Originally Posted by
knope2001
In a case like this, when you see all the fare buckets wiped out except full coach, that's usually a clear sign. It's an immediate way to for them to (essentially) halt the sale of tickets to a market being dropped.
I was just about to post the same message, as I checked early December MKE-FLL RT. With about 85% of the plane unsold, the RT fare is $1230...nobody in their right mind would book at this fare, and thus, it discourages any new reservations that YX would have to worry about reaccommodating on another carrier. Award travel does not come up at all..message states that dates not available (not even for miles & cash award, which is usually fairly easy to get). Only "C" and "Y" class show as available, or sometimes, only "Y," which is the highest possible fare. FLL shows only "Y" class available in October, when the MKE-FLL service was to resume with 717 service, after the summer hiatus.
MKE-LAX shows only "C" and "Y" class for the MD80 nonstop; all MKE-LAS nonstops, however, currently show normal fare buckets being available. MKE-SFO looks safe as a 717 direct flight with a 40 minute layover on the ground at MCI.