I'm guessing this particular items is a glitch rather than a sign the flights are being pulled. It's just 12/23 through 12/26 that show "classic-only" availability on MKE-MCO, and return flights MCO-MKE show all three fare types. From 12/27 onward all three fare buckets are available.

Of course that doesn't ensure MKE-MCO won't see changes (though it would be odd for a cut to start 12/23), and the detective method blue used is indeed often a useful one to get early information. It worked on the drop of DEN-LGB a couple of days before it was officially pulled, though it didn't work for MKE-RDU...I checked those on Friday and saw all fares available, and early Sunday morning they were pulled.


For LAX I would not hesitate at all, because (1) you'll be booking a connecting or 1-stop flight anyway, and (2) even if there are schedule changes to your particular flight, Frontier will have several alternate options to get you there.

For MCO, there is a slightly greater risk because if your nonstop flight is pulled, you could find yourself connecting in Denver or being re-routed onto United, American or someone else. There is always this sort of chance no matter who you book, especially when it's several months out. And with fuel prices so high, several airlines (not only Frontier) have signaled that fall cutbacks are coming, so anything on anyone you book for fall could be affected. The difference with Frontier is that they don't have as many alternate options on MKE-MCO as they do on MKE-LAX.

If the fare is good, book now. If there are major schedule changes later, you can get a refund. But, of course, a refund doesn't get you to where you need to go.

At least you know for sure that MKE-MCO will at least have nonstop service on WN/FL. MKE-LAX might have no nonstop service at all.

I only mention this because nonstop service is important to me. There are always connecting opportunities.

Frontier's guest committment says they will book you on another airline if they can't get you to your destination and it's "their fault" (which a schedule change is), but it's not clear to me if that mandates they do this for future schedule changes. I know that Frontier has booked people on United in a similar situation, but I don't know for certain it's what they always will do.

Midwest did not generally do this when they had their major 2008 cutbacks, and just getting a refund did not make some people very happy. If they rebook you on someone else, you're okay. If they just give you a refund, then you have to buy what is available yourself. Of course if you don't buy anything now and just wait, you're booking at whatever is available at a later date anyway.


That's definitely important to recognize if nonstop service is key to you. To LAX there's a definite danger that nobody will fly it nonstop this fall...the last time oil was so high in 2008, both Midwest and AirTran pulled their west coast nonstops come September. Orlando is a better bet that at least AirTran will have a nonstop.

Note that for the foreseeable future, Southwest and AirTran are operating separately and have stated they will not cross-book even though they have common ownership. In my opinion, AirTran is a safer book for Orlando because they have the larger share and have Atlanta. If Southwest pulls their single nonstop for the off-peak fall, they won't book you on anyone else including AirTran. To LAX, if AirTran pulls nonstops then you'll have to go via Atlanta, because they won't book on anyone else either, including AirTran.

I was surprised that they are so firm on the no-intermixing between FL and WN, even in schedule change and irregular ops situations. But I read it on the WN site just this morning.

During irregular operations, can Customers be rebooked between Southwest and AirTran?
No. Policy changes will not be immediate. Each airline will utilize existing rebooking procedures. Customers should contact the airline on which travel was purchased for reaccommodation assistance.

Probably due to the technology problems on WN's end. I'm very curious to see how they handle the reservation system combination.

I'm upset they can't make MKE-RDU work, I believe this is the second iteration of this flight (first time was on the CRJ). Hopefully I can fly this before it goes.

Third.. 1st was Midwest Express.. 2nd was Midwest.. 3rd was Midwest/Frontier..

IMO, MCI and/or DEN would be better primary with MKE as the 2ndary..

Yes, unfortunately, it was very extremely disappointment the news to hear. You will have wait for reduced the fuel prices. Hopefully, if F9/YX will resume service MKE-RDU/LAX/SFO/PIE in the future. If the fuel prices is gone down.

This is still the case with United and Continental too (at least on a frequent flyer ticket) as I recently experienced a 2-day delay in AVL. Frustrating beyond belief!

Oil prices are falling. Will we see any service restorations?

Probably not.

Of the cuts we've seen....almost certainly not in 2011. The only possible exception is if they restart some Milwaukee-Tampa Bay service in winter. But I can't imagine any scenario in the next 8+ months that puts Frontier back into MKE-LAX/SFO/RDU.

If fuel prices continue to drop, what it may do is shield us from some planned cuts for fall. Some fall cuts in the Frontier system are virtually certain because of the quickened pace of E170 removals. But other possible fall cuts are simply based on high oil and demand concerns. Cheaper oil can help that.

Obviously just a day or two of dropping oil prices don't put a new complexion on the world. But every buck that oil goes down saves a bunch of money, and this coming fall/winter may look a lot different if the branded operation is solidly profitable this summer, versus marginally break even this summer, versus swimming in red in this summer.

Agreed. If oil prices continue to moderate, this should allow Republic to avoid some additional cuts that likely would have occurred this fall. It may also give them more time to see what Southwest/AirTran plan on doing with MKE.

As for SFO/LAX flights, I could see Frontier restoring service if AirTran scales back flights. However, I'm not optimistic this will happen in the coming months outside of perhaps the peak holiday travel periods in November and December. Even then, flights likely wouldn't operate daily.

While dropping oil prices are something to cheer, all airlines are going to have to find ways to deal with the reality that as the global economy recovers and demand increases (especially from emerging countries) fuel prices are likely to surge again. In Frontier's case, it will help a great deal if they can continue to grow and diversify the route network while obtaining some relieve from fare pressure in MKE.

I didn't think about the holidays, but it's possible (regardless of WN/FL) that they squeeze in a handful or two of flights over that peak. But other than that, even if WN/FL cuts way back on MKE and fuel prices siide, the tight fleet makes it very difficult for them to restore until the dead of winter, which is the wrong time.

Of course it's good to remember those are optimistic scenarios...especially if fuel doesn't drop much further, there are probably more cuts coming.

Journal Sentinel picks up on the story:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/121402303.html

Better late than never.

After Wednesday's small story on the loss, I was wondering when the cutbacks would get some coverage.