Cranky on the Web: New Airlines in Small Cities, More Alaska/Virgin America, Multi City Fares

Apr 16, 2016

More Reading on This Topic: Cranky on the Web

Cranky on the Web
Growth in flights at YNG bucks US trends – Youngstown Vindicator
Youngstown is getting a new airline to fly to Chicago. I spoke to the reporter extensively about how this is doomed, though of course only bits and pieces made the final cut.

Alaska Air seeks California edge with Virgin America acquisition – Travel Weekly
More talk about the Alaska Virgin America merger.

Airlines in America are stamping out multi-city airfares – Gulliver – The Economist
Three Big Airlines Just Trashed Your Cheap Fares – Bloomberg
This multi-city airfare story keeps getting bigger, and multiple media outlets have come to me asking for my thoughts. I’m actually working on another post here for next week talking about how things are actually getting worse.

Brett

6 responses to “Cranky on the Web: New Airlines in Small Cities, More Alaska/Virgin America, Multi City Fares”

ORD1KFlyer312

Apr 16, 2016 at 8:27 am

Several weeks ago I priced out a ML for ORD-SFO-BUR-ORD on UA and noticed the “lowest available fare” option was gone and the flex fare was over $1,200. But I booked separate and it was under $500. Similar story to the one CF mentions in this article. Now though, I’ve priced another ML trip on UA and the lowest available fare option is back.

Did UA go back to the normal fare structure or is this just a one-off?

Reply
1. CF
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 9:55 am
  
  ORDflyer312 – Well the airlines are all trying to backtrack as much as they can, but it’s not across the board. I’m writing this one up for Monday.
  
  Reply
  1. ORDFlier312
    
    Apr 16, 2016 at 8:34 pm
    
    CF – thank you! I look forward to it.
    
    Reply
David SF eastbay

Apr 16, 2016 at 10:18 am

If ‘the little airline that could’ can get a local loyal following from YNG and CHI, they might do ok. But while people say they want a certain service, doesn’t mean they will use it. Prices may be ok, but people still want the mileage from the three big alliance carriers and will still travel to other near by cities.

Reply
David SF eastbay

Apr 16, 2016 at 10:22 am

Did the big airlines think their pricing game was going to go unnoticed by the traveling public and the media? Hopefully the news media has done a good job of getting the word out so the average person will know to book things separately and not pay an outrageous price the big 3 think people will pay to travel around the USA.

Reply
Ron

Apr 17, 2016 at 3:20 pm

Youngstown is about 1 hour from Pittsburgh and 1:15 from Cleveland; keep reducing service at these two airports, and Youngstown might be fine…

Reply