Insanely HIGH pax loads to LGW !
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 31
Insanely HIGH pax loads to LGW !
For two years I've been flying regularly to LGW out of PHL on a Sunday night about once a month.
In most cases I make my reservations only 3-5 days in advance on a B class fare, which is upgradeable to Envoy for only 10K miles each way. Since the flight is worth 7K miles each way (to a Chairman's Preferred), and US is always throwing (non-pfd) miles at me for something or another....I pretty much am assured an Envoy class flight for a full fare coach ticket of about $1,650.
Today I called in per usual and found out the Sunday night flight was sold out. SOLD OUT. That's never happened before. The Monday night flight and the Saturday night only had 4 open seats between them, all full fare $4,000+ Envoy seats.
I managed to grab the LAST seat on the CLT to LGW flight on Sunday night, but am not so sure I'll get my upgrade this time.
While I've been as pessimistic as the next guy about US's chances for survival, these passenger loads are incredible. I've NEVER seen loads like this, even in the summer. And this is just two weeks post the Christmas luggage disaster!
Hopefully this is a good sign that US may actually be a viable carrier or at least that these routes are viable. And if fuel prices continue to drop....maybe they do squeak out of CH 22?
Calling Texas Pacific.....your airline is waiting for you......with only a couple hundred million dollar equity investment required (plus a couple more in debt that you'll never collect if they go CH 33).....
Here's to hoping 2005 brings better tidings to US.
jas3
In most cases I make my reservations only 3-5 days in advance on a B class fare, which is upgradeable to Envoy for only 10K miles each way. Since the flight is worth 7K miles each way (to a Chairman's Preferred), and US is always throwing (non-pfd) miles at me for something or another....I pretty much am assured an Envoy class flight for a full fare coach ticket of about $1,650.
Today I called in per usual and found out the Sunday night flight was sold out. SOLD OUT. That's never happened before. The Monday night flight and the Saturday night only had 4 open seats between them, all full fare $4,000+ Envoy seats.
I managed to grab the LAST seat on the CLT to LGW flight on Sunday night, but am not so sure I'll get my upgrade this time.
While I've been as pessimistic as the next guy about US's chances for survival, these passenger loads are incredible. I've NEVER seen loads like this, even in the summer. And this is just two weeks post the Christmas luggage disaster!
Hopefully this is a good sign that US may actually be a viable carrier or at least that these routes are viable. And if fuel prices continue to drop....maybe they do squeak out of CH 22?
Calling Texas Pacific.....your airline is waiting for you......with only a couple hundred million dollar equity investment required (plus a couple more in debt that you'll never collect if they go CH 33).....
Here's to hoping 2005 brings better tidings to US.
jas3
#3
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 92
Originally Posted by olde hornet
This is off season - I am suprised that the loads are this high. ^
#4
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: Bonvoy Amb; AA EXP
Posts: 1,136
I checked, just for kicks, what the fares were a week or so out and there were some in the $300 range on fare search...that's pretty inexpensive and could be the cause of the high loads. I did not check availability of those loads though, and I don't believe that any were available on a sunday.
M
M
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Freeload Univ. Where are you sitting?
Posts: 14,818
Originally Posted by Score8
I checked, just for kicks, what the fares were a week or so out and there were some in the $300 range on fare search...
#6
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
Originally Posted by BigLar
Were these B fares? If so, I'd be amazed.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Originally Posted by cedric
I flew back from MAD yesterday and the flight went out full. I was op-uped to envoy.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 396
I was speaking to some gate agents on Wednesday in PHL, and they were telling me that the LGW flights were 100+ oversold, the CDG and other cities were 30-40+ oversold. They were apparently offering $400 cash or $600 vouchers (although I wasn't going to any of these places) for volunteers for different flights. My flight to SJU was 60+ oversold after a downgrade to 767 and they started a new A319 seperate flight leaving a few minutes later. I ended up being the sold first class passenger on the bump flight. I got the bagel and fruit plate (3.5hour flight) and a large bottle of wine all to myself.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,137
Originally Posted by ScroogeMcFlyer
They were apparently offering $400 cash or $600 vouchers (although I wasn't going to any of these places) for volunteers for different flights.
FWIW, the PHL-YYZ flight that I ended up on last night was also oversold (A319). Even though it was late evening, they were still offering a dinner voucher along with the hotel and domestic voucher. I offered to volunteer if they would have given me a $$ voucher instead but enough people volunteered for the other. We didn't end up making it to Toronto until about 1am due to late arriving crew and then a mechanical problem.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: YYJ
Posts: 4,137
Originally Posted by sts603
Was actually on that flight in Envoy. Upgraded with miles on a code-share ticket which is apparently illegal. Also one of the pax didnt have enough miles. I'm doubting they'll be pulled. My seat assignments were re-written by hand. Anyways - 12/28 PHL-MAD was 100% full in Envoy and Y as well.
Interestingly, I was offered the upgrade right at the check-in counters after I had already been processed and just as I was about to walk away. Wonder what made the agent change his mind.
#13
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT (NYC Suburbs), Gulf Stream, FL
Programs: United Premier 1K, American AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 3,089
Could be that mileage "burners" are putting pressure on total inventory, but on recent UK trips taken by myself, or my wife, we have both noticed a fair number of Brits onboard. Since most UK residents wouldn't know USAirways if it fell on them, I have to assume aggressive use of consolidators over there. If so, it's not bad strategy. By doing it outside the domestic market, your regulars don't pick it up, and as a current collateral benefit, the strength of the British Pound, as well as the Euro (in the case of other European destinations) produces a windfall when converted to dollars. Such activity also creates higher than average overbooking, meaning the premium cabin may be used to handle some of that. It's compression, and the effect on upgradiing is to push it to the departure gate. Just a thought.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Bournemouth, UK
Programs: PC Plat Amb, BD Blue+
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by deelmakur
Since most UK residents wouldn't know USAirways if it fell on them, I have to assume aggressive use of consolidators over there.
It will also be the case that those Brits who have never previously heard of US will also be unaware of their precarious financial situation, so are not going to avoid US in the way that some potential American travellers may do.