Originally Posted by
flyingsioux
While I dont disagree that the personnel may be a PART of the problem let me share this story from yesterday while doing out and backs from DTW. First turn back, parking on the outside, we got to the gate 10 minutes before scheduled block in. We're stopped with the brake set going on 10 minutes, when a Saab pulls up next to us, gets parked almost immediately. We were parked about 5 minutes later.
Next turn, again outside of the alley, we're parked with the brake set for about 5 minutes. A Saab pulls up a few gates away, gets parked within a minute or two. A few minutes go by and another Saab asks on ground if we can pull up so they can get by. CA says no go....zipper road obscured by snow, doesn't feel comfortable pulling up more. I call ops tell them we're blocking a Saab in the road and need to get parked...Within 2 minutes rampers come from the gate next door that was getting ready to push and park us. It may have been coincidental timing yes, but I had to ask myself; how much longer would we have sat there if we were blocking a 9E RJ and not a Saab.....food for thought
Part of the problem is that DTW ramp is staffed by zone. If you are one gate over from the zone the Saab is parking in then they will stand there watching you sit then park the Saab in "their" zone. When done they go back inside because as far as they're concerned (and the supervisors) your gate might as well be a different airport. And for $8/hr in this kind of weather you'd be probably taking the same attitude no matter what company was on your ID. If you think you have it bad here, go see the C.F. going on at A19 and A33 in MEM. It's a miracle the Saabs there ever move.