urbanSTL

jshank83 wrote:Although D isn't really in use I don't know why it can't just be open so you can walk to other areas for different food/merchandise options.

I have only been in D a couple times back when it was open, so this question would be for people who were in it more. Was it so bad just because it was narrow? Lacks room for resturants, etc? I don't think they should tear it down just because hopefully southwest keeps taking more of it up. Would it make more sense to bump it out a little so it is wider for resturants once it is in use? I don't know if that would make it too tight in there for planes though.

D was closed to save money on utilities, cleaning and maintenance.

The issue with D is that it is very narrow, with long walks between the gate areas. I don't think it is practical to expand the concourse without tearing it down and starting over.

At the current time, it is a moot point because there is not demand for additional gates at the current time. It is far more likely that the remaining gates at the end of C will be opened up before D would be.

Greg

The speculation continues. Essentially, I understand the article to conclude: "maybe."

http://www.kmov.com/story/32449847/dire ... oming-soon

Thanks for the input Greg. That all makes sense. I didn't realize how many gates in C aren't in use until I just looked at a satellite image. The airport directory makes it look like that concourse ends a lot earlier than it does (although reading earlier posts it sounds like it is technically past C24 is closed off now). I always wondered why it didn't seem like there were a bunch of extra gates besides D somewhere, now it makes sense.

As for the KMOV story. The headline made things sound a lot more promising than the actual story did. It sounds like Southwest flights to the Caribbean will be here before Europe at this point.

^ I think actually C27 and C28 are used at times by AA now. Problem is those haven't been renovated yet. Guessing that it will be renovated somepoint in the not too distant future, especially since its likely any new airline entry will go into C.

Guessing the only reason to keep D standing is if Southwest needs any more gates in the next couple of years, since any more growth from them will start going into D. Not sure how close they are to needing those after adding the couple of new gates this year, just depends on what it looks like at the peak times of day here. I'm guessing Southwest has said something on what they think of D if the need arises. I picture D would not be the most plesant experience if used for more Southwest gates, since the narrowness combined with size of planes used. Also since it would likely be a growth in connecting passengers the need for more stores and restaurants which would be hard due to narrowness. Also wouldn't there only be room for about 10 or so 737 capable gates in D?

Would be interesting to see if there is much new overall in 2017 in new destinations, airlines, and/or added seats on a route, since the growth in traffic this year so far is rather significant at around 9-10% year over year, Since I think that is coming from all sources and lifting everyone up here. Picture now new destinations will start skewing more towards international ones due to not too much left domestically.

To all you AA haters:
The company is keeping some of the S80s longer than originally planned. Separately, the 737-8 B-check will be coming to STL this fall so expect to see more movements of the type out of STL in the coming months. Should be good for the TWA guys commuting to other line stations.

dweebe wrote:

JAL007 wrote:To all you AA haters: The company is keeping some of the S80s longer than originally planned.

Of course cheap ol AA is going to keep those ancient rattle traps in the air and dumping on St. Louis. Man do I hate those planes.

I love the MD-80s and will dearly miss them when they are gone.

1) Sitting ahead of the wing, they are the quietest airplane you can find domestically today.
2) The 2-3 seating is far better than 3-3.
3) The original seats have not been replaced with slimline (like UA) or articulating recline (like newer AA aircraft)
4) AA's newest MD-80s are younger than their oldest 737s

McDonnell Douglas overengineered their planes. The newest MD-80s (delivered in 1999) could easily fly another 15 years if necessary.

Greg

Big fan of the MD80s as well. Don't know why they get so much hate. They get a little noisy if you sit in the back with the engines but are way more comfortable than the Southwest seats and don't have the Walmart bright lighting inside.

^Agree and in comparison the new Airbus's feel like the could fall apart shortly after takeoff.

dweebe wrote: Of course cheap ol AA is going to keep those ancient rattle traps in the air and dumping on St. Louis. Man do I hate those planes.

Actually, there are currently fewer being flown by AA to/from STL than before. There are daily A319 [LAA: MIA & LAX; LUS: CLT] and 737-800 [LAX, MIA, & PHX] departures, and expect to see more 737-8s in the coming months as the 737-8 B-Check is MOVED INTO STL.

Believe me the STL-based flight attendants and local mainline ground employees much prefer the S80s to the outsourced American Eagle flying. Kansas City is losing mainline service to both MIA & LAX in the next several weeks as those move to American Eagle operated by Republic & Compass, respectively. Granted the MCI routes are fairly new (MIA started March 2015; LAX started last month), but it is certainly conceivable MIA-STL gets some regional service again in the future.

gregl wrote:

dweebe wrote:

JAL007 wrote:To all you AA haters: The company is keeping some of the S80s longer than originally planned.

Of course cheap ol AA is going to keep those ancient rattle traps in the air and dumping on St. Louis. Man do I hate those planes.

I love the MD-80s and will dearly miss them when they are gone.

1) Sitting ahead of the wing, they are the quietest airplane you can find domestically today.
2) The 2-3 seating is far better than 3-3.
3) The original seats have not been replaced with slimline (like UA) or articulating recline (like newer AA aircraft)
4) AA's newest MD-80s are younger than their oldest 737s

McDonnell Douglas overengineered their planes. The newest MD-80s (delivered in 1999) could easily fly another 15 years if necessary.

Greg

I am also a fan of the MD-80s and MD-90s. They maybe old and noisy, but they still look good after all these years! Its sad to see less of them flying out of STL, and more and more A319s and B737s now. I remember flying STL-LAX a lot with the MD-80s on that route, now the MD-80s are flown only to ORD or DFW now.

I had the opportunity to fly on Uni Air's last MD-90 flight back in June and wrote about it.

http://allwheelsforward.com/uni-air-md- ... t-retired/

I read that the EVA and Uni Air used MD-90s will join the Delta fleet. In the meantime Delta has MD-90s to ATL from STL, so the McDonnell Douglas planes will live on after 2017 and seeing them with Delta from STL. I hope to fly AA's last MD-80 flight next year.

MD-83/88 is about the only plane Allegiant flies to all their destinations out of MidAmerica. But then you would have to fly Allegiant (which I have heard isn't very good) and out of Belleville. But parking is free, so there is that.

jshank83 wrote:MD-83/88 is about the only plane Allegiant flies to all their destinations out of MidAmerica. But then you would have to fly Allegiant (which I have heard isn't very good) and out of Belleville. But parking is free, so there is that.

I wouldn't wish Allegiant on anyone.

The biggest problem you have flying them (which many people don't realize) is that they don't interline with any other airline -- in the event of delays or cancellations, they can not rebook you on another airline. You are at their mercy to get you where you need to go.

Southwest is similar, but with their large number of flights, is usually not a problem. Allegiant operates many routes less than daily.

Greg

gregl wrote:

jshank83 wrote:MD-83/88 is about the only plane Allegiant flies to all their destinations out of MidAmerica. But then you would have to fly Allegiant (which I have heard isn't very good) and out of Belleville. But parking is free, so there is that.

I wouldn't wish Allegiant on anyone.

The biggest problem you have flying them (which many people don't realize) is that they don't interline with any other airline -- in the event of delays or cancellations, they can not rebook you on another airline. You are at their mercy to get you where you need to go.

Southwest is similar, but with their large number of flights, is usually not a problem. Allegiant operates many routes less than daily.

Greg

Wife's grandma's flight back from Vegas to Mid-America took 14 hours due to delays with the plane

Last night during the storms I happened to be listening to the St Louis Approach on liveatc.net and on Flight Aware around 10:30ish they had all inbound arrivals use the diagonal runway. Does this happen often?

Chalupas54 wrote:Last night during the storms I happened to be listening to the St Louis Approach on liveatc.net and on Flight Aware around 10:30ish they had all inbound arrivals use the diagonal runway. Does this happen often?

Not very often. It requires a cross-wind of 25 knots or greater.

http://www.fly.faa.gov/Information/west ... frames.htm

Greg

dweebe wrote:

Chalupas54 wrote:Last night during the storms I happened to be listening to the St Louis Approach on liveatc.net and on Flight Aware around 10:30ish they had all inbound arrivals use the diagonal runway. Does this happen often?

Are you talking about 6?

Yes, couldn't remember the number. I also saw that at least 6 flights to St Louis were diverted to Columbia, Indianapolis and Springfield, as well as a very tight holding pattern to the northwest over the Louisiana, MO area. I never really have had the time to look at Flight Aware when storms roll through town, but it was interesting to say the least.

mill204 wrote:

dweebe wrote:

Chalupas54 wrote:Last night during the storms I happened to be listening to the St Louis Approach on liveatc.net and on Flight Aware around 10:30ish they had all inbound arrivals use the diagonal runway. Does this happen often?

Are you talking about 6?

Arrival on Runway 24, most likely. Runway 6/24 gets used less than 2% of the time, and usually only for arrivals. The new 11/29 runway was used for about 10% of operations during the 1st quarter of 2016. (Very interesting info and graphics in the reports found here)

It's whichever results in aircraft approaching from the South. In fact, if you view the webcam for the construction of the new WWT HQ at Westport Plaza around 10:30 you can see the landing lights from multiple aircraft on approach. Quite interesting.

It was definitely different on Tuesday night when we landed on an unfamiliar runway. I could see Hollywood Casino Ampitheater to my left on approach and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how we were going to land

Going back to the storm night (Tuesday). I was leaving the Muny around 8:20 and noticed a very low plane right above me coming in for a landing (MD-80) and it had its nose up already. I was really confused because it seemed early to be doing that. I looked up the flight aware later and it pulled out at around 2500 feet and then went to KC. If I had beed on that plane I would have freaked out. haha. I saw a southwest plane doing the same thing just after that, it was also about that low also and went on to Indy.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL ... I/tracklog