MikeF16

To the DAL gate agent working the 1755 JFK to ATL this past Saturday. After waiting 10 minutes for Air France to clear the alley and another endless 5 minutes waiting for crews to hook up external power (no APU) I run to the gate 6 minutes after push and find the door still open and the gate agent still up top at the computer. Relieved, I asked if there was any room on the flight. The gate agent responded every seat was taken. I asked about the cockpit jump seat: taken, the FA jumpseat? Oh that's open.

"Great, list me for the FA jump seat".
"sorry, if I take the time to do that, I'll take a delay"
"uhh, it's 7 past push and the door is still open. You're already late, what's another 60 seconds?"
"sorry, I can't do that"
"so you're going to make me spend a night in NYC away from my family so you can save a minute on a flight that is late anyway"
"sorry, I can't list you"

At which point he closes out the flight, goes down the ramp, and closes the door. He then had the gall to come back up and tell me how sorry he was, but now the door is closed and it's out of his hands. YGBSM.

In the end it worked out, because as I was contemplating getting a cab to grab the 9pm out of LGA, I got a call from a desperate scheduler trying to fill a last minute NYC trip that had been converted to an ATL GS. "Well, it just so happens I'm already in NYC, if you can buy my hotel room for the night..." End result was good, but doesn't change the toolery of the gate agent.

ShyGuy

Yeah but at least you came after scheduled departure time. I ran over for a 450pm departure and got there at 435pm and was told sorry, we closed at 430pm. A full 20 mints early. Jetbridge hooked up and everything and no one waiting for a gate, no weather, no edct. And it's one thing if they close 20 early and plane pushes 15 early. No, this 717 didn't even push until 7 prior. How much you wanna bet the gate agent could have easily listed and gotten me on in less than 8 minutes, and still have this plane push 7 early?

MikeF16

I saw your earlier post. It's embarrassing that we did that to you.

I have to assume that while my anger was directed at the agent, he's a product of his environment. I would assume that those guys are under incredible pressure to not be the cause of a delay. It takes a captain with good SA to notice somebody in uniform with his face pressed against the glass and take control of the situation. I've flown with a couple guys who have taken a delay for passengers making a tight connection. It's really not a big deal from our perspective since there's really no negative repercussions if the delay is tagged to OPS. Usually an ACARS message asking for a reason, which most captains then blow off anyway. Most of us could care less about the stat chasers on the 4th floor, just want to fly a safe and efficient operation, but not (efficient) at the expense of taking care of each other.

cactusmike

You have no clue how the FFDO program works. You don't seem to have much of a clue, period. Go lurk on Doctorsforum.com and leave flying to the professionals.

cactusmike

Second hand tool nomination (last guy I flew with told me the story):

Christmas week a Falcon attempts to go VNY to OGG (Maui). Said Falcon has no HF radio. Mass confusion as ATC tries to convey to him that he needs to have a way to communicate to Oakland Oceanic. Finally another jet offers to relay position reports to ATC. Then, after all that, the guys gets about half way to the second fix on the track and decides he doesn't have the fuel to continue and wants a clearance to go to LAX. When asked if he wanted to back to VNY, he says, no, I need to go to LAX.

Sounds like the boss wanted to visit the islands for the holiday and Chippy the chief pilot said "sure" without doing a little research. It would also be interesting to see if they had rafts and vests. I'm thinking No.

SpeedyVagabond

Yes they do. I once missed one when I arrived a half hour before departure. But that certainly doesn't make them tools. It makes them early with a plane full of pleased and contented passengers. What would have been toolish would have been me complaining about it on APC. On another note, I don't believe the story about the RJ pilot and the stolen deposits. Many things tripping my BS alarms.

feltf4

I just reached out to a pilot friend of mine. Has many more hours of experience than I do, I asked him what does "kick the tires" mean on walk around inspection.... He let me know that I should do this every walk around to ensure that the tires are indeed "kickable"...

I guess I'm tool of the day for not kicking tires on walk arounds..................

AC560

Yes but do you light the fires?

feltf4

I didn't see that in my pre flight guide

Flubber

Not always... We had about a dozen pax connecting from an inbound LAX flight onto the last Philly-DC flight not too long ago. The agent was only willing to hold us 10 minutes. The manager agreed with me that it would be better to wait for them than (and less work for them in reaccomodating them). We ended up pushing about 15 minutes late, got into DCA on time, and never heard squat about the delay. Why penalize that many customers because their inbound flight was delayed a bit, especially when they'd all be staring at us at the window before we would even be disconnected from the tug?

I think part of it depends on whether said agent/manager uses their travel privs. Those who do, get the concept.