Philly's hub flops

[Jimmy Neutron]

Philly's hub flops

Re: "Forgive Us, US Airways, for Our Skepticism" June 17. As a Gold Preferred Member of US Airways, I fully concur with travel editor David Bear's article. I still have the US Airways Visa card, but it is getting more and more difficult to justify its use for US Airways.

My biggest complaint is the Philadelphia hub. The airport and US Airways simply can't handle the volume. This inadequacy has implications all over the US Airways system. Plane after plane may "leave the gate on time" but the Philadelphia airport can't handle the takeoff volume. In essence, the majority of flights are then late arriving at their destination.

There are long walks to the gates, inadequate seating and the facility is, on the whole, filthy. To get from the international arrivals to the domestic departures is a stress test in and of itself.

There is little doubt in my mind that management was shortsighted in designating Philadelphia as a major hub. I would ask for all their resignations for such poor judgment. Let me be CEO for a day.

WILLIAM R. POLLER
Indiana Twp.

Just Another Satisfied Customer: :blink:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07185/799201-110.stm

 

[SKY HIGH]

My biggest complaint is the Philadelphia hub. The airport and US Airways simply can't handle the volume.

sky high states: PHL ranked number TWO in most delayed flights as per this site: http://www.avoiddelays.com/



Business 101 dilema: What airline would volunteer to get rid of capacity in the name of on-time statistics versus Revenue? Who would step up to the plate, first, in PHL?
anyone?


only stating opinions

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

The author of the letter states what we all observe everyday.

PHL needs to be used properly, meaning large planes connecting large East coast cities, large planes feeding PHL from other hubs, and large planes flying international routes.

Truly, if CLT and PIT were better utilized, Express would feed those hubs first, and then Mainline would connect to the major population centers from there.

Case in point: Too many EWR flights cancel out of PIT due to air traffic problems. Why have two or three RJs fly the route instead of one 737 or 319? It's one plane, and I would assume that it has a better chance of getting a slot into EWR than having two or three (or more).

And consider the relief it would provide to PHL Express if they didn't have to work as many small planes at the same time. I'm pretty sure it's easier to concentrate on inbounds from, say, ELM and ITH as opposed to ELM, ITH, SYR, BGM, GSP, ROA, CHO, RDU, PIT and CLT. The last two make no sense to me anyway. If PHL is that busy, then it should be easy to fill Mainline flights from CLT and PIT. Since WN is getting plenty of passengers from PIT to PHL, I don't doubt the reasonability of my concept.

Considering that people aren't machines, it should be noted that burning out your workforce tends to lead to a higher rate of turnover in the same group.

And, if there are fewer planes flying than before, wouldn't a review in their utilization be paramount?

 

[nostradamus]

Usairways PHL mess 2005 article

 

[LCC_#1]

Philly's hub flops

Re: "Forgive Us, US Airways, for Our Skepticism" June 17. As a Gold Preferred Member of US Airways, I fully concur with travel editor David Bear's article. I still have the US Airways Visa card, but it is getting more and more difficult to justify its use for US Airways.

My biggest complaint is the Philadelphia hub. The airport and US Airways simply can't handle the volume. This inadequacy has implications all over the US Airways system. Plane after plane may "leave the gate on time" but the Philadelphia airport can't handle the takeoff volume. In essence, the majority of flights are then late arriving at their destination.

There are long walks to the gates, inadequate seating and the facility is, on the whole, filthy. To get from the international arrivals to the domestic departures is a stress test in and of itself.

There is little doubt in my mind that management was shortsighted in designating Philadelphia as a major hub. I would ask for all their resignations for such poor judgment. Let me be CEO for a day.

WILLIAM R. POLLER
Indiana Twp.

Just Another Satisfied Customer: :blink:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07185/799201-110.stm

Apparently this man doesn't remember when there were NO moving walkways, NO mall between B and C and security at every gate. Let's not forget the one restraunt that charged $10 for a burgher in 1990. Boy the American public has short memories.

 

[usairways85]

Well you can also thank US for dropping probably close to 100 mainline flts from PHL and adding 50-100 express flts. Come on 108 more express flts than mainline flts

 

[AstroLounge]

The author of the letter states what we all observe everyday.

PHL needs to be used properly, meaning large planes connecting large East coast cities, large planes feeding PHL from other hubs, and large planes flying international routes.

Truly, if CLT and PIT were better utilized, Express would feed those hubs first, and then Mainline would connect to the major population centers from there.

Case in point: Too many EWR flights cancel out of PIT due to air traffic problems. Why have two or three RJs fly the route instead of one 737 or 319? It's one plane, and I would assume that it has a better chance of getting a slot into EWR than having two or three (or more).
It will NEVER be DONE because it MAKES SENSE........they are looking for CENT$. 😛 "Welcome to America's BAGHDAD!"
And consider the relief it would provide to PHL Express if they didn't have to work as many small planes at the same time. I'm pretty sure it's easier to concentrate on inbounds from, say, ELM and ITH as opposed to ELM, ITH, SYR, BGM, GSP, ROA, CHO, RDU, PIT and CLT. The last two make no sense to me anyway. If PHL is that busy, then it should be easy to fill Mainline flights from CLT and PIT. Since WN is getting plenty of passengers from PIT to PHL, I don't doubt the reasonability of my concept.

Considering that people aren't machines, it should be noted that burning out your workforce tends to lead to a higher rate of turnover in the same group.

And, if there are fewer planes flying than before, wouldn't a review in their utilization be paramount?

 

[Jimmy Neutron]

sky high states: PHL ranked number TWO in most delayed flights as per this site: http://www.avoiddelays.com/
Business 101 dilema: What airline would volunteer to get rid of capacity in the name of on-time statistics versus Revenue? Who would step up to the plate, first, in PHL?
anyone?
only stating opinions

Well isn't that nice we have 3 of our 4 hubs in the top ten most delayed airports in the country....Way to go Doug! :down:

 

[zethya]

....My biggest complaint is the Philadelphia hub. The airport and US Airways simply can't handle the volume....

There are long walks to the gates, inadequate seating and the facility is, on the whole, filthy. To get from the international arrivals to the domestic departures is a stress test in and of itself.

There is little doubt in my mind that management was shortsighted in designating Philadelphia as a major hub. I would ask for all their resignations for such poor judgment. Let me be CEO for a day.

WILLIAM R. POLLER
Indiana Twp.

Some obvious points:
1. This guy obviously has no idea what causes most of the delays at PHL, EWR and JFK and it has little to do with airport infrastructure.
2. This person must be a 300 lb lard***, if he feels it's a "stress test" to walk from A-West to B or C (even without using the moving walkways), or to take the Bus to F.
3. Inadequate seating? Which airport, as busy as PHL, has adequate seating? Personally I don't really know what he's referring to.
4. Filthy? Come on now, maybe not as spic and span as the "dead" PIT facility, but "filthy"? Which airport, as busy as PHL, isn't a little dirty? People don't "live" in aiports, they use them to get from point A to point B. Further, does this individual realize who's responsible for maintaining (and Cleaning) the gate area's of the airport? Answer: The leasing Airline (US Airways).
5. PHL is a major Hub because it has the LOCAL traffic to support it - unlike PIT or CLT and because without PHL US would likely be out of business. Remember, Philadelphia "put's up" with US Airways's shortcomings a lot more than visa versa.
6. This person obviously doesn't realize that a CEO's #1 responsibilty is to make money for the shareholders - and he want's to be one?

I write this off as just another PIT basher's frustration and lack of understanding of how fortunate they are with what they now have.

 

[Travels2mch]

4. Filthy? Come on now, maybe not as spic and span as the "dead" PIT facility, but "filthy"? Which airport, as busy as PHL, isn't a little dirty? People don't "live" in aiports, they use them to get from point A to point B. Further, does this individual realize who's responsible for maintaining (and Cleaning) the gate area's of the airport? Answer: The leasing Airline (US Airways).


I write this off as just another PIT basher's frustration and lack of understanding of how fortunate they are with what they now have.

Write it off to what you want....that argument is getting tired.....but the bottom line is PHL is a dump and it is dirty, and I'd give it the white glove test up against ATL and ORD anyday. Try taking off your own rose colored glasses and see the filth for what it is.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Some obvious points:
1. This guy obviously has no idea
2. This person must be a 300 lb lard***
3. Personally I don't really know what he's referring to.
4. Filthy.
5. PHL is a major Hub because it has the LOCAL traffic to support it unlike CLT
6. This person obviously doesn't realize

I write this off as just another lack of understanding.

The customers love you too.

 

[NCFL]

PHL may be a lot of things, and it may have a lot of problems, but consider the difference in cleanliness between PHL airport bathrooms and those in CLT. HANDS DOWN, CLT has the consistently nastiest airport lavs of any city I've been to in my life, including many in the islands.

The exception are the CLT lavs in the Express terminal where they have little stations with mints and mouthwash and flowers next to the sinks.

 

[Harry Callahan]

PHL may be a lot of things, and it may have a lot of problems, but consider the difference in cleanliness between PHL airport bathrooms and those in CLT. HANDS DOWN, CLT has the consistently nastiest airport lavs of any city I've been to in my life, including many in the islands.

The exception are the CLT lavs in the Express terminal where they have little stations with mints and mouthwash and flowers next to the sinks.

I agree 100%

 

[Travelpro72]

Some obvious points:
1. This guy obviously has no idea what causes most of the delays at PHL, EWR and JFK and it has little to do with airport infrastructure.
2. This person must be a 300 lb lard***, if he feels it's a "stress test" to walk from A-West to B or C (even without using the moving walkways), or to take the Bus to F.
3. Inadequate seating? Which airport, as busy as PHL, has adequate seating? Personally I don't really know what he's referring to.
4. Filthy? Come on now, maybe not as spic and span as the "dead" PIT facility, but "filthy"? Which airport, as busy as PHL, isn't a little dirty? People don't "live" in aiports, they use them to get from point A to point B. Further, does this individual realize who's responsible for maintaining (and Cleaning) the gate area's of the airport? Answer: The leasing Airline (US Airways).
5. PHL is a major Hub because it has the LOCAL traffic to support it - unlike PIT or CLT and because without PHL US would likely be out of business. Remember, Philadelphia "put's up" with US Airways's shortcomings a lot more than visa versa.
6. This person obviously doesn't realize that a CEO's #1 responsibilty is to make money for the shareholders - and he want's to be one?

I write this off as just another PIT basher's frustration and lack of understanding of how fortunate they are with what they now have.

Do you really believe what you wrote?