United 2019 Domestic Network Changes -- 22 new routes, some reductions/deletions
Oct 17, 2018, 5:10 pm
#91
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
As a PHL flyer, this is bad news. And a year ago we were celebrating them upgrading this route to larger planes.
Although taking Amtrak to EWR isn't that bad, flying to IAD was nice, especially because I could go over to the TK and LH lounges. :-) Plus I just hate to see UA cutting back service at PHL
Although taking Amtrak to EWR isn't that bad, flying to IAD was nice, especially because I could go over to the TK and LH lounges. :-) Plus I just hate to see UA cutting back service at PHL
Oct 17, 2018, 7:15 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: UA Plat, 2MM
Posts: 1,860
Is taking the train to EWR really that bad? I've done it and it was fine. There are four flights from PHL to IAD right now and probably only two of them are useful for INTL connections. By contrast, Amtrak has 10 northbound trains that stop at EWR (all available from Wilmington, 30th Street, or Trenton)
I roll my eyes when people say, "just go to Newark".
Oct 17, 2018, 7:21 pm
#93
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: NA
Posts: 31
Seems SFO-MSN is doing quite well. But why it does not use mainline airplanes instead as E7W (only used 320 once on 30/8) which is easy to be full...(Although I don't want E7W to leave this route which is way more comfortable than mainline jets)
LAX can try using mainline airplanes like 319 to see whether it works
LAX can try using mainline airplanes like 319 to see whether it works
Oct 17, 2018, 7:43 pm
#94
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
PHL is an AA hub. While not every flight and route is duplicated, where is it you want to be that you are willing to connect when you could have a nonstop?
UA also interlines with Amtrak on the route. In fact, 30th Street Station even has an IATA code.
The bottom line is that UA is routinely forced to cut its traffic flow in the NE and micro-hauls such as IAD-PHL will increasingly be the first to be cancelled or substantially delayed.
UA also interlines with Amtrak on the route. In fact, 30th Street Station even has an IATA code.
The bottom line is that UA is routinely forced to cut its traffic flow in the NE and micro-hauls such as IAD-PHL will increasingly be the first to be cancelled or substantially delayed.
Oct 17, 2018, 7:58 pm
#95
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,134
Is taking the train to EWR really that bad? I've done it and it was fine. There are four flights from PHL to IAD right now and probably only two of them are useful for INTL connections. By contrast, Amtrak has 10 northbound trains that stop at EWR (all available from Wilmington, 30th Street, or Trenton)
LAX
Oct 17, 2018, 8:33 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
I will really miss this. PHL flights were often much cheaper than EWR, and the extra PQMs routing via IAD were nice. And yes, the TK lounge. I'd often fly LAX-IAD-PHL on the overnight, and use the TK showers.
Oct 17, 2018, 9:30 pm
#97
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 503
PHL is an AA hub. While not every flight and route is duplicated, where is it you want to be that you are willing to connect when you could have a nonstop?
UA also interlines with Amtrak on the route. In fact, 30th Street Station even has an IATA code.
The bottom line is that UA is routinely forced to cut its traffic flow in the NE and micro-hauls such as IAD-PHL will increasingly be the first to be cancelled or substantially delayed.
UA also interlines with Amtrak on the route. In fact, 30th Street Station even has an IATA code.
The bottom line is that UA is routinely forced to cut its traffic flow in the NE and micro-hauls such as IAD-PHL will increasingly be the first to be cancelled or substantially delayed.
Oct 18, 2018, 6:43 am
#98
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,118
When you say it was "fine" did you do it alone with carry on? Or did you have two or more other people with luggage to drag to the train and then Air Tran? Did you ever do it with children and a stroller and luggage? Did you ever have to wait two hours because Amtrak had so few trains on a Saturday night in the Amtrak station? I do not believe EWR has any kind of food court outside security either. I did the EWR-ZFV two weeks ago. UA had not issued the Amtrak ticket correctly, I spent 35 minutes on the phone and wound up buying a new Amtrak ticket at full price because Amtrak and UNITED do not always work well together.
I roll my eyes when people say, "just go to Newark".
I roll my eyes when people say, "just go to Newark".
But when it comes to multiple children, luggage, strollers, etc., a connection through IAD means an outdoor A gate with the associated stairs, going down the A concourse, getting on the elevator, getting on the lunar rover and hustling down the dreadful C/D concourse. That's not a walk in the park, either, with a family. I agree the lack of checked luggage on Amtrak can be a pain when you have little ones... no doubt.
All of that can be a lot to endure considering AA can probably get you most anywhere without a connection.
Oct 18, 2018, 9:03 am
#99
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
Obviously, those of use that fly UA out of PHL haven chosen this airline for various reasons as otherwise AA would generally have better connections and more direct flights, but losing IAD means flying to cities in the southeast (MCO, FLL, ATL, RDU.....) now becomes highly impractical with UA. Mostly likely we are now looking at an ORD connection.
Oct 18, 2018, 9:10 am
#100
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
Oct 19, 2018, 9:23 am
#103
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
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Posts: 2,401
Oct 19, 2018, 5:01 pm
#104
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 1,032
This will be bad. Even worse will be something akin to JFK: "We have decided to move all our PHL operation to ZFV, where you will have a countless connection to EWR and onto anywhere in the world (and a lounge - Club Acela - to boot!)."
Oct 20, 2018, 1:21 pm
#105
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I wonder if they would move the bust of Ben Franklin to Club Acela in the event they close the UC at PHL? It really should be conserved somewhere.