China Flights- will it happen ?

[X-U]

He's definitely involved. At the CLT pilots' meeting in September, Doogie said he had just come from PHL where he met with Rendell and Street over the "PHL Gate Affair." He mentioned that Rendell was supportive, and Street was "not so." That's my own characterization of what he said; if you have access, you can see it on the Hub.

Of course, this was all before the PIT pulldown, so Rendell may very well have changed his opinions in the matter.

I would guess that he's changed his opinions. I'm sure he is eyeing one of the Senate seats, and Spector isn't getting any younger.

 

[computer guy]

This might be a really stupid question, but why doesn't US just tow the 757s to B or C for departures in PHL and just use A for the Intl. arrivals. I know the gates on the end can support these birds. (Can they also support a 767? I thought I was on one out that terminal to CLT a number of years ago prior to A-West being opened but it has been a while.)

They would then operate in a manner that is similar to how UA operates in ORD. All Intl arrivals at ORD go into T5 (only terminal with customs and immigration), while all of their departures are out of T1.

 

[EMBFA]

Pet Forum Peeve:

Mute does not equal moot.

.

Bother way. thanks for being an upmost pro and catching that. Mistakes like this are barred for the course.

 

[freedom]

We need a non stop to china out of AZ! just think of all those people in china who would love to see the grand canyon!

 

[bigbusboy]

Threatening the China frequency was probably the dumbest f'ing thing Dougweiser will do this year, and that's saying a lot.

And last year's was Delta. I shutter to think what next year will bring.

 

[US1YFARE]

Bother way. thanks for being an upmost pro and catching that. Mistakes like this are barred for the course.

Oh my goodniss
Oh no you did'int

 

[mrman]

The funny thing about this whole mess is US is flying domestic in the A terminal. It is amazing to go to AA baggage claim to see US domestic passengers looking for luggage. They are dazed and confused when someone finally tells them to go outside and walk to the "B" termiinal. AA bagage has even had to create a sign telling US customers that they have to go to B. They force their passengers to walk to B terminal with little or poor signage because they have no domestic A baggage claim, yet they complain about other airlines using A for domestic

 

[sfb]

Ok, I admit partial defeat, but they are being served once a day. Would you rather have a daily Beijing and Moscow flight or a daily San Antonio and Austin flight?

Do I really think US would serve Moscow year-round? No. Would I drive to EWR instead of taking America-West-ized US's ghetto international service from PHL to PEK? In a nanosecond. I'd sooner fly one of the Chinese airlines. Most of the new international flying has been summer-only service; that simply does not attract businesses to a city. Southwest's service to Philadelphia has resulted in far, far more people flying to and from PHL; passenger numbers at PHL are up by over a third since 2003 even though US mainline traffic at PHL dropped by about 15% over the same period. So yeah, an expanded WN presence probably is better for Philadelphia than a China flight and/or a couple of seasonal 757's to Europe.

I think everyone would be fine with that....BUT WHEN THEY BUILD THE HAMMERHEAD!!! Not by permanently moving Delta and its domestic operations to the international terminal. Like I said earlier, if Southwest wants to expand that much AND THEY NEED THE GATES....MAKE THEM USE THE REMOTE STANDS AND PEOPLE MOVERS!! To take these gates away from US Airways is just wrong...no way around it....I know you all hate US and will do anything to disparage it....but this IS NOT in the best interest of the city.

The hammerhead can't get built until Southwest vacates some of the gates it uses in the future construction zone. But heck, make them give up gates because using them for 8 or 9 daily turns is so damn inefficient! Especially when compared to the massive 3 or 4 daily turns US averages with its mainline gates.

If it is sooooo inconsequential for a city, like you suggest, then why do 1000s of supporters write to the DOT when these routes are being awarded begging for their city to get the award? Why is Spector so up in arms if he shouldn't care. You are dead wrong.

Either you are incredibly naive or you are one of DoUgIe's drinking buddies. Why is Spector (and the rest of the Pennsylvania delegation) so pissed off? Because they've gone to the mat to support US Airways in the past, and they pledged their support for the airline's China application. Now the work they've done for US Airways has been thrown back in their faces with the PIT pulldown and threats to dump the hard-fought China route over a petty squabble about gates at PHL. What kind of idiots are running that airline? Is it their intent to obliterate any sort of goodwill they might have enjoyed with the PA delegation?

This might be a really stupid question, but why doesn't US just tow the 757s to B or C for departures in PHL and just use A for the Intl. arrivals. I know the gates on the end can support these birds.

You could never make it in Tempe -- you think of logical solutions to problems.

 

[BuffaloJoe]

We need a non stop to china out of AZ! just think of all those people in china who would love to see the grand canyon!

What the Mexicans want to go to China? China will start a War if we send them our illegals!

 

[US1YFARE]

Pennsylvania delegation

Apparently, DoUgIe kept referring to them as the CONGREGATION instead of delegation

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Apparently, DoUgIe kept referring to them as the CONGREGATION instead of delegation

PHL does not know what the word Congregation means, they are far from the Bible belt. They may have over 500-600 murders there this year. Bush should send the Army and Marines to Philly, I think Al-Queda has a cell there. !

 

[flyingcat]

1. If US knew it needed the political muscle to get the PHL gates why were they so dumb as to announce the PIT reduction before the issue was settled. Am I the only one who knows how politics works. First you get the favor then you stop returning their calls.

Its called tactics.

2. PHL has offered to expand A with more gates. US does not seem to want to entertain this option. Heck I would turn the situation to a win. Go to Nutter and say, hey it will be hard to bus the passengers, but if we can get some incentives to fund the extra gates we can live with it.

So far it seems like US wants the extra gates but heaven help them if they have to help finance newly constructed ones.

3. Spin, spin, spin. You've got the senator next to you complaining about PIT reduction. In response you bring up the extra service and destinations, that PHL is in line for will serve more Pennsylvania residents and its largest city.

Dougie needs to be standing next to the Phillie Phanatic, Philadelphia chamber of commerc,e and the mayor elect saying the Senator does not want PHL to grow. Make Spector look like he favors PIT over PHL and he will have to back down.

Unfortunately by threatening/alienating PHL supporters Douggie and Scotch have closed most doors.

 

[zethya]

....Dougie needs to be standing next to the Phillie Phanatic, Philadelphia chamber of commerc,e and the mayor elect saying the Senator does not want PHL to grow. Make Spector look like he favors PIT over PHL and he will have to back down.

Unfortunately by threatening/alienating PHL supporters Douggie and Scotch have closed most doors.

I do agree with your logic - unfortunately we are really all only guessing as to what Parker's real agenda is.
It would be difficult to ever conclude that Specter favors PIT over PHL. He does now and has lived in Philadelphia for most of his academic and professional life.

 

[EMBFA]

Stupid as the airport's position is, US makes really poor use of the gates it has, not only in B/C, but in A-West which sits quiet all day until international arrivals. Not to mention US Airways is responsible for clogging up Philly with RJs (and much of the east, along with Delta).

Oct 2000
Mainline 257
Express 138
Destinations 99

Jan 2004
Mainline 198
Express 184
Destinations 105

Oct 2007
Mainline 128
Express 262
Destinations 108

 

[PhxMama]

Who said these flights would be staffed with west crews?

j/k

Didnt know you were from the west! Mama