A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Aircraft
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Airport; Procedure
We were cleared to gate. As we entered; there was a B737 waiting to park [two gates over]. I taxied behind the B737 and got close to its tail to clear the taxiway behind us. While we were stopped; waiting for the B737 to move forward; the Ramp Controller asked if we could make it around the B737 to our gate. I thought we could; the First Officer did not and advocated that very clearly to me. I started moving in a tight right turn then stopped because I wasn't sure that I would safely clear the B737's tail. My stopping caused our nose wheel to straighten as the aircraft moved forward a few more inches. At that point; I really thought we would clear the B737's tail and inched forward. I felt a small bump and realized I had misjudged the distance and hit the B737's APU exhaust with our left wing tip.A short time later; the B737 moved forward and I could see what looked like a dent in its APU exhaust. The B737 proceeded to [its] gate and I decided that the best thing would be for us to proceed to our gate. Just after we set the parking brake; and turned the seat belt signs off; the Purser called to let us know that one of the passengers had told her that we might have bumped the B737's tail.After our post-flight flows; and the Parking Checklist was complete; I made a maintenance entry then contacted the [Chief Pilot].This was completely my fault. It was wrong of me to ignore the First Officer and to even attempt this maneuver; especially at night. My main concern was not getting to our gate but making sure that I had cleared [the] taxiway so we wouldn't be blocking other traffic. That; obviously; should not have been my first concern.
We landed on Runway XXR and taxied to gate. As we crossed Runway XYL on taxiway; we got behind a B767 under tow and followed him down. At this point; things were getting busy and there was going to be traffic congestion getting into our gate. I contacted Ramp Control letting them know we were approaching the gate.The controller instructed us to proceed in via the line to gate. As we neared the line; we could see a 737 stopped short of [a] gate [that was two gates over]. Captain pulled in behind the 737; came to a stop and set the parking brake. I could see that taxi lane was open and that the 737 wasn't moving into his gate. Ramp Control asked us if we could make the right turn and join taxi lane to get around the 737 and into our gate. I felt that there was no way our wing would clear the tail of the 737 and stated that to the captain; I couldn't however see the left wingtip and saw that [Captain] was watching it closely out of his window. [Captain] was respectful and said 'I pulled up close to him so as to not block taxiway and actually I think we can make it'. I hadn't answered the Ground Controller yet and he again called us and asked if we could make it around the company traffic. The controller instructed us to join the Charlie line into our gate.As Captain released the parking brake and steered the tiller to the right; we began to make our turn; and as we were nearly perpendicular to the 737 we both felt a 'bump'; it was evident that we had made contact with the 737. Captain stopped the airplane immediately and set the parking brake. Once the 737 began moving into [its] gate; we continued our taxi into [our gate]; shut the engines down; performed the Parking Checklist and deplaned our passengers normally. We immediately notified Maintenance and the Captain called the Chief Pilot.
Two air carrier flight crew reported aircraft to aircraft contact was made on the airport ramp.