Presumably to achieve US Airways status, but I do tend to agree that using that route is probably a bad example of out-of-control airfares. There are lots of example where airlines simply don't bother to compete for a given citypair. I'd love to fly *A on MCI-DFW...just to segment-run my way to a higher United status if nothing else...but nobody in *A bothers loading any kind of decent fare for it.

Oddly enough, I just booked MCI-PHL for Thanksgiving weekend. US was $450+ R/T for the nonstops and even more expensive to connect. UA was $205 R/T for prime Wednesday-Sunday flights, 5 seats together no less, connecting via ORD.

Yes, I'm usually willing to pay a little more for a nonstop, especially at peak periods. But not double to triple the fare...

So honestly, I don't really know what US is doing. Obviously they have data telling them that they can fill their planes with business travelers, and maybe they're right... I won't pretend to understand how airline pricing models work, but it sure is interesting when one carrier seems to be diverging from the pack. Seems like a risky bet...either spectacularly right or spectacularly wrong.