Nice While It Lasted -- Now What?
 

By Oct. it appears that all CO flights between MSP & the CO hubs (IAH/EWR/CLE) will be downgraded to E145s. Work Hard, Fly Right? Meals at Mealtime? Fuggedaboudit.

Sorry guys, but this isn't what we signed on for. I fully expected upgrades to be competitive on Continental, but I definitely expected to be able to compete for them.

Scratch that plan to spring for a PC membership around 10/24 when we lost WC reciprocity. At this point it's unlikely we'll be flying CO on anything other than dirt cheap international fares in the off season. I hate E145s even more than CRJs, but I'll tolerate either to get to Europe for ~$400; otherwise I've learned to avoid either like the plague.

At this point we've no plans to change (at least not until we see how the move to *A plays out) but will focus our travel on WN and will consider all reasonable alternative when WN won't do the job.

At the same time, I really have to wonder what CO is thinking. NW is in deep in the process of "Deltifying" its elite program, and NW elites are getting screwed left & right. Read this for a look at the differences from the NW point of view. CO & AA have been the leading alternatives to the Deltified NW. With this move CO has probably shot itself in the foot in terms of attracting many more disenchanted NW elites from MSP.

I'd venture a guess that load factors on the MSP routes have been poor enough that they made the purely financial decision to no longer fly mainline aircraft. And it's likely that there aren't enough FTers or people irritated with DL/NW that have made the change to CO thus far to warrant putting mainline aircraft on the routes.

It's also likely that you're the exception -- the CO flyer out of MSP. While people may be disappointed in the Deltafication of NW, they didn't necessarily move on.

This is very common for CO flying into 'other people's hubs'....unless the city is very big. Might want to check out AA/UA to Chicago options

I have been the CO flyer in ATL and have long sensed realized that I have to force routings on CO. Either I end up driving (ATL-BHM, CHA) or taking a positioning flight on DL (ATL-FLL, MIA, PHL, TPA)

In ATL CO is straight not competitive with DL until I get a destination west of Houston or North of New York, so the system can justify the connection. If I was CO I wouldn't care about MSP either, until you get southeast of CLE or maybe TATL out of NY.

This is likely part of the withdrawal from SkyTeam. I think Delta is doing the same thing, as someone in the Delta forum reported ATL-IAH going to Delta Connection flying.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12018967-post181.html

I actually prefer the 145 to a CRJ when I can get on the single seat side.

David

Between Labor Day and the end of the year CO is parking a good number of older 737's. There will be a "shortage" of mainline aircraft until next summer, by which time 739 and 753 deliveries will have pretty much made up the loss. Meanwhile, ERJ's are filling the gap. Of course, the new deliveries may not go onto the old routes, but the shortage is a fact of life for CO fliers.

CO has learned to live with and love these recurring shortages. Remember Bethune's comment about no airline ever going bankrupt because their airplanes were too small? Kellner and Co. believe it.

It is a rare day in May when I see more than 2-3 empty seats on any of the Kenjets that I have been on in the last several months. Since most of the flights I am on are less than 2 hours, my preference is frequency over size, it it gives me more flexibility in my schedule. I find that the exit row seat is good on the legs and two or three blankets on the seat takes care of the cushioning.

In truth, there is really very little option on plane size out of CLE for the most part. C'est la vie.

I'd guess that after the CO/NW partnership officially dissolves CO would take a fresh look at what types of aircraft to use to MSP. As it stands now, I as a OnePass elite would prefer to take NW -- upgrades are easier, the schedule has always been more frequent and I need to be on NW to get into the lounge with my Amex Platinum card since there is no PC. NW ceases to be a good option for me come November, and others are probably in the same boat. Thus it may make sense for CO to bring back mainline service to MSP later this year.

ok was very disapointed to read this thread,as I really dislike flying on the ERJ
however my sabre system still shows MSP-IAH has 2 mainline flights ( CO 1017 and CO 1517 ) through 2010

MSP-CLE has always been ERJ service

MSP-EWR is still operating 2 mainline flights (CO171 and CO 271)

So I dont see any changes

None of them showed up in a search on my most likely travel days (out Sat, back Mon) on continental.com for a typical late Oct. weekend.

mersk682 has a similar issue w/ a reward trip already booked & downgraded to E145s w/ no mainline options.

And WN for all practical purposes hasn't lost any money flying 737s.

The MSP metro area has about 700,000 more people than the Denver metro area (Link) yet Denver is served by CO to the tune of about 11 mainline flights a day (including 752s and 753s). Denver has UA and F9 hubs, and a growing WN infestation. Interesting. May be due to the long history CO has in Denver.

I think that has something to do with it. Also MSP has quite a few other hubs in its area to choose from. Close choices of other hubs from DEN seem to be more limited.

It does look like some mainline returns in November though - 2 737s each to IAH/EWR, so it could just be a temporary downgrade. Still, for a MSP-based traveler, the mainline schedules aren't great - a 1055a (735) and 640p (733) to EWR, 952a (735) and 254p (733) to IAH. Schedules are much more geared toward people coming to MSP than MSP-based flyers in terms of mainline equipment.

As MikeMpls mentioned, it's an opportunity for CO to poach some NW elites that aren't too pleased with Deltaification. But given a first mainline departure at 952a, with the first few departures on ERJs, probably won't appeal to many NW people.

While mainline is preferred, I would take a E145 before a CRJ 200 anyday.....