Here We Go Again.

[pitguy]

Do not be surprised if US Airways downsizes Pittsburgh even further and closes the crew base this fall.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

[post="265819"][/post]​

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


I think they are going to close a lot of things this fall including the doors.


--Lucky for you that you can still fly for that 3rd world carrier.

 

[nycbusdriver]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I think they are going to close a lot of things this fall including the doors.
--Lucky for you that you can still fly for that 3rd world carrier.

[post="265830"][/post]​

Okay, we've been hearing that same line about every six months since 2002. The last time was that USAirways doors would definitely close in January, 2005. (I actually believed that one, too.) But, against your and others' "conventional wisdom," USAirways is still here. The next time the doors are slated to close is June 30. Do you think I should bother bidding a July schedule next week? Which month this fall are the doors going to close? Can we quote you on that?

 

[Whatnow?]

I'm pretty sure the ACAA is not expecting any white knight, Southwest or otherwise, to ever return Pittsburgh to the level of service we once had. It was nice; we gave up low fares for non-stop service. Now we don't have non-stop service, but it looks like the low fares are coming.

Did I miss something? US still has about 200 flights a day out of PIT with nonstops to the West Coast, Florida, the Carribbean, and the Northeast right? SWA is coming in with 10 flights and that is going to ruin US? And if I'm not mistaking, US fares are already lower than SWA on matching routes. C'mon Pittsburgh, get over it move on life's to short!

 

[pitguy]

Okay, we've been hearing that same line about every six months since 2002. The last time was that USAirways doors would definitely close in January, 2005. (I actually believed that one, too.) But, against your and others' "conventional wisdom," USAirways is still here. The next time the doors are slated to close is June 30. Do you think I should bother bidding a July schedule next week? Which month this fall are the doors going to close? Can we quote you on that?

[post="265943"][/post]​

****************************************************************


I think if the pilot group makes the concessions that are needed then go ahead and bid. If not it will not be much longer.

Are you the only one that doesn’t see the place burning all around you? Do you think it is going to go on forever?

 

[javaboy]

I'm pretty sure the ACAA is not expecting any white knight, Southwest or otherwise, to ever return Pittsburgh to the level of service we once had. It was nice; we gave up low fares for non-stop service. Now we don't have non-stop service, but it looks like the low fares are coming.

In 2000 I spent over $35k with USAirways. Even got an award from Travelocity for being a big sucker or something (the days of $2k+ fares to the West Coast for full Y). Just bought a refundable R/T to Chicago on Southwest for $98. Somehow, it feels better.

[post="265816"][/post]​

please post your experience after your travels on SWA, is it like AIRLINE (on A&E)? lets us know if 1. they overbook the flight 2. if not using boarding passes is better (if so how) 3. If they operate on time 4. any other facts that might apply (like cost of transportation into City as opposed to cost if from Ohare, ect...) 5. how quickly you claimed your luggage if checked and did they charge more for additional pieces and/or weight 6. what they could have done better to improve the travel experience

thanks in advance

 

[gso2pit]

What knight? The ACAA is looking to run enough traffic off of U to lower fares. Check.

Which will in turn regain a bunch of the O&D traffic area that currently runs up to CLE or CAK. Check. (interesting to note that PIT O&D is up since US pulled the hub. Who was the first to report this would happen?)

Which in turns puts the remaining legacies and the LCCs into expansion mode in PIT. Check.

Which finally allows for robust service once U folds. Checkmate.

See BNA and RDU for the reference model.

[post="265633"][/post]​

AA still has a hefty presence in RDU. Although much of the flights are AA eagle, they do fly:
AUS/BOS/ORD/CMH/DFW/BDL/LGW/MIA/EWR/JFK/LGA/PHL/PVD/STL/DCA

 

[ClueByFour]

AA still has a hefty presence in RDU. Although much of the flights are AA eagle, they do fly:
AUS/BOS/ORD/CMH/DFW/BDL/LGW/MIA/EWR/JFK/LGA/PHL/PVD/STL/DCA

[post="266013"][/post]​

Yeah, but with the exception of LGW, the pricing is sane. Why? Largely LUV's presence and the other LCCs (notably Independence).

AA gets the "SmithKline Express" paid for, so it's not priced rationally. I know people from RDU for whom it's cheaper to go RDU-JFK-LHR when they are not in a hurry.

 

[wnbubbleboy]

I'm pretty sure the ACAA is not expecting any white knight, Southwest or otherwise, to ever return Pittsburgh to the level of service we once had. It was nice; we gave up low fares for non-stop service. Now we don't have non-stop service, but it looks like the low fares are coming.

Did I miss something? US still has about 200 flights a day out of PIT with nonstops to the West Coast, Florida, the Carribbean, and the Northeast right? SWA is coming in with 10 flights and that is going to ruin US? And if I'm not mistaking, US fares are already lower than SWA on matching routes. C'mon Pittsburgh, get over it move on life's to short!

[post="265959"][/post]​

We hear if the traffic is there 80+ flights with in the next year. That's a lot of commitment. More than U has given that town lately.

 

[pitflyer]

I'll give Southwest time. As per USAirways pullback, an easy example is PIT-ATL. 9 MD-80s and 1 RJ on Delta vs 4 RJs on USAirways. As I commute weekly to Atlanta, it's a no brainer; at least in the past when there were real jets, you could at least say "I'm getting Dividend Miles" but now being cramped on a RJ isn't worth the 'miles'. Not to mention AirTran's new 717s on the same route.

Other examples: PIT-ORD. 3 on US, 6 on UA. Another big O&D destination. There's AA service also (my hope is that they'll upgrade this at least partially to big jet to compete some day soon) and in 2 days Southwest.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who are still accumulating Dividend Miles, but I still have nearly 200k left and no need for them (maybe I should go to eBay).

PS, Midway and OHare are both connected by train, so for a short trip either airport is fine. I believe Midway is a bit closer to the city, too.

 

[ringmaruf]

Other examples: PIT-ORD. 3 on US, 6 on UA. Another big O&D destination. There's AA service also (my hope is that they'll upgrade this at least partially to big jet to compete some day soon) and in 2 days Southwest.
I'm sure there are plenty of people who are still accumulating Dividend Miles, but I still have nearly 200k left and no need for them (maybe I should go to eBay).

PS, Midway and OHare are both connected by train, so for a short trip either airport is fine. I believe Midway is a bit closer to the city, too.

[post="266071"][/post]​

PIT-ORD was at 6 daily, but they had to cut frequencies to ORD so they could add DCA-ORD, since ORD is now slot-restricted in all but name.

 

[Dea Certe]

USAir/ways has closed seven crew bases in the last 15 years or so. SYR, ROA, MIA, SAN, SFO, LAX and GSO, I believe. Of course, there was always a scramble with the affected crew trying to figure out what their best bet would be and whether they should move or commute.

Many years ago, an elderly pilot (he was probably 50 at the time, 😛 ) told me to find a place where I wanted to live and manage a commute from there. He said airlines would always be moving people around. At the time, I didn't really believe him but I was young and had no experience. Plus, the idea of having to get on a plane to go to work seemed just terrible to me.

But, here I am now, dragging myself across country to work.

Who would have ever thought that PIT would be downsized and maybe even closed? Beautiful airport, once the heartbeat of the company!

I feel so sorry for the PIT crews. If you decide to commute, you'll find a way to make it work. It's not easy but you can do it. First, you need to figure out if it's worth it. Commuter pads are an added expense but it's always good to have a place to leave a few creature comforts. Getting a hotel room can be dicey; remember to make reservations in advance or risk sleeping in the airport if there's a big storm.

I heard somewhere that 70% of the PHL crew base commutes. I don't know if that's accurate, it would be interesting to know the numbers. If anyone does, could they please post them?

Dea

 

[Harry Callahan]

Dea:
I would love to be elderly at 50 AGAIN !

 

[sfb]

please post your experience after your travels on SWA, is it like AIRLINE (on A&E)? lets us know if 1. they overbook the flight

So you're saying that US Airways doesn't overbook? Or are they not selling enough tickets these days to run into that problem?

2. if not using boarding passes is better (if so how)

They use boarding passes, but they don't assign seats. Of course, I've never seen exactly how a middle seat feels better when it's been assigned to you, or why the aisle seat on an RJ is preferable to one on a 737.

3. If they operate on time

DOT statistics show that Southwest was 6 points better than US in on-time performance in February and 1.7 points better for the trailing twelve months. They were 7.6 points better in PHL for February.

4. any other facts that might apply (like cost of transportation into City as opposed to cost if from Ohare, ect...)

MDW is actually closer to the Loop than ORD, and both are connected via CTA elevated train service to the Loop (ORD on the Blue Line, MDW on the Orange Line). MDW is a nicer facility than ORD these days since the terminal was completely rebuilt and expanded.

5. how quickly you claimed your luggage if checked and did they charge more for additional pieces and/or weight

Southwest's allows paying passengers to check three pieces of baggage of up to 50 lbs each free of charge (compare this to two at US). Additional bags (up to nine extra) are $50 each, and $110 thereafter (compare to $90-180 at US). Both charge for pieces weighing over 50 lbs.

Which airline was notorious for baggage problems at PHL over Christmas?

6. what they could have done better to improve the travel experience

Hmmm charge $364 one-way walk-up to MDW like US Airways does to ORD?

 

[PITbull]

USAir/ways has closed seven crew bases in the last 15 years or so. SYR, ROA, MIA, SAN, SFO, LAX and GSO, I believe. Of course, there was always a scramble with the affected crew trying to figure out what their best bet would be and whether they should move or commute.

Many years ago, an elderly pilot (he was probably 50 at the time, 😛 ) told me to find a place where I wanted to live and manage a commute from there. He said airlines would always be moving people around. At the time, I didn't really believe him but I was young and had no experience. Plus, the idea of having to get on a plane to go to work seemed just terrible to me.

But, here I am now, dragging myself across country to work.

Who would have ever thought that PIT would be downsized and maybe even closed? Beautiful airport, once the heartbeat of the company!

I feel so sorry for the PIT crews. If you decide to commute, you'll find a way to make it work. It's not easy but you can do it. First, you need to figure out if it's worth it. Commuter pads are an added expense but it's always good to have a place to leave a few creature comforts. Getting a hotel room can be dicey; remember to make reservations in advance or risk sleeping in the airport if there's a big storm.

I heard somewhere that 70% of the PHL crew base commutes. I don't know if that's accurate, it would be interesting to know the numbers. If anyone does, could they please post them?

Dea

[post="266094"][/post]​

You forgot BWI.

 

[Dea Certe]

Pitbull,

I can't believe I forgot BWI! That makes eight crew bases closed. I must be getting numb to it. So we have five crew bases left. That's so sad! 😛h34r:

Dea