DL Resumes SLC-MIA (Seasonal)

[eolesen]

they fly predominantly thru ATL with a side of DTW thrown in.

 
My LDS friends much prefer a side of Jello...
 
Seriously, your statement implies that the missionaries fly entirely on DL.  While the SLC hub does get a fair share of the Church's business, they also operates their own travel department which functions just like any other large TMC in that they have segment goals on a number of airlines in exchange for the overrides or volume discounts.  
 
The addition of this flight is going to open up a lot more opportunities to start break a booking up into two tickets, and looking at the TAM and other Latin carriers who can be significantly cheaper (particularly if they're heading to the interior)  
 
Perhaps it's an unintended consequence of serving MIA nonstop, or it's why DL has been quite deliberate in not serving the market on a year-round basis.

 

[WorldTraveler]

if you think the word predominantly means "entirely" then it isn't a surprise when so many business discussions on here end up so badly.

Yes, the LDS Church is a large account and they obviously shop around but DL has had lengthy discussions with them over the years and DL does get the majority of their business, including to Latin America which is the area the thread discussed regarding LDS travel.

let's keep in mind the flight is going to operate for only a couple weeks. no large corporate account is going to rework their travel contracts based on a seasonal flight that operates for a couple weeks.

DL's Latin capacity and traffic are up by 25%; they clearly are finding plenty of new business and not losing what they have.

 

[737823]

And, MIA-SLC is important because?  Other than shoveling rich South Americans to the ski slopes in winter.  (And, most of them go to Vail.)

 
Guess you haven't been to Park City/Deer Valley recently.  International tourists from South America are booming, more and more are coming each and every year.  I've skied Vail, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Whistler, St. Moritz (Switzerland) and as a lifelong skiier believe Park City is the best all around.  Easy 45 minute access from SLC allows you to ski the same day you arrive and depart. Great restaurants and bars on Main Street Park City, friendly people, and many new luxury properties have opened over the past five years (despite the global economic downturn).  I took the DL flight in circa 2006, and know my Mother will likely take it this year during the seasonal run.
 
Josh

 

[eolesen]

Read closer in the context of what I wrote, Skippy.  
 
Your post implies an online journey entirely on DL.  SLC-XXX-GRU
 
What I'm saying is that it might make more sense economically to fly SLC-MIA + MIA-CNF-CTB on a separate ticket.
 
No large account will rework their contracts, but they sure will exploit what they can.  Every dollar they save on air travel is another dollar available to buy more Jello for the MTC's dining room.
 
If you take Mexico out of the capacity argument on Latin traffic, how much is it really up?...

 

[WorldTraveler]

no it says nothing at all about "entirely."

If you come up with that interpretation, then the problem has nothing to do with data.

it is a couple week addition of a new route. It is not intended for the LDS; it is a ski driven MIA point of sale route.

actually, the majority of DL's capacity adds are elsewhere in central America and the Caribbean.

can't you find enough Southern Baptists in Texas to fill AA's flights to Latin America?