On June 27 our American LGA to CLT flight failed to push back on time due to gate agents who started the boarding process late and were very slow in loading passengers (the equipment and crew were on board and ready). As a result, we sat on the ramp after pushback and lost our ATC take off slot. Then we had to go back to the gate to refuel. Missed our CLT connection and rebooked on a 6 PM departure. Waited on a First Officer and Flight Attendants. At 9 PM the FA's arrived and boarded. At 10 PM the FO arrived to cheers from waiting passengers. As soon as he punched in the flight was cancelled. I asked him why and he replied that the FA's had run out of hours. After a two hour wait we rebooked for the next morning. The hotel then sold our pre-paid guaranteed room and we slept in the lobby.
Point is, why would American operations not know in advance that on a projected 10 PM departure the FA's would go out of hours and cancel us hours earlier, giving us a chance to rebook to what became the last flight to MCO, a 9 PM departure?
Pure incompetence on the part of operations and management.
Where did the $54 billion we gave the airlines for COVID relief end up? Not in training or replacing laid off personnel/crews!

They laid off many employees during the pandemic and if a pilot doesn’t have hours of flight time, he can’t fly! I think the biggest problem is the “shortage” of pilots. Simple fix..they shouldn’t be selling more tickets until the problem is under control!!

No Jet fuel.

Pre-pandemic over the years I experienced the type of situation you described more times than I can count on AmericaWest, US Airways and American Airlines.

Post pandemic I can understand pilot shortages and other issues. Yet airlines currently are deliberately overbooking heinously. Pre-pandemic they typically overbooked flights by a few passengers and paid a few bucks for them to take later flights but they have gone ridiculously overboard with thousands of cancellations, especially over holiday weekends.

My son works for Southwest. One morning he was notified by TSA that a SW pilot just breezed thru smelling of alcohol. When the pilot showed up at his counter to pick up some flight info, my son said, "Sorry, sir, but you're taking out this flight." Pilot said distainfully, "Oh yeah? Who's going to stop me?" Son replied, "Those 2 gentlemen behind you." Pilot escorted away; son had to appear at a hearing in Dallas; pilot lost his license. One less dangerous pilot, thankfully!

Sorry -- Son told pilot he was NOT taking that flight out.

Living is easy with eyes closed

Amen, these unions are destroying our country $15 for entry level positions tossing burgers that should be $6 hr

Out
 

Yep, and People's Express lasted 2 years.

Not
 

There isn't any such thing as a "takeoff slot". Only slots are for landing. Lots of outside influences with the airlines. But are constantly looking for people like you that can predict the future.

My flights were usually delayed due to not enough ground crew and probably covid sick days. One flight was cancelled so Southwest gave me a $100 voucher so I was happy about that. Got on a plane an hour later than the cancelled one.

Try not to confuse people with facts!:BigApplause:

So many experts complaining about Airline pilots that know nothing of the job. These professionals are responsible for the lives of everyone on board. I guess it's more about you than everyone else.

Posting a comment about Pilots being drunks is really low.
I guess that says more about your character than that of the Pilots.

My next door neighbors' best friends' cousin used to know a coworker that met a pilot once.
All the experts here are laughable.