Effect of 2018 ORD and AA ORD expansion plans on UA flyers?
#31
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: United 100K, Etihad Gold, Marriot Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 578
I would love it if ORD added a connector train to either the Brown Line or to the Far North of the Red Line. Right now you have to go downtown then back out to get to Ohare. From where I live its a good 90 minutes.
#32
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
There have been various long range plans to run the Brown Line west along Lawrence to Jefferson Park, meeting up with the Blue Line there. I'm not sure how much that would help the far north side/Evanston though as you'd still have to go down to Belmont before heading NW.
#33
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
Chicago Tribune is reporting that AA now claims they never agreed to the plan and that a 'secret' deal was hatched between the City of Chicago and United to increase fees levied on carriers (which in turn would be used to back the bonds issued to pay for the expansion) without AA consent. More details to follow soon.
#34
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,751
pretty significant news broke at the end of business today. AA withdrew their support for the ORD expansion plan because they claim that UA and the mayor's office snuck a "secret provision" into the deal at the last minute that gave UA additional gates (IIRC, AA claims this figure is five gates).
the mayor says he'll go forward with the plan, with or without AA's support.
Emanuel vows to push ahead on $8.5B O'Hare expansion as American Airlines decries 'secret deal' - Chicago Tribune
all in all, not a great week for UA's rivals politically thus far. DL's relationship with georgia's state government isn't exactly peachy, and now this news about AA from ORD.
the mayor says he'll go forward with the plan, with or without AA's support.
Emanuel vows to push ahead on $8.5B O'Hare expansion as American Airlines decries 'secret deal' - Chicago Tribune
all in all, not a great week for UA's rivals politically thus far. DL's relationship with georgia's state government isn't exactly peachy, and now this news about AA from ORD.
#36
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
TBH I think the City needs this. Expansion would vastly expand use of ORD as an international hub for both passengers and cargo. The plan that Rahm's administration has chosen was deemed the most plausible by many experts. Given the location of the two proposed 'satellite' concourses, it's been obvious all along that UA would be getting a disproportionate share of the new gates. My guess is AA is simply trying to leverage an additional concession or two from the City and isn't actually against the plan.
#37
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,768
Ravenswood is booming and this would make it easier to get to any part of the north side south of Lawrence, but it will cost billions to tunnel under Lawrence (no way they're going to build new el through residential neighborhoods).
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
Chicago Tribune is reporting that AA now claims they never agreed to the plan and that a 'secret' deal was hatched between the City of Chicago and United to increase fees levied on carriers (which in turn would be used to back the bonds issued to pay for the expansion) without AA consent. More details to follow soon.
Meanwhile, on the version of this thread on the AA board, there are calls for AA to pull out and leAAve ORD to UA and the LCCs. They want AA to move back to St. Louis, which doesn't seem like a sound business plan to me. Wouldn't UA only benefit if for some unlikely reason AA did walk out? AA (& UA) negotiating move to new ORD “Global” terminal > 2024
As someone who lives in Chicago I have many colleagues who chose AA over UA, and I've certainly gone back and forth many times before *alliance won my business and this brings in UA by default.
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,863
id think AA is just too big at ORD to want to lose it all over 3 gates.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 16,900
8 billion isn’t what it once was. And this is Chicago. The final bill will be twice that if not more, once you factor in graft and corruption. Everyone has their hand out.
#43
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
Chicago just wrapped up a $225 million project to renovate one single-platform neighborhood train station (Wilson Red)... Billions to completely reconstruct O'hare? Drop in the bucket. The schools alone cost $6 billion a year
#44
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: United Premier Gold , Marriott Gold
Posts: 99
Blue Line to Lawrence or Montrose pick up an easy bus connection straight down either street is an time saving alternative today then heading all the way downtown.
#45
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz/ord
Programs: AC E50 UA1k 2MM AA EXP Royal Ambassador SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,516