Originally Posted by
sts603
Can you cite some destinations that leave before 5 p.m.? Because I didn't find any in the half dozen cities I checked. And anything over 3 hours for a layover I consider to be poorly timed and will turn off most travelers. I'll put up with four hours to stay on AA but most people don't have that kind of loyalty.
Leisure travelers put it up with it all the time. If the price is right, away they go. St. Lucia has a 4.15 departure, Freeport a 3.45, Cancun has a 3.35, Nassau has 3.20 and San Juan has a 3.15.
In fact, right there - NAS, SJU, CUN and FPO - will likely account for 75 to 90% of the CHS-Caribbean traffic that AA captures via Miami, just like those four destinations account for the bulk of Caribbean travel from most small to mid-size markets.
The flight also times well for Orlando and Tampa.
If the idea is to feed the O&D market, then I still think these flights are poorly timed. Most people don't want to fly during the middle of the day.
These are not business travelers. It is timed perfectly for Charleston-bound leisure travelers, allowing them to arrive in Charleston just around hotel check-in, and avoid leaving Charleston in the early morning.
It is also timed very well for Miami-bound lesiure travelers, especially cruise ships, considering nowadays it is more common to stay one night before in the departure port (though one can easily make it to catch a same-day cruise ship using this flight assuming it isn't delayed more than an hour).