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fatlasercat

What happened to the MIA-SFO direct flight? I can't find anything after March 30. Is this always a seasonal flight?

MrGood

As an update for PHL-IAD, rumors from my company's travel geeks indicate that UA will bring it back as a seasonal flight. Fingers crossed! ^

It would only make sense to bring it back. Acela does PHL-DC in ~1:40 & PHL-NYC in ~1:15 (TERRIBLE O&D). Also, in regards to AA's similar short segments in the NE airpace that they refuse to cut, the airline has always been more interested in saturating that airspace with several smaller planes -- aka slot-squatting (intentionally under-using gate slots just for the sake of taking up space and keeping competitors out of the airport). So their LGA-PHL & DCA-PHL flights essentially exist for strategy, not profit.

beyondhere

I wouldn't call American's LGA-PHL and DCA-PHL slot squatting. AA is running about 4x daily currently in the summer and not the high frequency US Airways did in the past. As PHL is AA's TATL gateway, those are the primary links to New York and DC, two large markets with international demand.

For UA, IAD and PHL aren't slotted, so there isn't slot squatting in comparison. UA must have figured (when it cut PHL-IAD) thatt PHL pax traveling anywhere west can use the ORD DEN IAH SFO flights. It also knows Philly/Del Valley/Lehigh valley originating passengers drive or ground transport up to EWR, especially for international.

I suppose UA has to make enough PHL-IAD-international work but it knows PHL pax anyways will drive up to EWR.

Florida is no point, as ULCCs have that covered as the alternative to American's flights. e.g. no need to offer a discount PHL-IAD-MCO ticket. I suppose UA wasn't pulling enough passengers profitably on PHL-IAD-CLT/RDU/ATL to make PHL-IAD worthwhile. I remember seeing a PHL-IAD-PIT flight that was under $150 one-way and 3.5 hrs which is better than driving and lot cheaper than the $400 American was asking for a nonstop. If one is wanting the best, take a nonstop, even if it's on the competitor, AA. If one settles for a connection, UA figures an extra one hour backtrack to ORD isn't that big of a deal. e.g. an PHL-ORD-CLE vs. a PHL-IAD-CLE.

I suppose if it brings it back as a seasonal, it's for the PHL-IAD-Europe itineries in the summer.

MrGood

I would have to agree with many of your points...AA doesn't seem to care about O&D for PHL-DCA (DCA being a high-demand, slot-based airport to boot), so why should UA for PHL-IAD? I still miss connecting through IAD as pax such as myself heavily depended on connecting through there due to the hub being closer, more user-friendly, having better flight options, nicer staff, etc compared to the other hubs. For example, I just got back this weekend connecting thru ORD via Int'l, and that was a complicated nightmare compared to connecting thru IAD. Anyhow, I really think UA's depriving PHL with many connections to both East and West just by cutting the IAD route, and the remaining planes & waitlists for the remaining routes have been saturated because of that in addition to no fleet additions for existing PHL routes. Let's hope the seasonal route moves to becoming a permanent reinstatement. ^

JimInOhio

UA knows where their PHL passengers are going and how much they are paying. I doubt they care to operate a PHL-IAD leg if it's to connect people to MCO for $150. That's a waste of resources so just let them fly AA, Spirit, etc.. OTOH, to get them to FRA, ZRH, MUC, NRT, etc., yes, I'm sure they are interested in providing that link. As I said, only they know how many passengers have been doing that and when.

MBS MillionMiler

PHL has become one of my most frequent destinations (4-5 times a year). I only fly UA. It was a PiTA taking the train up to EWR to get to Florida when I’d do a back-to-back trip. I actually wouldn’t mind routing via IAH for the additional PQMs, but it was often cost prohibitive.

Boofer

I'm surprised it took that long. IND-SFO began in 2014 and has performed well.