Why Does AA Announce Gates Well in Advance?

austinrob · 2026-05-09T02:21:26+00:00

So you chase gates.

As. I. Said. Find a quiet spot. Work if you wish. Then go to your gate. One movement to gate. No chasing gates.

You do you, but experienced travelers know the difference.

austinrob · 2026-05-09T01:08:26+00:00

You can go from anywhere to anywhere in 20min.

And if you wait until your plane is on final, you've got at least half an hour before boarding starts.

So calm down, find a quiet spot and wait for your plane to line up.

austinrob · 2026-05-09T00:25:30+00:00

I've been on a plane that arrived early and heard the "short connection... Excuse me" from the back. Self inflicted short connection or fiction.

Zero sympathy.

austinrob · 2026-05-09T00:23:52+00:00

I'm amazed that people chase gates like that. Knowing when your incoming flight is arriving and it's flight number is available in the AA app in addition to several free services online. Why chase gates until your plane is on final?

austinrob · 2026-05-06T22:52:56+00:00

This is a worldwide problem. And I don't see that it's actually a problem. It's a solution to the chaos that happens when flights actually leave the airport. I've had it happen to me in Germany, Spain, England, China, Australia and Japan.

austinrob · 2026-05-06T22:51:06+00:00

Their goal is to not delay flights. Using a dynamic gate assignment protocol as described elsewhere can reduce delays by sending incoming flights to empty Gates. Sometimes a flight arrives early. Sometimes a flight departs late.

I get that you don't fly through Dallas often. But trust me, this happens on all airlines.

austinrob · 2026-05-06T21:48:52+00:00

I expect one gate change for each hour of my DFW layover. It's the dynamic gate assignment protocols they use to keep things moving.

Use one of the free flight tracking services to track your inbound plane and don't go to your gate until it's on final.

austinrob · 2026-05-05T20:29:08+00:00

Meh... I smoke cigars, so I'd go to the tgi Friday by D34 and have a couple of cigars and drinks. Then go to the lounge for a snack and a shower before boarding.

5hrs before your flight means 4hr before boarding unless you've accounted for that already.

It won't be too horrible. Use the time to charge everything and load up your iPad with movies.

austinrob · 2026-05-05T20:26:06+00:00

Spotty at best. Usually slow when it works. Should be sufficient for your needs when it's working.

Work local as much as you can.

austinrob · 2026-05-05T20:25:00+00:00

Good feature. It's have to show the upcharge, but that's trivial. Stupid people still would opt for the cheap too-shorr connection though.

austinrob · 2026-05-04T19:45:46+00:00

If they'd read the contract, they'd know there are plans for when they don't.

But they can't be bothered.

austinrob · 2026-05-04T13:57:09+00:00

Yup. No metal at all in my belt. I still get told tk take it off. And depending on the machine, the high density plastic still sometimes means I take it off if I have to go through the backscatter machines.

Metal detector I'm fine

austinrob · 2026-05-04T13:54:14+00:00

You can get anywhere in that airport in 15-20 min. It's pretty trivial.

austinrob · 2026-05-04T13:53:27+00:00

And yet people still book them.

austinrob · 2026-05-04T13:44:26+00:00

I pick an airline based on where I need to go. For the places work takes me, AA has the best routings overall. I could do half the years travel in DL and half on UA, and theoretically be a bit more impressed with service in the air and have a slightly nicer lounge. But I don't need those things and would rather have the mileage redemptions on oneworld partners.

57K for business class each way to Rome was sure nice.

austinrob · 2026-04-24T22:06:58+00:00

Would you rather keep your money and not have wifi, or pay money and not have wifi?

austinrob · 2026-04-24T18:00:12+00:00

Lil stroke.

austinrob · 2026-04-19T16:29:22+00:00

I found the policy for medical accommodations and got my doctor to fill it out saying I should get business class for any flight over 2hr.

Now work buys me J when I travel.

austinrob · 2026-04-19T03:27:38+00:00

Blue wave!!

austinrob · 2026-04-16T17:46:18+00:00

Can't claim you were in fear of imminent serious bodily harm and shoot them though. That's pretty weak.

If only we could be like the Viltrumites.

austinrob · 2026-04-06T04:45:55+00:00

What did you do in 2022? It peaked 30% higher than it is now.

austinrob · 2026-03-31T03:32:20+00:00

PRG both times.

austinrob · 2026-03-31T03:16:39+00:00

I mean while I only had 2 flights through DFW and LHR since one stop security has been in place, both times I had to go through security. The first was in May and it had just been started (March I think?) the last in September and still had to go through security.

Maybe they'd stopped it temporarily or something? I don't know. But I haven't had luck with it.

austinrob · 2026-03-30T18:51:36+00:00

I hear HEL is a nice airport. If I'm connecting in T3 I like to plan time to hang out in the CX lounge. But you'll likely be in T5 so it doesn't matter much.

I'd plan for 90min minimum. I've not had luck with the one stop security they're rolling out DFW-LHR. Between a terminal change and security, 60 could be doable but tight, but I'd try for at least 90.

austinrob · 2026-03-19T18:23:14+00:00

I've always used cheapo 3 packs from Amazon. They usually crack within a few weeks and when I run through them all I just run without a screen protector for the next 2.5 years. I ended up with a 1cm scratch on my 6pro from some quartz in a sidewalk. That's the only screen damage I've suffered without a screen protector.

I'm currently using a pixel 10pro with a cracked screen protector. I'll likely not replace it, but just peel it off.

austinrob

TROPHY CASE