AA PHL-ABE/ACY (and others) bus services
May 15, 22, 6:43 am
#91
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Anywhere
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 621
Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC
AA has now announced another bus route...PHL-LNS.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
May 15, 22, 11:22 am
#92
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 444
Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC
AA has now announced another bus route...PHL-LNS.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
May 15, 22, 11:25 am
#93
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: American Airlines, National Car Rental
Posts: 1,189
Originally Posted by sushanna1
In addition to MDT which has regular flights to PHL, Lancaster and Harrisburg have frequent Amtrak service to Philadelphia, Newark and New York City. I wish that in addition to offering flights from MDT, AA would cooperate with Amtrak and offer tickets that include Amtrak service and the a trip to the airport via local transportation, i.e. SEPTA. LIRR, etc.
May 16, 22, 9:26 am
#94
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,271
Originally Posted by upinsmoke
I think that if, given a choice, AA would rather fly a plane as well. There is a large pilot shortage right now. The reasons for that are many, and most of the reasons go back a couple of decades. The shortage is affecting regional flights more than mainline, so replacing some of the regional flights with buses helps provide the service that otherwise might not be there.
I will say that a route with a bus is a non-starter for me. I'm I'm going to have to travel by road I'd rather do it myself so I have more flexibility.
May 16, 22, 9:42 am
#95
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 960
Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC
AA has now announced another bus route...PHL-LNS.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...f353fe096.html
Not sure I understand AA's strategy here.
LNS is a 35-mile (30 min) drive from MDT, a very underutilized airport in a region with 1.8 million people within a one-hour drive. As a pax I'm not sure if, given a choice, I would choose a 90 minute bus ride without traffic that can easily jump to 2+ hours during rush hour and / or inclement weather.
May 16, 22, 1:38 pm
#96
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by upinsmoke
I think that if, given a choice, AA would rather fly a plane as well. There is a large pilot shortage right now. The reasons for that are many, and most of the reasons go back a couple of decades. The shortage is affecting regional flights more than mainline, so replacing some of the regional flights with buses helps provide the service that otherwise might not be there.
If AA wants this to be successful, they need to price it competitively. Thursdays in September are pricing at over $400 one way for the bus route option. Going the Southern Airways route it is half that price.
May 16, 22, 2:27 pm
#97
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: AA
Posts: 310
Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC
Fair point, but why not upgauge aircraft where additional capacity is needed if a pilot short is the only issue. AA flies ERJ-145s from MDT-PHL that seat 50 pax. They could bump up to a CRJ-700. Granted that would increase the FA requirement to two FAs and, as I'm sure some will point out, the aircraft may generate more revenue elsewhere...so I guess I just answered my own question.
I will say that a route with a bus is a non-starter for me. I'm I'm going to have to travel by road I'd rather do it myself so I have more flexibility.
I will say that a route with a bus is a non-starter for me. I'm I'm going to have to travel by road I'd rather do it myself so I have more flexibility.
May 16, 22, 2:29 pm
#98
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL
Programs: AA
Posts: 310
Originally Posted by JustDandy
The only airline that serves Lancaster Airport is Southern. AA hasn't recently serviced this airport directly (not sure if they ever did or not). Prior to this, the only options from LNS were IAD or PIT.
If AA wants this to be successful, they need to price it competitively. Thursdays in September are pricing at over $400 one way for the bus route option. Going the Southern Airways route it is half that price.
If AA wants this to be successful, they need to price it competitively. Thursdays in September are pricing at over $400 one way for the bus route option. Going the Southern Airways route it is half that price.
May 16, 22, 3:02 pm
#99
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,082
Originally Posted by JustDandy
The only airline that serves Lancaster Airport is Southern. AA hasn't recently serviced this airport directly (not sure if they ever did or not). Prior to this, the only options from LNS were IAD or PIT.
If AA wants this to be successful, they need to price it competitively. Thursdays in September are pricing at over $400 one way for the bus route option. Going the Southern Airways route it is half that price.
If AA wants this to be successful, they need to price it competitively. Thursdays in September are pricing at over $400 one way for the bus route option. Going the Southern Airways route it is half that price.
* UA: AUS-IAD-LNS is $494
* AA AUS-PHL-LNS is $605
Still a bit more pricey, but I'd hope between now and Sep the AA revenue analysts will have things a bit closer.
I'm kind of surprised that AA hasn't added bus service to RDG. Back when I was in college, US flew RDG-PHL and RDG-PIT. It was a thing for college kids to eat all-you-can-eat wings on Thursdays at the RDG airport, and we'd watch the planes while we ate.
May 17, 22, 7:22 pm
#100
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ORD / MDW / FLL
Programs: DL DM/1MM, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,271
Originally Posted by WeekendTraveler
Agreed and I wonder why that hasn’t happened. Is Amtrak leadership too incompetent or too prone to say “no”; is the fault with AA or with Amtrak?
Back to AA, Amtrak just built a new station in Middletown, PA (same town where MDT is located. The original master plan for the new MDT terminal that opened in 2004 (and still quite good) was to move the Middletown Amtrak station to the edge of the MDT property and connect the rail station with the terminal via a covered elevated walk. Not sure why, but when the station was rebuilt and opened earlier this year close to MDT but not close enough to be reasonably walkable, and certain not covered.
May 18, 22, 7:28 am
#101
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,506
Originally Posted by aztimm
I'm kind of surprised that AA hasn't added bus service to RDG. Back when I was in college, US flew RDG-PHL and RDG-PIT. It was a thing for college kids to eat all-you-can-eat wings on Thursdays at the RDG airport, and we'd watch the planes while we ate.
May 31, 22, 5:55 am
#103
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 444
Originally Posted by SOBE ER DOC
Amtrak had a this with UA until last year. I know you could take Amtrak from PHL 30th Street Station to the EWR station. Not sure why it ended but sure do wish it would return.
Back to AA, Amtrak just built a new station in Middletown, PA (same town where MDT is located. The original master plan for the new MDT terminal that opened in 2004 (and still quite good) was to move the Middletown Amtrak station to the edge of the MDT property and connect the rail station with the terminal via a covered elevated walk. Not sure why, but when the station was rebuilt and opened earlier this year close to MDT but not close enough to be reasonably walkable, and certain not covered.
Back to AA, Amtrak just built a new station in Middletown, PA (same town where MDT is located. The original master plan for the new MDT terminal that opened in 2004 (and still quite good) was to move the Middletown Amtrak station to the edge of the MDT property and connect the rail station with the terminal via a covered elevated walk. Not sure why, but when the station was rebuilt and opened earlier this year close to MDT but not close enough to be reasonably walkable, and certain not covered.
May 31, 22, 5:32 pm
#104
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,506
Originally Posted by sushanna1
I also thought that the new Amtrak Middletown station was going to connect directly to the airport. Would love to know why this didn't happen. I don't understand why (in these days of Climate Change concerns), AA does not reach out to Amtrak and/or the regional rail-based transportation services or vice versa. Why would anyone want to ride a bus if they could ride a train?
Jun 2, 22, 4:50 pm
#105
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, WOH Globalist
Posts: 1,054
The Points Guy (I know, I know...) is reporting that AA and Landline still don't have the requisite permissions to allow passengers to arrive airside at PHL.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...us-tsa-issues/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/americ...us-tsa-issues/
