Quantcast

Delta's early departures cause disruptions for travelers

Here's how Southwest Airlines' new seating and boarding process will work
Delta Adds New Route to Asia
Southwest Airlines will begin selling assigned seats in 2025
United Airlines Pilot Buys Passengers Pizza In Albuquerque After Flight Was Delayed 7 Hours
Airlines begin canceling flights, offering rebooking ahead of Hurricane Helene
Southwest Airlines to cut service and staffing in Atlanta to slash costs
New heights, new features: Discover Alaska’s enhanced Flight Pass subscription service
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
American Airlines welcomes JetSMART to the award-winning AAdvantage program
Explore Japan for free? Japan Airlines offers free domestic flights to foreign travelers
Delta named Official Airline Partner of Birmingham City Football Club
American Airlines to Cut These Routes to Las Vegas, Orlando, and More — Here's Why
Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers
Southwest wouldn't really start charging for bags — right?
JD Power ranked this Midwest airport as the best among largest airports in North America
Alaska Airlines Chief Plans More Routes After a Deal With Hawaiian
Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears
JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag
Why United Airlines’ CEO makes as few decisions as possible
American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work
DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping
Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane
Here's where American Airlines is adding flights to Europe in summer 2025
Major airline grounds Airbus A350 fleet, citing faulty engine component
Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe
United Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike. Here's why it's still unlikely.
2 workers killed, 1 injured in tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines shop in Atlanta
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta's early departures cause disruptions for travelers
Research
Webp p18pueyozwbyaegyt1fzg7i1qaau
View from the Wing | View from the Wing

Flight delays are a common inconvenience for travelers, with rolling delays adding to the frustration. Sometimes, airlines face unpredictable situations such as delayed inbound aircraft or unforeseen mechanical issues that prolong repairs. These scenarios, while inconvenient, are often understandable.

However, what passengers find particularly frustrating is when an airline is aware that a departure time is unfeasible but fails to update it until the last moment. "You’re standing at the gate 15 minutes to scheduled departure and boarding hasn’t started yet because the plane isn’t there yet the flight still shows as departing on-time," one traveler expressed. This lack of timely communication can leave passengers feeling stranded and unable to make alternative plans.

Equally problematic, if not more so, are early departures. Passengers plan their airport arrival based on published schedules; any deviation from these times can result in missed flights. A frequent flyer shared their annoyance: "I especially hate when airlines publish delays – give new departure times – and then move flights back to their original departure time (or something in between)."

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Gates typically close 10 minutes before departure, requiring passengers to be present in the gate area at least 15 minutes prior. When airlines alter these reference points without sufficient notice, customers can miss their flights. One Delta passenger noted that even a slight change of five minutes could have significant repercussions: "Delta seems to do this more than other airlines."

The impact of these changes goes beyond mere inconvenience. The same traveler highlighted how minor schedule adjustments could disrupt travel plans significantly: "While it’s ‘only’ 5 minutes, it means that they’re effectively changing the contract of carriage to 15 and 20 minutes, respectively." Such alterations can mean missing a flight simply because one decided to grab a coffee.

This issue raises questions about the reliability of published departure times and whether passengers can truly depend on them for planning their travel.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

Yesterday, Lufthansa City Airlines received its first Airbus A320neo at the Airbus facility in Hamburg-Finkenwerder.

Apr 9, 2025

Emirates will introduce its new Airbus A380s, featuring the latest cabins including Premium Economy, to Manchester and Milan.

Apr 9, 2025

Real-life events of snakes appearing aboard flights have been documented, evoking memories of the 2006 film "Snakes on a Plane."

Apr 9, 2025

Air France is among the largest operators of the Airbus A350.

Apr 9, 2025

Talks continue regarding the possibility of resuming direct flights between the United States and Russia.

Apr 9, 2025