another US shuttle DCA-LGA -- WITH A DIFFERENCE!!
Nov 19, 1999 | 5:53 pm
#1
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another US shuttle DCA-LGA -- WITH A DIFFERENCE!!
Okay, this route is *boring* :-) right?
But here is a first...(drum roll please)
it was ON TIME BOTH LEGS!!!!!!!!!!
In the annals of my Shuttle experience this is a FIRST.
The 8:00am was uncrowded, leasurely boarding, an apple and a bagel and drinks were offered.
On time going to LGA on the 727. Perfect cab ride into Manhattan.
Great meetings.
3:30 everything is over, I'm ready to go back to LGA for a 5:00 shuttle back to DCA.
Problem: cab drivers go off duty at 4:00, which means you can't get a cab very easily from 3:30 to 4:30pm, during the beginning of rush hour. Great planning, New York.
A cab dropped someone off and I got in. "Laguardia" I said to the turbanned Sikh driver.
"I am going off duty now, sir," the driver answered.
"What are we who must get to LaGuardia supposed to do?" I asked (nicely.) I was determined to sit in the cab until taken to LaGuardia.
A few moments, and the driver engaged the automatic shift and we were off to LGA.
I have had this problem of catching a cab at 3:30 or 3:45 or 4:00pm in NYC many times. It is frustrating to see hundreds of "off duty" cabs during this time. Why, oh why, do they do this?
Back at the LGA ranch, they have great magazines, all free, that you can take. I love this airport, save a fortune in magazines.
Boarded a nice, new 320 EOW (why use the EOW, I wonder? Doesn't this stand for "extended over water") Once again, though this was the 5:00pm, the middle seat was empty.
If Delta ever gives up competing with US, these flights would be full. This competition reminds me of the 3-engine Lockheed L1011 v. McDonnell Douglas DC10 competition that drove Lockheed out of the commercial business (and bankrupted them) and almost bankrupted McDonnell Douglas. Neither DL nor US will make money in this...
The Airbus is a good deal more comfy than the Boeing product. The extra few inches, perhaps. The taxi was very noisy, strange sounds. In the air, strange noises too. But of course everything was fine and we had a nice flight to Washington.
After many shuttle flights, this is the first on-time round trip I remember.
But here is a first...(drum roll please)
it was ON TIME BOTH LEGS!!!!!!!!!!
In the annals of my Shuttle experience this is a FIRST.
The 8:00am was uncrowded, leasurely boarding, an apple and a bagel and drinks were offered.
On time going to LGA on the 727. Perfect cab ride into Manhattan.
Great meetings.
3:30 everything is over, I'm ready to go back to LGA for a 5:00 shuttle back to DCA.
Problem: cab drivers go off duty at 4:00, which means you can't get a cab very easily from 3:30 to 4:30pm, during the beginning of rush hour. Great planning, New York.
A cab dropped someone off and I got in. "Laguardia" I said to the turbanned Sikh driver.
"I am going off duty now, sir," the driver answered.
"What are we who must get to LaGuardia supposed to do?" I asked (nicely.) I was determined to sit in the cab until taken to LaGuardia.
A few moments, and the driver engaged the automatic shift and we were off to LGA.
I have had this problem of catching a cab at 3:30 or 3:45 or 4:00pm in NYC many times. It is frustrating to see hundreds of "off duty" cabs during this time. Why, oh why, do they do this?
Back at the LGA ranch, they have great magazines, all free, that you can take. I love this airport, save a fortune in magazines.
Boarded a nice, new 320 EOW (why use the EOW, I wonder? Doesn't this stand for "extended over water") Once again, though this was the 5:00pm, the middle seat was empty.
If Delta ever gives up competing with US, these flights would be full. This competition reminds me of the 3-engine Lockheed L1011 v. McDonnell Douglas DC10 competition that drove Lockheed out of the commercial business (and bankrupted them) and almost bankrupted McDonnell Douglas. Neither DL nor US will make money in this...
The Airbus is a good deal more comfy than the Boeing product. The extra few inches, perhaps. The taxi was very noisy, strange sounds. In the air, strange noises too. But of course everything was fine and we had a nice flight to Washington.
After many shuttle flights, this is the first on-time round trip I remember.
Nov 20, 1999 | 4:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: New York City
Posts: 287
I believe that DL and US both make huge money on these routes. Both have been immune from price competition on this route. I believe the walk-up fare now stands at just over $400 r/t.
If DL, UA or AA could get that fare on the SFO-LAX run, you'd see free drinks, more legroom, and nice snacks there too. Californians just won't pay that fare. (I think it stems from the old regulation days. California (and Texas) was one of the few markets where intra-state competition was fierce.
DL tried a "quality" product in the early nineties between SFO and LAX. 20 flights a day, with real snack service in F and Y. The "California Shuttle" product never evolved to the same level as the NE Shuttle. For a while, US, AA, UA, and DL all had 20+ flights on the route. I think AA, then DL, then US finally retreated, leaving UA to drive the service level into the ground (aka Shuttle by United).
With the walk-up fare at $250+ r/t, and AA building up with a traditional product, we may see some service competition yet.
BTW, IMHO that the DL Shuttle is the best airline for service in the US.
If DL, UA or AA could get that fare on the SFO-LAX run, you'd see free drinks, more legroom, and nice snacks there too. Californians just won't pay that fare. (I think it stems from the old regulation days. California (and Texas) was one of the few markets where intra-state competition was fierce.
DL tried a "quality" product in the early nineties between SFO and LAX. 20 flights a day, with real snack service in F and Y. The "California Shuttle" product never evolved to the same level as the NE Shuttle. For a while, US, AA, UA, and DL all had 20+ flights on the route. I think AA, then DL, then US finally retreated, leaving UA to drive the service level into the ground (aka Shuttle by United).
With the walk-up fare at $250+ r/t, and AA building up with a traditional product, we may see some service competition yet.
BTW, IMHO that the DL Shuttle is the best airline for service in the US.
Nov 20, 1999 | 10:35 pm
#3
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Join Date: Sep 1999
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Posts: 40,044
In California it's the intense competition with WN that is driving fares down. If WN flew the NE shuttle route, prices would be a lot different!
I used to take UA's Shuttle from Burbank to SFO because of convenience (they use a gate that is spitting distance from the front door into the terminal, for instance) but WN is cheaper and tends to upwardly limit what UA and AA can charge.
The fresh competition from AA is further
I used to take UA's Shuttle from Burbank to SFO because of convenience (they use a gate that is spitting distance from the front door into the terminal, for instance) but WN is cheaper and tends to upwardly limit what UA and AA can charge.
The fresh competition from AA is further