Sorry that happened to you. That was wrong. ACL's advice is right on. I'd be temped to talk to a CP about it. ASA's senior flight operations management is former Delta and would not like this. The Chiefs all know each other and work together well.

I am working on it..

It wasn't an aircraft issue, this guy basically told the agents that he didn't allow jumpseaters in his cockpit. I respect his "Captain's authority" on this, I was just trying to get an insight as to what he felt like he was accomplishing with this policy. Like Bar said, my experience with DCI and Airlink jumpseats in the past has always been that guys have gone the extra mile to try and fit me in somehow. I have been left behind before, but always felt like they had tried to make it work first...

I've been to DTW a handful of times already ... in fact I'm writing from the long layover. I have had similar situations with the ground crews not showing up to meet the aircraft. And when they finally do, they take their time. In one instance, they danced, yes danced, for a few moments before casually walking to their stations. I hope our airline can fix this type of stuff.

Last time I was there marshaller pulled us up to far so the jetway couldn't dock, so it took us an hour to get the plan pushed back 3 feet. What's the point in trying to be on time only to have passengers misconnect because of ground crews. Delay is a delay, but either way I agree we need to iron these things out.

Nothing new in DTW. I have always considered it a failure of Middle Management as they seem to have allowed this behavior to become the norm.

Another ongoing issue that never seems to get fixed is plugging in air to DC-9's at the gates. I was in MEM, ORD, and LIT yesterday, all well over 80 degrees and we never once had air plugged in to the aircraft at the gates. They hammer us about APU usage, but don't seem to be able to make the people doing the "underwing work" do their part. May just be a case of "getting what we pay for" in labor force.

At the Delta Block Party there was a cut away APU with gas cans piled around it and several people there to talk to the curious about APU usage.

I thought that was a good idea, as some people were explaining to their families how they operate and how we save gas by plugging the airplane in.

I am all for shutting them down as much as possible. I have never understood why we are not plugged in with both air and electric every single time. Someone in managment needs to address this from the ramp side, but it seems like they always come after the flight crews first.

No Flight Ops comes after us, and ACS comes after the ramp staff. It is outside of Flight Ops sphere of control.

For those of you flying Osaka (KIX). There was a time when it was cheaper to run the APU than use external power in KIX, due to the absurdly high fees they charged for external...

Hopefully this will improve this summer. I hate burning up fuel this way, and also hate the noise on the pre-flights:)