Delta SkyMiles (Pre-WorldPerks Merger) - PHL-ATL RJ's, preview of coming attractions?

I just noticed flight 6290 PHL-ATL on an Embraier 145, also, in the fall as 4445 on a CRJ7. Is this the trend for PHL-ATL? I guess I'd rather see RJ's than more reduction in schedule, anyone have inside info on DL's plans?

I did notice that ATL-PBI now has a CRJ scheduled. If a route as popular as this goes CRJ, I would think nothing is sacred.

I mentioned this in another thread but DCA-JFK is now a CRJ. One flight a day on an RJ to access a huge number of flights to Europe. Only get 70 people a day from DC connecting through JFK...instead we get to fly south to ATL, then back up.

Let's look at availability:

In April DCA-JFK has U9 on MD80
Starting May 1 DCA - JFK (on CRJ), you have to go up to H class to get availability, no.. there is one day with Q1.

I just noticed flight 6290 PHL-ATL on an Embraier 145, also, in the fall as 4445 on a CRJ7. Is this the trend for PHL-ATL? I guess I'd rather see RJ's than more reduction in schedule

Not me.

ATL-PHL is 666 miles. That is inappropriate RJ use, especially in such a market.

Not me.

ATL-PHL is 666 miles. That is inappropriate RJ use, especially in such a market.

I agree.

Not me.

ATL-PHL is 666 miles. That is inappropriate RJ use, especially in such a market.
Why? Too short a flight? Or too small a market?

Seriously, DL used to offer hourly service between PHL and ATL. Recently, they've decimated the schedule. If RJs will mean more service (and shorter layovers in ATL), I'm all for it.

I mentioned this in another thread but DCA-JFK is now a CRJ. One flight a day on an RJ to access a huge number of flights to Europe. Only get 70 people a day from DC connecting through JFK...instead we get to fly south to ATL, then back up.

Let's look at availability:

In April DCA-JFK has U9 on MD80
Starting May 1 DCA - JFK (on CRJ), you have to go up to H class to get availability, no.. there is one day with Q1.It's not that the DCA-JFK flight is full. They're saving the lower bucket seats for passengers travelling to Europe.

DCA-JFK 01MAY

DL 5370 DCA 14:55 JFK 16:03 CRJ Y9 B4 M0 H0 Q0 K0 L0 U0 T0

DCA-CDG 01MAY

DL 5370 DCA 14:55 JFK 16:03 CRJ Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L9 U4 T0
DL 0118 JFK 19:05 CDG 09:00 767 J9 D9 I0 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K0 L0 U0 T0

DCA-SVO 01MAY

DL 5370 DCA 14:55 JFK 16:03 CRJ Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L9 U9 T4
DL 0030 JFK 17:30 SVO 11:15 767 J9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 M9 H9 Q9 K9 L9 U9 T9

If you're just going to NYC, they want you to pay full fare on DCA-JFK, or fly the Delta Shuttle. If you are flying to Europe, no problem, lower buckets are available to you.

Why? Too short a flight? Or too small a market?

Seriously, DL used to offer hourly service between PHL and ATL. Recently, they've decimated the schedule. If RJs will mean more service (and shorter layovers in ATL), I'm all for it.

I'd rather connect than be uncomfortable for 90+ minutes. Moreover, the fares haven't dropped to reflect the corresponding drop in aircraft comfort.

I book away from RJs on flights over 1 hour. Not only for my own comfort but also to let the airline know that the wrong aircraft is being used.

It's not that the DCA-JFK flight is full. They're saving the lower bucket seats for passengers travelling to Europe.

If you're just going to NYC, they want you to pay full fare on DCA-JFK, or fly the Delta Shuttle. If you are flying to Europe, no problem, lower buckets are available to you.

It seems to depend on the market to Europe. The availability I had quoted came from a query for a DCA-AMS portion (just DCA-JFK was limited to even higher fares).

For the DCA-JFK-CDG flight, on 4/30 availability is at U9 T9 for connection to both DL118 and 8581 (AF codeshare). On 5/1 it switches to L9 U4 T0 for 118 and Y9 B4 for 8581, and this continues afterwards. Seems on this market DL decided to limit availability for the codeshare flight.

On a DCA-JFK-AMS connection, the availability is reduced as I had mentioned in the prior post. DCA-JFK-MAD is reduced more on some days than others.

On certain days now (e.g. May5th, 14th, 17th) flights to certain cities that I checked are just zeroed out altogether (e.g. IST, MAD, SVO, even CDG), not because of the international flight, but because of the feeder flight. I guess if we want to fly on those days, we'll just have to drive out to IAD and take a direct UAL flight. Perhaps DL will entice customers from NY/NJ with cheapie fares to fill up their empty planes to Europe.

As for the RJ for 666 miles, I did notice that a certain other SkyTeam partner wanted to put me on an RJ (145) from Houston to DCA (1200 miles!!!). Yikes, seems like one would need physical therapy at the end.

I'd rather connect than be uncomfortable for 90+ minutes. Moreover, the fares haven't dropped to reflect the corresponding drop in aircraft comfort.

I book away from RJs on flights over 1 hour. Not only for my own comfort but also to let the airline know that the wrong aircraft is being used.
I do agree that RJs are a bit less comfortable (especially when coming from a BusinessElite flight. On the other hand, I'd rather an RJ and get home sooner, than loiter around ATL for an additional 2.5+ hours after a long flight (which is what happened to me on Friday).

I do agree that RJs are a bit less comfortable (especially when coming from a BusinessElite flight. On the other hand, I'd rather an RJ and get home sooner, than loiter around ATL for an additional 2.5+ hours after a long flight (which is what happened to me on Friday).

I'll take the extra miles, more comfortable seats, and free drinks in the CRC. It's a matter of personal choice, I agree.

I'll take the extra miles, more comfortable seats, and free drinks in the CRC. It's a matter of personal choice, I agree.

Me too! There are now more CRJs and Song aircrafts floating around the sytem. I try to avoid both as I am in the process of booking my May flights. If first class essentially disappears in the markets where I fly, so will I.

Me too! There are now more CRJs and Song aircrafts floating around the sytem. I try to avoid both as I am in the process of booking my May flights. If first class essentially disappears in the markets where I fly, so will I.

Song is not as bad because at least you can watch TV and what not which you cannot do on a regular A/C.

DL just has a ton of competition now with US and AirTran between ATL & PHL. They'd rather the short-haul pax go with one of them while they rake in the $ on transatlantic flights. why do you think they're expanding their international routes so aggressively this year?

They'd rather the short-haul pax go with one of them while they rake in the $ on transatlantic flights. why do you think they're expanding their international routes so aggressively this year?But how does DL get the short haul pax to their hubs to take the transatlantic flights? If I had to take US to ATL and switch to DL for the TATL portion, I'd probably just go with US from PHL-Charlotte-Europe. Do you think the once a year flyer is going to deal with changing airlines?

As noted on this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519324), US has only RJs on this route, which makes DL's introduction of one daily RJ a much smaller deal.

Granted, FL is all jumbo jets:) on this route, but their daily frequency is usually one fewer flight than DL. So, in comparison, consider that they have an equal schedule of mainline, with DL adding in a single RJ at an off-peak hour. Not the biggest deal, in my opinion.

(Personally, I am happy to see the frequency back up, and for PHL-JFK too, although I am outta here soon:()

As noted on this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519324), US has only RJs on this route, which makes DL's introduction of one daily RJ a much smaller deal.

Granted, FL is all jumbo jets:) on this route, but their daily frequency is usually one fewer flight than DL. So, in comparison, consider that they have an equal schedule of mainline, with DL adding in a single RJ at an off-peak hour. Not the biggest deal, in my opinion.

(Personally, I am happy to see the frequency back up, and for PHL-JFK too, although I am outta here soon:()
I agree it is not a big deal, I originally was asking opinion on whether it is a "coming trend". It is certainly easy enough to schedule around one RJ if you do not like it. Since my OP I found out the DL has added (June) service from ACY-ATL. This is very good news for those of us in that market. The early am ACY outtbound with a late night return opens many doors. The service from ACY has been hurt since they cut back on ACY-CVG in Dec. Hopefully this will show a reverse trend. Bottom line is if I'm taking an RJ to ATL, I'd much rather go out of ACY than PHL!

I just noticed flight 6290 PHL-ATL on an Embraier 145, also, in the fall as 4445 on a CRJ7. Is this the trend for PHL-ATL? I guess I'd rather see RJ's than more reduction in schedule, anyone have inside info on DL's plans?

Well they still have eight other flights a day that are on mainline jets, although one of those is on a 738 and I don't know if that's a two-cabin type or a shuttle job. Still, I seriously doubt if DL would go all RJs on a business route of that length--and from their main hub.