DCA/MSN Nonstop Done as of February 1st?
Jan 6, 2012, 11:39 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2005
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If your initials aren't ATL, LGA, JFK and to a lesser degree DTW and SLC you don't matter; you're not part of the masterplan 
Jan 6, 2012, 11:53 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Austin, TX
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Does this surprise ANYONE!!? They cut DCA-BOS and the slots that were given to US required the cutting of flights. DCA will become a to-hub focus city with a few extra 'spokes'. This is the model DL seems to use on a regular basis with major cities (look at MCO for example).
Jan 6, 2012, 12:39 pm
#35
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It should be about providing a Skyteam presence. If DL is not willing to entertain BOS-DCA, it may imply that many people will be forced to switch from Skyteam to e.g. Star.
Suppose your travel is DCA-BOS and IAD-AMS. Before the change, your alliance could have been Skyteam or Star. After the change, only Star is a real option. Now, not only did DL loose a customer DCA-BOS, but it also lost a customer IAD-AMS.
Suppose your travel is DCA-BOS and IAD-AMS. Before the change, your alliance could have been Skyteam or Star. After the change, only Star is a real option. Now, not only did DL loose a customer DCA-BOS, but it also lost a customer IAD-AMS.
The reality is that DL can't serve every possible customer on every possible route. Ditto for UA, US, AA, B6, WN, or anyone else. Just as someone who flies DCA-BOS and IAD-AMS may now be inclined to switch to a different alliance, someone that flies BOS-AMS and BOS-ATL would have a lot of incentive to fly DL, rather than US, UA, or any other *A carrier. Does that mean UA needs to launch frequent flights on BOS-ATL and begin TATL service on BOS-AMS/CDG/LHR simply so that they don't lose customers to DL/SkyTeam? DL has a business to run. That business is making money. It is not about having a lot of red lines on a route map.
DL is doubling down on NYC. Frankly, I think that is the right move. Others may disagree, but when the alternative was to still lag *A in DC-area departures AND be limited by capacity constraints in NYC, I think DL made the right choice.
Jan 6, 2012, 7:47 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Miles&more, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 536
I just hope DL would pick up LGA-ITH..... I know it doesn't matter for most, but that makes me to be able to connect through LGA to BOS and other new england locations rather than doing the none-sense routing through DTW (by the way ITH-DTW-BOS isn't even a valid routing on DL).
Jan 7, 2012, 12:50 am
#37
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
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I have to assume that doubling down on NYC is in the best interest of DL. Notwithstanding, I'm still somewhat displeased with the loss of BOS-DCA.
It also just appears to me how weak AA has become, considering the now-starting expansion of DL at LGA. Perhaps not the right forum to discuss this, but what exactly DOES AA has left? DFW?? lol
AA even lost part of LHR to DL with the new BOS-LHR and MIA-LHR flights.
It also just appears to me how weak AA has become, considering the now-starting expansion of DL at LGA. Perhaps not the right forum to discuss this, but what exactly DOES AA has left? DFW?? lol
AA even lost part of LHR to DL with the new BOS-LHR and MIA-LHR flights.
Jan 7, 2012, 9:31 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Jan 7, 2012, 10:54 pm
#40
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Delta, you sons of *****es, that effects me tons! I did DCA-BOS 16x total last year and 12 of the flights were on Delta last year.
The connection to DTW/LGA is going to be annoying but awesome from the additional MQMs aspect but still! Guess I'll just have to fly United out of IAD on that route. I can't commit to USless Airways and Jetblue's(B6) frequent flier program isn't so rewarding, in fact it SUCKS!
The connection to DTW/LGA is going to be annoying but awesome from the additional MQMs aspect but still! Guess I'll just have to fly United out of IAD on that route. I can't commit to USless Airways and Jetblue's(B6) frequent flier program isn't so rewarding, in fact it SUCKS!
Jan 8, 2012, 12:02 am
#41
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Location: BOS
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I think the FF program of B6 is pretty decent. Besides, you can credit the B6 flights to AA if you want to.
I checked fares BOS-DTW/LGA-DCA and they are DOUBLE what the competition charges for BOS-DCA direct. Not to mention that adding a layover will double the travel time as well.
I checked fares BOS-DTW/LGA-DCA and they are DOUBLE what the competition charges for BOS-DCA direct. Not to mention that adding a layover will double the travel time as well.
Jan 8, 2012, 7:53 am
#42
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Firstly, as regards the thread topic, I have no doubt that MSN<->DCA was profitable, if not highly profitable. The profitablilty of one route in particular has to be weighed aginst the opportunity gained to Delta by pursuing greater monopolistic concentration and hence pricing power in the highly profitable New York/LGA market. The LGA strategy was no doubt a high-level executive decision and MSN is a pawn.
In a similiar vein, I'm sure that a few of the small midwest cities that Delta cancelled were profitable, if not highly profitable. They just did not fit with some Atlanta MBA suit's macro worldview to get rid of the Saabs and to get rid of Mesaba.
Secondly, BOS<-DCA is less clear. B6 no doubt killed yields on this route. The good news is that those affected by Delta's dropping of this route at least have several nonstop alternatives. You don't fit in with Delta masterplan.
In a similiar vein, I'm sure that a few of the small midwest cities that Delta cancelled were profitable, if not highly profitable. They just did not fit with some Atlanta MBA suit's macro worldview to get rid of the Saabs and to get rid of Mesaba.
Secondly, BOS<-DCA is less clear. B6 no doubt killed yields on this route. The good news is that those affected by Delta's dropping of this route at least have several nonstop alternatives. You don't fit in with Delta masterplan.
Jan 8, 2012, 7:58 am
#43
Join Date: Jul 2005
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The connection to DTW/LGA is going to be annoying but awesome from the additional MQMs aspect but still! Guess I'll just have to fly United out of IAD on that route. I can't commit to USless Airways and Jetblue's(B6) frequent flier program isn't so rewarding, in fact it SUCKS!
Jan 8, 2012, 1:22 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Pit xlga stl ?!
Sadists feeding those masochists. Extra miles, though.
Jan 8, 2012, 1:41 pm
#45
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