Sunday, May 06, 2007
No one told me
I routinely have to go to midtown Manhattan. A few years ago, I discovered a great flight (2x / day) on American Airlines that went from Hobby to LaGuardia non-stop. LaGuardia is New York's most convenient airport, and given that I live in Pearland, Hobby is the most convenient airport for me. What a win-win! AA's flight appeared to be Hobby's little secret, because the flights were never crowded. Unfortunately, it was too much of a secret, and American discontinued the HOU-LGA flight a little over a year ago.
The good news was that the HOU-LGA route was picked up seamlessly by ATA Airlines. ATA is Southwest's codeshare partner, so even though ATA was quite the spartan airline, I still got Rapid Rewards credit. ATA was somehow able to fill the planes a little more than American, but it was still a great flight since it was non-stop between Hobby and LaGuardia.
Guess what? ATA has uncerimoniously discontinued the HOU-LGA route! The last flight is this week! No one got my permission for that! I just found that out when I tried to book a flight later this month. Best I can tell, no airline will fly the HOU-LGA route non-stop anymore. JetBlue offers a 3x / day flight from Hobby to JFK, but who wants to go to JFK? LaGuardia is just a $30 cab ride from midtown.
Without a HOU-LGA route, I'd rather drive to Bush Intercontinental than fly into JFK. I'll miss the HOU-LGA route.
The good news was that the HOU-LGA route was picked up seamlessly by ATA Airlines. ATA is Southwest's codeshare partner, so even though ATA was quite the spartan airline, I still got Rapid Rewards credit. ATA was somehow able to fill the planes a little more than American, but it was still a great flight since it was non-stop between Hobby and LaGuardia.
Guess what? ATA has uncerimoniously discontinued the HOU-LGA route! The last flight is this week! No one got my permission for that! I just found that out when I tried to book a flight later this month. Best I can tell, no airline will fly the HOU-LGA route non-stop anymore. JetBlue offers a 3x / day flight from Hobby to JFK, but who wants to go to JFK? LaGuardia is just a $30 cab ride from midtown.
Without a HOU-LGA route, I'd rather drive to Bush Intercontinental than fly into JFK. I'll miss the HOU-LGA route.
# posted by ACR @ Sunday, May 06, 2007 
Comments:
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It's amazing to me how small minded and narrow focused people can be. Who wants to go to JFK? Your loyalty to LGA shows that you really do not think outside the box, and are not a very savvy traveler. Delays in LGA are very extensive. I also find your $30 cab ride comment very strange. Did you know that you can take the Airtrain to Jamacia Station(free) and pick up the Long Island Rail Road (about $5) direct to Penn Station in about 20 mins? The train doesn't get stuck in traffic, like your cab does.
Also, if you take JetBlue, the people will be nice to you. You will not get charged an arm and a leg to get to LGA.
Expand your horizons and break out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid!
Also, if you take JetBlue, the people will be nice to you. You will not get charged an arm and a leg to get to LGA.
Expand your horizons and break out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid!
# posted by 
: May 07, 2007
: May 07, 2007
Anon,
I've done the Airtrain and regular train (NJ Transit?) combo from EWR. Didn't like it. Waited forever for the regular train. And when I got to Manhattan, I was at Penn Station. I didn't want to be at Penn Station, either. ($8 cab ride to midtown hotel.)
I am often offered "a car" (in NYC's lexicon) to get back to the airport. Of course I don't turn down such offers. But getting from Manhattan to JFK, one can experience substantial delays on the freeways. A delay getting to the airport can be much more costly than an airline delay.
I know LGA has a reputation for terrible delays. I haven't experienced them and think the reputation is not justified.
There's no shaking my loyalty to LGA until something happens to me.
- Greg in TX22
I've done the Airtrain and regular train (NJ Transit?) combo from EWR. Didn't like it. Waited forever for the regular train. And when I got to Manhattan, I was at Penn Station. I didn't want to be at Penn Station, either. ($8 cab ride to midtown hotel.)
I am often offered "a car" (in NYC's lexicon) to get back to the airport. Of course I don't turn down such offers. But getting from Manhattan to JFK, one can experience substantial delays on the freeways. A delay getting to the airport can be much more costly than an airline delay.
I know LGA has a reputation for terrible delays. I haven't experienced them and think the reputation is not justified.
There's no shaking my loyalty to LGA until something happens to me.
- Greg in TX22
My anonymous correspondent will be pleased to learn that I finally booked my flight and it is on JetBlue.
The fares to LGA and JFK used to be competitive. Now that ATA is out of Houston, that is no longer the case. My correspondent was correct when he said I'd find fares to LGA to be significantly more expensive. They were $500 more expensive.
Who wants to go to JFK? I guess that's me when it costs $500 less! But I'm still not schlepping my bags on a train!
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The fares to LGA and JFK used to be competitive. Now that ATA is out of Houston, that is no longer the case. My correspondent was correct when he said I'd find fares to LGA to be significantly more expensive. They were $500 more expensive.
Who wants to go to JFK? I guess that's me when it costs $500 less! But I'm still not schlepping my bags on a train!
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