ARCHIVE: Routes (Flights) and Hubs (Speculation, News and Discussion)
#3391
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,692
Boston clearly has a few point to point routes, however I've never heard AA call it (or LaGuardia for that matter) a focus city. I know back in the days of the cornerstone, "New York" was combined (as that JFK and LGA were one). Now, neither Boston or LaGuardia has enough routes to be called hubs. I'd be interested to see what they do with Boston. They had some good times there back in the day...it's sad to walk those corridors now.
With so many hubs in the northeast (JFK/LGA, DCA, PHL), BOS could be vulnerable.
#3392
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,945
Boston clearly has a few point to point routes, however I've never heard AA call it (or LaGuardia for that matter) a focus city. I know back in the days of the cornerstone, "New York" was combined (as that JFK and LGA were one). Now, neither Boston or LaGuardia has enough routes to be called hubs. I'd be interested to see what they do with Boston. They had some good times there back in the day...it's sad to walk those corridors now.
#3393
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA PLT, HHonors Gold
Posts: 178
From 2006 through 2013 I did ORD-BOS at least once a month because that was the only option for AA into the region. One of the benefits to the merger for me has been access on AA/US to MHT and PVD. Those two airports are much closer to where I need to be in the region and while they do require a connection, it sure beats driving to/from Logan. To that end I wonder if you may see a non-stop from either MHT or PVD to a LAA hub such as ORD or DFW? That would be the icing on the cake!
#3394
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,761
One of the benefits to the merger for me has been access on AA/US to MHT and PVD. Those two airports are much closer to where I need to be in the region and while they do require a connection, it sure beats driving to/from Logan. To that end I wonder if you may see a non-stop from either MHT or PVD to a LAA hub such as ORD or DFW? That would be the icing on the cake!
#3395
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
DL still does not consider LAX a hub even if it has more flights than SEA (a hub). In my point, I am going by what what I feel is defined as a hub (not AA's marketing department considers hubs). A focus city is defined as an airline has service to several destinations other than its hubs. Thus, BOS meets this definition.
With so many hubs in the northeast (JFK/LGA, DCA, PHL), BOS could be vulnerable.
With so many hubs in the northeast (JFK/LGA, DCA, PHL), BOS could be vulnerable.
It is? Boston is better than ever. It's a huge metro area without a legacy hub. Fares are reasonable to pretty much anywhere. International expansion has been incredible. BOS is a great place to fly from if you're not wrapped up in a single airline's loyalty program. I don't see much sadness in the corridors of BOS (except gates C40-42).
#3396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,502
C40-42 has been Dante's 14th circle of hell since I lived there almost 20 years ago. I think Massport should have to pay airlines to fly out of those gates. At least they stopped the charade of D-1 when they remodeled the old Northwest E1-E2 gates for Southwest.
#3397
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
B1-B3 isn't much better.
#3398
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,945
B1-B3 is a straight up Greyhound terminal. I've only flown it once, on a BOS-YUL AC flight a few years ago. It reminded me of DCA Gate 35A (sorry, rebranded to 35X because Xs are cool) except with jet bridges.
#3399
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
AA is a bit more strict. There is something special happening at LGA, but that seems about it. I assume AA dropped BOS capacity and its JetBlue relationship for legitimate profit reasons, but it becomes self-fulfilling. The less important certain cities become like BOS, the less demand that appears to happen with its remaining routes. For example, I am not even finding the regular frequency of PHX-BOS as we get into December. Maybe it is seasonal, but I am not sure.
Qatar is getting nervous that without robust connections in BOS, it will not fill the plane. JetBlue certainly offered more than AA in terms of feeder options.
I don't know why things get troubling when non hub cities have significant AA volume, but either too much happens and causes a meltdown or competition gets very stiff and causes a different type of meltdown. I don't expect the hub term to get added to new locations anymore as it is not needed and the flight commitments are really weak. There is also little patience given to build an audience or customer base so I think we will see flight routes come and go with much more frequency.
Rasheed
#3400
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
As much as I am still wondering about this reported EY announcement, I'll throw out this article.
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...-alliance.html
I am not suggesting that PHL will receive any new service, but this partnership certainly can't hurt.
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...-alliance.html
I am not suggesting that PHL will receive any new service, but this partnership certainly can't hurt.
#3401
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PIT
Posts: 759
As much as I am still wondering about this reported EY announcement, I'll throw out this article.
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...-alliance.html
I am not suggesting that PHL will receive any new service, but this partnership certainly can't hurt.
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...-alliance.html
I am not suggesting that PHL will receive any new service, but this partnership certainly can't hurt.
http://articles.philly.com/2015-07-0...nited-airlines
#3402
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 366
DFW-OAK, or CLT-HOU?
With AA now serving OAK, would it likely consider DFW-OAK to augment and complement it's position with the inherited PHX-OAK? DFW-OAK would be a close equivalent to WN's recent new addition of DAL-OAK also. CLT-HOU is only flown by WN. AA only flies CLT-IAH, however, as US was a Star Alliance partner where US didn't service HOU or MDW, but AA already services HOU through DFW-HOU. Maybe a CLT-HOU would provide complementary coverage.
As DFW and CLT are AA's largest hubs with CLT being viewed as a fortress hub, I've thought the AA would match WN's routes into these markets on these routes, but so far it hasn't.
Does HOU offer a preference for some passengers in Houston over IAH or are these airports too close to be different enough for preference?
As DFW and CLT are AA's largest hubs with CLT being viewed as a fortress hub, I've thought the AA would match WN's routes into these markets on these routes, but so far it hasn't.
Does HOU offer a preference for some passengers in Houston over IAH or are these airports too close to be different enough for preference?
#3403
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,408
Even thought WN flys the route, FF programs makes people choose airlines, while WN has a good one for domestic and VERY limited international, sticking with AA/US gives you greater possiblities.
#3404
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
In short, they are far enough apart that preferring one over the other makes a lot of sense depending on one's downtown destination, unlike DAL and DFW which are in similar north/west directions from downtown Dallas, DFW being further west (and slightly further north) than DAL from downtown Dallas.
#3405
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
I do hope that AA looks to expansion in the coming years rather than rationalization. Otherwise what'll happen is that OAK could lose PHX