Newcomer / Intro Why is my "docking request denied"?

[Cloulez]

I've only just started playing, and about 2 hours into the game this is the #1 issue that's bothering me: I pick up a mission to deliver something, locate the station and navigate to it. As I'm approaching the station I request docking permission and get "docking request denied". What the hell..? I'm harmless, I have no bounties and I have a perfectly legal errand. Just let me drop this off and I'll be on my way...

On one occasion permission was actually granted after circling the station for a while and requesting permission over and over. The station had three visible pads, no other traffic or docked ships.

Adding further to my confusion, on stations with exterior docking pads it's sometimes not very obvious which direction you're supposed to approach from, which means you can touch down perfectly except it doesn't actually count as a landing because my ship is facing the wrong way.

I'm sure these are finer points that will seem very obvious to me once I get some experience BUT as a newbie still celebrating even the smallest achievement this feels like an unnecessary barrier.

 

[Dommarraa]

If you are playing in open, then the station is full of players, just switch to solo mode, land and switch back.

The number hologram on the pad should be in front of your ship, and on the landing assist at the bottom of the screen, your shop should be pointing away from you

 

[Crunch]

Docking denied is usually the problem at outposts rather than the big stations.

NPC's can occupy the pads and will disappear into the hangers. So while a pad appears to be a clear it might not be because the ship is in a hanger.

Also most outposts only have one medium sized pad.

It is frustrating. It is the year 3300 and the haven't worked out how to give you a reason why your request is denied. IMO FD need to fix this. It isn't dangerous, it's just stupid.

 

[Djinn144]

request docking inside 7.5 and it should be granted unless your playing in Open and the station is full, if this is the case you have to wait till someone leaves, as for landing and touching down , you come in from the same side as the mechanical flap that goes down when leaving a station

if you request docking outside 7.5 you can be denied.

hope that helps some.

 

[Longshanks]

Possibly you may not be close enough to the station. I usually move in til im showing I'm between 3 to 4 away then request dock.
If your aligned correctly there will be a landing light on your RIGHT facing you. If not or only one on the left then your coming in wrong direction. Also the dock number will be on the "BACK" of orange block showing your landing pad if coming in right direction for landing.

 

[andyraptor]

Also... built into the landing bullseye are 2 sets of chevrons showing correct directional orientation. This is a recent addition to the game. .. due to player confusion

Happy landings CMDR

 

[Cloulez]

Thank you for the helpful comments, I've had much more luck with my landings today. Starting to get a feel for things

 

[cmdr lowest]

As well as what's mentioned above I came across another reason for "docking denied" this morning when I forgot to request docking permission and flew into a station.

I didn't panic, calming flipped my Asp 180deg. and flew back out to a safe distance.

Then I found out there's a cooldown on docking permission after a trespass.

 

[Chillicon]

Hi. If you habe an open feine - eg a crash with another ship during entering the Station 400cr - and it is not paid yet. You are not allowed to Dock in other stations oft the same faction. But you can dock at the Station where this evident took Palace to pas your fine...

 

[Sapient6]

If you are playing in open, then the station is full of players, just switch to solo mode, land and switch back.

Since 1.1 it's a lot more common for outposts to have all their hangers full with NPCs upon player arrival, resulting in a denied docking request. About a third of the time I requested docking at outposts I've been denied, and if I happen to have the right pad in view I'll see an NPC leave after about 30 seconds, at which point I can get permission to dock.