US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - CLT Dwellers Let's Share Ideas on Worst Case

I read all of the posts on the woes of USAir. It took me a while to convert to them from UA when I moved to Charlotte almost ten years ago, primarily because of lack of coverage in the West. Since I did make the move, I've hit (working backwards) CP, CP, CP, GP, SP and have been very pleased wity the experience the last few years. I love their routes to Europe and I have been able to live with the derth of West coverage. When the costs got too high, I'd suck it up and drive to Greensboro or Raleigh and view it as one more segment.

So now we're looking at the end of the tunnel and there does not appear to be much light. I've my opinions on why but that's not relevant right now.

Charlotte seems to be somewhat unique in the US program because of the utter domination by US. I know we have one LCC and another on the way. I just can't seem to make up my mind on what airline to call 'mine' at this point now that I've requalified for CP.

The LCC sure is nice for cost, but I like a little luxury every now and then especially when I'm redeeming awards. Southwest's plane configuration does nothing for me and the way they board makes me feel like I've got general admission tickets to a Beatles concert.

I don't mind making connections, but having something other than Atlanta or Memphis or whatever would be nice.

I guess I'm just trying to call out to all of the Charlotte hub-dwellers to get your thoughts if you are like me: the Southwest LCC is not my first or even third option; flights to Europe on award are preferred; flights to Hawaii on award would be nice; first class seating for awards or elite level.

Maybe I need to post a 'wanted' ad and let the airlines bid on me. Maybe I need to wait and see if whatever happens to US sparks massive change in the industry; perhaps the unions will negotiate with others when they see one go down. Any thoughts fellow CLT evictees?

without a U hub clt will turn into a jax-like airport...lots of jumps to other hubs, maybe a transcon or two, but i doubt it. get used to atl, you'll see lots of it

phl won't do too much better

Unfortunately I read a recent newspaper article stating that US Airways' gates and other assets in Charlotte would be of little value to another airline and so if US Airways goes under, Charlotte almost certainly wouldn't be a hub for another airline. That is really disturbing since I fly through Charlotte to smaller cities nearby very frequently and not having that hub would really make it hard to take the trips I do.

Shouldn't Charlotte business leaders be doing everything they can to attract other airlines, at least to make Charlotte into a "focus city" or whatever the term is for another airline?

Shouldn't Charlotte business leaders be doing everything they can to attract other airlines, at least to make Charlotte into a "focus city" or whatever the term is for another airline?

That's a nice idea, but realistically the market, not city lobbying, will determine where airlines go. To some extent the city can influence the market by decreasing landing fees, etc. and making the airport a low cost place to do business, but a city of size X can only support so much O&D traffic, and with the direction the industry is heading I am beginning to think hubs will be a thing of the past within the next decade. So if Charlotte can't support enough O&D to be a focus city, then there is little the city can do to change that other than keep growing.

I am standing pat until the fallout from U's demise is complete. I will decide by what service the majors choose to give CLT and what routes they offer. Too soon for me to decide and once U is through I am sure we will get some offers thrown our way to join someones "club".

That's a nice idea, but realistically the market, not city lobbying, will determine where airlines go. To some extent the city can influence the market by decreasing landing fees, etc. and making the airport a low cost place to do business, but a city of size X can only support so much O&D traffic, and with the direction the industry is heading I am beginning to think hubs will be a thing of the past within the next decade. So if Charlotte can't support enough O&D to be a focus city, then there is little the city can do to change that other than keep growing.

Good points, and the Carolinas are the kings of tax incentives; plenty of politicians there love to throw money at big companies, so perhaps they'd like to use taxpayer dollars to support an airline. Maybe that would help. The US Airways hub has definitely helped attract businesses to Charlotte, and so it's at least somewhat important in the region's economic growth.

I had heard that IF US lived, we could kiss Europe goodbye. That was on the radio. I know they probably would need to pick one model either full service or LCC but I had always thought that European routes were amng their most profitable.

My current list of top choices would be, in no order:

UA - +'s are size, routes and coverage; -'s are Chicago, their own problems and crappy service (just my experience; no need to debate me)

AA - +'s are size, routes, coverage; -'s are fairly unknown to me at this point

NorthWest - know very little about them but their partnership with Delta and CO are interesting.

On the radio? Gosh, if it was on WBT, I wouldn't give it much stock, since they can't seem to get the facts right on much of the US story (or other stories, but that's another rant).

I doubt they'd cut Europe service since it is a moneymaker for US. After all, the first rule of holes is to stop digging, and cutting off moneymaking service is like continuing to dig.

As far as potential alternatives - I'm not sure. UA would be a choice - except for their bankruptcy. DL might be my choice - but we've seen the SkyMiles woes. AA would be good - but they only do challenges, and don't comp status. The CO/NW alliance might be the choice, since flyers out of here could get pretty much anywhere on those two, and they don't look like they're in too much trouble.

Stay clear of the negative press. It is all merely speculation and conjecture. Continue to support the airline as best you can. As a CP who loves US service out of DCA, that's what I have resolved to do.

US needs us now if they hope to make it...and last time I checked, the lights were still on in Crystal City...so get on board, go into the club, get upgraded and keep flying.

Well, CLT lives in a 'time warrp' in airline travel costs -- the old, rip off business route fares are the rule . . . to the extent it proved to be a major disincentive in expanding my business to Charlotte -- no way are we going to pay those Y-type fares.

Connections aren't so bad, if the fares are good. If you don't mind wasting your employers money on the old style fares, so be it. But if you own a business or make decisions on that level, you won't be too happy to see US's hold broken and the arrival of genuine LCC competition.

I just moved to Charlotte (looking for friends and/or a job if you can help :) ) Coming from SoCal, and more recently Columbus, Ohio, I have been used to cheap flights and good access to the world as a United loyalist. Each year I seem to be traveling more and more and have kept top-tier status with United for the last three years. When US and UA combined mileage program benefits I started to move some of my flights over to US. Mostly CMH-CLT flights that cost me more per mile than anything I was used to. With no advance purchase or no Saturday night stay, US would try and extort nearly 1000 dollars for a R/T on a 45 minute RJ flight. Now that I am in Charlotte, my flights have dropped off too. I have already found myself driving to GSO and RDU to save money and I haven't been here four weeks yet.

I have however talked with many experts in the aviation field including top brass at CLT. They are certainly crossing their fingers that US recovers strongly but in preparing for the "worst case" they are, and always have been, talking with other airlines. From what I have been told Southwest (WN) has little interest in CLT-with or without US. RDU is enough for them. Their reason is that the population base of Charlotte is too small and close to their strong position just two hours east to make having flights from both airports necessary. Other carriers like Independence Air have already moved in and are likely to add service quickly to popular LCC destinations like MCO, TPA and NYC if US goes under. JetBlue (B6) is also a likely entrant to CLT in the future. CLT offers one of the lowest usage costs of any airport in the world, yes world, and has a large O&D market in New York. This makes CLT a good choice for B6 who will likely move in when they receive their Embraers. Contrary to popular belief a good deal of the airport's gates are owned by the city and not US, so any new entrant (as evidenced with Indy Air) can and will get gate space at the airport. The last thing that has been mentioned to me is DL would look to fill the void on top point-to-point routes that can sustain service. Again, points to the Northeast like Boston, DC, NYC and out west to LA.

As for me, I just hope US rebounds and turns into the LCC that they want to be. That they pass on decent fares to their customers in every city, not just a handful of Go fares out of DC and PHL where they compete against WN and other LCC’s.