Curtis Direct
I'm SOO taking credit for this.
So I don't know how many are you familiar with Skybus Airlines; I may or may not have mentioned them here before. They are a budget, no-frills airline based out of Columbus, OH. There rates are extremely competitive, including the first 10 tickets on any flight being only $10. They do this a few ways. One is that they up-charge you for everything--if you want your baggage checked, it's extra, if you want snacks, it's extra, etc. And another is that they fly into less-major airports--for example their "Boston" flight actually goes into Portsmouth, NH instead of Logan. Their LA flight flies into Burbank instead of LAX. You get the idea.
There's been buzz about them around the Greensboro area for some time now because Greensboro is one of the airports. I have a few colleagues from Ohio, and it was always convenient for them because Columbus is the hub. Another way they remained competitive is by maintaining a strict hub-and-spoke design, with all flights going to or coming from Columbus. So, for example, if I wanted to go to Boston I'd have to book Greensboro to Columbus and then Columbus to Boston (Portsmouth). Recently, Greensboro became a secondary focus city, meaning you can fly to nearly all of their locations direct from Piedmont Triad International.
I was intrigued. I poked around on their website. Maybe I'll use them to fly to Florida or Boston on a whim, or who knows where else. Then, online, I see they have a suggestion portion, and one of the suggestions you can make is "Suggest a City." So, following their blueprint of minor airports close to major metropolitan areas, I suggested they add New Castle County Airport (just south of Wilmington) and market it as Philadelphia (about a half hour away). I don't know if they were following my suggestion or if this is something that's been in the works (like I said, I'm taking credit) but watching the news this morning, I learn that they did EXACTLY THAT!! I don't think you heard me. I said I can fly from home in Greensboro to home home in Delaware--direct! Not only that, but there are flights I could book right now (and I will soon, after taking a look at my calendar and pick a good time) that will set me back $32. Yup, a 20, a 10, and two 1's. I can't drive for that cheap. Hell, I can barely drive from Baltimore to Wilmington for that price--if I don't elude tolls, UMBC to Wilmington round trip will now cost me $17, and that's before gas.
So yes, thank you Skybus!
So I don't know how many are you familiar with Skybus Airlines; I may or may not have mentioned them here before. They are a budget, no-frills airline based out of Columbus, OH. There rates are extremely competitive, including the first 10 tickets on any flight being only $10. They do this a few ways. One is that they up-charge you for everything--if you want your baggage checked, it's extra, if you want snacks, it's extra, etc. And another is that they fly into less-major airports--for example their "Boston" flight actually goes into Portsmouth, NH instead of Logan. Their LA flight flies into Burbank instead of LAX. You get the idea.
There's been buzz about them around the Greensboro area for some time now because Greensboro is one of the airports. I have a few colleagues from Ohio, and it was always convenient for them because Columbus is the hub. Another way they remained competitive is by maintaining a strict hub-and-spoke design, with all flights going to or coming from Columbus. So, for example, if I wanted to go to Boston I'd have to book Greensboro to Columbus and then Columbus to Boston (Portsmouth). Recently, Greensboro became a secondary focus city, meaning you can fly to nearly all of their locations direct from Piedmont Triad International.
I was intrigued. I poked around on their website. Maybe I'll use them to fly to Florida or Boston on a whim, or who knows where else. Then, online, I see they have a suggestion portion, and one of the suggestions you can make is "Suggest a City." So, following their blueprint of minor airports close to major metropolitan areas, I suggested they add New Castle County Airport (just south of Wilmington) and market it as Philadelphia (about a half hour away). I don't know if they were following my suggestion or if this is something that's been in the works (like I said, I'm taking credit) but watching the news this morning, I learn that they did EXACTLY THAT!! I don't think you heard me. I said I can fly from home in Greensboro to home home in Delaware--direct! Not only that, but there are flights I could book right now (and I will soon, after taking a look at my calendar and pick a good time) that will set me back $32. Yup, a 20, a 10, and two 1's. I can't drive for that cheap. Hell, I can barely drive from Baltimore to Wilmington for that price--if I don't elude tolls, UMBC to Wilmington round trip will now cost me $17, and that's before gas.
So yes, thank you Skybus!