downline disruption (crews out of place, or missing MX redlines), etc. etc. There are some great software products that make these decisions easier.
The carrier I worked for had a "decision making pod" made up of dispatch mgr, maintenance, crew skd, ATC coordinator, pax svc corrdinator, etc (I worked both of the last two jobs over my career). We would work together to figure out when and which rounds to cancel on a bad weather day. We also made calls to regionals to cut their rounds. This might sound like a terrible deal for them, but it really isn't. They would get paid like 90% of the negotiated price to NOT fly the flight.
Jun 27, 2022, 3:30 pm
#454
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,181
I just looked at the CNN article "700 flights canceled on Sunday" and the numbers don't make sense. It says that 730 flights were cancelled across the USA, with 224 DL, 71 UA, and 66 AA. That leaves almost half (369) flights canceled by other carriers, which seems surprising to me in that other than WN, thee airlines tend to be smaller.
BTW, does DCA "cranes" mean the birds or construction equipment?
BTW, does DCA "cranes" mean the birds or construction equipment?
What about regionals??
Jun 27, 2022, 3:35 pm
#455
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,181
I'm just booking numerous tickets and the day of ill just refund the ones I don't use at this point. I know I'm not the only person doing this now which in the end is causing higher fare pricing and less seats till last minute. It's why you also see Seats available 6 until last minute but then 15 people make the standby lol.
Jun 27, 2022, 3:49 pm
#456
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,932
Flight to LGA last week oversold by 10. I volunteer my seat. Number one on the volunteer list. Gate agent protects me in F on the next flight. Flight goes out with 6 empty seats. That is a delta of 16. So many double bookings with no risk/change fees now. In theory a sold out flight could now go out empty with so many double and triple bookings. And DL doesn’t collect the $200.
Jun 27, 2022, 3:57 pm
#457
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,181
With so many canceled and significantly delayed flights no penalty to book multiple flights on different airlines using free 24-hour rule or miles.
Jun 27, 2022, 4:04 pm
#458
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,932
Jun 27, 2022, 4:37 pm
#460
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,187
News this afternoon/evening is reporting on airline delays and cancellations at BOS... with Delta leading the pack of the majors, currently at 11 cxl. 55 delayed (34% of flights).
Jetblue has 106 delays (41%) but only 4 cxl.
Jetblue has 106 delays (41%) but only 4 cxl.
Jun 27, 2022, 4:55 pm
#462
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,486
JetBlue had been a real dumpster fire with cancellations this spring (some days had 25% cancelled), but their cancellations have improved markedly after they trimmed their schedules for the summer. (As far as a high number of delays… that’s just how the airline has always been run.)
Jun 27, 2022, 5:59 pm
#465
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,225
