Is There a Limit to Simpleness for Delay Reasons?

[Dai Corner]

Perhaps we need three information streams

Brief reason, impact and advice for most passengers

Lots of anoraky stuff for enthusiasts

The full picture for staff.

 

[edwin_m]

It doesn't take long to add "Due to a xxxx" to the front of an announcement of delays etc and I would say it is worthwhile in customer relations terms. When the airlines get this right they do it much better than the railway - possibly because they have a lot of staff who don't have much to do unless there's an emergency.

 

[SamYeager]

It doesn't take long to add "Due to a xxxx" to the front of an announcement of delays etc and I would say it is worthwhile in customer relations terms. When the airlines get this right they do it much better than the railway - possibly because they have a lot of staff who don't have much to do unless there's an emergency.

I very much doubt that most airlines have people hanging around doing very little in these cost driven days. It's more likely that it's a combination of better training and procdeures as well as, possibly, more practice.

 

[edwin_m]

I very much doubt that most airlines have people hanging around doing very little in these cost driven days. It's more likely that it's a combination of better training and procdeures as well as, possibly, more practice.

There have to be a certain minimum number of cabin crew depending on the aircraft type and the number of passengers. They have duties such as being ready to operate the doors during takeoff and landing if there is an emergency, but otherwise don't have much to do. Hence why on-board service (free or paid) is universal on aircraft but patchy on trains where the extra staff cost is significant. This also means that those staff don't have much in the way of operational duties and can take the time to keep the passengers informed.

The same isn't true of gate staff, and if a low-cost flight is delayed the information before boarding is basic to non-existent but you generally get a better idea of what is going on once on board.

 

[satisnek]

Delay from Birmingham New Street due to slippery rails

It would be "Delay from Birmingham New Street due to slippy rails" in the local vernacular.