[AirlinesMustPay]

Originally Posted by Jetliner

Once the flight has been released it needs to leave NOW, or loose it's spot for takeoff, and have to sit for another lengthy time. You need to remember that deplaning like that requires taxing back to the gate, unloading, and re-boarding, then taxi back out. Even if everyone leaves their stuff on the plane this is still going to be a 20-30 minute process. Bye-bye takeoff window.

Maybe there is something I don't get here. Why does that flight have to lose its spot for take off? Why can't there be a Federal regulation that in these circumstances, once the aircraft returns to the gate after 3 hours, in the event it is later cleared for take off, once reboarding has taken place (up to 30 minutes you say?), it keeps its priority for take off. why "Bye-bye takeoff window" ? I cant see why ATC cannot be directed to permit this aircraft to take off.

Remember too we are talking about unusual weather conditions, e.g. snowstorms, so no one was taking off for hours. These passengers were in their aircraft for 3 hours, so what's the deal with permitting it to take off before aircraft that are only just boarding. It seems to me it is just a question of logistics, and someone should be able to work it out how this aircraft is not delayed a second time.