Originally Posted by
dtremit
The bigger problem is that people don't think of it that way.
And that's the kicker.
Yes, winter is a factor. Chicago tends to handle it reasonably well, all things considered. I don't know enough about emplanement costs at ORD vs CLT so that's a point I'm happy to concede. But rationally, if distance traveled (and time spent) is the key consideration, they aren't that different to a lot of the country east of the Rockies.
Still, relative to both, PHL does make sense. It just doesn't have as much service west of the Rockies that I'm aware of, at least relative to ORD. So unless that feed increases dramatically, PHL will supplement rather than supplant ORD. My opinion only of course. I happen to believe there's a stronger case for PHL than for CLT as a gateway (closer to the big population centers in New England and the upper Midwest than CLT).