GalvanAir777 From United States, joined Apr 2005, 39 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 1206 times:
Now, i recently understand that TED now flies out of Midway International (i love saying that by the way) but whats the chance of seeing UALs mainline birds out of the MDW?
Since AA,DL,CO, and NW all fly out of MDW, why not UAL?
FriendlySkies From United States, joined Aug 2004, 3579 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1047 times:
UA tried flying mainline to MDW four times in the past (not including pre-ORD days). They failed each time. I hope Ted works out there, but with WN, I'm not holding my breath.
FriendlySkies From United States, joined Aug 2004, 3579 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1024 times:
Quoting Mariner (Reply 6): Why not offer the MDW pax something different from WN, not something similar.
They have something different. It's called O'Hare.
Iowaman From United States, joined May 2004, 3251 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1014 times:
Quoting Mariner (Reply 6): I would have thought it would be exactly the other way around. Why not offer the MDW pax something different from WN, not something similar.
Well there probably is a few people that want something different than WN, but then again people are more concerned about price. People near MDW are most likely acustomed to low fares and not willing to pay more than 20 bucks more then WN's fare to fly UA Mainline. Also, your username reminded me Frontier flies to DEN, there is lots of competeion between the three, thus the need for low fare TED.
Mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 10482 posts, RR: 79 Reply 9, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 994 times:
Iowaman:
Quoting Iowaman (Reply 8): your username reminded me Frontier flies to DEN, there is lots of competeion between the three, thus the need for low fare TED.
I suppose that's my point. Why join the mob? Why not give 'em something different?
I take your point about fares, and you may be correct, but United mainline doesn't seem to charge much more than any LCC on routes where they dirtectly compete. In fact, on a lot of routes, United mainline is sometimes cheaper than the LCC competition.
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 25 Reply 10, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 940 times:
Because it would go against the "grain" of what Midway is becoming, a low-fares airline airport. Airlines by serving Midway, align themselves with that identity.
The public is developing the perception, if they have not already, that by traveling out of Midway-The Budget Airport, they are somehow saving money. Almost second-class status in Chicagoland.
(Besides hubs, and a few cities, how many airports does UA and TED serve together; excluding SFO, DEN, LAX....?)
Keeping TED separate from Mainline is a difficult task. UA doesn't need to muddle the identity of it's core brand in it's strongest market; Chicago.
I say the perfect arrangement until such time Ted is spun off, or goes away. (Which we all know is going to happen someday, it's only inevitable)
Wondering if it should be done, SFO>>OAK, LAX>>BUR/ONT....?
Mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 10482 posts, RR: 79 Reply 11, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 917 times:
Stirling:
You're probably right. It still puzzles me, though.
Quoting Stirling (Reply 10): how many airports does UA and TED serve together; excluding SFO, DEN, LAX....?)
Only the hubs (including IAD), I think. Which I thought was the point of Ted.
Quoting Stirling (Reply 10): Keeping TED separate from Mainline is a difficult task. UA doesn't need to muddle the identity of it's core brand in it's strongest market; Chicago.
They don't seem to mind doing it at DEN, or SFO. Or even IAD.
Or, oddly, in Mexico. I can't see the logic, for example, of mainline DEN/CUN, and Ted DEN/SJD. Which is DEN/PVR - mainline or Ted? Does it matter?
However, given that Ted is for the leisure routes and MDW/DEN and MDW/IAD are not famously leisure routes, maybe I shall remain puzzled.
Mexicana757 From United States, joined Apr 2001, 2286 posts, RR: 10 Reply 12, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 845 times:
Quoting GalvanAir777 (Reply 2): But why? It seems to me anyway that the other bigs AA and DL do well out of MDW?
I think AA isnt doing that good at MDW, they only have three flights to DFW. The four American Eagle flights to LGA no longer operate. When I do flight tracker checks those flights dont appear anymore.
Midway7 From United States, joined Aug 2004, 119 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 823 times:
I think the majors AA and UA missed the boat several years ago when MDW was half empty. They should have went in there and did what ATA ended up doing. The problem is they weren't interested in the late 90's and their balance sheets went to hell after 2000.
Now, due to their lack of foresight, they have SWA to deal with. From all indications SWA is and will remain a big player in the Chicago market. Its my opinion that they are grabbing a lot more O&D traffic than people think.
At who's expense will SWA prosper, a few years back I would say AA. However, with UA's vicarious financial position and AA's more aggressive position at ORD the past few years, it is anyone's ballgame right now.
I think the majors did not realize what MDW would turn into after the new terminal was built. It's no longer a small, unfunctional, secondary facility catering to flight to MCO. It's a modern - fully functional 39 (I believe) gate facility capable of competing with ORD to a much greater extent.
Jdaniel001 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 797 times:
Quoting Midway7 (Reply 13): It's a modern - fully functional 39 (I believe) gate facility capable of competing with ORD to a much greater extent.
How are the gates allocated. It sound like the city only had 1 gate for TED or am I wrong? Or is TED subleasing from another carrier.
I think UA is making the right decision by easing TED into MDW. They are taking the travelers who are confused or whatever by the ATA bankruptcy and pullout of some of the service there. UA would be smart to add more service and frequency slowly.
SLUAviator From United States, joined Aug 2004, 300 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 771 times:
There was an article in Crain's Chicago Business a few weeks ago saying that WN is going to seriously expand at MDW this year. By serious expansion, they said as much as 30%. The article quoted a WN exec who said they have 25 gates at MDW, and they would love to run 10 flights per day from each. 250 flights a day out of MDW sounds like WN has UA and AA square in their sights. Oh... I forgot to mention, the title of the article was "Southwest Smells Blood."
Capt.Fantastic From United States, joined Aug 1999, 594 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 736 times:
I believe the last time they tried mianline at Midway was in 1987 - they flew MDW - DEN and MDW - LAX with 727s. That didn't last long at all.
Iowaman From United States, joined May 2004, 3251 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 727 times:
Quoting Mariner (Reply 9): Why not give 'em something different?
Drive to ORD in that case. As I said people just care about price, price and price. There is some variety with F9 having PTV's, etc. UA is trying to get TED as a recognized low-fare airline, even though it's part of UA. Maybe I'm doing a bad job explaining it.
Quoting Mariner (Reply 11): Or, oddly, in Mexico. I can't see the logic, for example, of mainline DEN/CUN, and Ted DEN/SJD. Which is DEN/PVR - mainline or Ted? Does it matter?
Not really, just F9 competition, and DEN to CUN seems to have fairly high fares still, which is obviously a popular destination.
Quoting SLUAviator (Reply 15): 250 flights a day out of MDW sounds like WN has UA and AA square in their sights.
It won't affect UA and AA all that much, just the additional flights will clog up MDW more than it already is so it turns into ORD.
SLUAviator From United States, joined Aug 2004, 300 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 719 times:
WN having 250 flights a day out of MDW will directly affect UA and AA. They are competing head to head on lots of routes which will drive prices down. That hurts both UA and AA. The big difference is the airport--either origin or destination. I think a lot of people would go to MDW instead of ORD and arrive in OAK instead of SFO if it saved them money. WN is going after the big boys, and there is practically nothing UA and AA can do to stop them.
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