Comments on: Airline Mergers and the High Cost of Flying http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/ Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:01:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: BizzyBlog » As Delta and NWA Merge: What’s a Hub Got to Do With It? http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31364 BizzyBlog » As Delta and NWA Merge: What’s a Hub Got to Do With It? Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:18:19 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31364 [...] This column was originally posted at Pajamas Media on Thursday under the title “Airline Mergers and the High Cost of [...] [...] This column was originally posted at Pajamas Media on Thursday under the title “Airline Mergers and the High Cost of [...]

]]> By: Tom Blumer http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31363 Tom Blumer Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:12:56 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31363 Chester, I have looked at that from time to time. I think Lexington is actually the furthest from where I live in Mason vs. Columbus, Indy, and Dayton (but not Louisville). Chester, I have looked at that from time to time. I think Lexington is actually the furthest from where I live in Mason vs. Columbus, Indy, and Dayton (but not Louisville).

]]> By: Chester White http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31291 Chester White Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:06:30 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31291 For a Cincinnatian, it might also be worth looking at fares from my former home town of Lexington, KY, about 70 miles down the road. My relatives tell me that sometimes there are deals to be had, relative to Cincinnati. For a Cincinnatian, it might also be worth looking at fares from my former home town of Lexington, KY, about 70 miles down the road.

My relatives tell me that sometimes there are deals to be had, relative to Cincinnati.

]]> By: ATLien http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31111 ATLien Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:51:30 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31111 I used to work for DL, and i can tell you it's not the HUB that totally determines the price. You have to ask yourself a question: "Who else flies from here?" If the answer in Southwest or AirTran (or other large discount airline), You fare will be much cheaper. If DL (or United, American, etc) does not have a competing Discounter on that route (or combinations), then they charge what they want. But toss AirTran into the mix, and your flight's cost drops to what AirTran wants to price it at. The big 3 will even sometimes match rules, since discounters also offer flexibility on that, too. Then you run into another problem, scarcity. When the big 3 drop their fares, they only do it for x number of seats. Once they're gone, the next price bracket (and rules) come into play. The big 3 sell out the cheaper tix quicker because when one shops and the choice is between the "big" airline and the discount, the "big" airline is almost always chosen, thus reducing the number of cheaper seats. Hope this helps I used to work for DL, and i can tell you it’s not the HUB that totally determines the price.

You have to ask yourself a question: “Who else flies from here?” If the answer in Southwest or AirTran (or other large discount airline), You fare will be much cheaper. If DL (or United, American, etc) does not have a competing Discounter on that route (or combinations), then they charge what they want. But toss AirTran into the mix, and your flight’s cost drops to what AirTran wants to price it at. The big 3 will even sometimes match rules, since discounters also offer flexibility on that, too.

Then you run into another problem, scarcity. When the big 3 drop their fares, they only do it for x number of seats. Once they’re gone, the next price bracket (and rules) come into play. The big 3 sell out the cheaper tix quicker because when one shops and the choice is between the “big” airline and the discount, the “big” airline is almost always chosen, thus reducing the number of cheaper seats.

Hope this helps

]]> By: Tom Blumer http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31009 Tom Blumer Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:05:01 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-31009 Fat Man: Thanks, I noted most of what you said in the article. I have flown out of DAY and CMH frequently, Indy and Louisville relatively occasionally. Jon from MN, your situation is actually worse than mine, because I'm sure you have to drive a lot further to get to a reasonably major airport, if it's even practical at all. My memory is that there's really nothing that's close at all. You're literally stuck, and it's a shame. Fat Man:

Thanks, I noted most of what you said in the article. I have flown out of DAY and CMH frequently, Indy and Louisville relatively occasionally.

Jon from MN, your situation is actually worse than mine, because I’m sure you have to drive a lot further to get to a reasonably major airport, if it’s even practical at all. My memory is that there’s really nothing that’s close at all. You’re literally stuck, and it’s a shame.

]]> By: Fat Man http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30975 Fat Man Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:21:16 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30975 P.S. I should have read more carefully. My mileages are from Mason not downtown Cincinnati. Indy is 130 from Mason. P.S. I should have read more carefully. My mileages are from Mason not downtown Cincinnati. Indy is 130 from Mason.

]]> By: Fat Man http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30973 Fat Man Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:15:18 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30973 Tom: You do have some choice. Mason is Northeast of downtown Cincinnati. It is about 40 mi. from CVG, 60 mi. from DAY (Dayton Airport), and 90 mi. from CMH (Columbus). Columbus has a strong presence from Southwest and good fares. It is cheaper to fly to ATL from CMH connecting through CVG than CVG non-stop to ATL. I have often met folks from the Cincinnati area on flights to and from Columbus. You are right about airline hubs. It is better to have a toothache than a hub. Tom: You do have some choice. Mason is Northeast of downtown Cincinnati. It is about 40 mi. from CVG, 60 mi. from DAY (Dayton Airport), and 90 mi. from CMH (Columbus). Columbus has a strong presence from Southwest and good fares. It is cheaper to fly to ATL from CMH connecting through CVG than CVG non-stop to ATL. I have often met folks from the Cincinnati area on flights to and from Columbus.

You are right about airline hubs. It is better to have a toothache than a hub.

]]> By: Jon http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30956 Jon Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:14:04 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30956 Amen. We have the same situation in MN with Northworst, which controls 85% of the gates. The politicians tell us we benefit from Northworst because we get lots of direct flights as a hub, but what is really going on is that Northworst has a lot of political clout here because its headquarters and most of its employees are here. Let Northworst or the combined airline pull its hub. Other carriers will jump at the empty gates. Amen. We have the same situation in MN with Northworst, which controls 85% of the gates. The politicians tell us we benefit from Northworst because we get lots of direct flights as a hub, but what is really going on is that Northworst has a lot of political clout here because its headquarters and most of its employees are here. Let Northworst or the combined airline pull its hub. Other carriers will jump at the empty gates.

]]> By: BizzyBlog » New Pajamas Media Column (’Airline Mergers and the High Cost of Flying’) Is Up http://pjmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30919 BizzyBlog » New Pajamas Media Column (’Airline Mergers and the High Cost of Flying’) Is Up Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:39:00 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/airline-mergers-and-the-high-cost-of-flying/#comment-30919 [...] It’s here. It’s about the Delta-Northwest merger, why I’m not worried about the possibility of losing Delta’s Greater Cincinnati hub, and would in fact welcome it. [...] [...] It’s here. It’s about the Delta-Northwest merger, why I’m not worried about the possibility of losing Delta’s Greater Cincinnati hub, and would in fact welcome it. [...]

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