Excessive (?) schedule padding on UA?
Mar 5, 2011 | 3:07 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, Marriott Amb
Posts: 360
Of all the routes that UA does do some serious padding on, JFK<>SFO is probably the most justified. ORD<>LGA is a close second.
Also, in fairness, if you compare the block times to the actual flight times of routes that aren't as susceptible to weather/ATC delays, they are usually much closer together. DEN-MEM is one that I take just about weekly. I can't recall the flight ever departing or arriving more than +/- 10 minutes from scheduled, with the lone exception being a recent 3+ hour delay due to weather across the top of the country from Chicago to the east coast.
Mar 6, 2011 | 11:29 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Colonial Heights, VA USA
Posts: 48
I have noticed this occurs during peak travel times at major airports. I think it is partially to allow for long waits on the taxiway for takeoff. If you are number twenty for takeoff, you want that extra time, especially if you have to make a connection. As for arriving early, often your gate is occupied and you have to wait anyway.
Mar 6, 2011 | 11:38 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4,449
Padding is not new.
This has been going on for some time now. It's great. I am always early. I really like how they do it. It's the old motto: "Under promise. Over deliver."
It's working well for UA, in my book. ^
It's working well for UA, in my book. ^
Mar 6, 2011 | 1:15 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: n.y.c.
Posts: 14,059
It's probably more a factor in aircraft running short segments, and I'm sure the scheduling system can figure out how much padding they can get away with before it starts to affect aircraft utilization.