Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigtime
Here's the rub though, at busy airports (like LAS) if you don't push back from the gate on time the flight may be delayed further by ATC. It's a big choreographed mess from the ground to the air, and that delay on push-back could lead to an even longer delay on the taxiway.
|
In addition to this, the BTS (Bureau of Transportation Statistics) counts delays from when the plane departs from the gate. So every minute the plane is held, is a minute the plane is delayed. Generally they consider 15-minute delays a delay; anything less is considered 'on-time' And on-time departures are gold for the airline - they'll do anything to up the on-time statistics.
http://www.bts.gov/help/aviation/
This couple could have delayed the plane way more than their "5 minutes" claim - and as everyone else says, lose their spot in line to take off, pooch hundreds of connections, and irreparably damage the airline's on-time rating for that flight for a couple of dunderheads who can't figure out when to be on the plane?