Disappointed in NWA in Wisconsin

[jkp464]

I purchased my airfare 8 months in advance (in October for a June trip). I got a great price with an even better schedule. Then yesterday I received an email from NWA that my flight was changed as they are no longer offering non-stop service from Milwaukee to Orlando. I was able to get a complete refund on my purchase price (thank goodness), but I'm still very disappointed! Now I have to start the search all over ago. This has never happened to me before (except for some minor changes in departure/arrival times), so even purchasing in advance is no longer a "guarantee". Milwaukee is probably the biggest airport in Wisconsin, so I'm surprised that there is only one airline left offering non-stop service to Orlando (a major vacation destination)! Now we'll never get a competitive price with just one airline to book from!

 

[dudspizza]

I purchased my airfare 8 months in advance (in October for a June trip). I got a great price with an even better schedule. Then yesterday I received an email from NWA that my flight was changed as they are no longer offering non-stop service from Milwaukee to Orlando. I was able to get a complete refund on my purchase price (thank goodness), but I'm still very disappointed! Now I have to start the search all over ago. This has never happened to me before (except for some minor changes in departure/arrival times), so even purchasing in advance is no longer a "guarantee". Milwaukee is probably the biggest airport in Wisconsin, so I'm surprised that there is only one airline left offering non-stop service to Orlando (a major vacation destination)! Now we'll never get a competitive price with just one airline to book from!

I would venture to guess that many airlines feel the Milwaukee folks can also drive to Chicago (O'Hare, Midway, or Rockford) to get cheaper flights.

Try Airtran, they fly out of MKE non-stop (according to their route map). They do change schedules, though. Midwest also flies non-stop.

Good luck.

Duds

 

[disneyleslie]

airtran should have one nonstop flight - their dates have not been released yet for summer.

 

[jkp464]

We are north of Milwaukee by about an hour. So Chicago/Rockford isn't an "easy" alternative. I'll have to check out Airtran, I'd never heard of them before. Right now Midwest Express is the only offering non-stop from Milwaukee. I have no problem with that airline, I just think if they have the monopoloy on that route, their fares will increase (or at least they won't offer "sales"). Who knows?! Thanks for letting me "vent"!

 

[Psychodisney]

I got the same email! My DH spent three hours on the phone yesterday with NW. We didn't want a total refund because to book the sam itinerary it would have cost around $200 per person! Somehow he managed to get the to refund the outbound flight and keep the return fare(already on Midwest) and I booked the outbound on Midwest today. Midwest's schedule is pretty good and their rates aren't bad either.

 

[bab31]

Check midwest and see what the fare is...I have not looked recently but they have had some good fares to Orlando.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, wait a minute - has NWA pulled out of Milwaukee completely, or have they 'merely' ended non-stop service? Because if they're still serving your airport but just no more non-stops, then Midwest may have more convenient flights but they won't have a monopoly.

 

[jkp464]

NWA still services Milwaukee, but Midwest is the only airline offering non-stop service. So they have a monopoly on that specific service.

 

[robinb]

Why the heck did you cancel? Connecting flights out of Wisconsin is a way of life and not a big deal.

 

[jkp464]

I canceled because I booked non-stop and DO NOT WANT any layovers. For longer flights, I realize stops/layovers are part of the deal traveling from Wisconsin. We had stops for our CA and HI trips. But FL is not that far away and I think it is ridiculous to have to stop on the way there. A 2-1/2 flight will take at least 5 hours to reach my destination. That's just plain silly!

 

[robinb]

It's not all about distance. There are plenty of direct flights to Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis from Wisconsin .

I guess if you're willing to pay more for a direct flight, then you'll have to book with Midwest Express. I wonder if they still bake those yummy cookies on board.

 

[bsmandi]

I understand your frustration! I booked with NW out of Indianapolis and they also cancelled our non-stop flight! They offered other ns at different times that didn't work for us, so they refunded. The frustrating thing is they said they are starting up the 4:30pm Non-stop flight again the day after we return! OH-Well! I rebooked with Airtran and actually got a cheaper rate for a Non-stop flight at 7:00pm. (I really wanted non-stop because I hate flying!! Going up and down just once is a better option for me! )So it all worked out! This is our first trip to Orlando in December so I'm just hoping for good flights and no snow to slow us down!!!

 

[Psychodisney]

Robinb-just like the original poster I booked and paid for a nonstop flight. I realize many people change planes but I paid for a nonstop because I wanted a nonstop. It wasn't like NW was going to discount our tickets for adding a stop and a change of planes. Good luck rebooking-I hope you get what you want and what you pay for!

 

[bab31]

I would want a nonstop from Milwaukee if I were the OP also. Thats why I would check midwest. I am sure they are competitive. Too bad for northwest pulling that flight-route!

 

[Yzerbear19]

Which city were they going to have you do your layover at?

Unfortunately I think this is the way that the airlines are going. We used to have tons of nonstop flights from MBS airport, but in the last couple of years those have all gone away. Pretty much any flight out of MBS is going to stop and change in Detroit. Even the flights out of Flint stop in Detroit. Its easier and cheaper to just drive to Detroit then depart from there. The flights change in Detroit because that is a NWA hub. They try to get everyone to the hub so that they can fill the planes. It all comes down to money. It costs more to send a plane partial full then one that is completly sold. The direct route may not have been profitable to the airline anymore. It all comes down to the money an what is profitable for the airline. The airline industry really took a hit after 9/11 and with the increase in security and rising cost of fuel they have to make cuts to stay afloat. To me that is just part of the industry, and probably won't be changing anytime soon.

 

[disneybride96]

I understand your frustration! I booked with NW out of Indianapolis and they also cancelled our non-stop flight!

Yeah...flying out of Indy is a chore since ATA went under. It looks a little better for this January. I want to fly out early and return late. Those direct late flights are difficult to find. I'm about to book NWA for January. The flights just dropped $53 this week!

 

[debster]

NWA still services Milwaukee, but Midwest is the only airline offering non-stop service. So they have a monopoly on that specific service.

Midwest is not the only non-stop, we are on Airtran and they offer a non-stop service also to Orlando.

 

[DisOrBust]

If you watch MidWest sales you can easily get a sirect RT for 200ish. I have book over thanksgiving at 220/person.

Otherwise. Ohare has TED airlines with several direct cheap flights and then there is the mother of them all. Southwest out of Midway that has 7 or 8 dirct flights, cheap, a day. I have done TED and my kids LOVED it.