> what justifies padding? >From what I have seen at my airline and others, padding is a reasonable attempt, based on historical data, to publish a realistic schedule. Block times (out-in times) may vary for many reasons. You mention several possible examples. But, in the end, you found the bottom line: > it sounds up to the airlines to keep their respective schedules the best they know how. True ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kurt Reinbold" <kurtreinbold@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 1:58 AM Subject: Re: NYTimes.com Article: Memo Pad: On-Time Flights Are Up Sharply > what justifies padding? is there a standard (theoretical time used by all airlines) 15min between gate departure and takeoff? Is there a different interval between gate departure and takeoff based on departing city ... ORD 30min versus FLL 15min? Does NW "pad" their departure intervals more than UA at DTW? I thought "padding" was relative to the individual airline and departing/arriving city. FAA judges airlines based on "published" departure and arrival times. it sounds up to the airlines to keep their respective schedules the best they know how. > > hopefully someone can provide emperical data or company standards. > > kr > > -----Original Message----- > From: David MR <damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Feb 12, 2004 1:43 AM > To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: NYTimes.com Article: Memo Pad: On-Time Flights Are Up Sharply > > Have to disagree. If the schedule says the aircraft leaves the gate at > 0805, I expect it to leave at 0805. If, because of light traffic, good > tailwinds, or whatever, the aircraft arrives early then that's good. If the > airline really had the passenger in mind when scheduling the flight, then it > would not pad the time and the pax could arrive at the airport that much > later. > David R > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Mueller" <dmueller7@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 22:08 > Subject: Re: [AIRLINE] NYTimes.com Article: Memo Pad: On-Time Flights Are Up > Sharply > > > > Mark Greenwood wrote: > > > > > I am sure the airlines do pad to improve their OTP stats. You lucked > out > > > and the padding wasn't necessary! > > > > I don't mind the padding. I'd rather be early than late, especially if > > there's a connection involved. > > > > -- > > David Mueller / MRY > > dmueller7@xxxxxxxxx > > http://www.quanterium.com