I can certainly respect that. On the other side of token, the agent at the gate or counter only has the most current information and cannot predict what will change. So when you come to check in the flight may be only 45 minutes late, but after you have left me and I have gone on to help the next passenger the information may have changed. So the next time that I see you is at the gate and then I get yelled at, "Why didn't you tell me that at the counter?" "Well at the counter that was the information I had". Another aspect, now bare with me, is that the plane is expected to arrive at a certain time but it makes it up time in the air and arrives early, albeit still delayed, but earlier. So if I tell someone that exact time that the plane is to arrive and then it makes up time, they go off to the bar and can't hear my announcements. So I tell them a "conservative" time to be at the gate, and when it is there everyone is good to go. Otherwise, they're all spread out across the airport. Also, there are other times when the agent just does not know how long a delay will last. The captain may say that there is a maintenance issue that needs to be resolved. Well it could just be a broken armrest or something more serious. Why make an announcement that the plane is delayed due to maintenance and cause hysteria and everyone think that they will miss their connection when the plane could be fixed in 10 minutes? Now...if an agent just plain out lies about when the plane is going to depart or just doesn't give timely information, shame on that agent and yes your complaints are justified.
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