AA dropping the Nerd Bird

[s80dude]

Sad to see this market go. Guess the tech community has really pulled back on their travel budgets.

STL-SAN and STL-LAS are also getting droped, so the chipping away of St. Louis continues.

 

[jimntx]

Our (STL) LAS and SAN flights were making money. I know that a full flight does not always mean a profitable flight, but ours were. It's like Centerport just can't stand that STL could make money on flights that other "more important" stations--like DFW and ORD--lost money, or were not consistently moneymakers like ours. It seems their new strategy is to route our money makers through DFW as through flights: STL-DFW-LAS, etc.

Problem is that if STL passengers have to go through DFW to get to LAS, they will pick other carriers. For instance, WN has 5 nonstops/day during the week, and multiple nonstops or 1 stops on weekends. The last flight I worked on the new through flight to LAS had maybe 10 through passengers on a 757. The rest were going to Dallas anyway, or connecting there to other destinations.

As far as the AUS-SJC route, that really surprises me. I've never worked that flight in either direction that it wasn't full of business people who tend to pay higher fares.

 

[IORFA]

Out of curiosity, how do you know that the flights were making money? Do you have a mole in the revenue management dept.? I find it hard to believe in this economy or at any other time, that AA would purpously cancel a money making flight/s, just to slight the people of STL. Makes zero sense. I get the impression that most people on here that complain about AA in STL think that AA is doing things there for the sole purpose of eventually closing the place down. Maybe, but I doubt it. It is going to cost them a lot of money to close the place down and why would they? If the city can make money for AA that would be stupid to close it down for spite. Out of curiosity, IF they do close down STL, or can they even close it, what happens to Supp. CC? If it goes away, does it go back into effect if STL opens again?

 

[jimntx]

Oh well. Obviously if a senior international f/a hasn't heard it in the galley on the way to LHR it must not be true. I do not have to explain or justify anything to you. And, you don't think that AA would purposely cancel money-making flights? What about the 5 always full 757 flights between STL and PHX that got cancelled almost immediately after AA took over in STL. They didn't want direct, non-stop flights between major cities and "minor" stations (like STL). All those flights needed to go through DFW or ORD. Of course, all the business transferred to WN including the business travelers. Just as will happen on LAS.

I realize an exalted international f/a doesn't usuallly bother herself with such mundane issues, but the fact that you don't know it does not make it not true. Hate to burst your bubble.

 

[IORFA]

WOW, someone is having a bad day. So, because you said it, it is true. So you really have no FACTS to prove what you are saying is correct. That is all I am curious in. Facts, I don't have any to share on this subject, so that is why I ask and you don't have any to support your claims about STL flying. That is why I was asking. So, you are fully aware that the 5 757's TWA flew to PHX from STL before the bankruptcy purchase were ALWAYS full as you say AND were also porfitable? If you say so, then it must be true. I am just tired of people stating opinions on here as though they were facts. Most people on here spouting off on these "profitable" flights and "profitable" stations being run into the ground on purpose are simply repeating galley gossip and their own personal opinions that support their feelings about their own job environment and future. I have no problem if it is portrayed in the correct manner, but it usually is spoken as though it is truth supported by fact, when it rarely ever is. By the way, this opinion has nothing to do with where I am based, what I fly or how many years I have been flying. Fact is, most if not all of us on here really have no idea what flights make money on an individual basis daily, weekly, monthly or on a yearly basis. We line employees would be the last to know.

 

[kirkpatrick]

So, you are fully aware that the 5 757's TWA flew to PHX from STL before the bankruptcy purchase were ALWAYS full as you say AND were also porfitable?

I have no numbers either but it's probably true. We had multiple flights to a lot of places from STL that were full and made money, but that is due to the fact that STL was a major hub with over 400 flights per day. As much as I hate to say it, it probably makes sense that with only 38 flights per day STL will only be able to provide service to a handful of cities.

MK

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Our (STL) LAS and SAN flights were making money. I know that a full flight does not always mean a profitable flight, but ours were.
... ... ...
As far as the AUS-SJC route, that really surprises me. I've never worked that flight in either direction that it wasn't full of business people who tend to pay higher fares.

Your above two statements would be much more valid if you had access to and could post some numbers. While anything is possible, I find it hard to believe that at AMR HQ there would be bunch of employees whose sole purpose is to screw STL/TWA at whatever the cost. And even if there was a few employees who would enjoy that, I think there is a chance that common sense may prevail anyways. Just my $0.02.

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

Eventually you won't be able to get on an American Airlines aircraft without changing in DFW,ORD or MIA.

The consultants that now run this airline have decreed that point to point flying from medium or small stations is an affront to god and as such must be expunged from the face of the earth.

 

[FWAAA]

What about the 5 always full 757 flights between STL and PHX that got cancelled almost immediately after AA took over in STL.

Uh, not exactly.

My September 5, 2001 AA Timetable lists six daily STL-PHX flights, five of them with MD-80s and one 717.

My January 31, 2002 AA Timetable (the last printed timetable) lists six daily STL-PHX flights, five of them with MD-80s and one 757.

Just a guess here - the multiple daily STL-PHX flights Jim remembers probably lasted until November, 2003, when AA drastically downsized the STL hub. Hardly an example of "got cancelled almost immediately" after the April, 2001 closing of the TWA asset purchase.

Sadly, St Louis is not the air travel center of the universe, and has lost some stature since InBev bought AB and slashed employees and business travel.

In its heyday, before and after the AA purchase, STL featured hundreds of flights. And collectively, they lost a lot of money before AA pulled the plug in November, 2003.

 

[Barfbag]

Hey, I'm just a cleaner, as one F/A called me one day. You don't have to be a HQ whiz kid, or an international F/A either to know simple math.

AA is trying to make dollars, not cents. Less seats = higher pricing = more profits.

AA has to stay competitive on certain routes that feed international flights and one world obligations, where they make even money.

 

[s80dude]

More Reductions for STL

St. Louis - Boston From 3 to 1 Daily
St. Louis - Chicago From 10 to 9 Daily
St. Louis - Dallas From 9 to 8 Daily
St. Louis - Las Vegas CANCELLED
St. Louis - Los Angeles From 4 to 3 Daily
St. Louis - San Diego CANCELLED
St. Louis - Seattle From 2 to 1 Daily

 

[FA Mikey]

At what point does the base in STL become obsolete? We have seen BNA, SJU, SAN and others closed as the relative flying disappeared. The could be absorbed in to ORD and DFW.

 

[jimntx]

Don't know. Contractually, the only requirement is for a pilot base at STL. And, I've heard various lengths of time for that requirement from some set number of years to "until the last former TW pilot retires or transfers out."

Of course, having to have a pilot base in no way creates a requirement to have a f/a base. It's just more convenient that way. They could close the f/a base tomorrow as far as I know. They won't right now because if they wait until the end of September almost 1/3 of the active base will be gone on furlough.

As far as SAN and LAS, only the nonstops have been cancelled. We still have through flights from STL to LAS through DFW. I think the same is true from SAN, but don't know for sure. When I checked earlier this morning they still hadn't posted the July bid sheets on the website.

 

[jimntx]

More Reductions for STL
St. Louis - Dallas From 9 to 8 Daily

Do you know when these cuts are to take place? I commute from DFW; so, I checked AA.com, and it still shows 9/day on weekdays though Nov. 16th. I didn't check any further. (I'll be gone long before then. )

 

[AAmilesman]

Yeah, I just heard about this. Too bad. I used to take this flight quite a bit. But, when respective markets get going again, I see AA bringing this flight back.