stoopidute442 said:
I'm sure it's all philly's fault!
To be fair and honest, actually, it IS Philly's fault. Not the Philly people, but the Philly management.
I took both flights 653 (PHL-AUA) and 978 (AUA-CLT) in December. After running from C-16 (Bus from F) to A-20, I noticed there was only one agent to board the flight. He had a bunch of people trying to pre board who did not speak English, including an older couple with their grown children who did not have proper documentation (it is my impression docs should have been checked and verified at checkin not the gate). This was a full flight, and this fine young man dealt with all the problems, PLUS boarded the entire flight BY HIMSELF. Although I didn't see what happened during general boarding, we were finally boarded about 25 min behind scheduled departure, and then we had to wait for fuel and connecting bags.
In all the flight left 65 minutes behind, and it is often difficult to make up this time in the air.
Two days later I took 978 to CLT, where the arriving aircraft 653 arrived 25 min late but departed on time. It was a few minutes late into CLT due to wind and weather in the CLT area.
How can a management plan to have only one agent to board a full flight (this was still the A320, so I imagine with the 757 it's even worse)? How can they not plan to fuel the aircraft BEFORE boarding? This appears to be another example of penny wise and pound foolish--inadequate staffing and planning--but we all know that now don't we?
It's time to work SMART instead of working CHEAP--yet I do believe I am preaching to the choir here.
By the way that gate agent in PHL was pointed out for recognition in a call to CA a couple of days later. He was amazing considering he was alone.
My best to you all....
