AS flying PDX-DTW?
Jul 26, 2016, 10:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: FUK/Fukuoka
Programs: AS, HA, JL, UA
Posts: 676
AS flying PDX-DTW?
Surprisingly Delta flies only 1x daily PDX-DTW seasonal red eye on this route. No other carriers fly this route. Seems like AS could make a killing on this underserved route with a daytime flight. Could we see AS start PDX-DTW?
Jul 26, 2016, 11:31 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,389
Maybe it's "underserved" because not enough people want to fly it to make a 737 profitable on it year-round, so it isn't something you can "make a killing" on?
Jul 26, 2016, 11:59 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
Also, when you get there, you'd be in DTW 
I remember back during the DEQM promotion for the SEA-DTW flights, most of us mileage runners got right back on the plane and flew home....lol.
I remember back during the DEQM promotion for the SEA-DTW flights, most of us mileage runners got right back on the plane and flew home....lol.
Jul 26, 2016, 1:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,936
I'm also shocked to learn DL doesn't fly this route multiple times daily. SEA-DTW is 7x daily on DL plus 1x AS. Even before the days of Delta's SEA hub, SEA-DTW was 3-4x daily. I know Portland is a smaller market, but one flight versus eight is a huge difference.
Jul 26, 2016, 1:44 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CMH, West Coast
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, oneworld emerald
Posts: 2,741
People post all the time on FT about such supposedly "underserved" routes. eponymous_coward has it spot on. Airlines, I'm assuming, spend a lot of money on yield management to figure out exactly which routes will be profitable for them. If you thought of it, they also have before, I guarantee it. It's not like someone at AS dropped the ball here, and they'll be like, "oh crap, we forgot to fly to Detroit!"
Jul 26, 2016, 1:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
People post all the time on FT about such supposedly "underserved" routes. eponymous_coward has it spot on. Airlines, I'm assuming, spend a lot of money on yield management to figure out exactly which routes will be profitable for them. If you thought of it, they also have before, I guarantee it. It's not like someone at AS dropped the ball here, and they'll be like, "oh crap, we forgot to fly to Detroit!"
Jul 26, 2016, 2:12 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 300
Also, you're seeing few and fewer interline / code-share fares between DL and AS. This would be a useful route for PDX based fliers to connect on DL in DTW to some minor, upper midwest or northeast city, but that would require a decent fare for the interline connection.
Jul 26, 2016, 2:34 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
The routine for PDX-DTW 1x seasonally (and a short summer season at that) goes way back pre-merger. I remember DTW-PDX from ~25 years ago on NW. Done on Labor Day.
Jul 26, 2016, 6:26 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
Also, you're seeing few and fewer interline / code-share fares between DL and AS. This would be a useful route for PDX based fliers to connect on DL in DTW to some minor, upper midwest or northeast city, but that would require a decent fare for the interline connection.
Jul 26, 2016, 8:13 pm
#10
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,916
This is not a route that AS should ever serve with the intent of offering DL connections - and I would never suggest to someone that they connect from any other U.S. airline to DL in DTW unless they have a fair amount of time. It requires leaving security, taking a bus that runs on it's own schedule to another terminal and reclearing security - which can be quick or not, you just never know. Connections in DTW to/from DL are not easy unless they're online or between DL and AF or VS.
Jul 26, 2016, 8:28 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BUR/LAX
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 300
This is not a route that AS should ever serve with the intent of offering DL connections - and I would never suggest to someone that they connect from any other U.S. airline to DL in DTW unless they have a fair amount of time. It requires leaving security, taking a bus that runs on it's own schedule to another terminal and reclearing security - which can be quick or not, you just never know. Connections in DTW to/from DL are not easy unless they're online or between DL and AF or VS.
Jul 26, 2016, 10:38 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
http://www.metroairport.com/GroundTr...oTerminal.aspx
The service is much improved from a few years ago when they were using smaller beat-up old vans that often filled up and left passengers waiting for the next van.
It's certainly easier than doing an international connecting from JFK to LGA/EWR (which I've done a few times). Just connecting in JFK itself can involve some pretty long walks.
Jul 26, 2016, 11:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,956
I've used the service a number of times and don't think it's that awful. The shuttle bus is pretty dependable these days and if you connecting from an international flight you are going to have to re-clear security anyway.
http://www.metroairport.com/GroundTr...oTerminal.aspx
The service is much improved from a few years ago when they were using smaller beat-up old vans that often filled up and left passengers waiting for the next van.
It's certainly easier than doing an international connecting from JFK to LGA/EWR (which I've done a few times). Just connecting in JFK itself can involve some pretty long walks.
http://www.metroairport.com/GroundTr...oTerminal.aspx
The service is much improved from a few years ago when they were using smaller beat-up old vans that often filled up and left passengers waiting for the next van.
It's certainly easier than doing an international connecting from JFK to LGA/EWR (which I've done a few times). Just connecting in JFK itself can involve some pretty long walks.
Jul 26, 2016, 11:48 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,056
Jul 27, 2016, 8:47 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917