I often use SKYW to commute. Is it a policy to disclose to people that the weather in XYZ city requires an alternate?

The last 3 flights I have been on the Captain has said something along the lines of, “Welcome aboard..........the weather in ABC is just below our minimums and we have an alternate of XYZ.”

That means nothing to 90% of the people on the airplane, they just hear we might go rob xyz instead of abc. I don’t understand why guys do this but it causes panic for some people in the back the entire way to the destination city. Not good in my opinion. I just had to sit next to a lady and assure her that we should be good to land and to make sure to tell the pilot he is a hero for landing in 3 miles of visibility on the way off.

We landed. She actually said it. He said “Thank you.”

Can’t make this stuff up.

 

A few of our partners likes to “weather warn” the PAX..

 

So you messed with the ladies emotions too??

Thanks TOTD

 

The only time I ever did that at SKW was when we were going to ASE and knew that it was very unlikely that we would be getting in. As far as weather warning, that is something I would ALWAYS have the gate agent do prior to boarding.

Other than ASE, I never said anything as I agree with everything you posted (unnecessary worry and/or unnecessarily complicated PAs).

Unfortunately some people just talk too much.

 

Yes, certain partners require that. Apparently they might be responsible for pax food and hotels at the alternate if they launch without the warning, and they knew in advance it was at or below mins.

I would phrase it like "It's possible that ABC airport will be unable to accept our arrival due to weather below THIER minimums, in that case we will have to proceed to XYZ airport". Make it sound like a policy thing, not a dangerous thing.

 

Which partners require that? I have never seen that memo

 

I’ve seen some routes the alternate is the original hub airport. If they divert back to the original airport, it’s considered a weather disruption. Passengers are on their own for hotels and meals. A honest courtesy warning would go a long way.

 

I would when possible give the weather warning at the gate prior to boarding (CS agents never want to do it themselves). That way anyone who chooses not to go, can bow out gracefully. Common enough for folks to decide to come back the next day, but as far as I could ever tell it was a convenience thing, not a fear thing.

 

Been at SKW 7 years and not ever heard of giving a “weather warning.” If weather is below minimums you can’t launch anyways. I agree with the OP. I never talk about an alternate and don’t say we might not get in. Only say something when you are actually going to land at your alternate. Flew with a captain once that said we have an alternate of XYZ when the ceiling was 1200 feet at our destination. The poor FA’s had to field questions about why we weren’t going to our destination for 3 hours.


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It was definitely a "thing" before you were hired. It wasn't just for wx below mins, also if wx was going to be near mins. Common on the west coast with the layer rolling in in the evening, you know it's coming but not exactly how bad or how fast.



But yes you can, and we did, launch with WX below mins, it just has to be forecast at mins at arrival. Pretty common headed to SOCAL coastal airports in the morning.