Originally Posted by
Eastbay1K
And looking at these last few replies, it is clear that SFO isn't doomed. WN didn't have any SFO service for years. Now it has a modest amount. B6 was all about OAK, and has shifted almost everything to SFO. AS OAK service is a fraction of its former self, everything else is from SFO. UA, after having a maintenance base @ OAK, and flights to all of its hubs along with shorter west coast hops, eventually pulled out completely and it is all SFO.
Yes, 100% correct. I think the title is clickbait at best.
There are a quite a few reasons why flights have not shifted to OAK:
- Major airlines prefer to connect to other major airlines via SFO. OAK does not yet have a critical mass of airlines that will permit such connections (and in fact can be considered a hub fortress for OAK)
- There are many days when few flights are delayed and other days when most flights are not delayed >30 minutes. Some of these delays are already built into the schedules. So travelers are willing to risk delays v. using an airport that may be less convenient.
- There are no flight perimiter restrictions as you find at LGA, DCA, etc. so no incentive for travelers to use an alternative and possibly less convenient airport.
- There are no fare discounts from OAK and SJC. In fact IME fares are often cheaper from SFO due to the significant competition. Compare to other secondary airports where fares are often cheaper, e.g. BWI, LGB, etc.
- Legacy airlines largely abandoned OAK after 9/11 and 2008 recession, and the airport has not regained the critical mass that would drive travel there.
- Absent rush hour traffic, for many East Bay residents it is only a 15-20m longer drive to SFO over OAK, a trip we are willing to take in return for a nonstop flight (particularly international).
- A lot of visitors don't know that OAK is an option and many come from places that are not served by WN.
Personally I would love to see many more flight options from OAK, but I don't see that happening absent some government mandate, which has never materialized even for discussion.