US Air is cancelling all of its direct flights between Pittsburgh and Frankfurt.<BR><BR>Now we have to connect thru Philly and have a few hour layover EACH way!<BR><BR>Right now they are thru the end of May but I expect it to continue for my trip in June.<BR><BR>Not sure if this is due to lack of flyers or US Airways general downsizing/getting out of bankruptcy.<BR><BR>My husband takes that flight a lot and before the war his flight was FULL but he said coming home it was much more empty than normal.<BR><BR>Has anyone else been getting notice for flight changes? Is it causing you any grief?<BR><BR>The 3 hours isn't horrendous but it would have been nice to get home at 3pm instead of 6pm on Sunday before I head to work on Monday...lots of laundry to do before I can show up at the office!<BR><BR>

Most likely a result of their bankruptcy restructure. If it saves them $$$$$,go with it.

The website news release of US Air explains that this service has been &quot;temporarily&quot; suspended to meet the airline's duty to furnish widebody aircraft to the U.S. Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). In other words, US Air is being patriotic in ferrying troops to the Iraqi theatre! I also suspect that these military flights are fully booked, which would not be the case if the aircraft were used on the regular Frankfurt and Gatwick routes!

It isn't being patriotic, they get paid for it. They are doing it for business reasons, if it's true that is the reason for the cancellations.

Actually the aircraft got &quot;called up&quot; by the military...just like the reservists. <BR><BR>http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/09/spr....fleet.action/

It's not surprising since they discontinued the PIT-CDG direct flight a few months ago. We had booked in Dec. for upcoming May, direct, and received word via email that we now have to stop and change in PHL. It's unfortunate for us here in PIT b/c a direct flight is so much easier, but guess it's better than losing the whole airline.<BR>

That stop in Philie is a pain. We do not have direct flights from here to Rome and the last two trips we had the change in PHL.<BR>I haven't even been able to take advantage of the only other non stop routes from PIT, and now they have discontinued them.

My daughter and I purchased a promotional fare on NWA on their new route from DTW to Madrid. Just last week we got notice that because of a &quot;no-fly zone&quot; from the military (?) they had to cancel the flight. We now have to connect in Amsterdam. I'm still trying to figure out where there is a no-fly zone enroute to Madrid.

Angela:<BR><BR>Just out of curiosity, when are you supposed to fly? <BR><BR>I purchased tickets earlier in the week on NWA for a flight in Sept. I have since learned is currently suspended due to low demand. This suspension of flights is supposedly temporary (scheduled now to only last through the end of April) and, ostensibly, my tickets will be for a valid flight at the time I'm supposed to actually travel, but I fear it may be extended.<BR><BR>Jennie

I believe that NW has also &quot;suspended&quot; its seasonal nonstop from Detroit to Rome; likely for budgetary reasons more than for lack of demand. The curtailment by US Air of nonstop service out of Pittsburg probably reflects a strategy (perhaps temporary) to focus on its cardinal &quot;hub&quot;, which is clearly Philadelphia.

Jennie, we're traveling in mid-May and since this route is pretty new, I find it hard to believe they would cancel it due to low demand. Although, I still can't figure out the no-fly zone reason that we were given. Did they actually schedule you on another flight? We are now scheduled on KLM which is a partner with NWA.

Angela:<BR><BR>So far, our tickets are still on NW. I actually bought them on Orbitz, but NW is still selling tickets for this particular route directly from their site (as of today). <BR><BR>I'm not sure what they'll do if they decide to extend the suspension of the route. Our dates are kind of set in stone (they COULD be moved, but it would be difficult). I wouldn't mind being rescheduled on KLM (I've heard they're better than NW anyway. Ha-Ha!) and, in fact, would prefer that over having to change flying dates.<BR><BR>Jennie<BR><BR>

The &quot;story&quot; about the &quot;no-fly&quot; zone to Madrid is rubbish! NW is curtailing this new flight in order to save money! They prefer to fly you to Amsterdam, then transfer you to their partner, KLM.

We lost our direct flights from Charlotte nearly a year ago. It's called supply &amp; demand.

Well, I just checked NW website and the direct flight is not offered for our travel dates (I would have been really annoyed if they were), but Jennie, I think you'll be fine in September. Even with the change, we're still traveling on the same dates with the stop in Amsterdam being only an hour. As long as we get there and home in one piece, I'll be satisfied. I figured that no-fly zone crap was just that!

Angela, I'm sure you're right. We're just a little leary because we bought our tickets so early. But we got such a good deal ($470 RT, including tax, from Dallas) that we thought we should jump on it.<BR><BR>I hope you and your daughter have a great time in Spain. My brother's favorite city in the world is Barcelona! <BR>=0) My travel partner in September will be my mother and I'm really looking forward to sharing this adventure w/ her.<BR><BR>Jennie