Exactly.


These "direct" flights are really just marketing ploys to make it look like AA has more flights in key markets than it actually does. For example, if you look at the departure monitors at LGA, you might see flights to Bogota and Phoenix. There's no way AA could/would fly those routes nonstop, especially with LGA's perimeter restrictions that apply every day except Saturdays, as well as the lack of FIS facilities for commercial flights arriving at LGA. So, if you look closer at the flight numbers, you will realize that the same numbers correspond to flights to MIA and DFW, respectively. So, those flights are "direct" flights, being marketed as LGA-BOG and LGA-PHX, but actually flying LGA-MIA-BOG and LGA-DFW-PHX.

Same goes for the afternoon JFK-BGI flight (AA 651) that recently started appearing on the departure boards at JFK. As many of us know, AA has one nonstop JFK-BGI departing on most early mornings, AA 1384. It could be a bit of a surprise to be at JFK around noon and see another BGI flight! Well, if you look closely, you will realize that AA 651 actually operates JFK-MIA-BGI. But, it pays for AA to put BGI on the departure boards for this "direct" flight because it makes it look like another nonstop to the average customer. Why does it matter? Competition! AA is now competing with B6 in the JFK-BGI market, and guess what--B6 has TWO daily nonstops! (a morning flight and a redeye)

IMHO, it's all about marketing and customer perception--making it look like more point-to-point routes exist than actually do.