Direct vs non-stop
Jul 14, 2021 | 5:38 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 350
They definitely still do this. I did it just last month. There's a SEA-JNU-YAK-CDV-ANC direct flight (and reverse) and various versions of SEA-KTN-WRG-PSG-(SIT)-JNU (and reverse, or somtehing like that). I flew JNU-YAK-CDV-ANC and was required to stay on the plane in both YAK and CDV.
Jul 15, 2021 | 3:08 am
#32
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They definitely still do this. I did it just last month. There's a SEA-JNU-YAK-CDV-ANC direct flight (and reverse) and various versions of SEA-KTN-WRG-PSG-(SIT)-JNU (and reverse, or somtehing like that). I flew JNU-YAK-CDV-ANC and was required to stay on the plane in both YAK and CDV.
I believe the UA Island Hopper is another flight where continuing passengers had the option to stay onboard.
Jul 15, 2021 | 5:30 am
#33
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I used to enjoy staying onboard the AA direct flights. I seem to remember flying one frequently in the mid-2000s from SEA-STL-DCA back when AA still had a sizeable ex-TWA presence in STL. Sometimes you would even get an extra round of PDBs from the crew while you were one of the only passengers onboard between deplaning and boarding again.
Still common on AS's intra-Alaska flights, as mentioned above. Two years ago I flew ANC-SCC-BRW on an AS direct flight. Even though they recommended passengers say onboard in SCC (Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse), I figured it was my only chance to ever see Deadhorse Airport, so I got off and walked around the tiny terminal building for about 5 minutes before having to clear security again and re-board.
-FlyerBeek
Still common on AS's intra-Alaska flights, as mentioned above. Two years ago I flew ANC-SCC-BRW on an AS direct flight. Even though they recommended passengers say onboard in SCC (Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse), I figured it was my only chance to ever see Deadhorse Airport, so I got off and walked around the tiny terminal building for about 5 minutes before having to clear security again and re-board.
-FlyerBeek
Jul 15, 2021 | 6:36 am
#34
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Who else remembers then there were 30 different fight numbers for the same flight from PIT to LGW? SAN-PIT-LGW was one flight, MCI-PIT-LGW was one flight, ORD-PIT-LGW was one flight, etc.
Jul 15, 2021 | 7:08 am
#35
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Are you sure about that?
I thought that, in the original Wright Amendment days (remember the Wright Amendment was itself subsequently amended), not only could WN not fly nonstop from DAL to points in other than TX/AR/LA/OK/NM, they could not sell tickets between DAL and points outside those states either.
The Wright Amendment was not exactly a perimeter rule. I believe that it would have been illegal to sell a DAL-LAS ticket under the original Wright Amendment even if the flight stopped in MAF or ABQ.
Of course nothing would preclude passengers from buying separate DAL-ABQ and ABQ-LAS tickets and taking it upon themselves to build their own connection but I don't think WN would operate direct DAL-ABQ-LAS flights in violation of Wright.
I thought that, in the original Wright Amendment days (remember the Wright Amendment was itself subsequently amended), not only could WN not fly nonstop from DAL to points in other than TX/AR/LA/OK/NM, they could not sell tickets between DAL and points outside those states either.
The Wright Amendment was not exactly a perimeter rule. I believe that it would have been illegal to sell a DAL-LAS ticket under the original Wright Amendment even if the flight stopped in MAF or ABQ.
Of course nothing would preclude passengers from buying separate DAL-ABQ and ABQ-LAS tickets and taking it upon themselves to build their own connection but I don't think WN would operate direct DAL-ABQ-LAS flights in violation of Wright.
Also in my early days of flying Southwest (grew up in Dallas) I recall many direct flights with stops where I would just sit and chill while the plane changed passengers.
Jul 15, 2021 | 10:09 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Yea... I get the 'brush-off" from family when they boast about a "direct" fight that's actually nonstop and vice versa. It's been so long in my travels that I can't recall being on a true direct flight in ages... Even when I recall taking an SFO-LAX-SAN-LAX-SFO flight just to keep my account active years ago... I don't think it was "direct" flights. But I could be entirely wrong... In fact, it's been so long that I can't recall requiring being required to get off a plane only to board it again to continue to the next stop. Yea... guess I'm just that old... LOL
EDIT: Now that I recall, the flight did a loop - MIA-LPB-VVI-MIA, and each segment had the same flight number. Down to Bolivia and back the same day.
A few years ago I flew DL from LGA to GUA with a stop in ATL. Same flight number, same plane. But we still had to get off at ATL and hang out in the terminal before getting on the plane at the very same gate. That was annoying. Also annoying was the fact that mileage credit was for one segment as if it were a non-stop, not the two individual segments.
Last edited by M60_to_LGA; Jul 15, 2021 at 12:11 pm
Jul 15, 2021 | 10:25 am
#37
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Maybe a fluke example, but if you want to fly to/from China on AA, DL, or UA, there is an ICN stop and leaving the plane there is not even an option (for passengers). Still, aa.com displays DFW-ICN and ICN-PVG as separate segments (with the same flight number).
Jul 15, 2021 | 10:37 am
#39
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Coincidentally my PVG-ICN-DFW flight last week also a refueling stop in AUS. Upon arrival at DFW, the origin was listed as AUS (a little confusing for some).
Jul 15, 2021 | 4:03 pm
#40
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I think it's only on FT where you'd see a discussion like this, at least regarding AA. 
I know what the typical non-frequent flyer means when they talk about a "direct flight." I don't correct them.
Non-FT person #1: I'm flying from Chicago to Nashville on American and it's a direct flight!
Non-FT person #2: Good for you!
Non-FT person #1: I'm flying from Chicago to Nashville on American and it's a direct flight!
FT person: Do you mean "direct" or "non-stop"?
Non-FT: Huh?
FT: "Direct" means the plane could stop between ORD and BNA. I think you mean "non-stop." You'd better check to be sure.
Non-FT: What are "ORD" and "BNA"?
No, I doubt very much that plane will make a stop.
I know what the typical non-frequent flyer means when they talk about a "direct flight." I don't correct them.Non-FT person #1: I'm flying from Chicago to Nashville on American and it's a direct flight!
Non-FT person #2: Good for you!
Non-FT person #1: I'm flying from Chicago to Nashville on American and it's a direct flight!
FT person: Do you mean "direct" or "non-stop"?
Non-FT: Huh?
FT: "Direct" means the plane could stop between ORD and BNA. I think you mean "non-stop." You'd better check to be sure.
Non-FT: What are "ORD" and "BNA"?
No, I doubt very much that plane will make a stop.
Jul 15, 2021 | 4:09 pm
#41
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To the best of my knowledge, these days, there aren't really that many "direct" flights in the traditional sense, with one or more stops at hubs while keping the same flight number (like LGA-DFW-SFO or something like that). That concept of the "direct/through" flight seems to have gone away in the past decade or so. (Incidentally, I remember we used to complain on this forum back in the early 2000s that if you happened to book your ticket as a "direct" flight such as LGA-DFW-SFO with a single ticket number, you would earn miles as if it were a nonstop LGA-SFO instead of for each segment.)
Nowadays, each unique flight segment has its own number. So you could still book LGA-DFW-SFO, but LGA-DFW would be one flight number, and DFW-SFO would be another. I suspect it is because everyone has to deplane after a flight anyway for aircraft cleaning/catering/security checks. Even if, by chance, one's connecting flight happened to be operated on the same equipment as the inbound flight to the hub (which is highly unlikely at a massive station such as DFW), you could not remain on board in between segments like in the old days.
The one exception to what I wrote about is rather interesting. AA has started using the same flight numbers for quick turns to smaller outstations, such as in the Caribbean (and possibly Midwest too), where an aircraft goes out and back on the same day. (MIA-BGI-MIA is all the same flight number, MIA-AUA-MIA, etc.)
Nowadays, each unique flight segment has its own number. So you could still book LGA-DFW-SFO, but LGA-DFW would be one flight number, and DFW-SFO would be another. I suspect it is because everyone has to deplane after a flight anyway for aircraft cleaning/catering/security checks. Even if, by chance, one's connecting flight happened to be operated on the same equipment as the inbound flight to the hub (which is highly unlikely at a massive station such as DFW), you could not remain on board in between segments like in the old days.
The one exception to what I wrote about is rather interesting. AA has started using the same flight numbers for quick turns to smaller outstations, such as in the Caribbean (and possibly Midwest too), where an aircraft goes out and back on the same day. (MIA-BGI-MIA is all the same flight number, MIA-AUA-MIA, etc.)
Jul 15, 2021 | 4:48 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Neither but kinda
Not really a direct flight But...Few years back flying BOS-ORD-LAS (now my personal experience in ORD is that if I have a tight connection my connecting flight is in another terminal! and if I have a long connection its only a few gates down.) this day with a fairly short connection, got off in ORD and went to the monitor to see where my connecting flight was departing from. it showed the same gate I just deplaned at ...? must be an error? but went back and sure enough same gate, same plane, same crew, same seat. just a new flight # walked on board, smiled at the FA and said "I'M Baaaack"! I settled into my seat and she walked by and handed me a Scotch Rocks like Id been drinking on the inbound and smiled and went about her duties RT
Jul 16, 2021 | 3:10 am
#44
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Are you sure about that?
I thought that, in the original Wright Amendment days (remember the Wright Amendment was itself subsequently amended), not only could WN not fly nonstop from DAL to points in other than TX/AR/LA/OK/NM, they could not sell tickets between DAL and points outside those states either.
The Wright Amendment was not exactly a perimeter rule. I believe that it would have been illegal to sell a DAL-LAS ticket under the original Wright Amendment even if the flight stopped in MAF or ABQ.
Of course nothing would preclude passengers from buying separate DAL-ABQ and ABQ-LAS tickets and taking it upon themselves to build their own connection but I don't think WN would operate direct DAL-ABQ-LAS flights in violation of Wright.
I thought that, in the original Wright Amendment days (remember the Wright Amendment was itself subsequently amended), not only could WN not fly nonstop from DAL to points in other than TX/AR/LA/OK/NM, they could not sell tickets between DAL and points outside those states either.
The Wright Amendment was not exactly a perimeter rule. I believe that it would have been illegal to sell a DAL-LAS ticket under the original Wright Amendment even if the flight stopped in MAF or ABQ.
Of course nothing would preclude passengers from buying separate DAL-ABQ and ABQ-LAS tickets and taking it upon themselves to build their own connection but I don't think WN would operate direct DAL-ABQ-LAS flights in violation of Wright.
Southwest chose to operate a point-to-point system which had nothing to do with the Wright Amendment.
Jul 16, 2021 | 10:55 am
#45
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As I posited upthread, passengers could certainly take it upon themselves to book two separate tickets DAL-ABQ and ABQ-LAS and create their own connection.