Security Lines, Airport Delays Make Short Flights A Lot
Longer
There once was a time, not too long ago, when business travelers
in New York, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Boston flocked to
hourly airline flights to commute between those cities. That
so-called "shuttle" service was a boon for politicians, and Wall
Street moneymakers... but in today's market, it's increasingly
difficult to justify the cost, in both time and cold, hard
cash.
Ever-longer TSA security lines, flight delays and the loss of
guaranteed-seating have all conspired to undermine the shuttle
flights still offered by US Airways and Delta, reports The New York
Times.
"There was a time when the shuttle routes were the busiest
markets in the country," said Joe Brancatelli, who runs a business
travel Web site, joesentme.com. "But the shuttle’s moment,
and it was a glorious moment, may have passed."
The idea of shuttle service between metropolitan areas along the
East Coast was, appropriately, pioneered by Eastern Airlines in
1961. Back then, passengers could walk up to the ticket counter,
and buy a seat -- no reservations, no security lines. The tickets
were issued on a first-come, first-serve basis -- and if you had a
ticket, you had a seat, even if it meant the airline had to push a
backup plane into service.
Today... not so much.
"Customers were used to walking up and getting on; that was the
hallmark of that service," said Delta executive Kelley Moore. "But
after 9/11, security lines were sometimes longer than the flight
itself, and it really did send a lot of customers to alternative
choices."
Those choices include Amtrak's high-speed Acela trains, which
links Washington, DC to Boston. Service on the DC-New York line
runs about three hours, point-to-point... which makes it almost a
wash with comparable airline shuttle service, when factoring in the
drive to the airport, security lines, and flight delays. In fact,
given the New York area's reputation as the worst single area for
flight delays in the country... sometimes, the airline flight takes
a lot longer.
The trains take about twice as long to run from Washington, DC
to Boston -- making air shuttle service more attractive along that
route.
There is one area where the train has a clear advantage --
price. Walk-up fares for Acela service from Boston to Washington,
DC run at about $200... less that half what comparable airfares
run, one-way, according to figures from the Acela and US Airways
websites. (Business travelers are often eligible for corporate
discounts and price breaks.)
While demand for air shuttle service has slipped it in recent
years, however, it still remains a popular choice. Over two million
passengers a year travel on air shuttle service from New York to
Washington, according to figures from the Bureau of Transportation.
The route from New York to Boston isn't far behind.
Today, Delta and US Airways both emphasize the "experience" of
traveling via shuttle, versus on a train or a comparable mainline
airline flight. Shuttle passengers are treated to free wine and
beer, other beverage choices, and snacks, as well as special
lounges and work areas at the airport.
Often, shuttle flights also offered additional legroom, in what
amounted to all-business-class cabins. The need for airlines to be
able to swap aircraft between shuttle and mainline service,
however, has increasingly meant travelers used to flying in plusher
accommodations, have been relegated to the middle row in coach
class.
That change also did away with guaranteed seating. Shuttle
customers may now be bumped, if there isn't enough room onboard the
aircraft... and unlike in the past, there won't necessarily be a
backup aircraft waiting.
"Airline economics changed so much in 2001, and to keep an extra
aircraft standing by just became prohibitively expensive," said
Andrew Nocella, US Airways’ senior vice president for
scheduling, planning and alliances.
Still, that experience is often worth the extra expense for
some. A trip last year on the Delta Shuttle from Newark, NJ to
Boston made Meghan McCartan a believer. "It was so civilized," she
said in a post on her website for working mothers, Detours and
OnRamps. "No crowds of kids and suitcases ... it’s all just
business."
Her next shuttle flight, though, wasn't quite as nice... as she
was stuck for two hours at Logan International, a victim of
security lines and a canceled flight. Still, she recommends paying
the extra money for shuttle service if you're able.
"Maybe it’s the free wine and the crackers and cheese they
give you," she jokes, "but it’s still better than coach on
another airline."