I'm an amateur and not a frequent flyer, but I'm excited at the arrival of JetBlue. It sounds like overall a better airline on almost every measure of quality, and they may make United shape the heck up and be more competitive with their fares as well.

I think all of those other than Orlando are homeruns.

 

JetBlue has a mini hub there, so in addition to a destination, its also a connection point between CLE and points south (from MCO, they serve Costa Rica, Jamaica, etc). I assume if they started such a route, they'd time it accordingly for CLE folks to make connections there.

 

Click 'see all routes' http://www.jetblue.com/WhereWeJet/?origin=MCO

 

 

If we could fly to So Cal and not through LAX, that would be nice.

When will the Exterior terminal renovation s start?

I'm an amateur and not a frequent flyer, but I'm excited at the arrival of JetBlue. It sounds like overall a better airline on almost every measure of quality, and they may make United shape the heck up and be more competitive with their fares as well.

 

I had a bad experience with them once in Boston that has chased me away ever since.  They canceled my flight and had no space on others, and could not put me on another carrier.  Basically they told me "sorry, you're screwed until next Wednesday when we have seats available."    Have not flown them since....

I think all of those other than Orlando are homeruns.

 

JetBlue has a mini hub there, so in addition to a destination, its also a connection point between CLE and points south (from MCO, they serve Costa Rica, Jamaica, etc). I assume if they started such a route, they'd time it accordingly for CLE folks to make connections there.

 

Click 'see all routes' http://www.jetblue.com/WhereWeJet/?origin=MCO

 

 

 

Ft. Lauderdale is their major hub down there. If you wanna make a connection to South America or the Caribbean then that is where you would do it. Not Orlando.

 

Re JetBlue service, the airline said potential new routes from CLE may be JFK,Orlando, Long Beach, and San Juan. 

 

I'd love to see a daily to San Juan and frequent JFK service.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/04/jetblue_airways_launches_cleve.html

 

A daily to San Juan probably would be a stretch. If they started it it would most likely be less than daily starting out.

Ft. Lauderdale is their major hub down there.

 

true. that's why I said "mini-hub" above. FLL is the better connecting place. But B6's approach with CLE, at least right now, seems to be CLE as a spoke that connects to their existing hubs/mini-hubs/focus cities/whatever you want to call it.  In other words, you won't see CLE-LGA or CLE-Portland anytime soon, rather any new routes will be to existing JetBlue strongholds.

Man, I wish we would see a CLE-Portland. 

Man, I wish we would see a CLE-Portland. 

 

MEEEEE TOOOOOO

 

At least there is CLE-SEA through Frontier.

I had a bad experience with them once in Boston that has chased me away ever since.  They canceled my flight and had no space on others, and could not put me on another carrier.  Basically they told me "sorry, you're screwed until next Wednesday when we have seats available."    Have not flown them since....

 

Nice. I'm flying back from Dublin through Boston soon, with the Boston-Cleveland leg on Jet Blue.

I had a bad experience with them once in Boston that has chased me away ever since.  They canceled my flight and had no space on others, and could not put me on another carrier.  Basically they told me "sorry, you're screwed until next Wednesday when we have seats available."    Have not flown them since....

 

Nice. I'm flying back from Dublin through Boston soon, with the Boston-Cleveland leg on Jet Blue.

 

I wrote them off in total, but perhaps now they have some sort of alliance with other carriers?  That was quite a few years ago.  For those of us that fly 150k+ per year for business, I need flexibility. 

It does nothing but benefit the carriers to play nice with the others, I don't understand why they all don't do it. I mean, even Apple and IBM have an uneasy truce. I can charge my iPod on my IBM laptop, you know?

 

Anecdotally, I'm sure we all have a negative story or two about just about every carrier, but from what I read generally, it sounds like a more pleasant experience with Jet blue. Hopefully they will expand here.

If we could fly to So Cal and not through LAX, that would be nice.

 

Only a few TransCons go to LAX and those connect with Lufthansa flights.  Long Beach is the (West Coast) S. California hub.

 

The most important take away from the article is

Ricky Smith, director of Cleveland Hopkins, acknowledged that many of United's routes still have not been replaced.

It does nothing but benefit the carriers to play nice with the others, I don't understand why they all don't do it. I mean, even Apple and IBM have an uneasy truce. I can charge my iPod on my IBM laptop, you know?

 

Anecdotally, I'm sure we all have a negative story or two about just about every carrier, but from what I read generally, it sounds like a more pleasant experience with Jet blue. Hopefully they will expand here.

 

Not all carriers feel the need to have Interlining agreements.  It's a plus for the customer, but could potential add expense to carriers. IE baggage handling and irreg ops situations.  Its real benefit is when you have code sharing and/or loyalty program alliance.

 

JetBlue will most likely only expand at major cities and their focus cities as mentioned in the article.  What we need is an airline that has no presence in the Midwest like Virgin or Alaska.  Both of those carriers need a Midwest/Great Lakes hub or focus city

It does nothing but benefit the carriers to play nice with the others, I don't understand why they all don't do it. I mean, even Apple and IBM have an uneasy truce. I can charge my iPod on my IBM laptop, you know?

 

Anecdotally, I'm sure we all have a negative story or two about just about every carrier, but from what I read generally, it sounds like a more pleasant experience with Jet blue. Hopefully they will expand here.

 

Not all carriers feel the need to have Interlining agreements.  It's a plus for the customer, but could potential add expense to carriers. IE baggage handling and irreg ops situations.  Its real benefit is when you have code sharing and/or loyalty program alliance.

 

JetBlue will most likely only expand at major cities and their focus cities as mentioned in the article.  What we need is an airline that has no presence in the Midwest like Virgin or Alaska.  Both of those carriers need a Midwest/Great Lakes hub or focus city

 

Alaska just announced Seattle/tacoma (SEA) to Nashville (BNA) Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill (RDU and Charleston, SC (CHS).  The latter being less than daily and probably a Boeing milk-run between the two.  These are really long/thin routes and will be interesting to see the yields.

^I was very disappointed with that announcement....seeing those cities listed but not CLE.

^I was very disappointed with that announcement....seeing those cities listed but not CLE.

 

Pugu[/member]  why?  Do you think NEOhioians are flying to SEA and vice versa to result in multi "round trip" service between the city pairs?

^MTS--- SEA is a hub for AS, so there are options beyond SEA. But the larger point: there are fewer and fewer airlines left. If we have any hope to be a hub of an existing US carrier, it would have to be one that needs an eastern US hub. Only two probably fit the bill VX and AS, yet neither even serve CLE. So when AS announces expansion it would be good to be on the list to even get one flight in, but instead places like RDU are added.

Rumor has it that Southwest will be drastically cutting their AirTran routes at CAK and expanding service at CLE. If true, this is great news. Look for an announcement in the next few days.

Hope that's true. Nothing better for NEO than CAK getting weaker... CLE needs to be the focus.. My CAK-BOS flights last wek were 25% full, so not surprised.

I recently posted this comment at the Jet Blue article:

 

I've also wondered recently if Cleveland-Akron area should only have one airport for the benefit of the region. A great example to look to is Seattle-Tacoma airport (Seattle-Tacoma has a population of 3.6 million compared to 3.5 million of Cleveland-Akron). By only having one airport, they have hub status on Alaska, Delta, and Horizon... with many, many Frontier and United flights.

 

I really have no idea of how it could work financially (perhaps with immense federal help?), but we need to figure out how to restructure into one regional airport. Find a good location between Cleveland and Akron ... Build a brand new Cleveland-Akron airport. Then use the land of the old airport locations for new development, especially in the city limits of Cleveland. New residential neighborhoods could be built similar to Battery Park, and be completely TOD due to it being the end of the Red Line.

CAK isn't bad

 

I'm all in for CLE growing and prospering, just not at the expense of CAK

^ummmm....do you realize that CAK's growth came precisely at the expense of Hopkins? Cleveland---the entire 10-12 county region may have lost the United Hub because of CAK's siphoning off of passengers from Hopkins.

 

 

With United no longer operating a high fare CLE hub - and with numerous discount airlines now in play at CLE versus before (plus with CLE already an easy in/easy out/easily manageable airport, despite CAK ads to the contrary) - CAK's benefits vs CLE are lessened - and so their traffic will be, too... I'd also figure that the bulk of the NEO residents are within an hour of each of these airports, if not somewhat closer (I live in east CLE suburbs and it's about 35 mins to CLE and just under 60 to CAK a most times and CAK and CLE are about 50 mins apart, if I recall). My take is that CAK serves a relatively small base of frequent corporate travelers - who find the location convenient at whatever price - and a larger grouping of infrequent vacationers, who'd go where needed for a good fare.

 

If CAK's 2MM passengers a year were added into the CLE totals - CLE would have that much more bargaining power and the region's only meaningful airport would be more so... NEO does NOT need - and shouldn't have - two airports. Anything more than Duluth-level essential service at CAK hurts CLE.

Here's my main thought:

 

Seattle-Tacoma-Everett: 3.6 million population (1 Airport, 3 Airline hubs)

Cleveland-Akron-Canton: 3.5 million population (2 Airports, 0 Airline hubs)

 

Note: these maps are to exact scale.

Here's my main thought:

 

Seattle-Tacoma-Everett: 3.6 million population (1 Airport, 3 Airline hubs)

Cleveland-Akron-Canton: 3.5 million population (2 Airports, 0 Airline hubs)

 

Note: these maps are to exact scale.

 

BUT...SEA is more affluent, coastal and a pax base that buys premium seats.  It's all about the yield.

Rumor has it that Southwest will be drastically cutting their AirTran routes at CAK and expanding service at CLE. If true, this is great news. Look for an announcement in the next few days.

 

Why is this great news?  Mediocre airline adds flights.  No interline.  No F class.  And fares that are just as expensive as the competition

^ummmm....do you realize that CAK's growth came precisely at the expense of Hopkins? Cleveland---the entire 10-12 county region may have lost the United Hub because of CAK's siphoning off of passengers from Hopkins.

 

 

 

There was some bleed from CLE but not as much as you think.  Also, if CAK is cut, pax from the southern catchment area might go to PIT and not CLE

CAK isn't bad

 

I'm all in for CLE growing and prospering, just not at the expense of CAK

 

Ditteaux.

 

If CLE was located centrally within the Cleveland-Akron-Canton region, it would be different.  It is not. 

 

If CLE was located centrally within the Cleveland-Akron-Canton region' date=' it would be different.  It is not. [/quote']

 

Why? The center of population of the region is probably at around I-480 and I-77 or so--may be a mile or so northeast of that point. So not very far from the current location of Hopkins.  Are you saying because Hopkins is a few miles to the west of this center, its good to weaken Cleveland as a market for airlines?

Why is this great news?  Mediocre airline adds flights.  No interline.  No F class.  And fares that are just as expensive as the competition.

 

I'm not a WN fan either. Its great because it increases traffic and demand at Hopkins, that's why.

There was some bleed from CLE but not as much as you think.  Also' date=' if CAK is cut, pax from the southern catchment area might go to PIT and not CLE. [/quote']

 

There was fairly substantial bleed from CLE. People will drive for lower fares (even if the cost of time doesn't make sense) AND for schedule reasons.  PIT is still pretty far from Summit/Stark/Portage Counties. People in the eastern part of the catchment area, such as in Youngstown, may be lost, but that group---that did indeed use CAK over CLE/PIT when CAK had much fewer options than CLE/PIT--is fairly small anyway.

If CAK's 2MM passengers a year were added into the CLE totals - CLE would have that much more bargaining power and the region's only meaningful airport would be more so... NEO does NOT need - and shouldn't have - two airports. Anything more than Duluth-level essential service at CAK hurts CLE.

 

I agree that the more pax at Hopkins the more it will attract other carriers/routes/frequencies, and most importantly non-stop overseas service. Siphoning pax away hurts overall service. However, I do support a second airport in the region if it is strategically located and strategically used---and this is Burke Lakefront. Burke can offer things CLE can't, and should have reliable, frequent service to LGA/ORD, and other business destinations--that would strengthen our city for competitiveness. (And CAK, given its location, is in no way a substitute for BKL.)

 

 

Ok. The schedule is out and apparently WN isn't making much of a commitment to CLE afterall, but it is reducing service at CAK.

 

CAK loses BOS, DCA, LGA, and DEN service and picks up a seasonal LAS flight.  The DEN flight moves to CLE.  Looks like Southwest is moving CAK's LGA flight to IND (for IND-LGA) and CAK's DCA flight to Columbus.

 

With CAK-LGA gone, we may well see JetBlue add CLE-JFK. With the loss of CAK-DCA, we may see the return of Frontier's CLE-Dulles, though I'd rather see AA come in on CLE-DCA. 

^where can we read about this? CAK just got hosed.

see Southwest's latest schedule release. I don't know of any news story.

I don't see any Cleveland additions:

 

https://www.southwest.com/html/promotions/newservice.html

 

 

Its in their schedule update, released this morning. If you want to see the DEN flight, go to southwest's site and try to book a flight tomorrow vs. say, December. Today, you won't see CLE-DEN, but in Dec you will. (and the opposite will be true for CAK-DEN).

^Got it. Thanks!

Here's my main thought:

 

Seattle-Tacoma-Everett: 3.6 million population (1 Airport, 3 Airline hubs)

Cleveland-Akron-Canton: 3.5 million population (2 Airports, 0 Airline hubs)

 

Note: these maps are to exact scale.

 

BUT...SEA is more affluent, coastal and a pax base that buys premium seats.  It's all about the yield.

 

So you don't think if we consolidated into one airport hypothetically...let's say...built on the edge of Richfield, Cleveland wouldn't gain at least one hub?

^If an airline were to build a hub here, it would have far more to do with its own growth and strategy than 2mm more pax at Hopkins, though I guess CLE as a facility isn't great, but the discussion here is on location within Cleveland rather than the facility itself. Its interesting that you mention Richfield. A few decades ago, the Richfield Coliseum was built there precisely as it was between Cleveland and Akron. Rock concerts, the Cavs, the Force, and some other teams played there....but you can see where that location strategy ended up today! 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/09/remembering_the_coliseum_at_ri.html

 

Here's a story for ya!

 

Southwest to eliminate four routes — N.Y., Boston, D.C., Denver from Akron-Canton in Nov; adding Vegas; changes also coming to Hopkins

 

Southwest Airlines is eliminating four nonstop routes from Akron-Canton Airport in November at the same time it’s adding one.

As of its Nov. 2 schedule, the airline will be eliminating nonstops from the airport to New York’s LaGuardia airport, Boston, Washington, D.C.’s Reagan International Airport and Denver, said airport spokeswoman Kristie Van Auken. In the meantime, the flights will continue.

However, the “silver lining,” Van Auken said, is the airline is adding the airport’s only Las Vegas nonstop as of November.

The route changes appear to be part of a larger Southwest announcement coming this afternoon and full details were not available.

 

more: http://www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher/southwest-to-eliminate-four-routes-n-y-boston-d-c-denver-from-akron-canton-in-nov-adding-vegas-changes-also-coming-to-hopkins-1.591879

^"Published: May 14, 2015 - 12:07 PM | Updated: May 14, 2015 - 12:19 PM"

 

As is often true, the news breaks here on UO first!

 

 

Based on the map on Southwest.com, Cleveland has non stops with Southwest to Nashville, Baltimore, Midway, Denver, Vegas and Phoenix for next year.  Other than Denver, nothing has really changed, right?  Maybe the news is regarding other airlines

Via a phone interview, Southwest spokesman Dan Landson confirmed the Akron-Canton changes and also said the Denver nonstop would be moved to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as of November and a seasonal Las Vegas nonstop will become year-round at Hopkins.

^The change to CLE is this:

 

CLE-DEN  new

CLE-MDW  5x  (down from 6x -- one flight lost per day)

CLE-BNA  2x (down from 3x)

 

If you're going to need a car at the other end, Washington, like Chicago, is actually quicker to drive to than fly.

^ Having lived off and on in Washington for 10 years, and doing the trip back to Cleveland by both car and plane multiple times per year, I can emphatically tell you that it's faster, door-to-door, to fly rather than drive.

 

Now, it is a pretty and easy drive, so I will say that it can be less stressful to drive (unless you hit DC rush hour either way), but I never regretted ponying up the bucks to fly.

 

That being said, it would be great if we could get direct Southwest service to DCA, where SW has taken over the former AirTran slots. The United fares there - pretty much since post-merger - are usually obscene unless you get lucky.

On the CLE-DC fly versus drive, it also depends on the airport. If for budget reasons you have to fly in to BWI, then I prefer to drive the whole way, especially if I have to rent a car at BWI.

On the CLE-DC fly versus drive, it also depends on the airport. If for budget reasons you have to fly in to BWI, then I prefer to drive the whole way, especially if I have to rent a car at BWI.

 

There have been times where I had to take the Metro from my home in DC to Union Station to catch the Marc to get to the BWI rail station then take the shuttle to the BWI terminal, go through security, board the plane, fly to Hopkins, wait for my bag, then take the Rapid back downtown....and all in all it took longer than the six hours it would have taken to drive.