Confessions of a Would-be Gourmand and Jetsetter

The competition for New York City airport travel is really heating up, and everyone that can score a direct hub-to-hub flight is benefiting. I certainly know I am, having scored a $200 round trip to NYC around labor day. Even the price cuts don’t seem to be enough, as the major carriers are doing something more now – offering bonus miles. American – my preferred major – is offering double miles for frequent flyers. There’s a caveat, though: you have to live in New York.

Now it’s pretty obvious that if you live in Dallas and you fly with any regularity, you will end up flying American at some point. It’s the same reason as if you live in Houston, you end up flying Continental, or in Atlanta, you end up flying Delta, or United in Chicago. They’re big, they’re price competitive from their biggest hubs, and they saturate local markets with advertising (in my case, reminding me that they know why I fly, with is both creepy and very big brother is. Note to American Airlines: Please never cross-advertise with Burger King, as I may lose my marbles). I’m a little blurry on the strategy though, I’ll be honest.

If you want to drive fares to and from a an area with exceptionally high competition, wouldn’t you offer double miles on routes booked through that area, say JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark? What makes New Yorkers so special? I feel I’m special, and I’m travelling to New York, so I lose out on miles because I live in Texas?

Oh, I suppose there’s some key there, a survey that said New Yorkers fly American Airlines less than the competition, and so there’s a bit more drive to give all New Yorkers a, well, an AAdvantage, right? Doubling miles for someone living in Syracuse or Buffalo because they happen to fly on American seems a bit ridiculous, though.

So how about this: really score one with the home team, American. Double those miles for New Yorkers and Texans – or run promotions so that what you give to someone else, you’re always sharing here at home. If you’re increasing market cap, what can it hurt to reward the people that are right in your pocket already?