Why is BWI so cheap compared to PHL? Other instances like this?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Formerly at PIT, now planted near MSP.
Programs: No flights since April 2019 (Medical Issues). Lost all my status.
Posts: 1,483
Why is BWI so cheap compared to PHL? Other instances like this?
I need to travel from Pittsburgh to a town west of Philadelphia for two days in April, and then fly to MSP. My destination is 50 miles from PHL and 90 miles from BWI.
The cost on DL for PIT-PHL and then PHL-MSP is $470, while the cost of PIT-BWI and then BWI-MSP is $202.
Any others instances like this around the DL system?
The cost on DL for PIT-PHL and then PHL-MSP is $470, while the cost of PIT-BWI and then BWI-MSP is $202.
Any others instances like this around the DL system?
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,023
PIT-PHL has always been a premium priced route as long as USAirways/AA has monopolized it. There have been times when fares were competitive when other carriers competed on it, but that never lasted very long. Southwest held out the longest in that market, but ultimately they retreated.
What routing are you getting from PIT - BWI? Southwest does that one nonstop, but I didn't think DL did.
What routing are you getting from PIT - BWI? Southwest does that one nonstop, but I didn't think DL did.
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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I need to travel from Pittsburgh to a town west of Philadelphia for two days in April, and then fly to MSP. My destination is 50 miles from PHL and 90 miles from BWI.
The cost on DL for PIT-PHL and then PHL-MSP is $470, while the cost of PIT-BWI and then BWI-MSP is $202.
Any others instances like this around the DL system?
The cost on DL for PIT-PHL and then PHL-MSP is $470, while the cost of PIT-BWI and then BWI-MSP is $202.
Any others instances like this around the DL system?
In addition, BWI is somewhat of a LCC airport.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,645
When, you are making comparisons, as above, are you basing them on SWAs "Wanna Get Away" prices or the "Anytime" prices.
I used to fly a lot out of BWI before SWA came into PHL. Fares (for example, to Houston) were significantly cheaper out of BWI due to the SWA competition. Fares out of PHL then dropped drastically when SWA moved in.
Now, it appears that SWA fares from BWI to HOU are competitive to DL fares from PHL to HOU only if you grab the "Wanna Get Away" fares.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,193
I have not flown Southwest in years, so I have lost calibration on their pricing structure.
When, you are making comparisons, as above, are you basing them on SWAs "Wanna Get Away" prices or the "Anytime" prices.
I used to fly a lot out of BWI before SWA came into PHL. Fares (for example, to Houston) were significantly cheaper out of BWI due to the SWA competition. Fares out of PHL then dropped drastically when SWA moved in.
Now, it appears that SWA fares from BWI to HOU are competitive to DL fares from PHL to HOU only if you grab the "Wanna Get Away" fares.
When, you are making comparisons, as above, are you basing them on SWAs "Wanna Get Away" prices or the "Anytime" prices.
I used to fly a lot out of BWI before SWA came into PHL. Fares (for example, to Houston) were significantly cheaper out of BWI due to the SWA competition. Fares out of PHL then dropped drastically when SWA moved in.
Now, it appears that SWA fares from BWI to HOU are competitive to DL fares from PHL to HOU only if you grab the "Wanna Get Away" fares.
What I said is based purely on DL flights, as this is the DL forum, so I presumed that is what this was discussing (DL pricing to BWI vs. other airports in the area, and as BWI is such an undesirable location, it is much cheaper to fly in and out of than other nearby airports). I mean on F/J fares - in the same fare class - it can easily make $600+ diff.