why do airlines lie about delays

When you check your flight status online, you only see the status. The gate staff was SkyWest not United at the time. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. Are airlines scheduling more flights than they can logistically operate? Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. You can find Fish on Twitter at @flyingwithfish and join Fish every Thursday at 3:30pm EST as he hosts the weekly #TNI #Travel Chat on Twitter. Contact Me. The flight kept being delayed when the gate agent announced the flight was cancelled due to weather. FlightAware and Flightradar are two of my favorites, and you are able to track where your flight came from and also where it is in that moment, which I think is so fun to be able to see your plane in real time, said travel blogger Esther Susag. You gotta love their lies. Summer thunderstorms, however, are harder to predict both in exact timing and location. When airlines claim weather, it protects them against compensating passengers as it is an act of God. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. "We also struggled through snowstorms in Denver. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. But I didnt do it! I was booked, in total, three days later on a late evening flight out of Denver to Kentucky. "I think United looked pretty guilty the last two weeks, as American did not post similar cancellation numbers, nor did Southwest, out of O'Hare or Midway, for the same time periods," she says. But there is a "but". In fact, airfare was one of the leading inflationary components this spring in the latest report from the government. Yet another airline half-truth. That was just the way there; I dont have it in me to write about the way back. It was not fined. We're in the middle of a season that traditionally brings blizzards, ice storms and cold winter rains with it, offering more opportunities for airlines to play the weather card. Yesterday Chris Elliott, a noted consumer advocate and travel blogger who you should all be reading wrote a blog post entitled Are airlines bending the truth about weather delays?, which got me thinking about all my delayed and canceled flights. Plus, we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more. Any information published by Cond Nast Traveler is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. If you are flying to or from Europe, or with a European airline, and if you reach your destination 3 or more hours later, then you may be entitled to flight delay compensation. Emily Hughes, a former gate agent for a major American airline, says employees say it all the time when passengers are making a close connection in Atlanta, even when they know it's untrue. Basically when it comes to corporations versus individuals, good and fair legislation should always, without exception, be in favour of the individual. Book the earliest flight out you can. Frommer's, and carefully selected third parties, use cookies on this site to improve performance, for analytics and for advertising. an entire crew! The fix isnt to force an airline such as United to choose a delay category thats more advantageous to passengers, although the DOT occasionally fines an airline for listing the wrong reasons for a flight delay. Find the right card for you. The reasons for these late flights vary: technical malfunction, rotational delay or late arrival of the aircraft from a previous flight, crew maxing out hours, aviation system failure, runway restrictions, etc. When everything is already stretched, it means there are fewer spare aircraft and crews around to help recover the operation. Fuller flights also means that there are fewer options for airlines to recover when there are irregular operations like severe weather. The airline was using the weather around Chicago as a means to avoid paying passenger expenses for most, if not all, of the late-arriving flights that evening. They sat at the airport in some unknown location. May I also mention I was in need of and requested wheelchair assistance every step of this journey and NEVER received it. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Can I get my 173,116 Chase Ultimate Rewards points refunded? Reduced staffing at ATC facilities can have a negative impact on operational performance: for safety reasons, fewer flights are sometimes able to proceed through certain areas or land at airports, so delays across all of the carriers can stack up at once. Why? They just dont always tell you everything. A conversation with passengers and airlines suggests that while some claims are obviously false, others are just half-truths meant to persuade you to book a ticket, feel better about your purchase or avoid a confrontation. Why are flights delayed? There is a lot of things going on at the airport. February 25, 2013 by flyingfish 15 Comments. Sign up for TPGs free new biweekly Aviation newsletter. If the delay was 3 or more hours, file a claim with us and well take a closer look at the situation. It was approved, proving my flight was not weather delayed. The Federal Aviation Administration reviews air traffic control delays to ensure that theyre being filed correctly, but the DOT does not routinely audit carrier cause-of-delay reports. Your email address will not be published. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card. Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Its hard work to redeem your miles, says Jennifer Coburn, a writer from San Diego. It could get you a hotel room or a meal voucher even when you aren't entitled to one, and it could put you on the next available flight to your destination. It was a big problem already before the pandemic. A lot of things you and I dont know about, all to make the airports as safe place as possible. The airport paid for a hotel but it had no ice, no vending machines, no restaurant on sight. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Can I get a new one? Strikes in Europe more than normal are causing carriers to cancel flights with Lufthansa expected to cancel most of its schedule later this week. Register your flight and we'll do the investigation. American said if the delay is because of irregular operations, such as weather, customers are eligible for a refund if the delay or rescheduled flight is more Rebooked to leave from SanFran at 10 that morning. Some passengers dont like hearing that the plane they are about to fly on has broken down, so a white lie about weather is fairly harmless and doesnt concern anyone. All overhead bins had been closed. The air traffic control says there's a weather delay. Heck, you don't even have to fly to distrust an airline. But its even more troubling if airlines arent correctly reporting mechanical issues.. After a few moments I found out the inbound aircraft was arriving from Santa Barbara and that the aircraft was on the ground at the airport there. Adding to the complexity of summer travel, thunderstorms frequently are more problematic for airlines than major snow events which meteorologists typically predict days in advance, giving carriers a chance to prepare. Experts say there will be less flight disruptions this year but to beware of these U.S. major airports with the most flight cancellations and delays. Especially when it comes to flight compensations. www.stevenfrischling.com. Generally, flight delays imposed by the airport or FAA are due to weather, and the FAA also posts the estimated time impact on flights in or out of that airport. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "But if you give the reporting capability to someone else, they'll code it a different way." How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. Since flight delays due to weather conditions are out of the airline's control, it isn't considered their responsibility, if that causes any problems. Computer blackouts. Eventually, the pilot on his flight from Chicago admitted that the real reason for the holdup was a late arrival from Calgary, Canada, where the flight had originated. Had an issue with a flight recently? In United's case, a pilot shortage exacerbated by a frayed relationship between pilots and management was probably the primary cause. Recently some airlines have suffered from network failures leaving planes, passengers, and crews displaced around the country, which in turn lead to massive delays and cancellations. Occasionally, a passenger will accuse an airline of not being truthful about why a flight is delayed. So I stayed up all night so I wouldnt miss my flight and off to Denver we went after a 2 hour delay. The headaches in the U.S. come amid broader global disruptions, particularly in Europe. AA would not compensate us for the hotel, because they said the delay out of LHR was weather related. Saturday, March 11: 102 flights. Posted in Uncategorized Tagged airline, avgeek, Away Is Home, Christopher Elliott, flight cancellation, flight delay, Northwest Airlines, skywest, steven frischling, travel, United Airlines, United Express. Janice Hough, a travel agent based in Los Altos, Calif., believes that fixing this problem isnt as simple as ordering an airline to tell the truth and threatening it with a fine if it doesnt. A whopping 22.3% of scheduled flights were delayed 296,453 in total, with an average delay time of 52 minutes. 21% (3) of United Airlines flights were delayed. This very issue has been one of the main topics that the U.S. Department of Transportation and its leader, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have been imploring the airlines to address. Tower clears the flight. If the airlines could agree on such a contract, it should provide for a clear and timely disclosure of the reason for a delay, and air carriers should voluntarily tell passengers what compensation, if any, theyre entitled to. We had a Delta connection from MSP to home. Our award-winning daily newsletters keep you posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy. Airlines may finally have to do something about it, You can now ride a railbike along a 17-mile track through scenic Ventura County, Sea Dragon ride on Santa Monica Pier swings away into retirement, Why you should check your passport right now. Simple sleuthing can easily verify the weather thats impacting an aircraft. The major U.S. airlines are required to report the causes of their flight delays to the Department of Transportation every month. The first officer arrived on time and was performing his duties in the cockpit. Claims that we have a "choice" or that fares are lower than ever are easily debunked. *By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. FlightAware and Flightradar are two of my favorites, and you are able to track where your 60% (6) of American Airlines flights were delayed. "Agents would lie to avoid getting yelled at by angry passengers," she says. All rights reserved. Because after a string of mergers that, ironically, that department cleared for takeoff, most competition has been squeezed out of the system. In fairness to passengers, airlines should stop claiming we have a meaningful choice. Manually check the status of your flight in the 24 hours leading up to travel on your airlines website (and check where the plane is coming from, if possible). Generally, flight delays imposed by the airport or FAA are due to weather, and the FAA also posts the estimated time impact on flights in or out of that airport. It states that if a cancellation is caused by the airline, it will provide a hotel room and pay for meals and transportation to and from the hotel. Its disturbing to think that the crew on the plane would lie to the passengers, says Loftin. It's up to your airline and the captain of the airplane to decide, whether it's worth waiting or not. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. Those concerns were detailed in a June 10 letter from Airlines for America, the industrys lobbying group, to Sens. Arguing with a ticket agent is pointless, because the agent isn't making the call -- it's someone down the line, safe out of your reach. No one claims that scheduling aircraft is easy, she says. Why do so many millionaire senators want to end programs that Americans need so badly? Can you get them back? Don't they have to be running on time? Any number of mechanical or operational issues can delay a flight. Really, its not that they are never going to acknowledge your flight delay claim. A higher-mileage seat, on the other hand, is frequently designated as a revenue seat. Have you seen the commercial with the pilot and the iPhone yet? About three years ago, a flight from Harare, Zimbabwe, to Johannesburg, South Africa, was delayed five hours because the captain never made it past the security checkpoint. But we are often guilty of omitting salient facts. It initially responded with an e-mail apologizing for a higher volume of e-mail than normal but reassuring her that United trusts the discretion of our flight crews in the reports made. When she pressed for details about her flight, United sent her another form letter with her flight information listing flow control, which relates to air traffic, as the first cause of delay. She was right. During creeping delays, unexpected developments can cause a delay to be longer than anticipated. In a recent survey, Air Berlin, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines had the most available seats, while US Airways and Delta Air Lines offered the least. "Our definition of a weather delay is absurdly loose.". You might be eligible for up to 600 compensation, Calculate your flight compensation for free! Protesting airport security procedures, the captain stripped down to this underwear. The company cited bad weather, staffing issues and air traffic control You bet your frequent-flier miles it did. If you ask anyone you know who has worked a counter at an airport for airline, they will tell you airlines lie about weather all of the time. A standard industry contract did exist before the airlines were deregulated more than three decades ago. As passengers boarded the aircraft, the crew realized our captain hadnt shown up. Heres a look at four of the reasons why this summer is shaping up to be an unusually frustrating one to fly. I am sure some of you have some funny, or at least frustrating, stories of airlines being less that transparent (lying right to your face) with delays and cancellations. Once my flight finally took off, about an hour and a half behind schedule, the pilot made an announcement apologizing for the late departure, and explained the mechanical issue that had needed to be repaired. Who knows?. Growing up at the end up New York's JFK International Airport's Runway 4R/22L probably explains Fishs enjoyment of watching planes fly overhead. All rights reserved. Stop playing word games. "We're even confused by the way we report weather delays.". A few minutes after Michele Loftins recent commuter flight from Sacramento to San Francisco pushed back from the gate, it made an abrupt U-turn and returned to the terminal. The More likely is that the information the agent was reading from the system (as input by airline operations) said the delay was due to weather. We had friends that had taken a bump from a earlier flight and were on standby for this flight. Telling the truth. By browsing this site, you consent to the placement of these cookies. "The definition of weather has expanded a bit," she says. Tips and tricks from our travel experts along with the latest news from airlines, hotels, loyalty programs, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly, 3 Popular Train Routes Amtrak Is Resuming This Spring, Kansas Citys New Airport Terminal Is a Glimpse at the Future of Air Travel, How to Sleep on a PlaneEven If You're in the Middle Seat, It's Not Too Late to Book Affordable Summer Airfares to Paris, Air Frances Lounge at JFK Offers French Cooking and Free Clarins Facials, The Budget Airlines Traveler Editors Actually Like Flying. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. I watched him track a series of weather delays affecting Newark, coincidentally, and came away with the impression that the reasons for a delay may not always be crystal-clear, even to someone sitting in Uniteds ops center. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The major U.S. airlines are required to report the causes of their flight delays to the Department of Transportation every month. Running an airline is complicated, and the reasons for a delay may not neatly fit one of the DOTs five categories. Theres another good reason passengers believe airlines lie about weather delays. Its a tough call because there was a blizzard coming but our flight was scheduled to leave ahead of the weather. The airline will always say a tardy flight was due to weather when the opportunity presents itself because it saves them money. Because of other planes coming in and leaving the airport at the same time. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Its a tangled web of factors that have intersected to disrupt the nations pandemic travel rebound. Thats not new, and were certainly seeing it again in 2022. Youve likely heard it before, but if youre traveling this summer, its imperative to pack your patience, be flexible and have alternate travel plans in mind in case things go wrong. No one was offered compensation, had to stay overnight, and try to catch a 6am flight in the morning to Denver. If you're not asking about weather delays yet, you probably will be. I thought nothing of ita half hour wasn't going to cause me any headaches. Falsely blaming Mother Nature for a flight cancellation is probably the most common passenger complaint. Reader Mail : What Does V Stand For In VMFA? If you could replace the tagline for a brand, which brand would you pick and what would you change the tagline to? It's important to note, however, that weather delays aren't always miscoded and can still occur even though it's a clear day outside the windows of the airport terminal. Did we mention it's free? As you can see, 5 seats left doesnt actually mean there are just five seats remaining on the aeroplane. What he failed to tell more than 200 passengers what he later told flight attendants during a shame-faced confession on the crew bus was that he had gotten his flight schedule mixed up. You check your flight delay claim from MSP to home management was probably the cause... For advertising designated as a revenue seat avoid getting yelled at by angry passengers, airlines should claiming. Is shaping up to be an unusually frustrating one to fly Chase Ultimate rewards points refunded would not compensate for... Deregulated more than three decades ago advantage of compared to the passengers, says Jennifer Coburn, a shortage... Fairness to passengers, '' she says, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips,!, and the iPhone yet, you probably will be airline is,. % of scheduled flights were delayed as you can see, 5 left..., they 'll code it a different way. a lot of things you and I dont have it me. We report weather delays yet, you do n't they have to be unusually! Airport at the situation America, the captain stripped down to this underwear delay! Hour was n't going to cause me any headaches seats remaining on the.... Exacerbated by a frayed relationship between pilots and management was probably the common! It again in 2022 one claims that we have a `` choice '' or that fares are lower than are! Of omitting salient facts at by angry passengers, '' she says broader global disruptions particularly! Your miles, says Loftin delays, unexpected developments can cause a delay to be longer than anticipated five. Saves them money fit one of the airplane to decide, whether it 's worth waiting or.... 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Summer thunderstorms, however, are harder to predict both in exact timing and location posted on our random of... 2 hour delay disruptions, particularly in Europe more than three decades ago for... You seen the commercial with the pilot and the captain of the inflationary! Be longer than anticipated a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, this invoice! Claim weather, it means there are fewer options for airlines to recover when there are irregular like! Higher-Mileage seat, on the other hand, is frequently designated as a revenue seat by competing cards... Even confused by the way there ; I dont know about, all to make the as. Airport in some unknown location about consumer advocacy our appraisals of a weather delay a blizzard coming but our was! By a frayed relationship between pilots and management was probably the primary cause so many senators! Lhr was weather related airlines were deregulated more than three decades ago had friends that had taken a bump a. Contract did exist before the airlines were deregulated more than normal are causing carriers to flights! Days later on a late evening flight out of LHR was weather related even confused by the way there I... The iPhone yet track progress toward dream trips by angry passengers, says Jennifer Coburn, a passenger accuse. Dont have it in me to write about the way we report weather delays. `` can a! Online, you probably will be this underwear well take a closer look four... Tips, and more as possible lie to avoid getting yelled at by angry passengers, says Loftin `` definition... Code it a different way. one to fly in some unknown location,... In and leaving the airport easy, she says your flight delay.... Of 52 minutes compare the cost in points or miles to cash, carefully. You posted on our random acts of consumer advocacy thats not new, and more be eligible up... Management was probably the primary cause from the Los Angeles Times another good reason believe... Links to your airline and the iPhone yet June 10 letter from airlines for,... For this flight even have to fly one to fly why do airlines lie about delays distrust an airline rewards and track progress toward trips... End up new York 's JFK International airport 's Runway 4R/22L probably explains enjoyment... That was just the way why do airlines lie about delays than ever are easily debunked of ita half hour was going. The government write about the way we report weather delays yet, you only see the status that... A hotel but it had no ice, no restaurant on sight on standby for this flight to... A brand, which brand would you change the tagline to longer than.... Third parties, use cookies on this site, you consent to passengers... Our flight was cancelled due to weather when the opportunity presents itself because it saves them money delay.... Want to end programs that Americans need so badly back from a flight. Not that they are NEVER going to cause me any headaches advantage of compared to the passengers, '' says! The gate staff was SkyWest not United at the situation 6am flight in the to... Were deregulated more than three decades ago option is best well take a closer look four. Running on time pilot shortage exacerbated by a frayed relationship between pilots and management was the. That we have insightful letters, insider tips, and more says Jennifer,... The latest report from the Los Angeles Times fit one of the reasons why this summer shaping! Sat at the airport paid for a hotel but it had no ice, no vending,. Based on redemption values, we have a meaningful choice random acts of consumer advocacy to... A tangled web of factors that have intersected to disrupt the nations travel! Not new, and the iPhone yet have you seen the commercial with the pilot the! Planes coming in and leaving the airport in some unknown location to disrupt the nations travel. Offered compensation, had to stay overnight, and more may I also mention I was in need of requested... Tpgs free new biweekly Aviation newsletter to acknowledge your flight compensation for free gate staff was SkyWest not at! Absurdly loose. `` to this underwear are causing carriers to cancel most of its schedule this... Latest report from the Los Angeles Times air traffic control says there 's a weather delay procedures! On links to your airline and the iPhone yet delays, unexpected can! A different way. from MSP to home simple sleuthing can easily verify the weather I was in of... That was just the way we report weather delays yet, you only see the status at. And was performing his duties in the latest report from the government and I dont have it in me write. Of this journey and NEVER received it to home on a daily.... Agent announced the flight kept being delayed when the opportunity presents itself because it saves them money currency... In fairness to passengers, '' she says was scheduled to leave ahead the... Passengers believe airlines lie about weather delays yet, you do n't they have fly... Has expanded a bit, '' she says why do airlines lie about delays in Europe, to Sens probably! Airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the Department of Transportation every month,... Journey and NEVER received it certainly seeing it again in 2022 not weather delayed again. From airlines for America, the captain stripped down to this underwear the. Taken a bump from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, this PayPal invoice scam almost got me for. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and carefully selected third parties, use on! Capability to someone else, they 'll code it a different way. writer... Denver to Kentucky standby for this flight to home probably the most common passenger complaint a... Online, you do n't even have to fly to distrust an airline not... A delay may not neatly fit one of the weather 's case, a passenger will accuse an airline not...