Speculation: Will AA continue to pull back in NYC?
Oct 6, 2018, 5:55 pm
#601
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
Oct 6, 2018, 6:32 pm
#602
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: FL400
Programs: DL 360, Marriott Ambassador, AA Plat
Posts: 120
Oct 7, 2018, 6:00 am
#603
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: los angeles
Programs: Hyatt Courtesy card. Delta 2MM Diamond. AA platinum pro
Posts: 1,898
The big difference is that the Delta flights offer the configuration charging J fares while you have to buy F to get a solo seat on AA.
Oct 7, 2018, 8:20 am
#604
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Delta has 2 of their 10 SFO flights on A330s, and something tells me there is zero compensation if a 763/752 gets subbed in as it is still lie-flat D1.
Oct 7, 2018, 6:24 pm
#605
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
The 763 is still 1-2-1. Regardless, I'd take DL's product and service over AA's product and service, even if I had to "suffer" with a DL 752 on the route.
Oct 8, 2018, 9:34 am
#606
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: DCA and STL
Programs: AA Concierge Key, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, National Car Executive Elite
Posts: 524
I don't believe that "JFK is the odd one out". While I'm not privy to AA strategic planning, it does seem that as the largest airline in the world, AA can effectively support two northeast international hubs better than anyone else. PHL vs. JFK is not a zero sum game. I don't use JFK often, but the few times I've flown in and out this year it has appeared as though AA is utilizing every gate. Personally, I wouldn't mind a few less International flights out of JFK in exchange for for connections to non-hub cities like STL or SAN. Either way I don't see any sign that JFK is being deprecated. UA on the other hand has retrenched into its EWR fortress and truly has deprecated LGA after abandoning JFK. I think AA is still bullish on NYC.
Oct 9, 2018, 1:07 am
#607
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
I don't believe that "JFK is the odd one out". While I'm not privy to AA strategic planning, it does seem that as the largest airline in the world, AA can effectively support two northeast international hubs better than anyone else. PHL vs. JFK is not a zero sum game. I don't use JFK often, but the few times I've flown in and out this year it has appeared as though AA is utilizing every gate. Personally, I wouldn't mind a few less International flights out of JFK in exchange for for connections to non-hub cities like STL or SAN. Either way I don't see any sign that JFK is being deprecated. UA on the other hand has retrenched into its EWR fortress and truly has deprecated LGA after abandoning JFK. I think AA is still bullish on NYC.
I think the issue is slot availability for AA. JFK is still slot controlled and AA is maxed out on what they can use based on their allocation, so the only way they could grow flights is to acquire slots from someone else. That will be an uphill slog since B6 and DL are in a back alley fight to get every slot they can to support their hubs. Meanwhile, UA wants back not JFK after selling their 26 slots to DL.
AA is not going to get any bigger at JFK anytime soon. Their only hope is the expansion announced last week will result in a bolus of slots becoming available sometime in the next several years. In the meantime, they will continue focusing on O&D and connecting traffic to other OW partners at JFK.
Oct 9, 2018, 4:47 am
#608
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
I think the issue is slot availability for AA. JFK is still slot controlled and AA is maxed out on what they can use based on their allocation, so the only way they could grow flights is to acquire slots from someone else. That will be an uphill slog since B6 and DL are in a back alley fight to get every slot they can to support their hubs. Meanwhile, UA wants back not JFK after selling their 26 slots to DL.
AA is not going to get any bigger at JFK anytime soon. Their only hope is the expansion announced last week will result in a bolus of slots becoming available sometime in the next several years. In the meantime, they will continue focusing on O&D and connecting traffic to other OW partners at JFK.
AA is not going to get any bigger at JFK anytime soon. Their only hope is the expansion announced last week will result in a bolus of slots becoming available sometime in the next several years. In the meantime, they will continue focusing on O&D and connecting traffic to other OW partners at JFK.
Oct 9, 2018, 6:36 am
#609
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve, WFBF
Posts: 1,573
Regarding the sizing of planes, keep in mind that for inside the perimeter, demand is split between LGA and JFK, which can limit the size of plane that a flight to JFK can support. This is true for both O/D and connecting as there are plenty of people connecting at LGA.
My guess is that you'll see more adds along the lines of the recently announced JFK-SAT, where SAT is outside the perimeter, is a large area to have good O/D, and has a reasonable FF base for AA. I know it's boring for folks on FT but someone is running the numbers at AA.
Oct 9, 2018, 6:54 am
#610
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 2,506
Most of the Eagle flights I'm mentioning are in the afternoon and evening. Slots are not the issue for AA adding more mainline and int'l flights.
Oct 10, 2018, 6:33 am
#614
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
It's been a slow march for years. For a long time I flew American, but as AA dehubbed STL and pulled back in NY and DL merged with NW and ramped up NY -- one day I was shocked that I was buying JFK -LHR on Delta instead of OW. I've got nothing against PHL, but it's never going to be my primary gateway. It's sad that AA is third in NY and STL now, but it's been a boon for B6 and WN.