Independence Air iClub - It's official -- flyI ceasing operations January 5th. Could we get A?

Today flyI has finally bit the dust. After 18 months of mediocre financial performance, they have announced that on Thursday, Independence Air flight 1777 from White Plains to Washington will be their last flight.
Let's see how long it takes UA to raise fares to places like BTV & ALB
Let's also see if we can finally say good-bye to G, and see if Mesa will pick up more CRJ flying, by taking over the ex-flyI jets
UA won this battle. http://www.flyi.com/company/pressarchive/2006/jan/010206.aspx

Awww, that's a shame. One of the worst business ideas at the worst possible time for the industry; I'm not sure one could expect anything else.

Those are all my friends over there. Even though I worked there, I didn't fly them. UA MP was just too attractive to pass up for a FF. You have to give it to them for trying and also for earning as many accolades as they have. You don't see UA's CS in any #1 or #2 spots on any list.
More likely than not, UA will probably be awarded FlyI's gates at the A Term. It will be good to be back there as UA.

I am glad to see FlyI go; if FlyI's departure from the market allows UA to price IAD fares at a level that enables them to make a modest profit (instead of what must have been break-even or money-losing levels that were comparable to FlyI's prices), then I'm all for it.

I will admit to feeling sorry for some of the FlyI people I encountered who really did deliver great service both on the ground and in the air, and it's unfortunate that in this instance, it seems that it was truly bumbling management and not some combination of rigid work rules and high labor costs that did in an airline. I think there's an important lesson to be learned about people's service ethic and attitude when they're working for "their own" company (i.e. FlyI) as opposed to clock-watching contract employees working for someone else's airline (i.e. UX carriers).

It's also appropriate to give credit to FlyI management for making an announcement a couple days out that allows passengers to make alternative plans and not be stranded. That's unusual in the history of collapsing airlines (I hearby eat my words from another thread when I suggested that the first sign of the "real" end at FlyI would be "See Agent" on flight status monitors).

I also hope that 1) UA will offer UX GA positions to some of the FlyI staff from IAD (who would be far superior to some of the shiftless Air Wiz underperformers currently working the G gates), and 2) UA will move (quickly, please!) to FlyI's old turf in A.

Speaking of which, and I know it's been covered piecemeal in other threads, can someone please re-hash the definitive comparison between G gates and FlyI's A gates? As in, how many of parking spots for what kinds of planes in each location? I recall there are fewer spots at FlyI's A then at G, but I wonder if UA could close G and handle the traffic via a combination of A and the UX spots at C.

OK, I'm sort of torn on this.

First, let me say that I hate the G Terminal at Dulles. Its absolutely horrible. I've been in Greyhound Bus stations that are better! Last Wednesday, I flew from CHS to IAD and it took me 1 hour to get from G Terminal to my car. I hope that UA or Mesa picks up those A gates ASAP!

That being said. I few Flyi once. It was really nice. The service was better than 90% of UX flights I was on in the past year. My wife used them a few times for a cheap flight from IAD to PIT. She had similar good experiences with them. I know the history with UA and ACA (as well as ACA's lousy service), but these folks really gave it a good try (FA, pilots, GA, etc).

Anyway RIP FlyI. Hopefully, there are jobs out there for those who will be unemployed. And please....please turn those A gates over soon!

More likely than not, UA will probably be awarded FlyI's gates at the A Term. UA has petitioned the Bankruptcy Court for approval to bid for FlyI assets in liquidation. Though UA did not specify which assets they were interested in, the A terminal gates would likely be of high priority.

OK, I'm sort of torn on this.

First, let me say that I hate the G Terminal at Dulles. Its absolutely horrible. I've been in Greyhound Bus stations that are better! Last Wednesday, I flew from CHS to IAD and it took me 1 hour to get from G Terminal to my car. I hope that UA or Mesa picks up those A gates ASAP!

That being said. I few Flyi once. It was really nice. The service was better than 90% of UX flights I was on in the past year. My wife used them a few times for a cheap flight from IAD to PIT. She had similar good experiences with them. I know the history with UA and ACA (as well as ACA's lousy service), but these folks really gave it a good try (FA, pilots, GA, etc).

Anyway RIP FlyI. Hopefully, there are jobs out there for those who will be unemployed. And please....please turn those A gates over soon!
I really agree with this. It's so hard for me -- my memories of ACA at Dulles are stronger than anything the SFH dealt me. And the majority of the issues I dealt with were not UA created -- it was ACA self inspired incompetence. As bad as "G" is, it is still better to me than the old "A" (now "T") gate prison cell I spent so much time in at the mercy of ACA. My therapist says though that just a few more sessions and I should be over the worst of it. :D

It really is a shame that their management couldn't put their energies and abilities into motivating (and managing) their workforce within the financial stability of the UX environment. Then they wouldn't be putting so many good people out of work now. It's obvious they had it in 'em all along. Too bad it had to end this way.

I flew FkyI once and really liked it!! Seems on my reg route IAD-BOS even with FlyI's low fares it was always more expensive than UA, as I usually did not have time to buy tickets in advance. Seems UA undercut them on their last minute's while operating in BK. :confused: I would like to see UA keep some last min fares in the $88-129rt range. Maybe JetBlue & AirTran will give some competition value wise.
I also wish the FlyI's employees my best wishes in this most difficult of times.
Happy New Year

Here's another article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060102/ap_on_bi_ge/independence_air

I had so many unpleasant experiences when they were ACA I could never bring myself to use FlyI since there was always a UX alternative.

Oh well... there go the cheap fares to IAD! :p

All I can say is GOOD LUCK IAD MILEAGE RUNNERS! ;)

Moved to Independence Air forum

cblaisd
Moderator, United

Moved to Independence Air forum

cblaisd
Moderator, United


:confused: This thread is about UA's response to FlyI closing. "Could we get A" is part of the thread title.

All I can say is GOOD LUCK IAD MILEAGE RUNNERS! ;)

Yeah, me too. All I can say about DH is getting shutdown on Jan. 5, 2006. What is reason to know why about Independence Air? I don't quite understand what happen to them? Is the customers will given them refund the ticket?

:confused: This thread is about UA's response to FlyI closing. "Could we get A" is part of the thread title.

Please see
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=327573&highlight=independence

Thanks.

All I can say is GOOD LUCK IAD MILEAGE RUNNERS! ;)

its Not so bad for them they still have BWI, where WN has a very strong presence and not likely to be bounced from there any time soon. But a bit more of a drive

its Not so bad for them they still have BWI, where WN has a very strong presence and not likely to be bounced from there any time soon. But a bit more of a drive

And quite the horrendous drive at that, especially in rush.

its Not so bad for them they still have BWI, where WN has a very strong presence and not likely to be bounced from there any time soon. But a bit more of a drive

I live on the southwest side of IAD and it would take 3 hours to drive to BWI. ...and to fly from a horrible airport and fly Southworst! Forget it!

I'll miss FlyI - great flight crews!

I am glad to see FlyI go; if FlyI's departure from the market allows UA to price IAD fares at a level that enables them to make a modest profit (instead of what must have been break-even or money-losing levels that were comparable to FlyI's prices), then I'm all for it.

UAL's IAD operation is still in BIG trouble, even with DH's departure. True, they won't have as many flights to worry about, but Airtran and JetBlue have already smelled blood in the water on some of the most profitable routes (IAD -BOS / IAD - Florida) and they will be much harder to shake off then DH.
It is currently a long way from being a problem for UAL, but I would also watch out for MaxJet who is beginning flights out of IAD soon to London. If those flights really become popular and they expand their flights out of IAD, UAL's trans-Atlantic operations could be hit, and once those flights aren't profitable the UA IAD hub will be next on the chopping block.

I live on the southwest side of IAD and it would take 3 hours to drive to BWI. ...and to fly from a horrible airport and fly Southworst! Forget it!

Well...you wouldn't be flying "Southworst" now would you??? :rolleyes:

The flying was good while it lasted. Soon this forum will be joining the Discontinued Programs section.

UAL's IAD operation is still in BIG trouble, even with DH's departure. True, they won't have as many flights to worry about, but Airtran and JetBlue have already smelled blood in the water on some of the most profitable routes (IAD -BOS / IAD - Florida) and they will be much harder to shake off then DH.
It is currently a long way from being a problem for UAL, but I would also watch out for MaxJet who is beginning flights out of IAD soon to London. If those flights really become popular and they expand their flights out of IAD, UAL's trans-Atlantic operations could be hit, and once those flights aren't profitable the UA IAD hub will be next on the chopping block.

So fares are going through the roof and Airtran and JetBlue are going to carve up United? NOT! Remember Airtran's CEO blasting Independence Air for pricing tickets well below cost? Airtran, JetBlue, and United will coexist with slightly higher fares out of IAD as a result of FLYI's shutdown.
Does anyone else see the dichotomy of claiming that fares will go up while at the same time saying that other airlines will destroy United?
As for MAXjet, let's see if they can survive long enough with their JFK to Stansted route to even start an IAD to Stansted route. They've already got competition from another startup on the JFK to Stansted route, Eos. And I really don't think that a single 102 seat 767 on an IAD to Stansted route will cause United to close shop.

I live on the southwest side of IAD and it would take 3 hours to drive to BWI. ...and to fly from a horrible airport and fly Southworst! Forget it!

I'll miss FlyI - great flight crews!

1- Who said anything about Flying Southwest!!

2- I guess you are New to doing MRs

3- You're complaining and wont drive 3 hrs. HECK, Im driving down from NYC in Feb to fly right back to EWR on my way to IAH and to SEA, so that I can fly back the same way 40 mins after landing at SEA. I'll also do a couple of stays at a Hilton prop to/from BWI towards my 15 nights for 3 Free nights anywhere and towards Requalifying for my Diamond Status with HH. It will be a 3 day event for me and Ive got the time for it. Id drive up to Boston or as far South as IAD if it was worthwhile Mileage wise.

Next week Im driving 1 1/2 hrs to PHL cause I got a $150 fare out to LA and it was 2X that out of NY.

Ive driven up to BDL in the past for the same reason. For me at least its ALL part of the Game. I can understand the problems when its not , and especially someone flying on Biz and that its also on their own Dime rather then someone else paying for it.

flying to stansted will not affect UA's hud status out of IAD. since UA has a lot of *A connecting traffic at LHR, stansted will not affect it at all.