<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mhbaker:
The special fares are nothing more than an attempt to fill the RJs on the new DFW run. They will attract a few die-hard bargain hunters, but no regular flyer is going to submit him/herself to two hours in an RJ seat if he/she has any other choice. The better alternative is NW either through Detroit or Memphis. Prediction...the DL LEX-DFW route will be gone within a year.</font>
Actually, I expect DL will do ok on these runs as there is little competition. Try flying LEX to ABQ/ELP/TUS/LBB/CRP/COS,etc on NW. NW doesn't serve many of these markets and so they dump you on CO. CO will cram you on an ERJ for 2.5 hours to IAH and then connect you on. How is that any better than DL?
As much as those on this board complain, RJ's are pretty successful flying from secondary markets (even on long stage lengths). Routes like LEX-DFW (DL) or LEX-IAH (CO) or LEX-MEM (NW) can not support mainline. It's either an RJ or nothing.