Would you book a flight with a 70% on time record?
Jul 6th, 2009, 08:45 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Would you book a flight with a 70% on time record?
I need to fly from San Jose to Detroit on Labor Day. I looked at flights from San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco and the itinerary with the best combination of flight times and price has a first leg of San Jose to Houston with only a 70% on time record. There is a 1 hour 18 minute connection time for the Houston to Detroit flight.
I'd appreciate opinions on whether its a bad idea to book this. Thanks!
I'd appreciate opinions on whether its a bad idea to book this. Thanks!
Jul 6th, 2009, 11:38 AM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actual take off and landing time are irrelevant. On time refers to departure from/arrival at the gate within 15min of scheduled time.
A 6pm flight can leave the gate on-time at 6:15, sit on the tarmac for 2hrs before takeoff and still be called "departed" on time. Of course it won't arrive on-time, unless the schedule has a whole lot of slop.
Ditto for a flight that lands with enough time to get to the gate for scheduled arrival time but has to sit and wait for a gate - I'll be logged as late.
I recall a few years ago when the FAA started to track & publicize on-time flights. Almost overnight the % of flights on-time went up dramatically - not because of any actual changes in travel time, but simply because the airlines built more slop into the schedule to account for ground holds, taxi queues, etc.
A 6pm flight can leave the gate on-time at 6:15, sit on the tarmac for 2hrs before takeoff and still be called "departed" on time. Of course it won't arrive on-time, unless the schedule has a whole lot of slop.
Ditto for a flight that lands with enough time to get to the gate for scheduled arrival time but has to sit and wait for a gate - I'll be logged as late.
I recall a few years ago when the FAA started to track & publicize on-time flights. Almost overnight the % of flights on-time went up dramatically - not because of any actual changes in travel time, but simply because the airlines built more slop into the schedule to account for ground holds, taxi queues, etc.
