Strange connection(s) that are sold
Sep 9, 2014, 10:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,120
Strange connection(s) that are sold
I wonder why Southwest sells DCA-MDW-BOS and IAD-MDW-BOS. Wouldn't Southwest rather want the DC region customer to use it's BWI-BOS? I can't imagine Marc trains and other public transportation and/or driving to BWI being such a trek that connecting in MDW is shorter. If SWA ceased these sales, perhaps it could just lower the IAD-MDW fares to make up for the loss of connection seats with O&D seats. Or, if that hurts DCA-MDW O&D fares with customers flocking back to IAD, perhaps it could offer 1-2x DCA-MSP or something else if there is a surplus of IAD/DCA-MDW seats provided by Southwest.
Are there other sold connections that are strange?
Are there other sold connections that are strange?
Sep 9, 2014, 1:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
I was looking around southwest.com recently for a ticket from RIC-PHX. The least expensive option was this routing:
RIC-MCO-RDU-PHX (MCO-RDU-PHX is a thru flight)
I can drive from my house in Richmond to RDU in about 2 hours 45 minutes. Driving to RDU and taking the nonstop RDU-PHX would shave about 3 hours off the total travel time. For this trip I'll stick with DL or US which offer plenty of one-stop connections from RIC.
RIC-MCO-RDU-PHX (MCO-RDU-PHX is a thru flight)
I can drive from my house in Richmond to RDU in about 2 hours 45 minutes. Driving to RDU and taking the nonstop RDU-PHX would shave about 3 hours off the total travel time. For this trip I'll stick with DL or US which offer plenty of one-stop connections from RIC.
Sep 9, 2014, 2:29 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
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Is it possible in the future they could runa DCA-BOS direct--sure.
As of now they are strained on planes to offer that.
They already have a BWI routes that the people could easily take.
MDW is the is the closest "hib" they could use.
Southwest has gone through and pretty much ended the 3-4 hr driving distance flights.
The used to have SEA and PDX connected with GEG and BOI--they have since dropped that so the only other way to connect is on a flight through OAK
RNO-OAK was dropped so now its RNO-LAS-OAK
As of now they are strained on planes to offer that.
They already have a BWI routes that the people could easily take.
MDW is the is the closest "hib" they could use.
Southwest has gone through and pretty much ended the 3-4 hr driving distance flights.
The used to have SEA and PDX connected with GEG and BOI--they have since dropped that so the only other way to connect is on a flight through OAK
RNO-OAK was dropped so now its RNO-LAS-OAK
Sep 9, 2014, 5:59 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: STL / MCI
Posts: 92
I'm curious how much longer STL-MCI and vice versa will last. I can drive to KC in just over 3 hours. Some of my "direct" flights I've had in the past to DAL, PHX, etc., had me pass through there. I looked at that route, and they even have a STL-MSP-MCI at similar prices as direct non-stop flights!
Last edited by Poker2012chu; Sep 9, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Sep 10, 2014, 10:37 am
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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I remember the days when STL-MCI had something like 20 flights a day between TW and WN. I flew the route semi-often.
It's a market for which I wish there were a few good nonstop trains a day. Not even calling for multi-billion-dollar HSR trains: just a couple regular Amtrak options in the 3:30-4:00 range would be nice.
If WN dumps the route, then there will be no good option between the two cities except driving. At least I-70 is a bit better than it used to be.
It's a market for which I wish there were a few good nonstop trains a day. Not even calling for multi-billion-dollar HSR trains: just a couple regular Amtrak options in the 3:30-4:00 range would be nice.
If WN dumps the route, then there will be no good option between the two cities except driving. At least I-70 is a bit better than it used to be.
Sep 10, 2014, 10:49 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: STL / MCI
Posts: 92
I remember the days when STL-MCI had something like 20 flights a day between TW and WN. I flew the route semi-often.
It's a market for which I wish there were a few good nonstop trains a day. Not even calling for multi-billion-dollar HSR trains: just a couple regular Amtrak options in the 3:30-4:00 range would be nice.
If WN dumps the route, then there will be no good option between the two cities except driving. At least I-70 is a bit better than it used to be.
It's a market for which I wish there were a few good nonstop trains a day. Not even calling for multi-billion-dollar HSR trains: just a couple regular Amtrak options in the 3:30-4:00 range would be nice.
If WN dumps the route, then there will be no good option between the two cities except driving. At least I-70 is a bit better than it used to be.
As for WN dropping that route, it may be a while, if they ever do. When I head out west and have to go through MCI, the STL-MCI leg usually is full with decent O&D numbers; however, the reverse is hit and miss. Both MCI and STL have a considerable number of daily WN flights, so that may have something to do with it keeping the route up. If they drop the direct route, those who want to fly between those cities will probably have to stop in MKE or MSP, much like how OAK-RNO passengers have to pass through LAX or LAS.
Sep 10, 2014, 2:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
Wow, and I thought my SLC-PHX-SEA direct flight was bad.
Oh well, if they sell it and it is a cheap option why not? Although I am only flying this route because I am redeeming points. Revenue flights for me between SEA and SLC will go to Alaska.
Oh well, if they sell it and it is a cheap option why not? Although I am only flying this route because I am redeeming points. Revenue flights for me between SEA and SLC will go to Alaska.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:07 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MCI
Programs: Southwest A-List, AMC Stubs A-List, Chick-fil-A-List
Posts: 399
What's more silly is the MCI-OMA published schedules - all via STL and 3-5 hours for two towns 150 interstate miles apart. I used to get Ding! offers for this route all the time.
Sep 12, 2014, 5:28 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2013
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CMH - BWI - MKE
CMH - MDW - RDU
It is not uncommon for WN to fly you the opposite direction to get you to a larger distribution airport.
CMH - MDW - RDU
It is not uncommon for WN to fly you the opposite direction to get you to a larger distribution airport.
Sep 13, 2014, 11:42 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,120
It offers PHL-MDW-PIT (same state but fly out west to MDW to connect) and started this right when PHL-PIT nonstop ended. It prices the itinery rather competitively (about $160 one-way) and cheaper than a PHL-MDW leg so it's actively seeking some pax to fly it. PHL-PIT nonstop fares on US are very high, so this can be an alternative. United sometimes offers a competitive PHL-IAD-PIT fare but it's hit or miss. That route is all regional jet but less travel time.
Some of the other routes like PIT-BWI-MKE are offered, but I wonder if there are any takers? There is no nonstop between PIT MKE on any carrier, but the Southwest option is a little bizarre. I'd wager most just fly PIT-ORD or maybe MDW and drive, but that just works given that Chicago is not too far from MKE driving wise.
The MDW routings aren't so bizarre on routes like CMH-MDW-RDU, or even CLT-MDW-PHL or RDU-MDW-PHL. I think to me it's more bizarre from IAD and DCA to points like BOS (where MDW makes no logical sense anyways) and where there is also a BWI nonstop is in the same region. But, maybe there aren't any takers so it's all moot.
Last edited by rtalk25; Sep 13, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Sep 16, 2014, 1:43 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
Or sometimes through lesser than Megas. MSY-MKE-TPA to a city in the Northeast though I can't remember which. I haven't seen such a stupid routing in awhile. Maybe common sense is sinking in?
Sep 16, 2014, 6:18 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,412
Some of the other routes like PIT-BWI-MKE are offered, but I wonder if there are any takers? There is no nonstop between PIT MKE on any carrier, but the Southwest option is a little bizarre. I'd wager most just fly PIT-ORD or maybe MDW and drive, but that just works given that Chicago is not too far from MKE driving wise.
Like the PIT-BWI-MKE routing, there is CMH-BWI-MKE routing. That's kind of odd, and probably most just drive and others fly into ORD similarly.
The MDW routings aren't so bizarre on routes like CMH-MDW-RDU, or even CLT-MDW-PHL or RDU-MDW-PHL. I think to me it's more bizarre from IAD and DCA to points like BOS (where MDW makes no logical sense anyways) and where there is also a BWI nonstop is in the same region. But, maybe there aren't any takers so it's all moot.
Like the PIT-BWI-MKE routing, there is CMH-BWI-MKE routing. That's kind of odd, and probably most just drive and others fly into ORD similarly.
The MDW routings aren't so bizarre on routes like CMH-MDW-RDU, or even CLT-MDW-PHL or RDU-MDW-PHL. I think to me it's more bizarre from IAD and DCA to points like BOS (where MDW makes no logical sense anyways) and where there is also a BWI nonstop is in the same region. But, maybe there aren't any takers so it's all moot.