I dunno, I just don't see the need to meet in the FPA for a Basic flight.. We can do everything we need to do in the flight deck. In terms of "setting the tone" I will share an example of a recent text exchange (paraphrased slightly) between me and my CA. This is how a good CA sets the tone, at least in my humble opinion:

Me: "Hi Captain, this is ---- , we'll be flying together today. Looks like we're at E21 and the inbound is on time. Let me know if you'd prefer to meet at the gate or at the FPA. Looking forward to it!"

CA: "Hey man, let's just meet at the gate if you're good with that. If you want the first leg I'll do the walk around. Let me know which ones you want to fly. OFP looks good to me but I'm gonna ask for an extra 2K on the gas for the weather in NY. See you there!"

Now that, right there, tells me that this is going to be a good trip. That is how to set the tone.

WADR the company has “graciously” offered us 1 hr of preparation prior to the first flight of a trip. What is it with the expectation that someone has looked at the flight plan prior to report? Sounds like a ton of dead time to me once you get to the plane.

You’re 100% correct, don’t doubt your common sense. People need to realize that this FPA thing and some other quirky things usually come from pre-merger UAL that have carried over through the years. Consider that the manuals are written in DEN. What else is located in DEN? You guesses it, the US Air force Academy. Many of these graduates who are exceedingly bright and dedicated ended up at UAL over the decades and brought many sacred traditions with them. This is why many pilots jokingly refer to the flights as a space launch, because oftentimes the Air Force guys were flying missions that were pretty close to just that.

Now if it’s a 14hr flight with 4 pilots, then there is no doubt a meeting should take place ahead of time in an FPA, but a routine trip on a 737 or Bus, is overkill and a waste of time. Nowadays people are glued to their phones so a simple message ahead of time will be seen. Charts and flight plans on the EFB etc. It’s a different world than what the old timers are stuck in.

disclaimer: not a pilot there but this is what I can infer from posts and other historical data

Yeah... Even as a very low time FO here, you get into the flow of things pretty quickly. Usually we'll be all set and ready to push about 30 minutes prior to push time. 10 mins for the walk around, 10 minutes to contort yourself into the Guppy seats and set up your nest, do the box, 5 mins to brief (including the FAs) and then 30 minutes to grumble about the contract/ the overnight/ the crew meals / regional pilots taking our jerbs / latest TK rumor mill / et cetera.

There is indeed an expectation that you've looked at the release before getting to the plane. I get it, especially for longer flights (transcons, intl, ETOPS, etc). In the last few weeks I've operated to multiple international destinations I've never been to before, so getting ahead of the game is really helpful. I'm sure that on short flights on very familiar routes in good weather, guys probably aren't looking at the release 2 hours prior to departure, but personally I find it very helpful to be pretty familiar with the contents of the release and the overall weather picture well before I get to the gate.

Getting ahead of the game is reading the 10-7, REF pages and WOM. Having an idea of the airports nearby that are used for alternates. Go for it.

I’ve never been a fan of individual flight planning the OFP. IMO there is a lot that can be missed by one or all. Case in point when we had printed domestic flight papers . While we were looking at together, it would get marked up as we passed the different sections around. Everyone had a good idea of what was going on.

At the end of the day, it's a cultural thing from before the merger. Some will argue that meeting at the FPA enhances safety, yet also think that it's perfectly safe to just go to the plane for every other leg. Everything that needs to be briefed can be done both at the plane or in the FPA. Not trying to start a legacy argument, but LUAL is the only group in the industry (that I'm aware of) that practiced this for NB flights. Some still carry this belief, however the good news for those who don't is that the believers are now few and far between on the NB fleets. They have moved up to the WB, retired, or changed their opinion on the matter. Regardless, according to the FOM meeting at the FPA is the default location. If a captain insists on meeting there or doesn't tell you otherwise, you have no choice but to go.

When Bob’s iPad has the option to add gas or not…Bob can make that decision.

sure he can, but I think it would be nice to have a group discussion first. Again, doesn’t have to be in the FPA.

The AirForce Academy is in Colorado Springs about 60 miles south of Denver. Csprings takes offense at you associating them with Denver!

I think you know what I meant. No need for the failed attempt at comedy.