American Airlines killing the nerd bird! (Houston, Dallas: buy, live, costs)

[woodinvilleguy]

August 25 is the last nerd bird flights from Austin to San Jose... :-( I hate American Airlines. This flight is always full, I wish there was a way to get jet blue to take over this route.

[atxcio]

Someone might very well take over that route. When AA killed AUS-SEA, Alaska Airlines (an AA codeshare I think) immediately stepped in and started the route again. So it may have more to do with AA cutting costs and phasing out the MD-80, rather than the success of the route. I would love it if JetBlue takes over, their planes are MUCH better and newer than AA's aging fleet.

Still, that is a bummer. As of now, that eliminates another direct destination from ABIA.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by woodinvilleguy

August 25 is the last nerd bird flights from Austin to San Jose... :-( I hate American Airlines. This flight is always full, I wish there was a way to get jet blue to take over this route.

you hate them because they are always full? Do you think they should hold a seat or two back just for you?
and if they faze out the MD-80s I will love them even more than I happen to now. Well I don't love them, I just think they are as good as any other line, maybe better in some way. They all leave things to be desired. As for MD-80s they are the worst, most uncomfortable plane in the air.

Nita

[woodinvilleguy]

Originally Posted by nmnita

you hate them because they are always full? Do you think they should hold a seat or two back just for you?

Nita

American claims it is because the flights aren't full. I don't buy that since I am on them way too often. The article was in the statesman with there statement.

Well I fly way too much. Mainly between Austin and San Jose or Seattle. American thinks that since we are so close to Dallas that we shouldn't mind connecting through there. It adds another 2 hours to an already long trip.

Since the flights are full they should cut flights that aren't. They have already killed the SEA flight, thankfully Alaska is stepping in but they haven't started that route yet. I think it is in August.

[AustinGuy]

Too bad they couldn't just cut it down to 1 flight a day instead of 2. Cutting it all together seems a bit hasty.

[mwv]

Another airline will take this route over (probably Southwest.) There's way too much traffic on it. AA is stupid.

[adtobias]

AA is not smart. They are just trying to keep the top management pockets full. They are going to lay off 1200 flight attendent and who know how many pilots

[Zzyzx]

For those in the hospitality industry this is yet another blow to this city.

[doctorjef]

One of the few things I actively disliked about Austin when I lived there was that it was so difficult to get a direct nonstop flight anywhere. Altways had to go to Dallas, Houston or Chicago it seemed. Outside of other cities in TX, Chicago was one of the few places of any consequence you could fly direct. Only one flight to LaGuardia a day as I recall. The attempt at direct service to Toronto lasted less than a year. I wonder if they still have Austin-Boston direct.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

One of the few things I actively disliked about Austin when I lived there was that it was so difficult to get a direct nonstop flight anywhere. Altways had to go to Dallas, Houston or Chicago it seemed. Outside of other cities in TX, Chicago was one of the few places of any consequence you could fly direct. Only one flight to LaGuardia a day as I recall. The attempt at direct service to Toronto lasted less than a year. I wonder if they still have Austin-Boston direct.

Austin is not a major hub..never has been. If you get a direct flight to anywhere besides Houston or Dallas then consider yourself lucky.