Any plans to rebuild the UA concourse (C and D gates & UX terminal) at IAD / Dulles?
#61
Join Date: May 2007
Location: variously: PVG, SFO, LHR
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Some summers the flight was offered, some not, and usually only for a few months. Sure was nice to take it when it existed (and then the fun ride on the EMB-120 to PDX), but it was usually an unexpected treat at best...
#62
Used to be 'IAD22066'
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K AA
Posts: 282
Ireland would be nice. But that won't happen until all Nancy Pelosi and the rest of Congress are given direct flights to their home Districts. (Nancy probably uses direct flights via private jet.) It was a big deal when Senator McCain managed to get a direct DCA->PHX flight. DCA->SFO would be really nice.
#63
Join Date: May 2007
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Ireland would be nice. But that won't happen until all Nancy Pelosi and the rest of Congress are given direct flights to their home Districts. (Nancy probably uses direct flights via private jet.) It was a big deal when Senator McCain managed to get a direct DCA->PHX flight. DCA->SFO would be really nice.
Anyway, the Nancy Pelosi/private jet thing is mostly not true: http://www.snopes.com/politics/pelosi/jet.asp
(The speaker of the house gets a private jet, as ordered by GWB. Nancy Pelosi has long since not been the SotH).
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
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which one you love?lhr, cdg, jfk, ord, fra, mow,even muc and dfw are turning into a monster. big airports are a big pain, and big hubs do not work to creature comfort.
#65
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
I think this is wishful thinking. The only countries that currently have preclearance are Canada, Ireland, and a few Caribbean islands.
#66
Join Date: May 2013
Location: DC
Posts: 255
With VX and AS getting slots outside the perimeter most major West Coast cities have at least one direct DCA flight (SAN, LAX, SFO, PDX, SEA). This may be directly due to Congressional lobbying, but I won't complain when it saves those of us in the District a trip out to Dulles!
#67
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, B6 Mosaic, UA Platinum, others
Posts: 1,270
Loudoun and Fairfax counties have the first and second highest median household income in the US, and approximately 1.5 million people (1.11 FFX, 0.34 Loudoun = 1.45MM). In addition, they have a number of major employers in government and government-related industries with a Fly American mandate and a need for international travel.
Is DCA a threat? Yes and no -- true international routes seem wildly unlikely due to size, security, and positioning. EWR is already pushing its maximum throughput, hence major delays every time it rains. It's clear expansion needs to come somewhere else, and for United, that place is likely to be IAD.
Traffic figures from 2012 don't show a meaningful decline. A few random routes here and there aren't really indicative. Given a global reduction in United's capacity, IAD has held up quite well. I don't think there's a story about United pulling out of IAD here.
But, for the love of god, somebody needs to fix concourses C and D. Going through B and the part of A which isn't the RJs is quite nice -- great lounges, good shopping, the only Chipotle in an airport I know about... but there's no United. Virgin, JetBlue, Delta, and American have an experience head and shoulders above United.
Something needs to be fixed.
Is DCA a threat? Yes and no -- true international routes seem wildly unlikely due to size, security, and positioning. EWR is already pushing its maximum throughput, hence major delays every time it rains. It's clear expansion needs to come somewhere else, and for United, that place is likely to be IAD.
Traffic figures from 2012 don't show a meaningful decline. A few random routes here and there aren't really indicative. Given a global reduction in United's capacity, IAD has held up quite well. I don't think there's a story about United pulling out of IAD here.
But, for the love of god, somebody needs to fix concourses C and D. Going through B and the part of A which isn't the RJs is quite nice -- great lounges, good shopping, the only Chipotle in an airport I know about... but there's no United. Virgin, JetBlue, Delta, and American have an experience head and shoulders above United.
Something needs to be fixed.
#68
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
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At DCA, US has a huge market share, and AA's share is in itself pretty large. Unless you hold one of the scarce beyond-perimeter slots, the only way to get your customers between Washington DC (DCA or IAD) and the west coast is from IAD, and IAD-SFO isn't all that off-the-wall for new AA.
Now that new AA will have substantially lower costs than UA (even after Parker's promised raises to everyone), Parker should look at the growth opportunities for a few new long-hauls from IAD. If US has a large loyal following in the DC metro area, and new AA is able to hang onto many of them (or intends to), then some well-timed-for-business transcons from IAD to SEA, SFO and SAN look like naturals. I could easily see three daily 738s between IAD and each of them.
AA spent 2012 chipping away at UA, and some growth at both SFO and IAD would continue that momentum.
#69
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I have previously speculated that Parker would be foolish if he ignored the growth potential at IAD once he takes over AA.
At DCA, US has a huge market share, and AA's share is in itself pretty large. Unless you hold one of the scarce beyond-perimeter slots, the only way to get your customers between Washington DC (DCA or IAD) and the west coast is from IAD, and IAD-SFO isn't all that off-the-wall for new AA.
At DCA, US has a huge market share, and AA's share is in itself pretty large. Unless you hold one of the scarce beyond-perimeter slots, the only way to get your customers between Washington DC (DCA or IAD) and the west coast is from IAD, and IAD-SFO isn't all that off-the-wall for new AA.
#70
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Indeed, the remedy is likely to be that "+AA's share" becomes someone else's share.
#71
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
UA's terminals at IAD are the worst arm pit of an experience as I have had at any location with United. Nothing comes close to being as bad as IAD.
However, IAD does have one HUGE thing going for it. LH Lounge. That is why I continue to look for an excuse to transfer there!!!!
However, IAD does have one HUGE thing going for it. LH Lounge. That is why I continue to look for an excuse to transfer there!!!!
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
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As I posted above, AA spent 2012 taking business away from UA. If that trend continues, new AA might see the benefits of expansion at IAD/SFO/etc.
#74
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
I hope not. I don't want to lose the Senator lounge for sharing some junky United lounge facilities where you need a chit just to get a drink, and the only food is a packet of peanuts.
#75
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Senator lounge food is nothing worth visiting in my view - not worth the calories - but it is better than the salty snacks from the United Club.