Lack of direct flights to Europe during Off Peak Season
Oct 3, 2019, 8:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Plat Pro, National Elite, HHonors Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 23
Lack of direct flights to Europe during Off Peak Season
Been searching for flights to Europe and I am not sure if this is on purpose, but there are no direct flights from PHL to many European destinations (LIS/BCN as example) from end of October through end of March.
Is this normal? Award redemption is terrible as it is all on partner metal and subject to the surcharges. Except PHL-MAD on AA metal but with 135k miles pp for flagship business.
Can anyone shed light on this? Sorry if this should have been asked elsewhere.
Is this normal? Award redemption is terrible as it is all on partner metal and subject to the surcharges. Except PHL-MAD on AA metal but with 135k miles pp for flagship business.
Can anyone shed light on this? Sorry if this should have been asked elsewhere.
Oct 3, 2019, 9:11 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
AA initially discontinued lots of non-stops from JFK to most European destinations (except to LHR), forcing pax to connect via PHL; now that they are killing the PHL market is not too surprising, this is the "new" AA.
I quit AA for DL months ago and have had no regrets. By the time AA realizes they've lost a big chunk of the northeast market it will be too late to woo that market back.
I quit AA for DL months ago and have had no regrets. By the time AA realizes they've lost a big chunk of the northeast market it will be too late to woo that market back.
Oct 3, 2019, 9:19 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,753
Have we considered the possibility that they suspend flights during the slow season because they can't sell enough tickets to make those flights profitable?
Oct 3, 2019, 11:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PIT
Posts: 759
AA initially discontinued lots of non-stops from JFK to most European destinations (except to LHR), forcing pax to connect via PHL; now that they are killing the PHL market is not too surprising, this is the "new" AA.
I quit AA for DL months ago and have had no regrets. By the time AA realizes they've lost a big chunk of the northeast market it will be too late to woo that market back.
I quit AA for DL months ago and have had no regrets. By the time AA realizes they've lost a big chunk of the northeast market it will be too late to woo that market back.
Oct 4, 2019, 2:10 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
This isn’t a recent phenomenon, it’s been that way for the past 20 years that I’ve been flying to the EU year round. The way I get around it is to fly into major cities like Rome, Madrid or Paris then either take a train or book a European LCC flight separately to my final destination. Sometimes, I book with a foreign carrier.
Oct 4, 2019, 7:49 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 46
This isn’t a recent phenomenon, it’s been that way for the past 20 years that I’ve been flying to the EU year round. The way I get around it is to fly into major cities like Rome, Madrid or Paris then either take a train or book a European LCC flight separately to my final destination. Sometimes, I book with a foreign carrier.
Oct 4, 2019, 9:57 am
#11
formerly plenTpak
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Washington DC
Programs: AA
Posts: 131
The typical NE market to Europe could care less if they connect at JFK, or EWR, or PHL, other than the NYC market. Further, AA's PHL European portfolio has changed little,except for tweaking, since before the JFK downsizing. OTOH, AA/JFK has Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Paris, London and Rome. It's called NYC greed - take away a NYC dime out of their billions, and they feel picked on.
Oct 4, 2019, 12:34 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
Every airline does this. It is nothing exclusive to American. Outside of Miami, demand to Europe from the United States is insanely seasonal and airlines adjust capacity accordingly. AA's Miami-Europe network is the only one that runs entirely year-round.
Oct 4, 2019, 7:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Dallas, Texas
Programs: AA Exp. Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum.
Posts: 1,186
This is a handy wiki that I reference for AA direct flights to Europe. It has an asterisk by the ones that are seasonal. To your point the service is decreased dramatically during the winter. Take a look at Chicago for example.
Where exactly does AA fly to Europe? Which routes have good business seats?
Where exactly does AA fly to Europe? Which routes have good business seats?