DIA77:
Interesting about SMF. I've lived quite close for two years - 67 miles - but I've never been there. I'll change that next week-end.
I always use SFO or OAK, which can be an ugly drive from here. After your post, I'm thinking about using SMF instead.
cheers
mariner
BA:
It's interesting (to me, anyway) that obviously Sacramento is doing well for F9, but that Reno, not that far away and a big tourist destination, is not - or was not - doing so well.
Is there some special connection between Sacramento and Denver?
TIA
cheers
mariner
These days, if the airline isn't serving a meal it's perfectly acceptable. A couple of the better restaurants in San Francisco are already preparing upmarket "airline picnic boxes" for people to take onboard. There are going to be some problems, because someone will try to bring a sloppy chicken ste...
Jump to postUALPHLCS: While I accept that Creighton did what you say, there is a greater question about his tenure. Under UAL's own corporate laws, a CEO must resign at 70. Therefore, Creighton, who was 69 when he was appointed, could only be interim. Now, it always said that he was interim, but the board did v...
Jump to postHamad:
Just to back it up, I can't think of much - if anything - that Speedport missed. It's as accurate a description of UAL's troubles as I've ever read.
Perhaps the most important thing he states is that the trouble began long before 9/11.
cheers
mariner
Fact or rumor - who knows for certain? But it's probably wishful thinking.
PBI has not appeared in any list of Frontier's future destinations. The present front runners for future service by F9 are SNA (almost sure) RDU (possible) and a return to BOS (maybe).
cheers
mariner
Clickhappy: Yes, indeed, but that load factor is down because of a big increase in available seat miles. F9 has added service to several new cities this year, thus the amount of seats avaliable goes up. Happily, the seats sold are virtually keeping pace with the increase. cheers mariner
Jump to postClickhappy: The average fare is on its way back up. Three months ago, it had fallen to a low of $106. This compares with the average airline fare of below $100. More importantly, F9's load factor was 65.5% in December. Given that the break even load factor is 64%, this means they made money last mon...
Jump to postSrbmod: Sorry, I still can't see the logic. As I've said, it's two different cultures (F9 is one class, low fare) and two completely different fleets. The F9 route map doesn't give AS much that don't have already, or could easily - and more cheaply - get on it's own. IF it happened, AS would acquire...
Jump to postEA CO AS Your points are all valid, but I'm still wary of mergers and take-overs. An alliance would be a different matter. I first bought a few shares in F9 soon after the Westpac debacle - and didn't really expect the splendid results I've had. That said, I see no point in AS and F9 being "enemies"...
Jump to postEA CO AS: Oh, I agree. I've flown with AS to Mexico several times. I'm simply trying to find reasons for a connection/merger/take over, and AS has said they'd like to fly from Denver to Mexico. That talk died down when F9 started their Mexico routes. So a code share on Denver/Cancun would make more ...
Jump to postBA: There's a strong rumor that F9 will be (or has been) approved for it's SNA service, but I don't think that is covered by the incentive program. For myself, I'd like to see F9 add some routes that no one else flies, such as Denver to Monterrey and Veracruz, both in Mexico, and Denver to Montreal....
Jump to postI'm trying - and failing - to imagine why Alaska (AS) and Frontier (F9) would merge. It's two completely different cultures and two completely different fleets. F9's route map doesn't give AS much that it doesn't have already I can see a code share maybe - AS on F9's Mexico services and F9 on AS's A...
Jump to postBA: Well, ABQ would be fine, because it's the plane that interests me, not the destination. But I'm a tad surprised, unless ABQ is going to be used as a "proving" run. CEO Jeff Potter has always said that he wants the A318 for the "long and lean" routes. There's another rumor that F9 will return to ...
Jump to postBA: I hadn't heard April, but I'm going by the press release (six months ago?) when Frontier coverted it's options to firm orders and changed from the PW engine to the CFM. Yes, you're right about British Airways, and, I think, Egypt Air. Pity there aren't more orders, but everyone has CRJ fever at ...
Jump to postAs it stands now, Frontier will be the launch customer for the A318, with the first plane delivered early July.
cheers
mariner
You had me confused for a moment. VEX is also used for Valley Air Express, here in northern California.
They fly between Oakland and Santa Rosa.
cheers
mariner
It's a very curious bankruptcy. By its own admission UAL will be cash flow negative to the tune of $15 million a day this month. Under the terms of their DIP financing, they have to become cash flow positive by the end of February. So I'm not sure how slashing business fares will help. They'll get s...
Jump to postBA: Thanks for the answers. Howsumever, I'm only concerned with the stated "problem" part. If Frontier is the only airline to go under the walkway, then it still doesn't seem like a huge problem to me. I fly with Frontier three or four times a year, through Denver, and I've never been under the walk...
Jump to postThe tail on the A318 is about 20 inches higher than the A319 (similar height to the 737NG).
But how many Frontier aircraft actually do go under the walkway? And why is it a problem, when they can just go around?
cheers
mariner
The ATSB has denied the application by Great Plains Airlines.
http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/po3714.htm
Does anyone know if this will affect their fleet explansion plans?
cheers
mariner
DIA:
I'm sure you're right, it will be either Vancouver or Toronto.
But I can still dream it ill be Montreal....
(and I can dream that the next Mexican destination will be a business center, rather than a resort - Monterrey or Veracruz).
cheers
mariner
Elwood64151: You're right, it's more likely to be Toronto or Vancouver, but I like "off the wall" thinking. No one else flies non-stop Denver/Cancun, and I think it's a good idea for Frotnier to fly non-stops that UAL doesn't serve. So, if they do go to Canada, I'd rather see (first choice) Montreal...
Jump to postFrontier has said they'd like to serve Canada "at some time".
I'd like to see them do something a bit unusual - like Denver/Montreal (with a couple of French speaking cabin staff).
cheers
mariner
(i) about three hours, twenty minutes (with Middle East Airlines)
(ii) Saudi Arabia, over Jordan and Syria to Lebanon.
cheers
mariner
I can add:
BOAC (now British)
Qantas
KLM
Air France
cheers
mariner
I'm with BA. LHR is a license to print money for United, as it was fot TWA and PAA. Probably the stupidest move both of the latter airlines made was to sell their LHR slots for a lot of money - but, in the process, lost their most profitable routes (and most valuable assets). It would make a lot mor...
Jump to postI agree. I've flown with both, and they're both excellent.
Flip a coin.
cheers
mariner
Sean-SAN: You're right. which is why sales of the B717 and the A318 haven't gone through the roof. The question is why. In the case of the A318, it suits Frontier well - it has the range to fly almost any route in the network, and is ideal for what CEO Potter calls the "long and lean" routes - high ...
Jump to postBA: The reduction in fleet (by one) was planned - the return to the lessors of some 737's. There was an overlap between the time the replacement A319 came in and the 737 could, contractually, go back. The A318's are firm orders. I forget how many options there are for A319's, but some are dated (def...
Jump to postBA: I flew Ryanair last year and they were charging for everything, including sodas. And they've said in public that their sandwiches are about the most expensive in the world, and that they make a good profit from them. There's been some talk about US majors doing the same thing. But - I do think t...
Jump to postFirst I've heard of two things - (i) the A318's: apart from the original order, as cited by BA, there are (I think) options on another 4. (ii) I had not heard they were cancelling any orders, BA. I did hear they may not pick up their options on a couple, or defer them. Do you have a source? cheers m...
Jump to postUm - I haven't flown on any of the majors for a while, but weren't they charging just for headsets ($4)?
Or has that stopped?
Then again, the European low fares charge for everything, including drinks and food - and no TV.
cheers
mariner
Only one plane so far - more to come
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_1518965,00.html
cheers
mariner
Yes, Maho is in Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles side) not the French side (Saint Martin). But for the tourists, the rules are generally the same on both sides, and Sint Maarten takes most (not all) of its laws from Holland. And most social laws in Holland, like France, are EU. cheers mariner
Jump to postYes.
It's not unusual for European beaches, and since Saint Martin is actually (not geographically) as much a part of France as Paris, European rules apply.
cheers
mariner
Sorry, not so.
The launch customer for the A318 is Frontier (as per Airbus website), with the first delivery planned for July.
Frontier originally signed for PW engines, but because of the problems they switched to CFM.
cheers
mariner
Ladevale: Call me dumb, call me stupid, many have, but I never equated the DIA roof with snow covered mountains. I associated it more with tents in the desert. So, beauty, architectural or otherwise, can often be in the eye of the beholder. I know, for example, that the "sails" of the Sydney Opera H...
Jump to postI doubt there would (or could) have been a lawsuit. It was only a letter of intent.
cheers
mariner
ONT 737: When JetBlue announced the purchase of LiveTV, they could easily have cancelled the Frontier deal. At that time, Frontier didn't have a contract, only a "letter of intent". From the word go, JetBlue said they intended to honor that agreement. This suggests that the relationship between the ...
Jump to postBA: That's a great analysis. I'd only quibble with one thing. Yes, the average fare ($111) is down from last year. But it is up from two months ago ($106), and stayed up through August and September. They also said that forward bookings are looking okay, and, more importantly, that the average fare ...
Jump to postEveryone: Thanks for the good info about Morelia and Michoacan. Going to Mexico City for a few days to get there is no problem - it's one of my favorite cities in the world. Once had a great day on the canals at Xochimilco with a Mexican family, and an even better Sunday afternoon at Cayocan (includ...
Jump to postSR117:
Thanks for the info about Morelia. That ties in with everything I've heard. Might take a look-see.
The resorts in Mexico are great, but I get bored with beaches, and I love the inland cities.
cheers
mariner
LatinPlane:
That's interesting, I didn't know that. I'll go back and check the site again.
Do you happen to know anything about Morelia? Several Mexican chums say it's worth a visit. I'm especially interested in hand painted furniture.
cheers
mariner
It's a sort of a web site for aero california, but it doesn't show Los Cabos as a destination. I checked Aerolitoral's destination map, and they fly to La Paz, but not from there to Puerto Vallarta. <a href="http://www.reservaciones.com/airlines/aerocalifornia.shtml" target=_blank>http://www.reserva...
Jump to post(i) The rego was already taken. (ii) Frontier only flies in the US (presently - Cancun in December). (iii) The rego was already taken, because: (iii) Perhaps, most importantly, 911 is the emergency telephone number in the US. Thus the helicopter above (emergency service) has a 911 registration. Ther...
Jump to postI agree with FlagshipAZ in principle - but many people are (a) nervous of flying, and (b) very superstitious. It used to be that skyscrapers never had a 13th floor - it was listed as 12A. And some airlines wouldn't have a row 13 - it jumped from 12 to 14, simply because a lot of people wouldn't sit ...
Jump to postYes, it was already taken.
And no - given the tragic connections that "911" has, I doubt Frontier would have used it.
cheers
mariner
BA: Here's the link. I'm not sure how to make it "active" on this board, so i'm just following the instructions they give. <a href="http://www.sanbachs.net/cgi-bin/mexico/mexicoa.cgi/City=ZAC" target=_blank>http://www.sanbachs.net/cgi-bin/mexico/mexicoa.cgi/City=ZAC</a> Hope it helps. cheers mariner
Jump to postBA: I searched for "Zacatecas aiport" on Google, and found one useful site, but I don't know from what date It still lists Mexicana to Denver, but hasn't that gone? It says Mexicana is the big one from Zacatecas, serving all the usual suspects in Mexico and the US. It also lists Continental from Hou...
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