MSP - we'll never get decent airfares!!

MickeyMagic

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Nov 24, 1999
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Story on wcco.com:

Pawlenty Endorses NWA's Terminal Plans At Airport
Sep 21, 2004 12:35 pm US/Central

Northwest Airlines got a major boost in its effort to gain control of nearly all the gates at the main terminal of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday endorsed the plan.

"As a state, we need to make sure that Minnesota has a globally competitive economy," Pawlenty said in a statement. "We need to plan ahead to ensure Minnesota continues to have world-class air service."

Northwest had said in June that would like to have the main Lindbergh Terminal for itself and airline partners Mesaba, Pinnacle, Continental, Delta and KLM.

That would mean moving American and United airlines to the smaller Humphrey Terminal, which currently houses Sun Country Airlines and other charter carriers.

The idea is that by then adding gates to both terminals, it would allow all the airlines to expand in Minnesota.

Northwest accounts for 80 percent of the airport's traffic, versus 4.5 percent for American and 3.8 percent for United, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which operates the airport.

The Lindbergh terminal, with its dozens of shops and restaurants, is generally viewed as having more passenger amenities than the Humphrey Terminal.

United spokesman Jeff Green had no comment on the plan on Tuesday. A call to American Airlines was not immediately returned.

The plan, which would run through 2010, would cost about $860 million in user fees, grants and added charges on passengers. The use of state or local taxes was not called for.

Pawlenty said the plan was expected to add 40,000 new jobs for the region. The press statement didn't give details on the employment projection.

The first phase would move all airlines except Northwest and its corporate allies out of the Lindbergh Terminal and into Humphrey. The Humphrey Terminal would get eight new gates by 2007 to accommodate its new tenants.

The second phase would add another 17 gates to the Lindbergh Terminal, which now has 117. By 2020, the terminal would be expanded to 153 gates.

The plan also calls for the construction of a 400-room hotel at the airport.
 
The last couple of times we've flown, it was out of Humphrey. The new terminal is pretty great, the people seemed much nicer and less hassled than at MSP, and between AirTran, ATA and SunCountry, we don't see much need to fly NWA any more. I wish MSP luck, but given the choice, I'll take Humphrey.

Now, what am I going to do with all those NWA FF miles?

Susan
 
I too need to fly out of MSP. We will be flying in January (5 tickets) and am hoping that there will be some good deals to MCO. I haven't flown NW for many years because they never have a price that I can handle. I am fine with the charters. I drive 4 hours to fly so being able to just sit and relax is all I need.
The best price I've seen so far is 230.00 each. I'm hoping for the after Newyears sale.
 

Here in Pittsburgh, we had a similiar situation with USAirways. The new airport terminal was built practically for them about 10 years ago. They had long term lease agreements to pay for it. They went into bankrupcy and cancelled those lease agreeements. Now we are downsized from "hub" to "focus city" and lots of people are out of jobs. One of their two 25 gate jet concourses is now for regional jets and turbo props and is pretty deserted. We are still paying higher fares and have less flights choices. All I would say to any other city is be careful putting all your eggs in one basket.
 
<-------- Grand Rapids native!

I like HHH right now, but I don't like the idea of all of the added flights to that terminal.

The main terminal definitely has more to offer when it comes to shops and dining. It is just a short, free shuttle ride over from the HHH terminal, but when you have a 7am flight, you don't have an options for food at the HHH. If they expand, I would like to see some more shops and restaraunts at the HHH.

I always keep an eye on sun country, airtran and travelocity......

Good luck....
 
Personally, I think it stinks. One more way for NWA to try and secure a stranglehold on MSP. I bet our governor hasn't ever priced out flights for himself to see how much Minnesotans are getting ripped off by NWA's overwhelming presence here with the lack of competition.

I go to a convention every year in Chicago for my Pampered Chef business. This year, I paid $208 to fly to Chicago! People from Seattle in my group paid $99, people from the east coast also paid less than $100. And this was in to Midway not O'Hare! Now I knowSWA and Jet Blue have lower costs than NWA, but they don't fly from Seattle?

And the flights to MCO...it takes so long to save up the airfare for one family from MSP compared to other places. I hear the MAC does a good job of keeping the landing fees nice and high to discourage the low airfare carriers from looking up here.

I SO wish SWA could find some way to get up here though and shake things up.
 
decaff38 - watch AirTran for those $89 (one way) fares. They seem to pop up fairly often.
 
I saw this story last night on the news too, and had the exact same thoughts! NWA monopoly is bad enough up here, without giving them control of the entire airport.

Erika
 
I agree with all of you............this just ticks me right off!!

I'm with you MNSusan, I want to quit NW, but have all of "their" airmiles. I am seriously going to have to consider changing to a generic USBank Visa to get FF miles for many different airlines options. I think this is possible with the FF miles I have now, but they have made it just inconvenient enough for me not to bother with any other airline. Know what I mean?

NWA - GIVE ME A BREAK!!:sad2:
 
I just got the Disney Visa for exactly the same reason! We're flying AirTran and SunCountry enough now that I don't feel much loyalty to NWA.

Susan
 
Originally posted by MNSusan
I just got the Disney Visa for exactly the same reason! We're flying AirTran and SunCountry enough now that I don't feel much loyalty to NWA.

Susan

I did the same thing. I figure I'll earn my AP's for free, and just buy my tickets. I am NEVER able to get anything from MSP to MCO on NWA for less than 50000 miles anyway! Grrrrrr, flying out of here makes me grouchy can you tell???:D
 
I am not surprised to read of this news.

Northwest announced plans for an additional runway and gates at our Rochester airport. They rule this airport, too.

I am stuck with NW out of Rochester. Only 2 arilines here and the other one is AA and their rates are higher, can you believe it?

herc.
 
Originally posted by hercamore
I am not surprised to read of this news.

Northwest announced plans for an additional runway and gates at our Rochester airport. They rule this airport, too.

I am stuck with NW out of Rochester. Only 2 arilines here and the other one is AA and their rates are higher, can you believe it?

herc.

Believe someone has higher rates than NWA???..:tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: That's very funny!!!

I feel for you, seems we are all stuck!
 














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