Why does it take an extra hour to return from the east coast?
Mar 23, 2011, 8:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Why does it take an extra hour to return from the east coast?
In looking at summertime flight schedules for nonstop flights on UAL between San Francisco (SFO) and Newark, NJ (EWR), the SFO to EWR flights take about 5 hours, 30 minutes, but the return flights from EWR to SFO take about 6 hours, 30 minutes. Anyone know why the east ---> west flights take an extra hour?
Mar 23, 2011, 8:18 pm
#2
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(1) headwinds
(2) extra taxi time at EWR
(2) extra taxi time at EWR
Mar 23, 2011, 8:19 pm
#3
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To account for potential headwinds and to seriously pad times in order to be 'on time'.
Mar 23, 2011, 8:39 pm
#5
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Thanks for the feedback folks, much appreciated.
Mar 23, 2011, 8:42 pm
#6
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Mostly its the headwinds. The schedules are padded in both directions to try to compensate for chronic delays at all the NY airports.
Mar 23, 2011, 8:45 pm
#7
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Mar 23, 2011, 8:48 pm
#8
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My PS flights this month we had 110 kt tailwind on the way to New York, which in turn made for a long trip home from New York.
Mar 23, 2011, 8:54 pm
#9
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(and a good thing I wasn't arriving at ORD 58 minutes early as this goalie would have had his first experience in a penalty box <pun intended> 
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Mar 23, 2011, 9:20 pm
#10
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I remember a few years ago when there were recording breaking west-east winds and flights were arriving from the west in record time, but many flights going west had to stop for refueling.
Mar 23, 2011, 9:49 pm
#11
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Mar 23, 2011, 9:59 pm
#12
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Mar 23, 2011, 10:10 pm
#14
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I used to fly a lot from BOS to LAX and JFK/EWR to LAX and could never remember which direction took longer. Then I came up with an easy way to recall it: "You always have to work harder for the nicer things in life. Hence it takes longer to get to California." 
Mar 23, 2011, 10:31 pm
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