paule123

Funny you should mention that, I was just looking to book CLE-LAS for a business trip in December and couldn't believe UA has zero nonstops now.

Since I have to depart CLE in the morning, it'll be UA thru ORD or DEN (probably DEN). IAH adds an extra hour to the journey, but winter weather shouldn't be an issue...

On the return LAS-CLE I'm looking at the nonstop redeye on Spirit (in a Big Front Seat or exit row), or Frontier (in a Stretch seat, preferably a mid cabin exit row on their A321 with the unlimited legroom). I've taken both to RSW a handful of times and it's not really that bad. Planes are new and clean. Disclaimer: I've never sat in either airline's standard coach seat which do look rather painful.

KeithVertrees

Anyone know if F9 is discontinuing direct service to AUS? It seems to be off the schedule after today.

guy44134

According to the CLE website, the route is seasonal, although I don't recall them saying that when announced earlier this year:

https://www.clevelandairport.com/austin

50Kthehardway

not to worry

dergon darkhelm

Sidebar: What's the status on the long-term parking? Are the display numbers for open spots still wonky?

paule123

Having CLEAR this past Monday morning was fantastic. (first business day after thanksgiving weekend). I arrived at the checkpoint with a co-worker who has TSA Pre. I breezed right through Clear, and then waited a good 20 minutes for her to make it through.

lincolnjkc

Parking availability has been either 100% wide open or 100% full with very few stops in-between, IME, since they tore down the long-term garage. A while ago I gave up trying to park at the airport unless I'm picking someone up on a Sunday and just use Park Place off Snow

mrmoo

Was on CLE-RSW flight on the 5th, was the second day of the seasonal flight, which the agent announced and said “we’re happy to have it back this season.” Great flight, got upgraded as a gold at T-36ish and due to a tailwind landed about 45 min early.

50Kthehardway

Looks like there is a United flight CLE-LAS on Jan 6. UA2314. Assuming CES related.

mrmoo

Likewise UA2405 LAS-CLE on that Friday (red eye). I always figured the CLE-LAS service would last. It's a popular business and leisure destination and, aside from WN, not served by any reasonable carriers. If CLE-MCO can stick around, why not CLE-LAS?

lincolnjkc

MCO:

• UA has a GSA City Pair contract for CLE-MCO for government travelers (award based on nonstop service)
• You can actually connect to some smaller destinations via Silver
• A fairly consistent family demand for the theme parks and snow birds
• Significant UA MX base to rotate aircraft and parts between
• etc.

LAS

• UA has a GSA City Pair Contract for CLE-LAS based on connecting service
• AFAIK no real connection opportunities that don't have equal/better service from UA hubs
• Traffic tends to be low yielding aside from sporadic trade show demand (and even with tradeshows for a more mundane tradeshow I wonder how many attendees originate CLE... and I've avoided the red-eye in favor of a connection coming back from LAS trade shows)
• UA MX is a limited presence (UA lists Cleveland and Orlando as "major" maintenance locations in addition to the hubs... nothing for LAS)

JimInOhio

I go to LAS two or maybe three times per year for various business reasons. One of the times earlier this year or maybe late 2018, a ticket agent checking me in and tagging my bag mentioned, out of the blue, that they can't believe they no longer have a nonstop flight to CLE. She mentioned they are always checking in quite a few people bound for CLE.

lincolnjkc

One possibility is for lack of a better term, temporal adjacency. It's one thing to have quite a few people to CLE but if you have 100 people a day but 25 of them want to go early morning, 25 noon, 25 afternoon, and 25 late evening combined with the typical nonstop premium it's going to be hard to sell 75 of them "Fly nonstop at midnight and pay 15% more" vs "Fly when you want and lose 45 minutes in a connection" -- and 25 people generally don't make for a profitable flight... [Or maybe I'm just too old and curmudgeony to accept a red eye flight if I don't have to]

And with Frontier offering $100 round trip on a random set of dates in January (8p departure from CLE, 6a arrival back to CLE) it doesn't seem UA is leaving money on the table. Assuming none of that was taxes/government fees that yields $0.0274/per mile. Based on the latest number I could quickly Google UA's domestic yield per RPM is $0.1404 -- or around 5-6 times what CLE-LAS seems to yield. Without significant strategic advantages to offset either end (e.g. no onward connections to sell, business subsiding the route, aircraft/crew/maintenance rotation considerations etc.) I don't think its that surprising.

JimInOhio

I understand what you're saying and the flight time question is a good one. I will say, though, that despite whatever Frontier might be charging on any given day, this UA agent says they're still checking in a lot of people bound for CLE and I know I've never paid less than a several hundred bucks. Now maybe everyone else is paying quite a bit less than me but I kind of doubt that.

Maybe UA and other airlines simply think of LAS as a cheap tourist destination and leave it at that.

mrmoo

That is kind of my thought process. I would think there would be value in the flight. Perhaps not enough to fill a 737, but with ExpressJet operating a base here, maybe an E-175? There is a lot of traffic even with the competition. Interesting that a GA in LAS mentioned it before one in CLE where there would be more nostalgia for the hub days of yore.