This one can be a real can of worms.
I have been in a situation where we are running late, our destination airfield will only stay open until a particular time and you start boarding having rushed a very quick turn around knowing you still have a good chance (15-30mins) of making it on time. After most of the passengers and bags are on you are told that because of the delay some of the passengers have gone walk about and they have bags checked in. ...........Check Mate !
You have 2 choices -
1) Start looking for their bags (at least 15 mins) and risk not getting to destination in time.
2) Wait in the hope that they turn up and risk not getting to your destination in time.
Now lets say they turn up after 15 mins, had that one before too. Do you.....
1) Do a PA to all the passengers saying that there is now a risk that we won't make it to destination in time (you would be surprised how many little things can delay take-off by 5-10mins). This will then lead to some passengers refusing to fly resulting in them getting off and then having to off load their bags (having looked for them for 20 mins in the holds).......result = Absolutely not getting to destination and being even more delayed.
2) Saying nothing to the passengers as there is still a chance of making it to destination before closure and risk an additional delay and the rath of the passengers afterwards as they accuse you of not telling them that they were going to a different airfield......and now of course the possibility of jail.
So there we have it. I would have to admit that on a few occasions I have chosen option 2 and just managed to get in on time. The passengers arrive slightly cheesed off all be it late and I end up with a few more gray hairs but satisfied in the knowledge that I got them to where they were supposed to go.
Nowadays I choose option 1. (Having been involved in an 'option 2' that turned sour.
) This means that the passengers go nowhere, get back off the A/C and get dealt with by the ground staff. I have a few less gray hairs and the Cabin crew don't get shouted at. The knock on affect is that we also end up night stopping......the A/C is then out of position for the morning flight from base and yet even more passengers are cheesed off !!
but hey, at least I haven't committed an act of fraud.
