One of my daughters was outbound on a commercial flight recently. As she waited patiently at the gate, the dreaded delay message flashed up on the screen.
Minutes ticked by, but no explanation was given.
An hour went by and the best guess anyone at the gate had was a maintenance problem. The delay lingered. Eventually an airplane showed up at the gate, frustrated travelers boarded the aircraft, and all were delivered to their planned destination.
In the world of commercial air travel, delays are generally accompanied by frustration and the possibility of a missed connection. As the ire of our fellow passengers increases, so does the volume of their complaints. Perhaps a shouting match ensues. Occasionally a scuffle breaks out.
None of that helps the airplane arrive sooner. The mechanics don’t speed up the pace of their troubleshooting and repair because John and Bill from Denver are yelling about the importance of the meeting they’re attending at the other end of this flight. Joleen’s insistence that she be home on time to care for her kids doesn’t really have much to do with the speed or efficiency required to correct whatever the issue is.
The airline business is a complex collection of moving parts that include aircraft, personnel, computer systems, weather considerations, and yes, even maintenance. All those variables can come together to create a bit of a mess now and then — a mess that tends to spiral outward as the spiderweb of spokes connecting to their hubs causes one glitch to induce another and another. Before long the folks waiting at their gate in Buffalo can’t imagine why a late arrival in Orlando and a thunderstorm in Oklahoma City should have any impact on their travel plans.
Let me be clear on this point. I have nothing against the airlines. I’ve been flying commercial since 1965. More often than not I’ve enjoyed it. That is true even though I spent much of my life traveling as a non-rev passenger. That’s industry-speak for flying stand-by. And believe me, I’ve done my share of standing by while airplanes left the gate without me.
The speed and convenience of air travel comes with at least the chance of a delay or two. Sometimes the delay is measured in minutes. On occasion it’s measured in days. Plan accordingly.
Personally, I prefer to travel by General Aviation aircraft. A King Air would be nice, and I did have the pleasure of being delivered home by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) President Mark Baker aboard a King Air once. It was a delightful experience.
But I don’t have a King Air at my disposal. To be honest I would probably blanch at the fuel bill.
The same goes for a Cessna Caravan. I’d love to own one, but that purchase would have a profoundly negative impact on my life judging by my wife’s reaction when the topic has come up.
In February 2023 I’ll be taking a fairly long trip, from central Florida to Buckeye, Arizona. The reason for the trip is work. Yes, this is a business travel situation. I’ll be attending the 2023 Buckeye Air Fair. While on site I’ll be presenting an AOPA Rusty Pilot seminar and perhaps doing some fun and educational stuff with a group of students. I’m really looking forward to it.
My transportation to the site will be my company car, a 1980 Cessna 152. You can track my travels if you’d like. My most recent ride is N104UC.
That’s roughly 1,800 miles out and a similar distance back. I’ve flown further in a C-152 and had a good time of it. But I can assure you, there will be delays.
Weather is a big factor. The human element isn’t immune either. Being tired is a perfectly good reason to push back a departure so the pilot can grab a nap. Hunger is no joke either. The mind doesn’t stay all that sharp when fueled by nothing but peanut butter crackers of dubious age found in the odd vending machine.
To be honest I am often embarrassed by delays. I once spent three days in Jennings, Louisiana, while on a long cross-country flight because a nasty front stalled along my path to the east, leaving a couple hundred miles of low IFR weather just sitting there mocking me. Making that call to the boss that I’m not going anywhere for a while isn’t my idea of a fun conversation. But I make the call. The boss accepts my situation for what it is. Life goes on.
Where GA travel differs from commercial is that my GA delays usually lead to some interesting and worthwhile situations. I’m not stuck at the gate waiting. I’m at the FBO or a hotel.
If I’m lucky, as I was in Jennings, I get to wander loose for a while. I meet new folks and see sights that weren’t evident before. There may be a museum nearby, or a local restaurant that’s really worth visiting. Perhaps the city where I’m temporarily stuck is having a festival of some sort. Which is to say, I may be delayed, but I’m never bored.
There is the educational component to consider, too. More than once I’ve sat with a local CFI discussing the terrain, the weather, the best route to take me toward my destination, or where I might find inexpensive fuel along my path.
The time-worn expression about GA travel is true. If you’ve got time to spare, go by air. Of course, there is an addendum I would add to that expression that has proven true for me. If you want to broaden your experience, meet fascinating people, and truly enrich your life, fly.
Whether you’re going 50 miles, or 500 miles, or 5,000 miles — the stops you’ll make along the way can make the journey so much more special than a non-stop fly-over experience ever could. You will cherish the memories forever.
I’d love to use general aviation for my business travel. Unfortunately, my employer doesn’t provide me with an airplane, or pay for all the expenses I incur during my travels.
Stuck in Houston on the way to Phoenix, summer thunderstorms (delay, delay, delay), parade of PO.ed people giving the gate agent a hard time (Do you know who I am, etc.). I went to the gate agent and asked him if he’d like to look busy by talking about motorcycles or something instead of weather – heck yeah! Wound up with seats 1A and 1B specifically because I didn’t hassle him and provided “cover” from irate entitled nincompoops who don’t understand that the weather ALWAYS wins.
Cabin crew was also tired and stressed, I said to them you guys have done us a favor, why don’t WE welcome the passengers and you take a break? They looked at each other, shrugged, and said go for it.
“32B?, go that way until you get to Passaic New Jersey, seat is on your left.”
“Welcome to flight XX to Phoenix” – turn to flight crew (cockpit door open), “Hey we are going to Phoenix, right?” “Yep.”
“Don’t worry, they aren’t going to let me fly their airplane. Buncha killjoys.”
Good time was had by all, and we weren’t even THAT late.
Jamie…I wonder why the airlines don’t even seem to try to explain the delays to their passengers? I’ve always thought that doing so would alleviate some of the albeit inappropriate ire directed at the poor gate agent who can only say “I don’t know.”
Curious in Kentucky