US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Why is a Flight with a 1 hour stop a "direct" flight

DCA-DEN, but with an hour layover in PIT?
Why does this not count as 2 legs?
I probably should know this by now, but...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by liveon777:
DCA-DEN, but with an hour layover in PIT?
Why does this not count as 2 legs?
I probably should know this by now, but...</font>

It is only 1 leg if the flight is the same flight number from DCA-PIT-DEN. A "Direct" flight is one that makes a stop but continues with the same flight number; a non-stop is a flight from point A to point B with no intermediate stops.

FYI, airlines do this to force their flights to appear higher in booking tools. In general, first nonstop flights show, second direct flights show and third connections show. Plus, this helps US with connections to UA in DEN when the passenger originates in DCA. Doesn't make it so "obvious" that you actually have two stops -- one in PIT and one in DEN.

GSO, I realize that part of it, but still think it'd bunk.

USFlyer, thanks for the info. Hadn't though about that part of it.
Still seems like a strange thing to me that they can get away with that.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by liveon777:
GSO, I realize that part of it, but still think it'd bunk.

USFlyer, thanks for the info. Hadn't though about that part of it.
Still seems like a strange thing to me that they can get away with that.</font>

Quite honestly, half of what airlines do is bunk. I love the codeshare and its benefits, but it really is a scam when you think about it certain ways.

The best "direct" flights are ones which retain the same flight number, yet somehow, change equipment. MIA-CDG, flight 27... MIA-PHL (B734), PHL-CDG (333), all flight 27?!?!?? With a 2.5 hour layover?!?!? HA

Hell, UA does it all the time.

UA 891 goes IAD to LAX on a 757 and then is a 747-400 from LAX to NRT with about a 2 hour lay-over.

All the US airlines do this ... heck, LCC champion WN is probably the worst offender of all ...

So if the first leg of a "direct" flight on one aircraft is delayed, would it affect the schedule of the second leg on the different aircraft with the same flight number?

On a related topic: My flight from MCO-CLT-LAX is a "direct" flight, all on a 320. Will I still get my 500 miles for the MCO-CLT segment, or will I get just 462 "actual" miles?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SS255:
On a related topic: My flight from MCO-CLT-LAX is a "direct" flight, all on a 320. Will I still get my 500 miles for the MCO-CLT segment, or will I get just 462 "actual" miles?</font>

Neither. You get MCO-LAX miles only.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SS255:
[B]So if the first leg of a "direct" flight on one aircraft is delayed, would it affect the schedule of the second leg on the different aircraft with the same flight number?

Depends. I have been traveling on the "2nd" leg on a direct flight that was delayed and/or cancelled inbound. Sometimes, they pull another aircraft to make up the "2nd" leg; sometimes they cancel the "2nd" leg. no rhyme or reason... except maybe load factors or availabilty of alternate rebooking options.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
All the US airlines do this ... heck, LCC champion WN is probably the worst offender of all ...</font>


Huh? If you look on WN's website, "stops" is actually a numerated field in the table giving you your flight options. I don't know if it gets any clearer than that.

Since Southwest does not really CRS, per se, I don't think they offend nearly as badly as the big 6--at least in this regard.

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Don't feed the trolls.

You have to be really careful when trying to upgrade direct flights. Last spring on a US flight DCA-LAX (stopping in PIT,) because I was not able to upgrade the DCA-PIT portion (Friday night of holiday weekened,) I was not able to upgrade the PIT-LAX portion even though F was wide open on that leg. I ended up upgrading at the gate in PIT, but by the skin of my teeth - took the last seat.
I avoid direct flights on US now for that reason.
And I agree, direct flights don't make much sense (especially when changing equipment!) but everybody does it.
I'm not following you, Beckles, about WN. They treat directs the same way the majors do on their website.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dcjono:
You have to be really careful when trying to upgrade direct flights. Last spring on a US flight DCA-LAX (stopping in PIT,) because I was not able to upgrade the DCA-PIT portion (Friday night of holiday weekened,) I was not able to upgrade the PIT-LAX portion even though F was wide open on that leg.</font>

This stinks flying out of DCA on a regular basis. I always try to look for two seperate flight numbers, because I don't want to waste an eupgrade on DCA-PIT.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ClueByFour:

Huh? If you look on WN's website, "stops" is actually a numerated field in the table giving you your flight options. I don't know if it gets any clearer than that.

Since Southwest does not really CRS, per se, I don't think they offend nearly as badly as the big 6--at least in this regard.

</font>

I was referring to the fact that Southwest appears to use direct flights (with stops) more than any other major US airline ... you're right they show it pretty clearly on their website, but that doesn't change the fact they do it a lot too, probably more than the other majors from what I've seen.

Southwest is irrelevant. It isn't possible to upgrade, and their frequent flyer program is based on origin/destination count, not segments.

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"It's as easy as 1, 2, C" -- Kelly, Married With Children