"Home for the holidays": Pilot program to hold flights for delayed connections.
Dec 15, 2017, 9:06 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum; Hyatt Diamond/GLOB
Posts: 738
Look the obvious solution to this is that if it is my connection that is late, they should definitely hold the plane for me.
If I'm already on the plane, they should depart the gate on schedule so that I can get to destination on time.
If I'm already on the plane, they should depart the gate on schedule so that I can get to destination on time.
Dec 15, 2017, 9:17 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: LAS
Programs: 3 MMer
Posts: 458
Dec 16, 2017, 6:17 am
#50
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
So it's not that simple. It makes me feel a lot better that an employee stated upthread that this is not a program, but rather just a case-by-case decision, which IME, it always has been. And it's not only for "last flight" but I've seen them do it for connections too. Living in Chicago, it can be a little annoying when they announce they're holding the flight for someone who has the 11:55 pm flight to Seoul and needs to get to ORD. But even when I just REALLY want to get home, I think of how missing that flight would ruin someone else's day, week, or family vacation.
Dec 16, 2017, 10:01 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 295
Never heard of this program. Did a search on our employee site and there is no mention of this program. At this point, I would be led to believe it was a GA making a feel good excuse to hold a flight for a bit...and the folks on FT running with it.
Having said that.... The decision to hold a flight for connectors is made at a level far, far away from the aircraft or the gate. The decision, as many have pointed out, involves a myriad of factors including last flight of the day, estimated flight time for that segment, ability to re-book misconnects, impact on follow on flights, crew rest, etc.
Pilots are provided very clear direction for the priorities of operating a flight: Safely, comfortably, on-time, and efficiently...in that order. The priority to be on-time (or less-late) comes before operating efficiently.....i.e. we will always burn more gas if it helps keep the operation on time.
DRW
Having said that.... The decision to hold a flight for connectors is made at a level far, far away from the aircraft or the gate. The decision, as many have pointed out, involves a myriad of factors including last flight of the day, estimated flight time for that segment, ability to re-book misconnects, impact on follow on flights, crew rest, etc.
Pilots are provided very clear direction for the priorities of operating a flight: Safely, comfortably, on-time, and efficiently...in that order. The priority to be on-time (or less-late) comes before operating efficiently.....i.e. we will always burn more gas if it helps keep the operation on time.
DRW
Dec 16, 2017, 3:01 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
nice in theory but often poorly executed. This week our flight was held 25 minutes for connecting passengers and we arrived 30 minutes late ... they thought they could make up for it but they could not and several pax missed their connections. As usual ... nice theories from UA married with poor execution ... recipe for disaster.
Dec 16, 2017, 4:31 pm
#53
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,117
I've never been on a late leaving flight where the pilot didn't announce that they would make up the time/some of the time in flight.