Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
The discussion was about destination Florida leisure traffic supporting premium products -- far more realistic that an international gateway would support a premium product. And while some of the AA traffic maybe destination MIA, the international traffic likes pays the bill
And as there is no UA international gateway hub in FL, those AA flights don't really provide support UA is missing a destination premium opportunity (UA missing an opportunity is where this started).
You made the same point I was going to make.
Being a South Florida resident since early 80s, I have witnessed various stages of air travel change.
When UA purchased Pan Am's Latin American operations in Miami back in the early to mid 90s, there were a fleet of widebodies and multiple flights between MIA and UA hub cities.
As an example:
763 between JFK and MIA
741 (later 777) between SFO and MIA
777 between IAD-MIA, LAX-MIA, DEN-MIA, ORD-MIA
There were 727/757 flights between DCA-MIA, LGA/EWR-MIA, ATL-MIA, BOS-MIA
There were multiple flights between IAD, ORD, DEN, LAX and MIA.
RCC@ MIA was the best in the system with open bar and a full buffet (not the current crackers and cheese).
There were all mostly driven by international traffic not domestic leisure traffic between hubs and MIA.