Delta length of flight- confused!!

[CherylA]

Okay maybe someone can help me figure this out. We are in Connecticut. We usually fly direct to Orlando from BDL (Bradley) the flight is about 3 hours. This trip we are stopping in Atlanta and changing planes. So our flight leaves BDL at 6 am and gets to Atlanta at 8:52 then we board a plane that leaves Atlanta at 9:55 and gets to Orlando at 11:35 Thats a total of 4 hours and 35 minutes in the air. So that seems odd to me. Anyway I went to the delta site to look at the flights for the day we fly out to make sure there isn't a mistake, and heres what I found for flights from BDL to ATL

Delta 1717 6:00am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 8:52am
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:52

Delta 1559 7:10am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 9:44am
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:34

Delta 1147 10:30am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 1:00pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:30

Delta 1595 12:38pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 3:25pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:47

Delta 1739 3:25pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 6:02pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:37

Delta 1525 6:10pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 8:45pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing 737-800 Passenger 0 02:35

I've highlighted the flight time in red. The first 5 flights listed (the first is the one we're on) are all on the same type of aircraft. So someone want to tell me why the flight duration time varies by 22 minutes!!!

 

[huskies90]

Okay maybe someone can help me figure this out. We are in Connecticut. We usually fly direct to Orlando from BDL (Bradley) the flight is about 3 hours. This trip we are stopping in Atlanta and changing planes. So our flight leaves BDL at 6 am and gets to Atlanta at 8:52 then we board a plane that leaves Atlanta at 9:55 and gets to Orlando at 11:35 Thats a total of 4 hours and 35 minutes in the air. So that seems odd to me. Anyway I went to the delta site to look at the flights for the day we fly out to make sure there isn't a mistake, and heres what I found for flights from BDL to ATL

Delta 1717 6:00am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 8:52am
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:52

Delta 1559 7:10am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 9:44am
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:34

Delta 1147 10:30am
15 Apr 2010 BDL 1:00pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:30

Delta 1595 12:38pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 3:25pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:47

Delta 1739 3:25pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 6:02pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing (Douglas) MD-88 0 02:37

Delta 1525 6:10pm
15 Apr 2010 BDL 8:45pm
15 Apr 2010 ATL Boeing 737-800 Passenger 0 02:35

I've highlighted the flight time in red. The first 5 flights listed (the first is the one we're on) are all on the same type of aircraft. So someone want to tell me why the flight duration time varies by 22 minutes!!!

Flight times are gate to gate and not necessarily time in the air. That being said, time in the air can also vary based on airport operations. In other words, the fight might be scheduled to arrive at a gate where another aircraft is scheduled to leave. Obviously those times vary. The times also take into account air traffic at that time. Have you ever been on flight that descends for landing but then just seems to make tons of turns before finally touching down? Usually that is because of airport traffic and getting a space in line to land. All those things are taking into account with the flight times.

 

[tkldisney]

The times listed usually mean gate to gate. Maybe because your early in the am and airport takeoff/landings are more busy. So they are allowing more taxi time or line up for landing. ATL is busy airport.

 

[Lori in CNY]

Hey Cheryl,
The correct answer is a combination of all the previous answers. The length of the flight is based on the time you leave your gate until the time you arrive at your next gate. Because we fly thru JFK in NYC quite a bit, we found that flight times around the 4, 5 and 6 pm hours are much longer because the ground traffic is so heavy at that time. We were told by a pilot that in NYC it is the time they receive the majority of their international flights. Between those flights and the other domestic flights you can taxi on the runway waiting your turn for quite some time. One flight in particular we were on had to taxi on the runway just waiting for our turn to be next for takeoff. This procedure took us 1.5 hours but we still arrived at our destination when they indicated because they take all of this into account when making out those schedules. Your busiest time at your airport may be first thing in the morning. Every area is different but have you ever noticed when your pilot tells you that you're 3rd in line for take-off, etc? It just means you have to wait your turn and this can be a lengthy process.

Hope you have a great trip.....and the skies are blue and on time!

 

[TheWog]

Also flight routes. Some head out of airports in different ways depending on the other routes at that time of day north vs. south vs. northwest, etc. Once in the air they can fly out over the ocean and others over land. There are several factors that can play into it (including all those listed above).

 

[CherylA]

Hmm, who would have thought? Well thank you, it makes more sense now!