My recent flights on United where bad, so bad, that I did a little digging. For the month of July 2000 (most current month available)

United is ranked 10th in on-time arrivals out of the big 10. with only 42.2% of the flights on time.
I understand this doesn't even count canceled flights either, although I an not 100% sure. Maybe someone else could verify that for me.

Customer Compaints they came in 9th out of ten, with 725 or 9.34 per 100,000 passengers. They just nosed American West to beat someone.




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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

A flight is counted as "on time" if it arrived at the gate no more than 15 minutes after the scheduled arrival time shown in the carriers' Computerized Reservations Systems. Thus, neither diverted nor canceled flights count as "on-time Average minutes late." Canceled and diverted operations are counted as late, but they are not included in the calculation of average or median minutes late.

JMT,
I did notice SouthWest was at the top of both lists. <S>

It is true also that those computer times are also heavely padded? And who deceided what is the ontime, time?

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

The FAA/DOT determines the definition of on time.

As for padded numbers, where there is a will, there is a way. For instance, some airlines schedule a typical 1 hour flight for 1:15 or even 1:30. Remember, it's the arrival time that determines "on-time", so if the flight leaves 10 minutes late, it still arrives early. This was a very popular way of cheating several years ago. It has become less popular, as airlines try to be more efficient.

Some airplanes have automated computers that generate the "official" departure and arrival times. However, the computers can be over-ridden AND the airlines know what criteria it takes for the computer to generate a departure or arrival signal. For instance, in the old Braniff days, departure time was important. The computer sent a departure message when the front door was closed and the brakes were released. If the flight was delayed, the employees could hold the button that signals that the door is closed and momentarily release the parking brake (at departure time). Then they could proceed with the delay, and call it on time.

The computers of today can still be manipulated to send false times. Southwest airlines uses verbal radio contact to call in the times, which is doublechecked by a computer.

It's ALL on the honor system, so you can take it from there.<g>

JMT,
Thanks for the information.
I figured you'd have some insight on this.
Last evening I looked at flights for my Feb. LV trip, and United had a flight out of Washington DC that had a 10% on time rating. Here I though the Denver conection was bad!

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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com