LAX nonstops redirected.
The last several times we’ve flown connecting flights to Europe, it hasn’t been a great experience. Last year, we flew Delta to JFK where we were supposed to connect to another Delta flight to Rome.
We arrived 50 minutes late, despite having a tail wind that was supposed to save us an hour. When we arrived, we asked the agent at the gate which flight our connection left from and she said she had no idea because the flight was “closed.” We told her to figure out the gate, call them, and tell them we were on our way.
The plane backed away from the gate mere moments after we boarded – wheezing from the exertion – and then sat on the tarmac for 90 minutes before taking off.
We’d had a similar problem the year before en route to Athens – another Delta connection through JFK. So since then, we’ve tried to fly nonstop wherever possible. A preference which derailed our plans to visit Croatia and took us to Paris nonstop via Air Tahiti Nui.
On Monday, the L.A. Times announced that both foreign and domestic carriers are reducing their overseas service from LAX. Air India, which offers nonstop service to Frankfurt en route to New Delhi and Mumbai, is discontinuing their LAX flights. Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus, and Malaysia Air are also cutting back service to and from LAX.
United is slashing it’s LAX international schedule by 31% and it’s likely that Delta will follow suit.
What’s it mean for Southern California travelers? Probably fewer choices, higher fares, and more missed connections – on top of unfavorable exchange rates, fuel surcharges, and worthless frequent flyer miles.
Which all sounds pretty negative, unless you consider we’re driving distance to so many destinations that rival the world’s best. So our stratagy in the short term is clear -- can you say "road trip?"
Posted by Virginia Saunders on 08/22/2008 at 1:56 AM | Categories: Transportation -