Tardy Thoughts

Regarding “Promises Lose Ground When Planes Are Late” (Travel Insider, Feb. 4): While three main reasons for late arrival and departure are listed (weather, politics and the airlines themselves), I fail to see mentioned the most common reason for the delay in departure that my wife and I have encountered. This is late arrival of passengers, which I find are usually in one of three categories: late arrival of a newly booked passenger, of a connecting passenger and (the most frustrating) waiting for the arrival and booking of “last-minute” passengers to fill an otherwise not yet fully booked aircraft.

It’s more frustrating when the late arrival walks in with his luggage and wants to cram his roll-aboard on top of your carefully placed, fragile carry-on.

Sounds a bit exaggerated, I know, but it’s happened to us time and time again. And of course, the airlines’ personnel, including flight attendants, will deny to their last breath the latter reason, the “not-yet-fully-booked” aircraft.

LEN MAFFIOLI

Murrieta