Southwest ends direct service from IAD to MCO

[csatterfield]

Today when I was doing research on the cost of a flight in October I learned I had to go thru Chicago to get to Orlando. I discovered SW is cutting its 2 daily non stop flights from Dulles to MCO starting August 15. Now I have to go to BWI if I want direct service to MCO. Then I learned SW is cutting the number of direct flights to MCO from BWI from 9 to 7. Overall SW is cutting 116 daily flights starting August 16, 2010.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I saw this a long time ago and I am not happy about it one bit! Thank goodness we still have JetBlue out of IAD which is usually right in line with Southwest on cost and 1st bags are still free with them. Goign to BWI isn't a bad thing either really. But it does suck! I don't understand it at all.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't understand it at all.

The fares we look to book aren't profitable. I'm not sure if a $250-$300 fare is profitable. I know the under $200 R/T fares posters are looking for aren't profitable.

Southwest also found passengers don't like the very early and very late flights and adjusted the schedule accordingly.

Airlines like Southwest are reducing the number of flights to destinations that only sell with money losing fares. They hope to offer enough seats to accomodate passengers willing to pay a profitable fare.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

USAirways has pretty cheap flights to MCO from DCA.

I also think DCA is the nicest of the three (DCA, IAD, and BWI)

 

[Tara]

This is why I try not to complain about the fares out of ALB. I'm worried that the nonstops will go away, so I'll gladly pay what the fares are right now (rarely lower than $250pp) in order help keep the few nonstops we have. (And no other airline flies n/s out of ALB to MCO.)

 

[DebbieB]

I saw this a long time ago and I am not happy about it one bit! Thank goodness we still have JetBlue out of IAD which is usually right in line with Southwest on cost and 1st bags are still free with them. Goign to BWI isn't a bad thing either really. But it does suck! I don't understand it at all.

Orlando is a tough market for an airline to make money. It's mostly leisure travel vs business travel. A business traveler is willing to pay higher fares for flights at the times they want. They wouldn't hesitate to pay $500 for a ticket that fits their schedule. But a leisure traveler would balk at that, especially when they have to buy multiple tickets. The airline needs those higher business fares to make a profit. See the thread on this board regarding driving vs paying higher fares. The fare that the airline needs to make a profit is causing people to say forget it, I'll drive. So the airline decides its planes could be used better elsewhere.

Don't be surprised to see Jet Blue's fares creap up now that there is less competition.

 

[judowoman]

wow good to know.. Although Ive been nursing the site on SW I found a great one on Jetblue which takes a huge amount of stress with this whole planning deal lol

 

[poohbear8]

DH told me to skip SW this year, since a layover in Chicago could be fine or a real nightmare. I am leaving IAD on JB and returning on United, due to their late flight. My fares went up from last year, but overall they were still acceptable. I hope they stay that way.