Flying Machine

Often1

AA is unlikely to add IAD-PHL as there is likely close to zero O&D traffic and it is hard to see driving to IAD to catch a micro-haul. AA also won't likely add DCA-PHL because DCA is slot-controlled and that would mean giving up some other frequencies which I find hard to imagine.

rittenhousesq

There has already been extensive discussion on this subject in another thread: United 2019 Domestic Network Changes -- 22 new routes, some reductions/deletions but I think this is a really poor decision on UA's part. They are basically saying that if you are a PHL based flyer, the Southeast part of the US is no longer accessible via UA and using IAD as a European gateway is also no longer possible.

jasondc

Do you mean AA wont add MORE DCA-PHL? They already fly DCA-PHL 4 times a day.

Often1

Right. To add a rotation to anywhere, AA must use a slot. Whether DCA on an ERJ or MIA on a 757, it is using the slot.

The larger problem is that those are the first frequencies cancelled or delayed during inevitable ATC limits everytime it rains or there is a gust of wind between RIC and BOS.

hokiebuy

Fare profile was normal before summer 2018 (I think). It would start at $80 few months out and climb up to about $500 2-3 days before the flight, just like any other regional hub-spoke flight. You had several folks flying in from Philly into Dulles, putting up in hotel around Sterling (ALOFT, IHG) $70/night, staying 4 nights and flying back. RT 267 government contractors around Reston, Herndon, Ashburn areas. What's possible though is that with Metro extended all the way to Reston it perhaps makes better sense for them to take the train to Union Station, DC and then Metro to Reston probably even cutting Uber/Rental Car expenses. I haven't worked in the area for a while so not sure how the travel dynamic changed, but raising the price high up to $380 for flights several months out is VERY unusual. RT is $750. You could fly RT to India/China for that price!

mecabq

Indeed: if you have to get from PHL to IAD with a budget of $750, it is not beyond the realm of possibility to find a Qatar Airways open jaw PHL-India-IAD for close to that.

jasondc

Yes, I understand how slot airports work. I use to be an slot administrator. My point is this - the way you wrote your note sounded as if they didnt already fly the route. AA does fly DCA-PHL. 4 times a day. And it's all for connections.

CIT85

I have PHL-IAD-IAH end of the month, just so I can have afternoon meeting and then take the last flight out at 8 PM. The next to last flight would be connection PHL-ORD-IAH at 5 PM and PHL-IAH at 4:55 PM, too early to accommodate afternoon meetings.

rittenhousesq

Interestingly enough, if you try to book a PHL-IAD flight for any date after UA ends direct flights between those two airports, you just get an error message, So UA isn't even bothering to route you between those destinations. The same holds true for a few nearby cities: PHL - RDU also can't be booked anymore.

narvik

That must be an oversight they surely will correct?
The recently canceled AVP-EWR still routes....although not sure anyone would actually fly it: AVP-IAD-EWR, AVP-IAD-RIC-EWR, and AVP-IAD-ORF-EWR

Lefleur

TA

Who here remembers back when there was UA BWI-IAD on the tiny little BAE J31s? That was a crazy route to last so long before getting axed...

Sometimes the bus out to the ramp took longer than the flight!

Flying Machine

ednort

Who remembers SFO to OAK back in '90s. And UA was using I think, wide bodies!