Washington Dulles (IAD) To LAX Non Stop Cancelled In April
Jan 16, 2017, 12:55 pm
#61
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
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Posts: 9,658
AA DCA-LAX is available (first seats sold) for under $1K round trip. That is about the price of buying a $550 RT fare and (for Plat/Gold) and applying purchased 500 miles stickers for $400 RT (5 each way @ $40 each).
For this reason F sells out (and upgrades are hard to get). I have even started to purchase F on this route if it is only $250 more each way.
Thought being you get not only double EQD for that extra amount but double EQM and more RDM. EXP status is only 50,000 EQM per year if you buy F. So people are buyiing F for this reason as well. If you hope for an sticker upgrade and it did happen you do not get the extra EQD or EQM or RDM.
For this reason F sells out (and upgrades are hard to get). I have even started to purchase F on this route if it is only $250 more each way.
Thought being you get not only double EQD for that extra amount but double EQM and more RDM. EXP status is only 50,000 EQM per year if you buy F. So people are buyiing F for this reason as well. If you hope for an sticker upgrade and it did happen you do not get the extra EQD or EQM or RDM.
Jan 16, 2017, 2:53 pm
#62
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
Washington is an interesting place-- having money is common but having the kind of money that drops multi thousands of dollars on a flat bed transcon is not super common the way it is in LA. And the people who do have that kind of expense account in Washington don't necessarily have a need to fly to LA all that often.
Jan 16, 2017, 6:45 pm
#63
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Jan 17, 2017, 8:11 pm
#64
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Baltimore/Washington, USA
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Posts: 3,076
Indeed. I agree this is about the LA market, not the Washington market.
Washington is an interesting place-- having money is common but having the kind of money that drops multi thousands of dollars on a flat bed transcon is not super common the way it is in LA. And the people who do have that kind of expense account in Washington don't necessarily have a need to fly to LA all that often.
Washington is an interesting place-- having money is common but having the kind of money that drops multi thousands of dollars on a flat bed transcon is not super common the way it is in LA. And the people who do have that kind of expense account in Washington don't necessarily have a need to fly to LA all that often.
Hats off to Delta for testing out premium transcontinental flights out DCA.
Jan 18, 2017, 6:29 pm
#65
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Location: San Antonio
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Most Senators and Congressmen I have seen don't. Their employees, yes. Them no. Can't tell you the last Senator or Rep I saw sitting in Y. Even if government only pays for Y, most can afford it, or someone else is paying for it.
Jan 18, 2017, 6:37 pm
#66
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
The D.C. suburbs are among the richest areas of the country. I think Loudoun, Fairfax and Howard counties are the top 3 counties with the highest median income. I don't know if there's a lot of the kind of 'moguls' you may get in Hollywood and Manhattan but 'rich people' are legion in and around D.C.
It's not like it's all government workers, politicians, lobbyists or even foreign dignitaries. There's a massive defense industry presence, a significant tech and a notable finance presence in the area, too.
I'm only familiar with the D.C. of this era but it feels like yuppie HQ, comparable to the wealthier coastal communities of California in economics, and I don't think it's always been that way.
It's not like it's all government workers, politicians, lobbyists or even foreign dignitaries. There's a massive defense industry presence, a significant tech and a notable finance presence in the area, too.
I'm only familiar with the D.C. of this era but it feels like yuppie HQ, comparable to the wealthier coastal communities of California in economics, and I don't think it's always been that way.
Jan 18, 2017, 7:21 pm
#67
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The D.C. suburbs are among the richest areas of the country. I think Loudoun, Fairfax and Howard counties are the top 3 counties with the highest median income. I don't know if there's a lot of the kind of 'moguls' you may get in Hollywood and Manhattan but 'rich people' are legion in and around D.C.
It's not like it's all government workers, politicians, lobbyists or even foreign dignitaries. There's a massive defense industry presence, a significant tech and a notable finance presence in the area, too.
I'm only familiar with the D.C. of this era but it feels like yuppie HQ, comparable to the wealthier coastal communities of California in economics, and I don't think it's always been that way.
It's not like it's all government workers, politicians, lobbyists or even foreign dignitaries. There's a massive defense industry presence, a significant tech and a notable finance presence in the area, too.
I'm only familiar with the D.C. of this era but it feels like yuppie HQ, comparable to the wealthier coastal communities of California in economics, and I don't think it's always been that way.
Jan 18, 2017, 7:25 pm
#68
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
The lack of every flight being flat bedded doesn't mean that all flights need to not have flat beds. Obviously there is some demand and those who think there isn't "that kind of money" in DC haven't been or spent any time in the city. I was born here and have never left the area - believe me, the money is here.
Jan 18, 2017, 7:35 pm
#69
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
NYC is a special case in terms of its quantity of people and accumulation of wealth. It would be silly to pretend D.C. (or any other city in the U.S.) is just like New York.
Jan 18, 2017, 7:38 pm
#70
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The lack of every flight being flat bedded doesn't mean that all flights need to not have flat beds. Obviously there is some demand and those who think there isn't "that kind of money" in DC haven't been or spent any time in the city. I was born here and have never left the area - believe me, the money is here.
Jan 19, 2017, 7:30 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2016
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I sat next to a local congressman (from an adjoining district to mine) in Y last week. We had a spirited discussion.
Jan 19, 2017, 1:02 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
The product and demand from IAD to LAX will likely be different than DCA, although you could argue with UA using it for a hub, perhaps they could justify and make money on upgrading some or all of their IAD to LAX flights to flat beds for int'l connections. I just don't know how many people fly into IAD internationally on F and ultimately need to be in LAX, vs. just fly nonstop to LAX from wherever they started (or the other direction either).
My hunch would be if someone responds to Delta upping the ante by doing something similar, it won't be UA at Dulles.
Jan 19, 2017, 4:07 pm
#73
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As usual, one airline makes a first move and others have to decide how they'll respond. It's not like nothing ever changes.
The product and demand from IAD to LAX will likely be different than DCA, although you could argue with UA using it for a hub, perhaps they could justify and make money on upgrading some or all of their IAD to LAX flights to flat beds for int'l connections. I just don't know how many people fly into IAD internationally on F and ultimately need to be in LAX, vs. just fly nonstop to LAX from wherever they started (or the other direction either).
My hunch would be if someone responds to Delta upping the ante by doing something similar, it won't be UA at Dulles.
The product and demand from IAD to LAX will likely be different than DCA, although you could argue with UA using it for a hub, perhaps they could justify and make money on upgrading some or all of their IAD to LAX flights to flat beds for int'l connections. I just don't know how many people fly into IAD internationally on F and ultimately need to be in LAX, vs. just fly nonstop to LAX from wherever they started (or the other direction either).
My hunch would be if someone responds to Delta upping the ante by doing something similar, it won't be UA at Dulles.
Jan 19, 2017, 8:36 pm
#74
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Jan 19, 2017, 8:46 pm
#75
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I just want to add that IAD-LAX is not axed. It will be back to 2 daily frequencies in the late spring. So, AA will fly 2X daily DCA-LAX; and 2X daily IAD-LAX. On the L.A. end, there will be 2 morning flights; one each to DCA and IAD. A mid-day flight to DCA. And an overnight flight to IAD. On the WAS end, there will be two morning flights (IAD and DCA). And two early evening flights (IAD and DCA). All flown with 738s.