United Airlines new technology aims to cut down on missed connections

I am glad that United now has a system that takes the decision to delay a flight out of the gate agents hands. When you have a system that rewards gate agents for getting flights out on time(as opposed to getting passengers to their destination), you get to witness first hand passengers missing their connections. The consequences come out of someone else's budget at the airline.

When working for Piedmont Airlines in the late 1980's - this was standard procedure. Using HUMANS with common sense, that worked for not only the passenger but for an airline that CARED about it's guests got things done. I met many a flight where the arrival flight was a bit late and escorted guests to their connecting gates - all for the comfort and convenience of the guests. When guests are put FIRST - they will continue to come back and fly with you. That's why small "puddle jumper" PI of the deregulation days grew and became a "Model of what an airline should be" and awarded Airline of the year in 1986. THOSE were the days!

OK..call me skeptical, but is united airlines trying a "back to the future space.time continuum" (if you have seen the movies from the 80's you will know what i am talking about!)it makes sense, following the amount of time to fly from point a to b,weather conditions,the Jetstream and other such,like waitng for crew,that unless a connecting flight at point b has no issues whatsoever,the flight crew,the agents, and of course the passengers on that flight would not choose to wait an additional 10,20,30 or whatever minutes for connections,as they too paid for transportation on whatever airline, and may need to be at the destination in a timely fashion..the decision to delay a flight is NOT in the agents hands by the way..the agent is allowed a brief reasonable amount of time for a delay,which must be coordinated with the captain,the flight crew,the dispatcher, and also the ground crew on the ramp..it also must be approved and supervisors at the gates advised..there are applicable "codes" that must be input for any delay,but up to 5 minues is usually the "forgiven" time..anything over that,there are codes, but a more detailed explanation is necessary..the consequences monetarily are coded as well and there are maintenance,weather and the whole nine yards for that..of course the airlines do not want to have customer complaints about "on time performance",but there are physical circumstance beyond even the control of computer technology..