How many frequent fliers drive past small airports to use larger ones?
Jan 19, 2015, 6:34 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
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I live in San Diego. I flew 130k miles last year. Of all those flights I departed from SAN exactly ONE time. Most of my departures are from LAX because that's where the only viable international gateway to/from Southern California is. So I am driving my car past both SAN and SNA to get to/from just about every flight to/from home.
I get 1 flight per year from LGB (usually to SEA or PHX) and the majority from LAX.
As another poster mentioned, it's also the better options in IRROPS that makes me use LAX.
Jan 19, 2015, 7:46 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
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depends on the destination/routing, but I frequently will drive past SNA and LGB to get to LAX for a direct flight (generally, anything int'l, more than a mid-con, or if I can get there in 1 flight (LAX-ABQ vs SNA-DFW-ABQ).
Jan 19, 2015, 8:33 pm
#18
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I fly LAX for transcons because there are a bunch of daily LAX-IAD flights, and if I flew out of BUR I'd have to change planes at SFO, and arrive later.
For regional flights, it's hard to beat BUR. I can make it from home to the bay area via BUR in about the same time it takes me to drive from home to LAX during commute hours.
For regional flights, it's hard to beat BUR. I can make it from home to the bay area via BUR in about the same time it takes me to drive from home to LAX during commute hours.
Jan 22, 2015, 2:05 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2007
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A few other people and I mentioned we consider the time of getting through checkin/security and comfort of waiting areas. Those factors are influenced by whether elite lines exist and how useful they are, and whether lounges are available and how good they are.
Jan 22, 2015, 3:05 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: California
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Mainly, choice of airport is based on the availability of non-stop (or fewest stop) flights at each airport. An extra stop adds at least a few hours, plus the risk of missing a connection (in the usual case of needing to change planes), which can result in a much longer delay.
When availability of non-stop or fewest stop flights is equal between the airports, the smaller airports around here are preferable because they tend to have fewer weather delays. But there are some destinations where the flights from the smaller airports require more stops, so the bigger airport is preferable for those destinations.
When availability of non-stop or fewest stop flights is equal between the airports, the smaller airports around here are preferable because they tend to have fewer weather delays. But there are some destinations where the flights from the smaller airports require more stops, so the bigger airport is preferable for those destinations.
Jan 22, 2015, 3:42 pm
#23
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I used to when I lived in Westchester, HPN was almost walking distance from my house but I used it twice in 20 years. LGA and JFK and even EWR were far better.
Last weekend I went to Lincoln, NE for a concert and flying to LNK was extremely expense so I just used OMA and drove.
Last weekend I went to Lincoln, NE for a concert and flying to LNK was extremely expense so I just used OMA and drove.
Jan 22, 2015, 9:49 pm
#24
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: CMI (Champaign, IL)
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Posts: 268
There are pros and cons of smaller airports, but for me it is the IRROPS issue that makes me prefer the larger airport (that I'd likely be connecting through anyways). When things go wrong, the RJs to small outstations are the first flights to get cancelled. From the airlines' point of view, this inconveniences the fewest pax possible. My preference is to be one of the people who is not inconvenienced.
It's a tough call.
Jan 23, 2015, 1:10 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LAS/DXB
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My girlfriend used to live in Cologne, Germany. While you have the option to fly out from Cologne (no international longhaul), Duesseldorf (some international longhaul) I have always chosen Frankfurt because of its superior availability of routes and airlines. But since high-speed trains are common in Germany you can reach Frankfurt in less than an hour.
Jan 23, 2015, 7:47 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
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I don't live in the Bay Area anymore, but still have family there. Oakland used to be an airport. Since it no longer is*, I'll drive right past and head to San Francisco or San Jose (SJC). I've even been spotted in Sacramento.
* For those of us who avoid Southwest
* For those of us who avoid Southwest
Jan 23, 2015, 9:54 am
#28
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When I lived in NY, I was roughly 10 miles from HPN, but flew out of it only once. The insanely expensive parking, combined with the lack of public transportation and the holding pen for departing pax made it an unattractive choice. I generally flew out of EWR, with an occasional jaunt to LGA, as I could get to either on public transportation within 90 minutes.
Jan 23, 2015, 12:52 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
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I live in San Diego. I flew 130k miles last year. Of all those flights I departed from SAN exactly ONE time. Most of my departures are from LAX because that's where the only viable international gateway to/from Southern California is. So I am driving my car past both SAN and SNA to get to/from just about every flight to/from home.
Jan 23, 2015, 2:45 pm
#30
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For example, how many people could use ABE but use PHL or could use GSP but use ATL or CLT instead for reasons such as lounges, better-trained staff, frequent-traveler security lanes and first-class check-in lines at the larger airport?
Why do you think airline staff are better trained at hubs than spokes, by the way? In my experience, the worst, surliest, least helpful airline employees are found at large hubs. Also, small airports can still have bad security lines.
I might substitute one airport for another based on equipment (i.e. I will fly to JAX instead of SAV due to mainline vs. RJ or LEX instead of CVG if the RJ has first class) but can't imagine airport amenities ever swaying a decision. It's all about schedule convenience, cost, and inflight comfort.