Comments for The Cranky Flier http://crankyflier.com Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:36:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 crankyflier.comhttp://www.crankyflier.com/images/crankylogoblack.pngCranky Logocrankyflier_Commentshttp://feedburner.google.com Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by Bill from DC http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/dDOOQejT6aI/ Bill from DC Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:36:09 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-352121 sanjeev - looks like we're on the same page for the most part. i still say US might consider another LAS flight b/c that sucker is ALWAYS packed and always expensive (at least when i check it is)! i am not sure VX would open a station for one daily flight to SFO? i agree that AS will do PDX as it fits nicely into their route structure and there is very little service from PDX to any DC airport. could an airline run flights to SJU with the perimeter exception? PR is very underserved in the DC area, especially with AA's SJU retraction (two or three dailies from BWI and IAD were never really replaced in this market). that could make a lot of sense to B6, especially with their buildup in SJU. sanjeev – looks like we’re on the same page for the most part. i still say US might consider another LAS flight b/c that sucker is ALWAYS packed and always expensive (at least when i check it is)!

i am not sure VX would open a station for one daily flight to SFO?

i agree that AS will do PDX as it fits nicely into their route structure and there is very little service from PDX to any DC airport.

could an airline run flights to SJU with the perimeter exception? PR is very underserved in the DC area, especially with AA’s SJU retraction (two or three dailies from BWI and IAD were never really replaced in this market). that could make a lot of sense to B6, especially with their buildup in SJU.


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-352121 Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by CF http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/Zrj1ngsSkjg/ CF Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:59:07 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-351884 Alaska flies 737s every day from DCA to LA and Seattle, so it's certainly not an issue. My guess is that the Airbuses would have trouble, so you won't see JetBlue looking to go transcon, (but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them go for San Juan). Alaska flies 737s every day from DCA to LA and Seattle, so it’s certainly not an issue. My guess is that the Airbuses would have trouble, so you won’t see JetBlue looking to go transcon, (but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them go for San Juan).


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-351884 Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by CF http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/QzvTUg0gvx0/ CF Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:54:45 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-351882 I don't remember all the specific timelines for NextGen, but there are some benchmarks set if you scroll through the bill. Some parts were being accelerated to 2015, I believe. I don’t remember all the specific timelines for NextGen, but there are some benchmarks set if you scroll through the bill. Some parts were being accelerated to 2015, I believe.


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-351882 Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by Sanjeev M http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/vOlFRR60jLw/ Sanjeev M Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:03:44 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-351846 Bill, you're right :) I mixed up PHX with LAS. PHX is 3 daily and LAS is the 1 daily redeye. Yeah I agree that some of the choices on that thread are wacky. People are justifying ABQ, COS, and even SMF with government business. YYC was purely for WestJet connections and maybe oil lobbies. I doubt those will happen. SAT may work only for WN. AUS and SAN have good government traffic and regular public demand combined. SFO, LAX are goldmines. People are saying that PDX is a winner, but I don't know. There's already 2 daily SEA on AS and 4 daily DEN on F9/UA. This is what I see happening with 8 slots 1. UA to SFO 100% sure (give up one ORD) 2. AA to LAX 90% sure (give up one JFK/DFW) 3. DL to LAX or SLC second daily, or some oddball point to point route. DL has more than enough in-perimeter hubs for connections. I see them being adventurous. (give up one Florida) 4. US will wait to see what others do, and pick some monopoly. My guess is SAN. I hope its not a 4th daily PHX. 5. AS to PDX, monopoly, demand, Oregon congressman pushing it 6. VX to SFO 7. B6 or WN to AUS/SAT (depending how much Congress loves WN) 8. Either B6 to LGB or NK to LAS F9 will get nothing. Already 3x DEN. This is assuming we're not going to see any international flying on these slots. Also, you know how the fares are at DCA. West coast with a connection are just as cheap as BWI, but midcons and short hauls are expensive thanks to our friends at US. Bill, you’re right :) I mixed up PHX with LAS. PHX is 3 daily and LAS is the 1 daily redeye.

Yeah I agree that some of the choices on that thread are wacky. People are justifying ABQ, COS, and even SMF with government business. YYC was purely for WestJet connections and maybe oil lobbies. I doubt those will happen. SAT may work only for WN.

AUS and SAN have good government traffic and regular public demand combined. SFO, LAX are goldmines. People are saying that PDX is a winner, but I don’t know. There’s already 2 daily SEA on AS and 4 daily DEN on F9/UA.

This is what I see happening with 8 slots
1. UA to SFO 100% sure (give up one ORD)
2. AA to LAX 90% sure (give up one JFK/DFW)
3. DL to LAX or SLC second daily, or some oddball point to point route. DL has more than enough in-perimeter hubs for connections. I see them being adventurous. (give up one Florida)
4. US will wait to see what others do, and pick some monopoly. My guess is SAN. I hope its not a 4th daily PHX.
5. AS to PDX, monopoly, demand, Oregon congressman pushing it
6. VX to SFO
7. B6 or WN to AUS/SAT (depending how much Congress loves WN)
8. Either B6 to LGB or NK to LAS

F9 will get nothing. Already 3x DEN.

This is assuming we’re not going to see any international flying on these slots.

Also, you know how the fares are at DCA. West coast with a connection are just as cheap as BWI, but midcons and short hauls are expensive thanks to our friends at US.


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-351846 Comment on Topic of the Week: Southwest’s Bigger Airplanes Start Flying Soon by Nicholas Barnard http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/u8-PzlGlUGQ/ Nicholas Barnard Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:16:45 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8894#comment-351753 AFAIK WN has the flat screen cockpit in their new planes, but they're programmed to show steam guages so pilots are more at ease moving between the 737-300s and the newer planes.. AFAIK WN has the flat screen cockpit in their new planes, but they’re programmed to show steam guages so pilots are more at ease moving between the 737-300s and the newer planes..


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/03/topic-of-the-week-southwests-bigger-airplanes-start-flying-soon/comment-page-1/#comment-351753 Comment on Topic of the Week: Southwest’s Bigger Airplanes Start Flying Soon by Nicholas Barnard http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/-zg_5TUghvY/ Nicholas Barnard Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:13:39 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8894#comment-351750 I remember US Air had it back in the day. Perhaps on DC-9s, but it might've been on the 727s they picked up from PSA.. I was too young to remember the plane type, but it sure was fun! I remember US Air had it back in the day. Perhaps on DC-9s, but it might’ve been on the 727s they picked up from PSA.. I was too young to remember the plane type, but it sure was fun!


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/03/topic-of-the-week-southwests-bigger-airplanes-start-flying-soon/comment-page-1/#comment-351750 Comment on Video Tour of the New LAX Bradley Terminal Concourse Under Construction by adam http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/ecBG7sRkKMQ/ adam Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:06:41 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8845#comment-351745 I have been working on the project since Jan 2011. I have never seen a bigger waste in money in the 30 years that i have worked construction. We work O.T. so that Walsh Austin the general contractor can hit milestone progress dates, only to run out of work a few weeks later. This project has a negligent lack of scheduling. Absolutely no room, due to the runway being built right up to the site. You can barely access the building to stock the material needed to do the job. Underground work takes place as we speak with big hole dug everywhere. Unheard of at this phase of the job. It defies belief almost every day. Now they want to open the north concourse by the years end which will restrict accessibility from the south that dead ends at the core, this will make the access stranglehold even worse. The only way any sub contractor will get out of there with theirs shirts on, will be to back charge the hell of Walsh Austin for their negligent lack of scheduling. This money pit will take years to sort out in court. For sub-contractors to lose money is hardly economic stimulus. The architectural design of this project has made the construction slow and costly. Also presents many unique situations pertaining to meeting the stringent safety demand... To top it off,they want to build a bridge and make another terminal to the west. The demolition of the American airline building has already started... I have been working on the project since Jan 2011. I have never seen a bigger waste in money in the 30 years that i have worked construction. We work O.T. so that Walsh Austin the general contractor can hit milestone progress dates, only to run out of work a few weeks later. This project has a negligent lack of scheduling. Absolutely no room, due to the runway being built right up to the site. You can barely access the building to stock the material needed to do the job. Underground work takes place as we speak with big hole dug everywhere. Unheard of at this phase of the job. It defies belief almost every day. Now they want to open the north concourse by the years end which will restrict accessibility from the south that dead ends at the core, this will make the access stranglehold even worse. The only way any sub contractor will get out of there with theirs shirts on, will be to back charge the hell of Walsh Austin for their negligent lack of scheduling. This money pit will take years to sort out in court. For sub-contractors to lose money is hardly economic stimulus. The architectural design of this project has made the construction slow and costly. Also presents many unique situations pertaining to meeting the stringent safety demand… To top it off,they want to build a bridge and make another terminal to the west. The demolition of the American airline building has already started…


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/01/26/video-tour-of-the-new-lax-bradley-terminal-concourse-under-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-351745 Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by DesertGhost http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/4VurMjQqxyY/ DesertGhost Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:04:53 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-351743 I really should have checked for the correct spelling for Adlai Stevenson's name. I really should have checked for the correct spelling for Adlai Stevenson’s name.


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-351743 Comment on Congress Finally Gets Moving on a Bill to Reauthorize the FAA After Way Too Many Wasted Years by Bill from DC http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/1_xP7hLwAmI/ Bill from DC Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:04:09 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8909#comment-351742 thanks sanjeev - i haven't ventured to that thread yet but, when i was doing my analysis, i found US has 3x to PHX but only once daily to LAS. perhaps the handful of dates i searched were oddballs but that would be pretty unlikely. some of the choices on that thread seem a little wacky... colorado springs? calgary? albuquerque? IMO these exemptions are few and far between and thus very valuable. i can't imagine any airline would consider applying for a route for which they could not fill up the seats on a A320/321, 757 or 737-800/900 (generally largest planes into DCA). thanks sanjeev – i haven’t ventured to that thread yet but, when i was doing my analysis, i found US has 3x to PHX but only once daily to LAS. perhaps the handful of dates i searched were oddballs but that would be pretty unlikely.

some of the choices on that thread seem a little wacky… colorado springs? calgary? albuquerque? IMO these exemptions are few and far between and thus very valuable. i can’t imagine any airline would consider applying for a route for which they could not fill up the seats on a A320/321, 757 or 737-800/900 (generally largest planes into DCA).


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/02/07/congress-finally-gets-moving-on-a-bill-to-reauthorize-the-faa-after-way-too-many-wasted-years/comment-page-1/#comment-351742 Comment on Video Tour of the New LAX Bradley Terminal Concourse Under Construction by sick n tired http://feeds.crankyflier.com/~r/crankyflier_Comments/~3/yPE8Jei1j3Q/ sick n tired Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:01:54 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=8845#comment-351740 I have been working on the project since Jan 2011. I have never seen a bigger waste in money in the 30 years that i have worked construction. We work O.T. so that Walsh Austin the general contractor can hit milestone progress dates, only to run out of work a few weeks later. This project has a negligent lack of scheduling. Absolutely no room, due to the runway being built right up to the site. You can barely access the building to stock the material needed to do the job. Underground work takes place as we speak with big hole dug everywhere. Unheard of at this phase of the job. It defies belief almost every day. Now they want to open the north concourse by the years end which will restrict accessibility from the south that dead ends at the core, this will make the access stranglehold even worse. The only way any sub contractor will get out of there with theirs shirts on, will be to back charge the hell of Walsh Austin for their negligent lack of scheduling. This money pit will take years to sort out in court. For sub-contractors to lose money is hardly economic stimulus. The architectural design of this project has made the construction slow and costly. Also presents many unique situations pertaining to meeting the stringent safety demand... I have been working on the project since Jan 2011. I have never seen a bigger waste in money in the 30 years that i have worked construction. We work O.T. so that Walsh Austin the general contractor can hit milestone progress dates, only to run out of work a few weeks later. This project has a negligent lack of scheduling. Absolutely no room, due to the runway being built right up to the site. You can barely access the building to stock the material needed to do the job. Underground work takes place as we speak with big hole dug everywhere. Unheard of at this phase of the job. It defies belief almost every day. Now they want to open the north concourse by the years end which will restrict accessibility from the south that dead ends at the core, this will make the access stranglehold even worse. The only way any sub contractor will get out of there with theirs shirts on, will be to back charge the hell of Walsh Austin for their negligent lack of scheduling. This money pit will take years to sort out in court. For sub-contractors to lose money is hardly economic stimulus. The architectural design of this project has made the construction slow and costly. Also presents many unique situations pertaining to meeting the stringent safety demand…


]]> http://crankyflier.com/2012/01/26/video-tour-of-the-new-lax-bradley-terminal-concourse-under-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-351740