More Bumpy Fights...due to cost cutting?
Jun 13, 2012 | 3:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: Delta Diamond, Starwood Platinum100, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 55
More Bumpy Fights...due to cost cutting?
I fly a ton on Delta But also on USair and American. The last few months have been mostly bumpy flights. The airlines seem less worried about bumps, less likely to fly higher or lower to avoid he chop. I wonder if they don't want to spend e extra fuel?
Jun 13, 2012 | 3:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL PM | Marriott Gold | Alaska Gold
Posts: 758
Seriously? So you expect DL, USair and AA to control the weather now?
Jun 13, 2012 | 3:59 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL PM | Marriott Gold | Alaska Gold
Posts: 758
In fact I was just on a flight with DL last month where they did a significant re-route in order to avoid a storm - and guess what, we even arrived early!
You're being a little conspiracy theory nutty I think - take the tin foil hat off and enjoy some fresh air.
Jun 13, 2012 | 4:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AA EXP, AAirpass, & CK 2MM, MR Plat Premier, DL Plat, US Plat, UA RECOVERING GS
Posts: 2,620
I've noticed that most of the destinations I've flown to the southern US the last couple months seem hotter than in years past. This must be due to cost cutting. The airlines are refusing to air condition the outside air at their destinations properly!
Jun 13, 2012 | 4:37 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: US CP, HH Gold
Posts: 85
This is weather 101, also pilots can only report chop and request a diff altitude, ultimately it's up to ATC if they can change. It's possible that ATC simply denies their request to change alt for whatever reason like traffic or weather.
Jun 13, 2012 | 7:03 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
You might notice a difference if your flights are more likely to be RJs or smaller and lighter planes. Big heavy planes are less susceptible to weather.
Jun 13, 2012 | 7:04 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,685
This is the funniest post I have seen in months.
I think you actually fooled some people into thinking you were serious!
Jun 13, 2012 | 7:24 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
Jun 14, 2012 | 9:26 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dacula, GA
Programs: DL MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite
Posts: 432
More Bumpy Fights...due to cost cutting?
OP, are you serious?
As a nervous flier (yes, still), I hate chop as much as the next person. But to think that the home base in ATL told the pilot of my flight tonight to fly through the squall line over the planes, and damn the possible consequences, is ridiculous.
I obviously can't speak for pilots, but i imagine they want to land alive just as much as you do. And while turbulence in flight may be aggravating and scary, it is, 99.999% of the time, an issue of comfort and not safety.
As a nervous flier (yes, still), I hate chop as much as the next person. But to think that the home base in ATL told the pilot of my flight tonight to fly through the squall line over the planes, and damn the possible consequences, is ridiculous.
I obviously can't speak for pilots, but i imagine they want to land alive just as much as you do. And while turbulence in flight may be aggravating and scary, it is, 99.999% of the time, an issue of comfort and not safety.
Jun 17, 2012 | 2:17 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
An interesting and appropriate skeptical question.
No, I don't believe the purported increase in bumps you're feeling are due to fuel considerations. I don't recall a flight this year with meaningful bumps where the pilot didn't say "we're looking for a new route," or something of the sort.
What ratio of flights have you had year-over-year where you felt this was the case? We're they the same routes at the same season?
No, I don't believe the purported increase in bumps you're feeling are due to fuel considerations. I don't recall a flight this year with meaningful bumps where the pilot didn't say "we're looking for a new route," or something of the sort.
What ratio of flights have you had year-over-year where you felt this was the case? We're they the same routes at the same season?
Jun 17, 2012 | 2:45 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Hardly, to answer you question.
Almost every time you hear a flight check in with a new ATC center controller they still ask "How are the rides?".
And they will usually request a different altitude if PIREPs are bad enough.
Almost every time you hear a flight check in with a new ATC center controller they still ask "How are the rides?".
And they will usually request a different altitude if PIREPs are bad enough.