Originally Posted by
Ellen
I can see it already . . If you are going to be delayed tell the pax. Inform them that you will be at the gate shortly. When delay is excessive (who knows what that number will be . . .probably 3-4 hours for United and NWA and an hour for SWA) you will have to call and "Please, Please" ask for a gate . . . When they tell you that no gate is available, you'll probably be asked to come up with a solution because you are just sitting there doing nothing . . .
Nothing works better to get a gate than tell the company that you have a commuting pilot onboard that's scheduled to take an international flight out. They always seem to get the courteous heads up that the late inbound will result in a late International outbound.
Of course you have to be vague, I don't use flight numbers or mention that the pilot even works for our company (you off line jumpseaters know who you are!).