"Notorious" DCA Gate 35X again referenced in media
May 11, 2019, 5:45 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,810
If you all think 35X is going to be retired I have a bridge to sell you. AA has added gate capacity in CLT. Did their walk-out gates go away? Nope. They added gates at MIA. Did their walk-out gates go away? Nope. The added gates at LAX. Is the Eagle's Nest still there? Yup.
AA will fill the 14 new gates with aircraft and then go right back to using 35X to board flights on RON pads. I'll believe 35X is going away when they rip the darn thing out.
AA will fill the 14 new gates with aircraft and then go right back to using 35X to board flights on RON pads. I'll believe 35X is going away when they rip the darn thing out.
May 11, 2019, 6:37 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 158
Oh, far worse. Go downstairs to a cramped room, then only when it’s time to board, ride a bus that takes you directly to the plane. And status doesn’t really matter on these flights as everyone just piles on and off of the bus at once.
May 11, 2019, 6:46 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,810
Provided you can get downstairs. On arrival to DCA Thursday the area around the X-Zone was an absolute sea of people. People were standing on the escalator down to the holding pens (they turned off one of them it seems). Worst I've ever seen it.
May 11, 2019, 6:50 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,295
Doesn't work that way with DCA. DCA is under strict slot control limits and you simply can't add more flights just because you got more gates. And even if you could, there won't be much physical space available for additional flights. The RON pads are basically open game spaces and then do get used for deicing for some airlines.
May 11, 2019, 7:27 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,205
May 11, 2019, 7:28 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,810
I can't remember the last time there was a slot allocation at DCA (either new flights on large or small jets). Its been a while.
May 12, 2019, 5:02 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,810
Not sure why Shuttle would ever post as going out of the X-Zone. The equipment is either an E-175 or an E-190 which go out of mainline gates: and usually the B pier.
May 12, 2019, 6:37 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
May 12, 2019, 7:36 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: AA PLT PRO, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plt. Premier
Posts: 587
I used to think that the E gates especially 38A through seems like 38ZZ at CLT were bad then I flew into and out of 35x man what sh*t show, I avoid that airport now at all costs
May 12, 2019, 7:52 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Executive Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott Titanium Elite-Lifetime, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,197
Their settlement with the DOJ allowing the AA-US merger to proceed prevents AA from reacquiring previously divested slots for 10 years after the agreement was executed. I can't imagine the other carriers with slots prior to the divestiture would ever sell any.
Last edited by USFlyerUS; May 12, 2019 at 7:58 am
May 12, 2019, 1:21 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
Unless you were suggesting that they'd be running shuttles from 35X all the way down to the Historic Terminal -- though that would be silly, since that building's already configured with walk-out gates.
