A silver lining in the friendly skies: Airlines are leaving on time
Filed under: Simplification, Travel
Also tops on the list: Comair flight 6273 from Cleveland to Atlanta was late 82.8% of the time.
On the bright side for those stuck waiting for those flights, Miami International Airport has La Carreta, a well-reviewed Cuban restaurant, while Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has several local restaurants and two local breweries. With a little planning and the right flight to Atlanta or San Juan, you can continue to experience the joys of air travel, 2007 style!
Holiday Travel = Waiting?
**FILE** In this Feb. 10, 2006 file photo, tourists relax enjoying the sunset on a beach in the Caribbean city of Cartagena, Colombia. Several carriers have said that advance bookings for the 2008-2009 holiday season, show their planes are expected to be as full as or fuller than a year ago in part because they have taken so many seats out of the air. (AP Photo/Ricardo Maldonado, file)
AP
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 16: Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and his wife Cindy McCain are joined by campaign staff while transfering from his airplane to a helicopter at the Philadelphia International Airport October 16, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due to airport delays in Newark, McCain had to take a helicopter to Manhattan so to make it to his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John McCain;Cindy McCain
Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 16: Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and his wife Cindy McCain are joined by campaign staff while transfering from his airplane to a helicopter at the Philadelphia International Airport October 16, 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due to airport delays in Newark, McCain had to take a helicopter to Manhattan so to make it to his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John McCain;Cindy McCain
Getty Images
A special opera performance is staged in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008 to celebrate China's National Day which falls on October 1. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A special opera performance is staged in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008 to celebrate China's National Day which falls on October 1. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A special opera performance is staged in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008 to celebrate China's National Day which falls on October 1. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A special opera performance is staged in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008 to celebrate China's National Day which falls on October 1. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A special opera performance is staged in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008 to celebrate China's National Day which falls on October 1. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Visitors admire the miniature figurines on display at an art exhibition in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
A Chinese visitor admires the miniature figurines on display at an art exhibition in Xian, northern China's Shaanxi province on September 30, 2008. Millions of Chinese are spending their week-long October 1 National Day holidays travelling to various tourist spots and attractions throughout the country. CHINA OUT GETTY OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
That's how I looked at the situation when I planned my trips that year. Recognizing that there was a significant chance that I would end up spending several hours waiting for one flight or another, I packed a lot of books, wore layered clothing, and scoped out the attractions at the various airports that I would be visiting. Consequently, when I found myself dealing with an 8-hour delay at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, I had already plotted out my food itinerary: a big bowl of Cincinnati five-way chili at Gold Star, one or two cups of coffee from Peet's, and a mini-pizza from Wolfgang Puck's. In between meals, I checked out the aviation exhibits, read my books, and exercised by doing laps in the concourse. All in all, it was a fairly pleasant day.
Unfortunately, the wonderful days of airport exploration may be behind me. According to a recent article, a combination of higher fuel prices and increased demand have led many carriers to cut back on flights. The reduced congestion has, in turn, led to an impressive increase in the rate of flights arriving on time. In September, 2008, almost 85% of U.S. flights arrived on time. By comparison, 81.7% of September 2007's flights were on time and August 2008 flights were on schedule a mere 78.4% of the time. Clearly, reduced demand has been a good thing for the airline industry: given fewer travelers, they seem to be able to give much better service.
Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He also has a warm spot in his heart for O'Hare airport, which has one of the best sandwich places he's ever visited.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2008 @ 4:34PM
flyer said...
Whomever does the flight scheduling for American Flt 1267 should be fired if this report is true. Late leaving/arriving 86% of the time!!! PUHLEEZE...That record is ridiculous. People fly to get someplace faster than by other means of transportation. Sitting in an airport waiting and waiting, for lots of reasons, just does not make sense except to say that the American suits just don't give a >>>. They're too busy planning golf games. When will the American consumer shake off that DEEP layer of apathy and resignation, and TAKE SOME ACTION TO CHANGE MATTERS?
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 5:41PM
MS Perez said...
I have worked this flight, connections are tight and often we have to wait for Miami Dade County wheelchair services to bring connecting passengers in wheelchairs to the gate from other inbound flights. AA does not have the authority to reprimand, fire or replace Miami County wheelchair services.
11-13-2008 @ 12:31AM
Kent said...
I would bet the reason that American flight is late so much is that 1287 waits for connections. That flight leaves Miami around 4pm. If there are a lot of misconnects, then a) the plane leaves with empty seats, and b) if the misconnects can't be accomodated on later flights to San Juan, then they have to be put up in hotels.
Ironically, 1287 left Miami today 1 minute early and arrived in San Juan 3 minutes early.
11-12-2008 @ 3:30PM
Brad said...
Most of my trips are International. I started using Montreal and Toronto as my hub Airports to Europe and Asia. I have never had a delay when I do this. EU based Carriers are more reliable about passenger care than U.S. Carriers are. The last time I flew a U.S. Carrier on an International route was 1989.
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 4:59PM
Jon said...
Everyone needs to read
10 Useful Secrets the Major Airlines Don’t Want You to Know
http://www.curiousread.com/2007/10/10-useful-secrets-major-airlines-dont.html
It's worth the read!
11-12-2008 @ 3:49PM
Brad said...
Most of my trips are International. And I have not experienced any delays since I started using Toronto and Montreal as my hub Airports. In my opinion, EU signature Carriers are far more reliable. I have not used a U.S. Carrier on an International route since 1989. Why should I be expected to travel on an old 767 with no in seat entertainment when a nice A-340 or Boeing 777 is going to the same location with less chance of delay?
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 4:49PM
ROBERT W. SMITH said...
MY NEICE AND I JUST CAME BACK FROM A FLIGHT TO RENO FROM GRAND RAPIDS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO THE RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT VIA AMERICAN AIR LINE, AND ARE HAPPY TO REPORT OUR FLIGHTS WERE ALL ON TIME' AND WE LOST NO LUGGAGE !!
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 4:58PM
r said...
Maybe we should have Obama bring some change to our airlines!
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 6:13PM
Jeanie said...
Just completed trip from Colorado Springs to Ft. Myers and back on American. ALL flights left on time despite 3 wheelchairs on one flight. Two flights arrived early, one almost 20 minutes early. Connections and trip were better on American than previous same trips on United......
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 6:37PM
S. Dennis said...
Bruce needs to check Continental Airlines & Newark (EWR) Airport. Continental is never on time.!!!
Just returned from Florida last week. Flew into EWR ,More than 1hr. late. Flight out of EWR more than 2hrs. late (flight 8661), then flight was canceled while we were on board & engines were running. Reason flight was canceled ,Pilot & CoPilot had to much AIRTIME!!!!
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 7:01PM
Andrea Soria said...
Flight 8661? No such flight number with Continental. Are you sure?
11-12-2008 @ 8:36PM
bruce said...
what is it i need to check? the fact that pilots are stupid to fly? they lost their pensions, are WAY under paid, (flying for free) but don't have the gonads to do anything about it. that ALPA is useless, and does not back their pilots WHO PAY THEIR FAT SALARIES.
Thanks... I needed that. Now, back to sunning myself on that nice white beach... just hand me my drink, and make sure my $$$$ get's into the bank.
11-12-2008 @ 6:39PM
Hairy Hal said...
It doesn't surprise me it's from Miami that is the worst airport in the U.S. to fly in and out of, flights are always delayed or worse. I remember I had a routine short flight from Miami to Jacksonville, Florida and it was cancelled and I had to be put up at a crummy Howard Johnson near the airport in Miami (not a good area). Other flights have been delayed from there and gates changed without notice or people knowing where they were changed to it's a mess. I live in Orlando now and will never fly into or out of Miami! If I have to go there I will drive. If you need to go to South Florida, fly into Fort Lauderdale even if it is more $$$, avoid the Miami airport!
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 6:53PM
nancy said...
They are late because they have to make sure none of the illegals are trying to go back to Cuba.
11-12-2008 @ 7:00PM
Angiebaby said...
Why is it considered a "silver lining" for flying because airlines are leaving on time? They should be EXPECTED to leave on time.
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 7:29PM
dennis s. said...
Flight 8661
Andrea Soria, do YOU work for Continental by chance???!!!
I have my ticket in hand, 8661 to AVP!!! Maybe you are the woman at customer service that said , I HAVE TO GO HOME!!!
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 8:09PM
retired capt said...
what do you expect from the minimum wage pilots? you get what you pay for... and these dopes are working for free. what do you call it when they have no retrirement pensions? stupid to the max... grow some gonads pilots...strike...
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 8:45PM
joanne cutillo said...
Has anyone out there heard of usa3000? great airline with great price's. I have flown the airline every time i went to ft.lauderdale it's only minutes from miami but flew to fort lauderdale now they just fly to ft' myer's florida great on time smooth flight's never a bad flight can't wait till they fly to lauderdale again i really miss that airline ticket's were never more than 98.80 rt
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 9:42PM
Gary said...
CO8661 does exist. From EWR to AVP according to www.continental.com. That also shows that it's not really a Continental flight....it's operated by CommutAir (the real airline) as a Continental Connection flight (a marketing agreement). And, no, I do not, nor have I ever worked for Continental.
Reply
11-12-2008 @ 10:38PM
jetmech13 said...
whaaa, they charge too much, they are always late blah blah blah.... DON'T FLY.... DRIVE!!!!!! Your delayed 5 min or 2 hours it's still faster than highway or rail. You people think the airlines owe you something! they are a buisness with a goal to make money! If that is heartbreaking for you oversensitive cry babies then DON'T FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply