Summers Here: Flight Delays in Northeast

This is a "Best of Freightdawg.com" article!

USA Todays Ben Mutzabaugh runs a travel blog.  The article below discusses the horrid experiences travelers into New York/New Jersey have had this summer. Over 200 flights just last week were canceled.  This isn't news however. Its a more frequent occurrence than passengers, the airlines or the FAA would like to have happen.

The New York metro area air space has to contend with air traffic coming into New York/JFK (KJFK), New York/Laguardia (KLGA),  New Jersey/Newark (KEWR) as well as major corporate jet airports at New Jersey Teterboro (KTEB) and Connecticut's Weschester County Airport. (KHPN). Literally hundreds of aircraft of all sizes permeate this air space.   

When the summer weather hits, spacing these aircraft becomes a major network problem.  Often times, its not the weather in the NY/NJ area thats the problem. Sometimes its weather in Atlanta.    With flights between the New York area and ATL and points south to Florida being flown hourly, the FAA conducts ground holds that routinely disrupt flight arrival times.

Here's the problem. 

The air traffic control and weather systems in the New York area are over 40 years old.  The radar resolutions on systems used by the FAA can only see to a 12 mile resolution.   Thunderstorms that look like they are right over the air field may be several miles away.   The airlines use higher resolution weather observation systems and can see when there is a hole in the weather.   Operations get frustrated when the FAA puts a hold on traffic when it may be CLEAR to fly.In early June, the FAA had a major systems crash in its Atlanta base which caused major reroutes.  The FAA is struggling to keep up with old systems and a flight environment that gets more complex and more crowded every year.

In the mid 90's my job called for me to fly into Newark about 3 times a month. I used to say that the flight from Atlanta to Newark was a 2 hour flight going...and a 3 hour flight coming home...because you'd spend an hour being number 26 for departure coming out of Newark!    Check this story out from the NJ Star Ledger on how awful things got last week.

In Atlanta,  the Federal government spent $1 billion dollars to put in a new runway 10/28. This commuter runway was supposed to alleviate spacing of flights coming into Atlanta. That alone was supposed to have a positive impact on the entire North American air network.  My experience is that the runway hasn't helped...yet.  ATL's impact on the entire air network is huge since it is the busiest in the world now.

The FAA 5 year funding bill in front of Congress now has over $50 billion in it for operations and another $15.2 billion for infrastructure investment.   Flight delays like we are experiencing this summer highlight why a good FAA bill needs passing as soon as possible.

"Flight delays in the northeast during the summer are going to happen." 

Here are some tips I use to beat the crowds.  The key is to be prepared and be nimble.  Flexibility and experience will get you where you want to go.

Six Ways to Cope with Flight Delays in New York / New Jersey.

1. Have your travel agent and your preferred air carrier phone numbers programmed into your mobile phone.  The very first second you hear of a flight delay, call the 1-800 numbers to get a new flight or seat.  Don't stand in line with the other lemmings.

2. Spend the money and join an airline lounge/club.  Not only are they more comfortable to work in while you wait, they have shorter lines if you need a customer service agent. Free drinks also come in handy on occasion!

3. If you travel into NY/NJ regularly, have the telephone numbers of some local hotels pre-programmed into your mobile phone. The second your flight gets canceled, get on the phone and book the room.

4. I keep a couple of car services programmed in my phone as well. Calling for a car service to take you to the hotel is faster than a taxi, and often just as affordable.

5. If you have to spend the night, don't rebook to the first flight the next morning. The airport will still be a complete zoo. Book to the second or third flight out. Often these depart about 9:30 or so and you can still get out and possibly still get your upgrade if you qualify.

6. Never completely believe what the airline desk jockeys tell you. Their primary mission is to make you "GO AWAY".  If you have internet access check these sites for "whats real" regarding ATC delays. Both FAA Flight Delay Info. and Flightaware.com are great sites for getting the real skinny on whats going on.

Eric

clipped from blogs.usatoday.com With schedules packed, storms can decimate flight schedules One of the best stories on this past week's round of delays and cancellations comes from The Star-Ledger of Newark. The paper puts the nationwide delay problem into perspective by taking a look at how airlines dealt with yesterday's storms at Newark Liberty International, one of the most delay-prone airports in the USA. The paper's story –- a good read for those wanting more on the subject –- says "yesterday's flight operations at Newark … , where more than 200 flights were canceled, provide a stark illustration of an airline industry so overburdened that a mild summer storm –- or even the fear of one -– can wreak havoc across the nation. It was not yet even 8 a.m., as early forecasts indicated severe thunderstorm activity brewing along a wide swath of the Northeast, stretching from Boston straight down to Washington, D.C."

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One of the best stories on this past week's round of delays and cancellations comes from The Star-Ledger of Newark. The paper puts the nationwide delay problem into perspective by taking a look at how airlines dealt with yesterday's storms at Newark Liberty International, one of the most delay-prone airports in the USA.

The paper's story –- a good read for those wanting more on the subject –- says "yesterday's flight operations at Newark … , where more than 200 flights were canceled, provide a stark illustration of an airline industry so overburdened that a mild summer storm –- or even the fear of one -– can wreak havoc across the nation. It was not yet even 8 a.m., as early forecasts indicated severe thunderstorm activity brewing along a wide swath of the Northeast, stretching from Boston straight down to Washington, D.C."

Comments

[Eric]

I also worked for DAL during my college days as an intern. That was in the late 70's. I got to load DC-8's, DC-9's, L1011's (when they were new!), B737's, and a pethora of other airplanes including B707's from BCAL as well as convair 580's etc. Good times if you love old airplanes (like me).

Todays travel delays are show stopping. Planes have gotten smaller (RJ's) and highly optimized to routes around PAX loads. its killing airline cargo capability in North America on the commercial airline side.

Eric

[Splatty]

Hi Eric,

Great post on one of my favorite topics; airline delays. I worked for DL back in my college days and can definitely relate to number six on your list. Believe me, after dealing with a line of angry passengers during a flight delay, I just wanted to get the information out as quickly as possible and run for the exits.