UA dropping BGM (Binghamton, NY)
Aug 25, 2016, 6:55 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
The flights exist for people making connections. I fly into ITH a few times per year from SFO and being able to connect via plane is much more convenient than having to transfer to a bus. Of course, weather delays are frequent in the winter so it's not always that convenient...
I would love it if ITH got upgraded to jet equipment as UA phases out the turboprops. With ELM and BGM gone, UA may now have enough traffic on that route to justify it. I'm not holding my breath though.
I would love it if ITH got upgraded to jet equipment as UA phases out the turboprops. With ELM and BGM gone, UA may now have enough traffic on that route to justify it. I'm not holding my breath though.
Aug 25, 2016, 8:27 am
#18
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 421
I really learned to despise those turboprops out of EWR.
When you factor in driving to the airport, security wait times, 90 minutes on the plane, etc - it's really starting to encourage driving to NYC. Even if you have to make a connection at EWR, its almost the same amount of travel time to just drive there. Even with tolls and parking, it's cheaper, and you don't find your self stranded at the airport, waiting for the daily turboprop saga to play out.
When you factor in driving to the airport, security wait times, 90 minutes on the plane, etc - it's really starting to encourage driving to NYC. Even if you have to make a connection at EWR, its almost the same amount of travel time to just drive there. Even with tolls and parking, it's cheaper, and you don't find your self stranded at the airport, waiting for the daily turboprop saga to play out.
The flights theoretically exist for connections, but the reality is that when they are delayed/canceled so often (*apologies for not having the stats right in front me*), and people have come to expect such awful service, they cease serving any useful purpose.
I frequently drive to EWR/YYZ for non-domestic itineraries. I don't *want* to, but I simply don't trust the connections. PHL on US is just as bad. DTW on DL is certainly better, but the range of flight options there is more limited than EWR/YYZ.
I for one was definitely not happy when I learned that the slots were being lifted at EWR.
Aug 25, 2016, 8:32 am
#19
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 421
The flights exist for people making connections. I fly into ITH a few times per year from SFO and being able to connect via plane is much more convenient than having to transfer to a bus. Of course, weather delays are frequent in the winter so it's not always that convenient...
I would love it if ITH got upgraded to jet equipment as UA phases out the turboprops. With ELM and BGM gone, UA may now have enough traffic on that route to justify it. I'm not holding my breath though.
I would love it if ITH got upgraded to jet equipment as UA phases out the turboprops. With ELM and BGM gone, UA may now have enough traffic on that route to justify it. I'm not holding my breath though.
Aug 25, 2016, 8:56 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Actually, AA was a major player in upstate NY years ago, with mainline service to SYR, ROC, and BUF from LGA. AA even ran some DC-10s to SYR and BUF! But until the AA/US merger, I don't believe that AA ever served BGM, ELM, or ITH.
Aug 25, 2016, 9:09 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
SYR, ROC, and BUF are different sorts of airports versus ITH, ELM, and BGM, which from the beginning were meant to only have commuter service a few times a day. You're comparing airports (that might even be designated as "international" in their name) that have something like twenty mainline gates and full service (even though they're certainly not hubs and don't offer lounges, etc.) to places built with just a couple gates for commuter flights and rather limited services at the airport.
Aug 25, 2016, 9:14 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Keep in mind that Piedmont, which operates AA's ITH-PHL service, announced last month that it is transitioning from Dash-8 turboprops to ER4 50-seat regional jets. I expect that by 2017 or 2018, all ITH-PHL service will be on the ER4's, which should have better operational reliability than the old Dash-8's.
Whether there will continue to be four weekday ITH-PHL flights after the up-gauging remains to be seen.
Whether there will continue to be four weekday ITH-PHL flights after the up-gauging remains to be seen.
Aug 25, 2016, 9:21 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,584
Some have claimed that upstate NY would have developed better if not for being at the mercy of air service from Mohawk/Allegheny/USAir. Businesses require reliability.
SYR, ROC, and BUF are different sorts of airports versus ITH, ELM, and BGM, which from the beginning were meant to only have commuter service a few times a day. You're comparing airports (that might even be designated as "international" in their name) that have something like twenty mainline gates and full service (even though they're certainly not hubs and don't offer lounges, etc.) to places built with just a couple gates for commuter flights and rather limited services at the airport.
SYR, ROC, and BUF are different sorts of airports versus ITH, ELM, and BGM, which from the beginning were meant to only have commuter service a few times a day. You're comparing airports (that might even be designated as "international" in their name) that have something like twenty mainline gates and full service (even though they're certainly not hubs and don't offer lounges, etc.) to places built with just a couple gates for commuter flights and rather limited services at the airport.
In the 1970s, even little ITH had regular mainline jet service (to LGA, JFK, and PIT) on BAC 1-11's, DC-9's, and 737's.
Aug 25, 2016, 9:25 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
I flew AA mainline (first 707s and then 727s) from ROC and SYR to ORD in the 1970s.
Aug 25, 2016, 10:12 am
#25
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 421
Aug 25, 2016, 11:11 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA1K
Posts: 4,044
i've flown into/out of BGM a few times as my family has a farm house in apalachin. but i have not flown it from EWR. i did the IAD flights.
such an easy airport. sad to see it go. if i ever have to go to BGM def need to find a new way.
such an easy airport. sad to see it go. if i ever have to go to BGM def need to find a new way.
Aug 25, 2016, 11:44 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Runway 22 @ KROC
Posts: 706
Aug 25, 2016, 6:26 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I guess that United has to make Cornell professors happy 
. When my son was a student there, I booked him to BGM once and ELM once. The rest were ITH. When US was with *A, there were many options to book award tickets out of ITH. Sadly, this is not an option anymore.
. When my son was a student there, I booked him to BGM once and ELM once. The rest were ITH. When US was with *A, there were many options to book award tickets out of ITH. Sadly, this is not an option anymore.
Aug 25, 2016, 6:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Well, Binghamton also has a large university, but let the state schoolers drive to ITH to catch a flight. In truth though, all of Upstate N.Y. north of Westchester County has been pretty stagnant economically for years. When I revisited my undergraduate college north of Albany last fall, I saw that the entire "metropolitan area" has changed very little. And west of Albany, everyone should be familiar with how hard Rochester has been hammered. This kind of negative economic impact carries into the rural Southern Tier as well. Kinda sad, but it keeps the place "historic" and charming.
In truth though, all of Upstate N.Y. north of Westchester County has been pretty stagnant economically for years. When I revisited my undergraduate college north of Albany last fall, I saw that the entire "metropolitan area" has changed very little. And west of Albany, everyone should be familiar with how hard Rochester has been hammered. This kind of negative economic impact carries into the rural Southern Tier as well. Kinda sad, but it keeps the place "historic" and charming.