Why Fly through IAH Instead of EWR
 

Here a short list I put together of reasons to connect through IAH instead of EWR. Does anyone feel I am wrong about any of these? Can anyone think of anymore?


1) IAH does not have those foolish "ground stops" that seem to be the norm going into EWR.

2) More miles (when flying from the north east).

3) IAH has a much friendlier airport staff than EWR. EWR staff seems to have an attitude.

4) All else equal, upgrades on flight to/from IAH are much easier to get than EWR.

5) The president's club in IAH (Terminal E) is so much prettier. It's 3 floors and doesn't have all those big ugly plants like EWR does.

6) BOS-IAH is always a 737, not those dinky little planes that they sometimes use BOS-EWR.

7) Fewer headaches/delays in general.

Context, OP, context.

1. IAH often has fewer weather-related problems than EWR for much of the year, yes, but IAH often becomes MORE problematic than EWR during the late spring and summer months when powerful afternoon thunderstorms are the norm. Not to mention, IAH is completely paralyzed during winter weather events.

2. Your final destination whether routing via IAH will net you more miles, and more importantly, whether the possible surplus of any miles compared to flying via EWR is worth the extra time or expense that may be incurred in routing via IAH.

3. IAH staff may be friendlier, but EWR staff are more useful, especially when in a hurry, and both observations are reflections of the local cultural contexts in which the hubs operate (southern emphasis on being "nice" versus northeastern emphasis on cool efficiency).

4. That conclusion is far too broad to be generally true. It all depends on the specific market involved. Maybe BOS-IAH is an easier upgrade than BOS-EWR, but then again, IAH-NRT is a MUCH harder upgrade than EWR-NRT in the experience of most FTers who travel longhaul.

5. Everyone has a right to opinion on aesthetics, I suppose, but the CO EWR lounges get the job done, and depending on how things evolve with the JVs and the like, I'd figure EWR is more likely to get a greater share of any future bells and whistles than IAH anyways.

6. Candidly, BOS-EWR is too short of a flight for most of us to care what it's being operated with (so long as it has an exit row ;) ).

7. Again, depends on what you're looking at. IAH's has an inferior airport layout (EWR's design is quite compact, and that facilitates closer-in check-ins and connections) and weaker transport links to the city it serves compared to EWR.

+1

I can't think of a time when an IAH agent has been rude to me. I also can't think of a time an EWR agent has BS'ed me.

I'll take an EWR agent over an IAH agent anyday.

I could not disagree more, I would fly out of my way through IAH or CLE to avoid Colgan Air.

I like the restaurant choices in IAH compared to EWR but I don't like the mile walk between gates when you are making a connecting flight. For the most part EWR is a more manageable airport. I like the PCs in EWR.. They are just fine for me. What I don't like is they don't offer the shortbread cookies in EWR where you can get them in IAH. Of course, I haven't traveled in awhile so this may have changed.

Both IAH and EWR have wine bars now, the IAH one have more and better selections, but the food at the EWR wine bar is better :)

Really? Trying to connect between two extreme points in a concourse at EWR is tough enough for me to do a :rolleyes: ...:-: