Changes in PHX
 

When CO/UA begin cross implementation in 2011, does anyone know what, if any, changes will happen at PHX? I guess the question is when I fly through IAH (like I do for every flight) will I always continue to be a 738/9? I honestly can't remember the last time I was on anything else but, period (with the exception of course to lhr). It would be nice to get a different bird once in a while. That is probably the one thing (if not only lol) thing I miss about DL...I was on 75s, 76's, MD88's, all the time...

No one knows. Because CO and UA are already in the same terminal and there is only an RCC in that terminal, I would imagine physical changes in PHX will be minimal. As far as fleet integration, there have been some hints as to what might happen between hubs and whatnot, but no mention of PHX yet. It may be six months to a year before any of that comes out.

If you're already getting 738/9s I'd be careful about asking for other planes. Last flight I had PHX-IAH was on an ERJ-145. I definitely wouldn't expect widebodies to start showing up there from the combined carrier. Maybe some A320s or 75s in domestic config, but it is way too early to know for sure.

It can happen at any time, but you're more likely to encounter equipment of the carriers' legacy through that carriers' hub.

Looking at the DL/NW merger, to this day we are still seeing a tendency for legacy NW Airbus equipment via DTW/MSP/MEM and legacy DL planes through the DL hubs. Not to say they don't mix it up, they do, but the likelihood of seeing the planes still somewhat mimics the legacy hub structure.

The reason for that is crews and maintenance. There aren't that many Airbus pilots in ATL, for example, and there are more in MSP or DTW. Same with maintenance, while they can fix any plane anywhere, they're more able to maintain the legacy NW plane types through the NW hubs, and the legacy DL plane types through the DL hubs.

CO and UA have similar issues. UA SFO maintenance has less experience with NG737s. Just like CO IAH maintenance has less experience with the Airbus equipment. That's not to say they aren't trainable/certifiable/etc. They certainly are. But scheduling a bunch of Airbii through IAH could pose more challenges, just like scheduling a bunch of 739s through SFO could as well.

Imagine a SFO weather delay day (winter is coming) with massively delayed crews. UA has Airbus and 757/767 crews hanging around on reserve and can shift those folks around to accommodate tomorrow's schedules vs. taking crew delays. It wouldn't be wise to send in too many NG737s, otherwise they could face delays with the next day's schedule. The reverse goes for IAH in the summer. We wouldn't want a bunch of delayed Airbus in there, because they don't have as good contingency for that.

Careful what you wish for right? :eek:

Other than an COEX ERJ-145, I don't think I've seen anything other than a CO 737 at T2, period!

CO has been flying the 752 seasonally in the spring/early summer for years when business travel is a high. I flew a 752 to EWR in June.

You also see them occasionally in the winter when the snowbirds are fleeing New England.

In addition, at PHX, let's hope that the new UA keeps all of its frequencies and/or expands. The old UA was getting noticably smaller over the past 2 years or so!

To be more specific, CO has been flying a 752 to PHX every morning for the last few months, inbound as CO220 IAH-PHX, turning to CO1434 PHX-EWR.

I've taken both flights on several occasions, and it is quite nice to have the 752 (with flats on a regular basis) on the PHX-EWR route. It appears that this turn will remain through the end of the current schedule, and probably beyond.

I hope CO/UA remain at T2 post-merger. It's very convenient, has a large security checkpoint for the volume of traffic handled there, and the RCC is a nice little lounge. Sure beats the hustle-and-bustle of T4.

What time does that 752 head back to IAH? I'd like to get on it sometime.

Totally accurate about T2. I love it. I can't stand T4. At T2 you can park right across the street at the parking deck top level for $11/day (was $8 until recently but still a hell of a value).

Ay, there's the rub. The inbound 752 (CO220) from IAH actually goes out to EWR as CO1434. So, there's no '57 on either EWR-PHX or PHX-IAH at the moment.

Earlier this year UA was flying a lot of 757s to PHX from DEN, ORD, and IAD. Now it seems everything is either an A319 or A320 and there are a lot more RJs to DEN than I can ever remember.