A pilot explains why airport gates skip numbers: A1-10 and A26-34 are on opposite sides of the terminal, so crews know instantly where to go. Leaders should make decisions for the whole organization, not optimize for one part.
A little trick for leaders. Check this out. So A11 here is where I'm sitting and down that way, maybe you can just see, is A12. But here's gate A25. You see the sign up there? I'm going to zoom in. It says gates A1 through 10 and 26 through 34 to the left. Why doesn't it just say 10 through 34 or 1 through 34 or whatever? It's actually a little bit confusing in here because it flip-flops the 25s on that side, but there's a 12 on this side. Why don't they go 25, 24, and so forth? The reason is out there. So the planes have consecutive numbers on the outside, and so parking on that side of the terminal and vice versa on the other side of the terminal. That's so important because it's easier for the ground crew and for the pilots to navigate. It's very clear what side they're going to. A little more difficult inside, but leaders have to make a decision what's in the best interest of the whole. And sometimes some people won't be served perfectly, but the whole will be served better. Make the best decision for everybody. Who knew what's happening in Oxford?
