http://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/a ... 612519001/
I wonder what motivated them to do this? The flight will only operate on Saturdays starting April 14th.
Both flights are operated by a 737-800. The flight from LGA-PHX leaves at 4:00 PM eastern time and touches down at 6:40 PM mountain time. Coming back, the flight takes off at 11:10 AM mountain time and lands at 7:00 PM eastern time.

Saturday is the only day of the week airlines can operate outside of the perimeter rule.

Dominion301 wrote:

Saturday is the only day of the week airlines can operate outside of the perimeter rule.

I know that, but I was wondering why they went for PHX. I guess maybe cause they have a large focus city there and they wanna create quick connections to the West Coast? Another good option could have been LAS, I'm sort of surprised they didn't choose them.

They have the data, we don't. I'm sure there are enough passengers for them to profitably make this happen? We'll see how it goes.

Nah. Never worked. Even for airlines more established at LGA.

Delta tried California and so did ATA. Delta also tried SLC. All LGA Sat only services. All failed.

11725Flyer wrote:

They have the data, we don't. I'm sure there are enough passengers for them to profitably make this happen? We'll see how it goes.

AA flew this same route roughly a year ago and they didn't fly it for long, even with the PHX hub it didn't work out.

Im surprised they didn't go for LAS

These sat only services usually don't last long.

jfklganyc wrote:

Nah. Never worked. Even for airlines more established at LGA.

Delta tried California and so did ATA. Delta also tried SLC. All LGA Sat only services. All failed.

Actually, Delta has done LGA - BZN on Saturdays for several years in the summer and it is scheduled to return next summer. Must be working. So why not PHX on WN?

Because BZN is home to a huge mega upscale resort with people who have very very very deep pockets. Even JetSuite is flying BUR/SJC to BZN.

stapleton wrote:

jfklganyc wrote:

Nah. Never worked. Even for airlines more established at LGA.

Delta tried California and so did ATA. Delta also tried SLC. All LGA Sat only services. All failed.

Actually, Delta has done LGA - BZN on Saturdays for several years in the summer and it is scheduled to return next summer. Must be working. So why not PHX on WN?

High end niche markets work, EGE for example. For those who have the $$$. Not sure if PHX fits that description but it keeps a plane in the air.

usxguy wrote:

Because BZN is home to a huge mega upscale resort with people who have very very very deep pockets. Even JetSuite is flying BUR/SJC to BZN.

I'm pretty sure those deep pocket people usually have their own jets to fly on. Besides, the round-trip fare on DL LGA-BZN-LGA next June is $463. A ticket on DL is more expensive to PHX from LGA if you bought today for the same days. I think it has more to do with Leisure O&D and increased aircraft availability on weekends. It is apparent the aircraft is available and PHX and LGA do have leisure O&D so again, why not try it? It's pretty low risk really.

usxguy wrote:

Because BZN is home to a huge mega upscale resort with people who have very very very deep pockets. Even JetSuite is flying BUR/SJC to BZN.

...and SLC isn't? Jackson Hole?

My guess is this is strictly a test. If it does well, WN will expand the Sat-only LGA flights to LAS and a few of their key CA/west coast stations; I could see LAX, SAN and OAK as likely.

WN has a long history of trying out new routes on Sat Only and if that service does well, they will expand the route to daily. This is different since the routes can only fly on Saturdays but trying it out on one long-haul market might very well drive the service to other markets.

bb

stapleton wrote:

usxguy wrote:

Because BZN is home to a huge mega upscale resort with people who have very very very deep pockets. Even JetSuite is flying BUR/SJC to BZN.

I'm pretty sure those deep pocket people usually have their own jets to fly on. Besides, the round-trip fare on DL LGA-BZN-LGA next June is $463. A ticket on DL is more expensive to PHX from LGA if you bought today for the same days. I think it has more to do with Leisure O&D and increased aircraft availability on weekends. It is apparent the aircraft is available and PHX and LGA do have leisure O&D so again, why not try it? It's pretty low risk really.

There's infinite demand NYC-PHX but one has to know to look for Southwest flights because WN doesn't appear through Orbitz, Kayak, etc. searches. Marketing only to the WN faithful isn't going to help a Saturday-only service in an unexpected market.

MIflyer12 wrote:

stapleton wrote:

usxguy wrote:

Because BZN is home to a huge mega upscale resort with people who have very very very deep pockets. Even JetSuite is flying BUR/SJC to BZN.

I'm pretty sure those deep pocket people usually have their own jets to fly on. Besides, the round-trip fare on DL LGA-BZN-LGA next June is $463. A ticket on DL is more expensive to PHX from LGA if you bought today for the same days. I think it has more to do with Leisure O&D and increased aircraft availability on weekends. It is apparent the aircraft is available and PHX and LGA do have leisure O&D so again, why not try it? It's pretty low risk really.

There's infinite demand NYC-PHX but one has to know to look for Southwest flights because WN doesn't appear through Orbitz, Kayak, etc. searches. Marketing only to the WN faithful isn't going to help a Saturday-only service in an unexpected market.

With an asterisks around WN faithful being inadequate. They are the largest domestic airline, so they are obviously doing something right to drive traffic, not going to make a difference here either not being on those sites. Agree with the above, this is pretty low risk. 2 flights out of 4000 daily. There is obviously an available 738 in both markets. There is some market data with AA flying the fight. Give is a whirl.

Methinks it's time to lift this stupid unconstitutional perimeter rule.

Super80Fan wrote:

Methinks it's time to lift this stupid unconstitutional perimeter rule.

How do figure its unconstitutional? I agree its time for it to go, but calling it unconstitutional is a strech.

Supreme Court ruled that it is very legal.

WN can serve PHX non stop from JFK 7 days a week...they choose not to.

They will quickly find (as US Air did) that you are wasting time in NYC if you dont.

Most people don't think to look for anything out west from LGA, and its usually easier to fly in and out of the same airport.

Not everyone who goes to those "deep pocket" destinations has a private jet. There are also people who have to staff the resorts, etc, who are also seasonal workers.

jfklganyc wrote:

Supreme Court ruled that it is very legal.

WN can serve PHX non stop from JFK 7 days a week...they choose not to.

They will quickly find (as US Air did) that you are wasting time in NYC if you dont.

On the flip side they have a large FF base in PHX. AA having hubs @JFK and PHX, makes sense to run all your traffic between hubs. WN doesn't have the large NYC presence, so might as well give it a try.
It is not like if this can be a huge failure, it is 2 flights a week. Or if this is a success, it is still 2 flights. Cool to see the airlines trying new routes.

SANFan wrote:

My guess is this is strictly a test. If it does well, WN will expand the Sat-only LGA flights to LAS and a few of their key CA/west coast stations; I could see LAX, SAN and OAK as likely.

WN has a long history of trying out new routes on Sat Only and if that service does well, they will expand the route to daily. This is different since the routes can only fly on Saturdays but trying it out on one long-haul market might very well drive the service to other markets.

bb

Agree 100% with you. WN, unlike the US3 (apart from Saturday CUN flying) have a history of successfully flying several dozens of Saturday-only routes. Some of their Sat-only services have been that way for years. Both PHX and NYC have big enough leisure components to their traffic mix to make this work.