On Tuesday’s American Airlines flight AA2547 from Phoenix to Orlando a passenger barely made it on board before the doors closed. He apparently was in a rush to make the flight and didn’t manage a needed stop at the restroom while enroute, according to the flight’s notes.
Despite the setback during boarding, the Airbus A321neo shows a push back time of 9:40 a.m. so this was a quick change effort. And he apparently came out wearing different clothes than when he entered the lavatory.
American Airlines gate agents can delay closing the boarding door by 5 minutes for the last flight of the night, but this was a morning departure. They also don’t have to close a door right in a customer’s face – they can hold off if there’s a passenger trying to board the flight who is in direct line of sight.
However if you don’t want to miss your flight, you need to be on board 10 minutes before scheduled departure. (And if you aren’t boarding 15 minutes to departure you risk losing your seat.)
A passenger is going to do what they need to do to be on board, including changing into whatever clothes they have with them. This is another great reason, by the way, never to check a bag. Imagine if he didn’t have another pair of pants to change into?
Why does this story remind me of this maintenance log issue reported by an Etihad pilot?
American Airlines AAdvantage post COVID frequent flyer tip. If you don’t want to use the “flat tire” rule, consider the “crap your pants” excuse to justify your late arrival at the departure gate.
No shit.
As an AA gate agent your Intel again is wrong. We do not hold the door for anyone after D-10. It is not up to us.
International if you are not onboard at D-15 and you have checked bags they are pulled. If you show up before D-10 it’s up to manager who pulled bags to let your bags be reloaded (is cargo doors shut? If so not happening)
You get rebooked. It’s clearly also written. On your boarding pass for international flights.
Puts a new twist on “Throne seats” up front…
Also, if he was able to change clothes it must not have been an Oasis plane.
@Juststopyour bs – I wrote that agents *can* do this under specific limited circumstances, not that all do/will, there are many agents who are sadly not good at their jobs and not focused on the customer.
Gary – do we know what he did with the pants he had on ? Did he pack it with his other belongings, throw it away, or flush it down the toilet ?
The article is incomplete without this last remaining detail.
Good reason for your old disposawear underwear. Just plop them in the waste can!