Stops Enroute

[BuffaloJoe]

I have noticed that several flights the past few days to SFO, LAX, SAN are stopping enroute to get more fuel. I guess the headwinds are strong. I also see that Flt 74 made it from SFO-PHL in 4hours 4 minutes, not bad going to the east.

Is this the time of year when they are strong? How come did UA's 319/320 did not have to stop to LAX & SFO?

I seen that 1 or 2 made it straight thru as well as the SEA flights.

 

[N924PS]

I have noticed that several flights the past few days to SFO, LAX, SAN are stopping enroute to get more fuel. I guess the headwinds are strong. I also see that Flt 74 made it from SFO-PHL in 4hours 4 minutes, not bad going to the east.

Is this the time of year when they are strong? How come did UA's 319/320 did not have to stop to LAX & SFO?

I seen that 1 or 2 made it straight thru as well as the SEA flights.

Interesting question. Could be United had lower payloads than U. Maybe the V2500 engine United's 319/320's are equipped with get better fuel burns than U's CFM56. Or maybe United is content to arrive with reserve fuel only aboard (45 minutes).

Maybe someone from USAirways Operations Performance staff can weigh in on this. One thing for sure, the winds aloft at the Flight Levels have been howling out of the west.

 

[ClueByFour]

I have noticed that several flights the past few days to SFO, LAX, SAN are stopping enroute to get more fuel. I guess the headwinds are strong. I also see that Flt 74 made it from SFO-PHL in 4hours 4 minutes, not bad going to the east.

Is this the time of year when they are strong? How come did UA's 319/320 did not have to stop to LAX & SFO?

I seen that 1 or 2 made it straight thru as well as the SEA flights.

If the flights are 321s (instead of 319/320), you probably have your answer.

 

[Seatacus]

If the flights are 321s (instead of 319/320), you probably have your answer.

I agree.........the A/C does make a difference. In the past the 320's were notorious for the need to stop enroute.

 

[MarkMyWords]

The winds have been horrendous. PHL to the west is just pushing the envelope a little to far with winds like this. Safety is always the top priority, so the fuel stops are a necessary evil.

The SEA flights are taking a more northerly route so they haven't been effected as much. West to East, flights are gaining almost an hour on some routes. East to West has been really tough. I think there have been on average 10 fuel stops a day for the last 3 days. Tomorrow may be just as challenging.

 

[flytchick]

Just did PHX-JFK on Friday (2/17) in 3 hours 35 minutes!!! Next day - JFK-PHX - fuel stop in MCI. Had a JetBlue jumpseater who said 20 of their planes on Friday had stopped for fuel. USAirways had 12 on Friday into MCI alone for fuel and were projected for minimum of 14 on Saturday. Headwinds were 170-190 knots......

 

[MarkMyWords]

I thought I heard a Capt say something about the ground speed flying West to East was something like 635mph due to the tail winds.

 

[flytchick]

That is what we were told - with ground speed the next day around 250!!! We had tons of misconnnects in PHX - everyone upset at US - because everyone knows we control the weather!!! :blink:

 

[US1YFARE]

so, when they stop, or when you have really strong tailwinds, do they use that as an excuse to justify not serving a meal in FC since the flight is less than 3.5 hours?

 

[FCYTravis]

so, when they stop, or when you have really strong tailwinds, do they use that as an excuse to justify not serving a meal in FC since the flight is less than 3.5 hours?

I wonder what next week's SFO-CLT red-eye will be like... we might get into CLT before the sun comes up! :blink:

US Airways had to get Airbus to build the -200 model of the A321 because the original couldn't even make it transcontinental. Even now it's marginal on range, so I'm not surprised they're tech-stopping...

 

[flytchick]

so, when they stop, or when you have really strong tailwinds, do they use that as an excuse to justify not serving a meal in FC since the flight is less than 3.5 hours?

oh no - you get a meal......... you just really have to eat it fast!!!! but - unfortunately - no meal on the next part just a drink..........

 

[LGA777]

US 15 PHL-SFO on Saturday 2-18 stopped twice,MCI and SLC, anybody know was this a double fuel-stop ?

Thanks

LGA777

 

[US1YFARE]

US 15 PHL-SFO on Saturday 2-18 stopped twice,MCI and SLC, anybody know was this a double fuel-stop ?

Thanks

LGA777

they were probably afraid that the MCI-SFO flight would require them to serve a meal, so they stopped again.

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

they were probably afraid that the MCI-SFO flight would require them to serve a meal, so they stopped again.

hey, stop! we are a low cost carrier now!!! just give them time, i mean (sorry, wrong excuse!), yeah, we are a low cost carrier now. didn't you see our ticker symbol?!? who cares what ua and aa and co are offering, we are a low cost carrier, despite the fact that our fares are the same...lcc baby!!!

 

[luvn737s]

"Cook, where's my lunch? Where's my supper? Where's my Hossenfeffer?!" Psst, it's all a conspiracy to keep US1 from enjoying another Chicken Caesar Salad.