Why Do Americans Tolerate "Gate Waiting?"
Jan 12, 2020, 5:41 pm
#76
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,662
3) Domestic to International connections are most of the time efficient
Jan 12, 2020, 9:18 pm
#77
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
Jan 13, 2020, 7:35 am
#78
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
This, exactly. Bus gates sounds like the stupidest thing ever. People don't exactly line up and get on and off of vehicles quickly.
Jan 13, 2020, 8:13 am
#80
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
1) ^
2) US airport's flights are majority domestic. US street price for booze is often lower than any duty free prices. I don't smoke so I I don't know tobacco prices. I have allergies so the lack of a fragrance alley is Godsend.
HKG the train taking humans to the baggage carousel runs faster than the baggage train
2) US airport's flights are majority domestic. US street price for booze is often lower than any duty free prices. I don't smoke so I I don't know tobacco prices. I have allergies so the lack of a fragrance alley is Godsend.
HKG the train taking humans to the baggage carousel runs faster than the baggage train
Jan 13, 2020, 5:56 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,688
Jan 14, 2020, 12:16 pm
#84
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 189
I think the reality is outside of the people that fly a lot, the average person that takes a flight almost never experiences a wait to get to a gate, so there's no reason they'd *want* bus gates. I travel more than the average american, but far less than most people on here do, and I honestly couldn't even tell you the last time I've had to wait for a gate on landing. At a minimum, it's been years. The last one I can recall involved winter operations, and nope, sorry, no interest at all in deplaning outside to a bus in the middle of bad weather in MSP.
As for the luggage taking a long time thing, I'm not sure how much of that is more urban legend than anything else these days, or if not, then something the airlines could really control if they want to. I'm generally stuck with Delta, who's made an effort to speed up luggage handling. I know a lot of people joke about it, but from my experience, it's been a noticeable difference from before they started making guarantees about how long it would take. If I'm flying coach, by the time I get off the plane, hit a restroom, and make it to baggage claim, it's rare that my bag either isn't already there or isn't off in a few minutes. Even flying first, I've found they generally do a reasonable job of getting the priority tagged bags out first, and it's rarely been much of a wait. If Delta can do it, there's no reason other airlines couldn't if they wanted to. (Heck, my last flight, they had all the bags unloaded and the belts had stopped before I got there.) The last time I had a bag actually take what I'd say was an unreasonable period of time was a late night flight shortly before Delta started that program.
As for the luggage taking a long time thing, I'm not sure how much of that is more urban legend than anything else these days, or if not, then something the airlines could really control if they want to. I'm generally stuck with Delta, who's made an effort to speed up luggage handling. I know a lot of people joke about it, but from my experience, it's been a noticeable difference from before they started making guarantees about how long it would take. If I'm flying coach, by the time I get off the plane, hit a restroom, and make it to baggage claim, it's rare that my bag either isn't already there or isn't off in a few minutes. Even flying first, I've found they generally do a reasonable job of getting the priority tagged bags out first, and it's rarely been much of a wait. If Delta can do it, there's no reason other airlines couldn't if they wanted to. (Heck, my last flight, they had all the bags unloaded and the belts had stopped before I got there.) The last time I had a bag actually take what I'd say was an unreasonable period of time was a late night flight shortly before Delta started that program.
Jan 14, 2020, 2:17 pm
#85
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,574
Some airlines have improved baggage service to the point where the app shows if your bag has been scanned onto your connecting flight.
The one time last year I had a baggage issue, I knew it before I landed: the app had alerted me that the bags had misconnected. (Not surprising, as *I* barely had time to run from one plane to the next before the door closed.)
I know WN baggage handling at Midway was notoriously bad for a period of time. (Is it still?) AA at MIA was always a struggle. The early days at DEN were bad but I haven't had serious trouble there in years, and most of my Denver trips include golf clubs or a snowboard. I usually fly carry-on only, but baggage handling problems or serious delays seem pretty rare these days. Perhaps restricting many pax on legacy airlines to 0 checked bags and many others (including me) to 1 bag has actually helped the operation?