US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - US and flights to convention cities

I attend several bio/medical conferences each year - typically they are held in New Orleans, Anaheim, Orlando, sometimes Chicago.

It seems to me that a 3 to 5 day conference in, say, New Orleans which is known years in advance isin't enough for US to add even 1 more daily flight to serve such an event.

(side question - can someone tell me why the last flight out of MSY on any given day is not particularly late?)

So basically, does US (or any carrier for that matter) pay attention to which conferences are scheduled for which cities and make some adjustments to their schedules to take advantage of said opportunities?

(side question 2: how can you book the hotel of your choice when a conference housing authority seems to have an absolute lock on all nearby inventory up to (and perhaps more than) a year in advance???)

I've always wondered the same question but it seems that U does not take that approach except maybe for the Political conventions.

Regarding hotels. - I often will book my own hotel. Usually the conventions block most of the rooms at closeby hotels, but I've found many times better deals than the convention rates either at their hotels or one nearby.

Most time the convention organizers have a deal with the hotel and will get rebates.

Of course not going through the convention organizer will eliminate you from the "room drops" of stuff.

If you are an exhibitor at a convention many times you earn points with the convention organizer based on how many hotels you book through them

I've always wondered the same question but it seems that U does not take that approach except maybe for the Political conventions.

Nope -- I attended one of the two political conventions this summer and flew up on Saturday. IIRC, US was just doing their normal one flight every two hours weekend shuttle service.

Some sports events are probably on the same caliber as conventions. US always increases service to the Masters in Augusta in May and I think for some other major golf event in the southeast. I'm not sure about service for the Super Bowl (as it's location is always known years in advance).

they don't add flights usually but they will add larger aircraft. for example, if you go down to msy during mardi gras or jazzfest, you will occasionally see the 767 substituted on a PHL-MSY-CLT-PHL turn but you will absolutely see the 757/321. no 737s to be found.

Hey, they beefed up GSO service for the furniture show :D .