Tulsa International Losses Another Non-stop Flight

[LandArchPoke]

Just lost the NYC non-stop route:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/united-airlines-to-discontinue-nonstop-flight-between-tulsa-and-newark/article_a88f67d0-ad3e-5c0d-9ad5-4592f9a0fca0.html

Yet another route being trimmed due to poor performance. What is the issue with our inability to gain and keep non-stop routes? Hopefully when the renovations are done at TUL we can start gaining back some passengers that use NWA or OKC because they are more pleasant to fly out of and offer non-stop routes that Tulsa does not. We are under performing in air service compared to other regions, below is some comparison and TUL is within a larger 3 hour drive population than all of these except for Louisville. You would think we would have better service with AA/US Air bringing some many aircraft here... or you'd think we'd at least have services to all the major AA/US Air hubs.

Tulsa currently offers flights to the following hubs non-stop (14):

- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Chicago (Midway & O'Hare)
- Dallas (Love & DFW)
- Denver
- Detroit
- Houston (Hobby & Intercontinental)
- Las Vegas
- Minneapolis
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Salt Lake City
- St. Louis
- Washington DC

In comparison...

Omaha (16):   

- Seattle
- Las Vegas
- Salt Lake City
- Phoenix
- Denver
- Minneapolis
- Dallas
- Houston
- St. Louis
- Chicago
- Detroit
- New York
- Washington DC
- Charlotte
- Atlanta
- Orlando

Des Moines (16):

- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Washington DC
- Denver
- Dallas
- Detroit
- Newark/NYC (LaGuardia)
- Houston
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Chicago (Midway & O'Hare)
- Minneapolis
- Punta Gorda
- Phoenix
- Tampa
- Orlando

Oklahoma City (16, 17 soon)

- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- Phoenix
- Salt Lake City
- Denver
- Dallas (DFW & Love)
- Houston (Hobby & Intercontinental)
- St. Louis
- Minneapolis
- Chicago (O'Hare & Midway)
- Detroit
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Washington DC (Baltimore & Dulles)
- Newark
- Seattle (just announced)

Louisville (16):

- Las Vegas
- Phoenix
- Denver
- Dallas
- Houston
- Minneapolis
- Chicago
- Detroit
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Washington DC & Baltimore
- Charlotte
- Atlanta
- Tampa
- Orlando
- Miami

[sgrizzle]

My only complaint with Tulsa flights is that I have to fly to Ohio occasionally and the airlines want you to go through Houston, Denver or DFW. Even if I book through St Louis or Chicago, it usually means a layover or middle of the day flight. One way or another, you blow a whole day and while it is technically shorter than driving 12 hours, both options have similar impact on time.

[guido911]

My only complaint with Tulsa flights is that I have to fly to Ohio occasionally and the airlines want you to go through Houston, Denver or DFW. Even if I book through St Louis or Chicago, it usually means a layover or middle of the day flight. One way or another, you blow a whole day and while it is technically shorter than driving 12 hours, both options have similar impact on time.

I love the idea of flying to New Orleans by way of Atlanta....

[carltonplace]

I love the idea of flying to New Orleans by way of Atlanta....

I don't understand how they price flights.

TUL/ORD/CLT/MAD: $945
TUL/CLT/MAD: $1467

My guess is that their pricing structure is driving behavior more than convenience is.

[Red Arrow]

I don't understand how they price flights.

TUL/ORD/CLT/MAD: $945
TUL/CLT/MAD: $1467

My guess is that their pricing structure is driving behavior more than convenience is.

MAD?  Madrid Spain?

Pricing is probably influenced by how full each of the planes are.

[rebound]

MAD?  Madrid Spain?
Pricing is probably influenced by how full each of the planes are.

Not probably.  Airlines have some of the most convoluted and complex pricing structures on earth, and all related to maximizing revenue per passenger.  Which is, generally, related directly to how full a specific flight leg is.

[Red Arrow]

Not probably.  Airlines have some of the most convoluted and complex pricing structures on earth, and all related to maximizing revenue per passenger.  Which is, generally, related directly to how full a specific flight leg is.

How is that different than what I said?

Pricing is probably influenced by how full each of the planes are.

[rebound]

How is that different than what I said?

Just clarifying.  You said "probably".  There is no probably about it.   But while it is directly related, it is really about overall yield management, not just filling seats:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23572144/airlines-reveal-ticket-pricing-strategies

I've got about 2.7M miles, mostly on AA, and have played the ticketing game with them for years. 

[Red Arrow]

Just clarifying.  You said "probably".  There is no probably about it.   

OK

[Conan71]

I've got about 2.7M miles, mostly on AA, 

My condolences.

[rebound]

My condolences.

Yeah.  Used to be great.  Not so much anymore.

[davideinstein]

It's the price of the direct flights. Cheaper to fly Southwest to LaGuardia.

[carltonplace]

It's the price of the direct flights. Cheaper to fly Southwest to LaGuardia.

No train or subway to LaGuardia, you have to take the bus to the subway or pay for a $50 taxi to get into the city. JFK is much easier.

And yes, I would rather buy beer with my $50 than a taxi ride.

[Conan71]

And yes, I would rather buy beer with my $50 than a taxi ride.

A man with the proper sense of priorities!

[swake]

No train or subway to LaGuardia, you have to take the bus to the subway or pay for a $50 taxi to get into the city. JFK is much easier.

And yes, I would rather buy beer with my $50 than a taxi ride.

In other words, about 3 beers in New York.