DCI flight late 100% of the time!

[737 Pylt]

Like Clockwork: Hour of Delay, Hour of Flight
Delta Shuttle From N.Y. to D.C. Arrived Late Every Time in September

By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 13, 2006; Page A01

Few things are certain in air travel today, but one comes close: If you're on Delta Connection Flight 5283 from New York to Washington, you can expect to be late.

The flight had the nation's worst on-time performance in September, arriving late 100 percent of the time at Reagan National Airport, according to a recent government report.


Its average delay: 1 hour and 19 minutes. Actual flying time: 53 minutes. Much of the delay is spent on the tarmac, waiting for other planes to take off at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

 

[ASADriver]

Sounds like an ATC problem, but of course your going to blame it on CMR.

 

[737 Pylt]

Sounds like an ATC problem, but of course your going to blame it on CMR.

I'm not blaming it on anyone. The problem is, when a customer buys a ticket on DL from Paris to DCA, connecting through JFK, all they can remember is that the second part of their trip on "Delta" was awful. They don't know "comair" from ASA, they only know it is a "Delta" ticket.
I'm based at JFK, and have been #45 for takeoff, as they snake us around the entire airport taxiing for departure, especially when the weather is afu!

737

 

[siucavflight]

I'm not blaming it on anyone. The problem is, when a customer buys a ticket on DL from Paris to DCA, connecting through JFK, all they can remember is that the second part of their trip on "Delta" was awful. They don't know "comair" from ASA, they only know it is a "Delta" ticket.
I'm based at JFK, and have been #45 for takeoff, as they snake us around the entire airport taxiing for departure, especially when the weather is afu!

737

But are you saying that it is CMRs problem? They can not help ATC delays anymore than you can, and like it or not Delta chose to put their name on CMRs aircraft, so yes they are representing you, and as far as some CMR pilots are concerned you are also representing them.

 

[Sinca3]

I'm based at JFK, and have been #45 for takeoff, as they snake us around the entire airport taxiing for departure, especially when the weather is afu!

737

That's nothing!! I have been 70+ more than once at JFK. The evening push (7ish to 9ish) was always a cluster....

 

[DrewBlows]

It's either Comair or Delta's fault (probably a little of both). They need to schedule realistic block times through JFK, and the minimum turn time should be one hour (at least). If they won't support the operation (more ramp agents, tugs, tow bars, et cetera) then they should at least admit that it's terrible and schedule accordingly.

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

Sounds like an ATC problem, but of course your going to blame it on CMR.

Actually, I'm holding Go-Jet responsible.

 

[siucavflight]

Actually, I'm holding Go-Jet responsible.

I think that it is probably their fault as well. Not getting on my jumpseat!

 

[buscap]

As an ASA FRHSC (Formerly-Red -Headed-Step-Child) pilot, I can say many of our problems are directly related to Delta. The list is obvious and long, but it all comes down to the fact that Delta doesn't care. They want the feed cheap and safe. We give them that in spades.

Every other quantifiable measure of our performance is so far in the crapper, we look up at buttcracks with high power telescopes. Delta is fine with it, as long as the fast and cheap happens. Hey, this is the AAAYYY TEEE EELLL!!

My point is proven by this: Delta bought us from George and John in order to improve our service and have direct control over our operation. In all those years they owned us, they did squat. Same open ramps with no cover when it rains. Wheelchair passengers left in the rain. Understaffed....the list goes on. And don't forget, Delta moved our bags until very recently.

This will not change until Delta wants it changed. Brian and Jerry (Jerry A.) have no say in the matter. They won't sacrifice the profit margins (which is what it would take).

 

[atrdriver]

Sounds like an ATC problem, but of course your going to blame it on CMR.

No, it's a DAL marketing (they make the schedules) problem. If a flight is consistently delayed on the ground waiting for departure, then that time needs to be built into the scheduled block time.

 

[172driver]

And if you have only been number 45 for departure in JFK, you are either lying about being based there or you have never departed later than 6 pm. During the int'l push, #45 would be about the middle of the line.

 

[DrewBlows]

And if you have only been number 45 for departure in JFK, you are either lying about being based there or you have never departed later than 6 pm. During the int'l push, #45 would be about the middle of the line.

Who's ballsy enough to ask were they are in line? I'm sure not, I cringe every time I hear someone at the back of the line ask.

"Uhhh, ground... where's JetBlue 123 in line."

"I don't know JetBlue... about 45 I guess. Follow LOT!"

 

[imacdog]

I think 5283 is the flight that's blocked about 1:14 and departs during the evening push (it's the same block time given for the JFK-DCA flights during the slow parts of the day). Yes I've done the flight, yes we arrived well over an hour late in DCA.

 

[fried chickens]

Who's ballsy enough to ask were they are in line? I'm sure not, I cringe every time I hear someone at the back of the line ask.

"Uhhh, ground... where's JetBlue 123 in line."

"I don't know JetBlue... about 45 I guess. Follow LOT!"

I seem to get pissy when you ask so I try and ask clearance instead.

 

[bvt1151]

Actually, its Delta's fault. They build Comair's schedule, pass it down and say "too bad" when Comair says there isn't a chance in hell it won't work. I've been in many a meeting where that frustration has been expressed. Before they bought us we were able to tell them to pack sand when they did that. Not now. That's why you see Comair in JFK now and very rarely before 2000. Delta wanted us there very badly, its just that now we don't have a choice. Word from Atlanta is that they still go to Comair if they need something done. That's why they're up in JFK getting their arses handed to 'em with the ontime performance.

 

[flyboyzz1]

Conan O'Brien made fun of this last night....

 

[ohplease!]

Actually, its Delta's fault. They build Comair's schedule, pass it down and say "too bad" when Comair says there isn't a chance in hell it won't work. I've been in many a meeting where that frustration has been expressed. Before they bought us we were able to tell them to pack sand when they did that. Not now. That's why you see Comair in JFK now and very rarely before 2000. Delta wanted us there very badly, its just that now we don't have a choice. Word from Atlanta is that they still go to Comair if they need something done. That's why they're up in JFK getting their arses handed to 'em with the ontime performance.

don't they also work the station? or does Comair have personel there?

 

[bvt1151]

Delta works JFK and DCA. Don't know about DCA, but at JFK there's a real problem with getting any rampers for the DCI flights. Priority is placed on the mainline flights, as it should be, but the DCI flights are being forgotten, or more commonly, blocked in. That being said, the ramp controller is top notch. Its the ramp agents.

Having this story make so much news should put some pressure on them, and the fact that Conan O'Brien made a joke of it certainly helps.

 

[ohplease!]

Delta works JFK and DCA. Don't know about DCA, but at JFK there's a real problem with getting any rampers for the DCI flights. Priority is placed on the mainline flights, as it should be, but the DCI flights are being forgotten, or more commonly, blocked in. That being said, the ramp controller is top notch. Its the ramp agents.

Having this story make so much news should put some pressure on them, and the fact that Conan O'Brien made a joke of it certainly helps.

I thought so. Do they still remote park the DCI's and bring in the "prison buses" to transport the inmates, uh, I mean passengers to the terminal?

 

[imacdog]

No more remote parking. The prison bus system worked better than the current mess. Delta doesn't need help from a news article or Conan to piss off customers going through JFK. The new system is absolutely horrible.

 

[Kneeboards Rock]

Kieth Oberman had this flight, and Delta, listed as the "Worst Persons in the World" last night. He also said that that particular flight was cancelled yesterday.

 

[DrewBlows]

At Delta Airlines "Good goes around", we're not happy until you're not happy. Why piss off one customer at a time when you can piss off an entire plane full of passengers at once?