Flight tracking data - How do they get it so wrong?

[ReaperCushions]

OK so quick story. I was picking someone up from LAX airport last night. As I normally do, I do a quick google of the flight number before setting off, to check it isn't delayed etc...

This time Google tells me it is 5 hours delayed... balls.

But then I decide to check the airline (Virgin Atlantic) website and it is on time.

Check LAX website for arrivals... 5 hours delayed.

Check Flight Tracker... 5 hours delayed

Check Flight Aware... on time

Call Virgin Atlantic... guy says 'oh yeah 5 hours late'. I asked him to confirm as the website said on time... he comes back and says 'oh yeah its on time'.


I could understand a few minutes either way... but 5 hours! So many people rely on just checking one source, I could imagine a slew of people hadn't even left homes yet to pick up people.

Any thoughts? I am a complete novice when it comes to airlines, planes, tracking and data for these things... so no doubt an easy explanation.

[Rosscow]

So..... was it late, or on time?!

[ReaperCushions]

Oh yeah, sorry.... it was on time. Glad i didn't listen to just one source

[SystemParanoia]

just track flights yourself in future

https://uk.flightaware.com/adsb/piaware/build

[ReaperCushions]

Well that is kind of the problem.

I looked at various tracking websites / apps and all reported different things.

My question really was how could the data be so incorrect between these so called tracking apps / sources?