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."

FMI: www.delta.com, www.usairways.com, www.acela.com