What happens when the flight crew are late

[codash1099]

What I do not understand is the OP "left the BA Lounge" and "went through security" before reaching the gate. This does not gel with my recent experience. I certainly cannot recall any secondary security inspection.

I flew on QF10 to LHR-MEL last month and the BA lounge in T3 is airside - i.e. you need to pass though security before getting to the lounge.

Before boarding, It is a simple matter to walk back from the gate to the lounge should the flight be delayed.

Travelling LHR-BOS there was definitely a security inspection just prior to boarding. It was everything you would expect from a process dictated by the LOTFAP.

 

[jpk]

Travelling LHR-BOS there was definitely a security inspection just prior to boarding. It was everything you would expect from a process dictated by the LOTFAP.

That used to be the case with US bound flights (think this has finished now). OP was on an Asian flight from T3. I didn't understand his reference to a second security check either.

 

[docjames]

It's exactly this scenario that annoys me in the situation a pax is late due to traffic/unavoidable delay, the airlines will frequently not care or assist. But if the cre are late or any of a million other reasons for a flight to depart late, oh well, the flight cant leave without the crew / whatever needs to be done, so the pax just have to sit and wait.

This is exactly the reason airlines need to show some compassion for pax who inadvertantly miss their flights as it can swing both ways.

 

[markis10]

It's exactly this scenario that annoys me in the situation a pax is late due to traffic/unavoidable delay, the airlines will frequently not care or assist. But if the cre are late or any of a million other reasons for a flight to depart late, oh well, the flight cant leave without the crew / whatever needs to be done, so the pax just have to sit and wait.

This is exactly the reason airlines need to show some compassion for pax who inadvertantly miss their flights as it can swing both ways.

If its a well known event airlines do, if its a one off its a different story, I am sure an airline treats crew the same way as passengers if they are not at the appointed pick up place, it just happens to be a hotel rather than an airport in the case of the crew!

 

[jb747]

It's exactly this scenario that annoys me in the situation a pax is late due to traffic/unavoidable delay, the airlines will frequently not care or assist.

Trouble is that it really can't cut both ways can it?

If the crew aren't there, and it is their own fault, whether it be not allowing enough time for the traffic, or simply sleeping in, the repercussions upon them can be rather more than just missing a flight. Demoted, fired, or losing roster priviledges are all possible outcomes. At the very least they are likely to be replaced by a standby (if one is available), and so drop the trip unpaid.

Generally of course, the crew are there, and with quite a bit of time to spare. On the other hand, on most flights, some passengers would be running late, for a variety of reasons. Waiting for them, each time, even for a small number of minutes, could have extreme repercussions. In London, for instance, even a short delay will cost you your slot, and may mean a long wait. Such a delay has even put the crew into excess duty times and the flight has ultimately not departed. Same thing happens westbound out of Asia. That last person hanging around in duty free has cost me my 'bobcat' (Afghanistan) slot more than once.

Domestically, small delays cannot be made up, and will generally compound on a busy day. And again, the spectre of the crew running out of hours can easily become part of the equation. And even if they don't, it just gets way too messy.

 

[docjames]

I'm not proposing holding the flight for the pax - rather being a little more flexible with rebooking process / providing options to the pax (other than just "buy another ticket" or "pay this huge change fee").

Of course, it gets grey - who determines how valid the reason is, how many times can an individual pax be late and be reaccommodated, do WPs get more leeway (dont want to open that can of worms!).

Note that for the most part QF are generally better about this sort of thing than many other carriers so my comments weren't QF specific.

It's just frustrating that if the airline has a problem, the attitude is "it happens", but if the pax has a problem, it's often "too bad".

 

[samh004]

Note that for the most part QF are generally better about this sort of thing than many other carriers so my comments weren't QF specific.

I once went clubbing till about 0300 in Shanghai, went back to my hotel and slept right through my alarm, missing my flight by about an hour or so ultimately. I fronted the checkin desks as a CX Silver, OWR, and they booked me on the next flight for free, I’d paid for the cheapest ticket. I don’t doubt that in Australia I wouldn’t be so lucky, but it’s a good experience.