A319 BWI-PHL? Really? Why?
Feb 8, 2015, 4:29 pm
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A319 BWI-PHL? Really? Why?
Hi all,
Looking for a flight in June, first leg will be BWI-PHL, and saw that one flight each day is an A-319. (FLight 586, Dpt 1835, ARR 1938).
Have to say I was surprised by 2 things. First, that USAir is flying a 319 on that route (normally stuck on tiny regional jets). Anyone know why?
Also, surprised at the block times. Usually they are under an hour on this route.
Looking for a flight in June, first leg will be BWI-PHL, and saw that one flight each day is an A-319. (FLight 586, Dpt 1835, ARR 1938).
Have to say I was surprised by 2 things. First, that USAir is flying a 319 on that route (normally stuck on tiny regional jets). Anyone know why?
Also, surprised at the block times. Usually they are under an hour on this route.
Feb 8, 2015, 6:52 pm
#2
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I'd assume that with those timings, it is feeding evening traffic to Europe. More seats in general, more F seats in case you have anybody who actually paid for business class.
Whatever capacity is not going to Europe can be used to feed the late bank of flights to west coast cities instead of sending them through CLT or PHX.
Whatever capacity is not going to Europe can be used to feed the late bank of flights to west coast cities instead of sending them through CLT or PHX.
Feb 8, 2015, 8:00 pm
#3
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Aircarft optimization. The geeks do the math and determine that it may be worth taking a bath on the micro-hop to position the aircraft xPHL.
The block time takes account of the likely delays on the ground on both ends and ATC in that corridor.
The block time takes account of the likely delays on the ground on both ends and ATC in that corridor.
Feb 8, 2015, 8:41 pm
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I have flown this route several times last year. Each flight was nearly full or even oversold. It takes longer to board and deplane than it does to fly the actual route. I was surprised they used mainline on this route at first, but IME, it seems they have the load factors to support it.
Feb 8, 2015, 10:29 pm
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First time I've ever seen a complaint about a mainline plane instead of an RJ on FT.
Feb 9, 2015, 6:55 am
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But seriously, not a complaint, just a surprise. It's only 90 miles. I generally fly American and JetBlue, but since the merger I've found myself on USAir more often. This winter I've been flying BWI-PHL and the only flights are on small regional planes. Was surprised to see a mainline plane on the schedule this summer.That said, I've been happy to book it, and the first class fares from BWI are much better than out of DCA.
Feb 9, 2015, 7:51 am
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Glad to surprise you. But seriously, not a complaint, just a surprise. It's only 90 miles. I generally fly American and JetBlue, but since the merger I've found myself on USAir more often. This winter I've been flying BWI-PHL and the only flights are on small regional planes. Was surprised to see a mainline plane on the schedule this summer.
That said, I've been happy to book it, and the first class fares from BWI are much better than out of DCA.
But seriously, not a complaint, just a surprise. It's only 90 miles. I generally fly American and JetBlue, but since the merger I've found myself on USAir more often. This winter I've been flying BWI-PHL and the only flights are on small regional planes. Was surprised to see a mainline plane on the schedule this summer.That said, I've been happy to book it, and the first class fares from BWI are much better than out of DCA.
Feb 9, 2015, 7:58 am
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As already noted, it's aircraft positioning. A 319 is needed in PHL, a flight needs to go to PHL, a flight needs to get to BWI, etc - expand the needs into a huge non-linear optimization problem with PhD's working the algorithms. And the most efficient result includes a 319 on this route on this day.
Feb 9, 2015, 8:11 am
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I have flown the reverse route on an East 757, so "Envoy" seats in F. Pretty nice 
. The aircraft then did BWI-PHX. Incidentally that was my last US flight, before they left *A 
. The aircraft then did BWI-PHX. Incidentally that was my last US flight, before they left *A
Last edited by flugvergnugen; Feb 9, 2015 at 9:18 am
Feb 9, 2015, 5:43 pm
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As already noted, it's aircraft positioning. A 319 is needed in PHL, a flight needs to go to PHL, a flight needs to get to BWI, etc - expand the needs into a huge non-linear optimization problem with PhD's working the algorithms. And the most efficient result includes a 319 on this route on this day.
Feb 10, 2015, 10:29 am
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They've had a 319 on this route for years. I remember taking it back in 2005.
I generally prefer this flight as it means I don't have to deal with the F gates. Plus the 319 is much more comfortable than the RJs.
I generally prefer this flight as it means I don't have to deal with the F gates. Plus the 319 is much more comfortable than the RJs.
Feb 10, 2015, 6:46 pm
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Back in the late 90s, United used to send an arriving 5am inbound DC10 red-eye up on ORD-MKE and back, to get it out of the way before it had to go back to SFO at 8am.
Feb 10, 2015, 8:07 pm
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I've flown this route on 757s as well as 321s. So a 319 sounds like a downgauge to me.
Feb 11, 2015, 6:52 am
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Feb 11, 2015, 7:03 am
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The loads, of course, don't matter unless you know what people are paying for their tickets. PRASM and all that. But, the fact is that if you need the aircraft in PHL and would ferry it up empty, the marginal cost of running it as a revenue flight are negligible.
This is likely a more efficient flight on a smaller aircraft depending on winds and the like as it really can be as little as 15 mins wheels up to wheels down if the wind and ATC collaborate.
This is likely a more efficient flight on a smaller aircraft depending on winds and the like as it really can be as little as 15 mins wheels up to wheels down if the wind and ATC collaborate.