UA eliminating PHL-IAD flights. UPDATE - Flights Being Restored as of OCT 2019
#17
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
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.
#18
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
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Posts: 2,395
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.
#19
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
Do you mean AA wont add MORE DCA-PHL? They already fly DCA-PHL 4 times a day.
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.
#20
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
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.
#21
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: IAD, DEL, IXC, BWI, DCA, YYZ
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Posts: 275
Not discounting your theory, but isn't it typical for short flights like this to have high fares? Few people probably use this flight for O&D, and UA doesn't want to be in a position to not be able to sell a $1500 flight PHL-IAD-LHR because the seat is taken up by someone flying a $150 fare PHL-IAD. Relatedly, anyone who buys that flight only from PHL-IAD is probably willing to pay a premium. (Same issue with any non-stop but probably even more true for these ultra-short flights.) What's the history of fares on this route?
I used to fly US Airways often from BWI to connect in PHL (some 90 miles), and saw the same pattern; can't imagine that many people were O&D in BWI and PHL.
I used to fly US Airways often from BWI to connect in PHL (some 90 miles), and saw the same pattern; can't imagine that many people were O&D in BWI and PHL.
#22
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
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#23
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
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.
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.
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.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
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.
#25
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: 2,395
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.
#26
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,234
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.
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
#27
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 139
UGH.
This has terrible ramifications for me.
PHL-TPA via IAD is a 4 hr routing. Effective in January the only routing possible is through IAH or ORD and takes a minimum of 7 hours. As a side note, the Phillies spring training camp is in the Tampa area....
PHL-RDU is NOT EVEN BOOKABLE AFTER JANUARY 12 (!?!). Currently ~3 hr trip via IAD.
PHL-FLL goes from 5 hrs to 8 hrs.
There are several IAD connections internationally both on United and on codeshare partners that are now no longer options for people flying out of PHL.
I dont understand this move at all.
This has terrible ramifications for me.
PHL-TPA via IAD is a 4 hr routing. Effective in January the only routing possible is through IAH or ORD and takes a minimum of 7 hours. As a side note, the Phillies spring training camp is in the Tampa area....
PHL-RDU is NOT EVEN BOOKABLE AFTER JANUARY 12 (!?!). Currently ~3 hr trip via IAD.
PHL-FLL goes from 5 hrs to 8 hrs.
There are several IAD connections internationally both on United and on codeshare partners that are now no longer options for people flying out of PHL.
I dont understand this move at all.
#28
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,480
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!
Sometimes the bus out to the ramp took longer than the flight!
#29
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,842
UGH.
This has terrible ramifications for me.
PHL-TPA via IAD is a 4 hr routing. Effective in January the only routing possible is through IAH or ORD and takes a minimum of 7 hours. As a side note, the Phillies spring training camp is in the Tampa area....
PHL-RDU is NOT EVEN BOOKABLE AFTER JANUARY 12 (!?!). Currently ~3 hr trip via IAD.
PHL-FLL goes from 5 hrs to 8 hrs.
There are several IAD connections internationally both on United and on codeshare partners that are now no longer options for people flying out of PHL.
I dont understand this move at all.
This has terrible ramifications for me.
PHL-TPA via IAD is a 4 hr routing. Effective in January the only routing possible is through IAH or ORD and takes a minimum of 7 hours. As a side note, the Phillies spring training camp is in the Tampa area....
PHL-RDU is NOT EVEN BOOKABLE AFTER JANUARY 12 (!?!). Currently ~3 hr trip via IAD.
PHL-FLL goes from 5 hrs to 8 hrs.
There are several IAD connections internationally both on United and on codeshare partners that are now no longer options for people flying out of PHL.
I dont understand this move at all.