# Why are there direct flights from Philadelphia to Newark? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009 "2017-01-13T03:15:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/21 "2017-01-20T02:35:32Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > For a time, Continental had a “flight” between Philly & EWR that was actually Amtrak! Ah, the good ol’ ninja codeshare. To be fair, Amtrak trains have been known to occasionally take to the air for brief periods. Better than being booked through on a Greyhound, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/22 "2017-01-20T15:42:54Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Who gets to the airport 2 hours early. I used to fly every week and I never got to the airport with more than 30 minutes. I fly out of Philly (PHL) and Newark (EWR) both domestic and international, and I’d miss between 90-100% of my flights if I got there with 30 minutes to spare and probably 50% of the flights if I allowed one hour to spare. . ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/23 "2017-01-20T16:20:02Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > “Why are there direct flights from Philadelphia to Newark?” > > Because people will pay the airline enough money for such flights to make them profitable. That’s true, but only indirectly. The actual reason there’s flights running between PHL & EWR is more complicated. Substantially zero percent of the people on those flights both begin and end their journey at those two airports. EWR is a hub for used-to-be-Continental-now-United. To/from EWR long-haul flights connect to places all over the planet. Medium-haul flights connect to places all over North America. And short-haul flights connect to places all over the US eastern seaboard. United (or its affiliated express carriers) has flights between PHL and EWR \*not \*to carry anyone between PHL and EWR but to carry them between PHL and anywhere else in the world \*via \*EWR. PHL is a hub for used-to-be-USAirways-now-American. To/from PHL long-haul flights connect to places all over the planet. Medium-haul flights connect to places all over North America. And short-haul flights connect to places all over the US eastern seaboard. American (or its affiliated express carriers) has flights between EWR and PHL \*not \*to carry anyone between EWR and PHL but to carry them between EWR and anywhere else in the world \*via \*PHL. You will find that none of the direct flights between those two cities are operated by any other airline. Because, unlike what **TBG** mostly said, nobody will pay to fly just that one segment. It only makes sense as part of a package deal. Another factor is that in general non-stop itineraries sell for a higher price than do one-stop itineraries of similar length. Particularly in a hub-and-spoke model, non-stops have more value to both the airline and to the customers. Both of which drive the price upwards. So if you are one the millions (no exaggeration) of people who live within a reasonable driving (or railroading) distance from both PHL & EWR, you may be able to get to LA or London or Hawaii or Little Rock more cheaply by taking United PHL-EWR-wherever with a plane change in EWR versus taking American PHL-wherever nonstop. Likewise you may find that taking American EWR-PHL-wherever with a plane change in PHL is cheaper than EWR-wherever nonstop on United. A big enough price difference can pay for a lot of gas or train tickets. Hence creating demand for service between PHL & EWR. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/24 "2017-01-20T16:29:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > 1. The train might be faster, if you’re going from downtown Philadelphia to downtown NYC. But, if you’re catching a connecting flight out of Philadelphia or Newark, I suppose that flying might be a better option than the train? As a matter of actual fact, no. It is 2-3 hours from the Newark Airport to the Philidelphia Airport via train. Use Google maps, search for “EWR to PHL” and select the train logo up top for transit options. ---
**Author:** ![steadfor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@steadfor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steadfor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/25 "2017-02-01T18:28:27Z")
It is 2-3 hours . It’s difficult to find a cheap flight to it. Anyway, you can look for some flights at this engine[https://lowcost.club/](https://lowcost.club/) I always use it to get the cheapest flights. And you can get a direct flight straight, it would be cheaper. it is worth the extra effort. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/26 "2017-02-01T18:39:35Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > If you need to get to the airport 2 hours in advance, Who actually gets to the airport 2 hours before flight time? An hour max for me, normally 45 minutes. I don’t check bags, and I’m pre-check. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/27 "2017-02-01T19:00:07Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Who actually gets to the airport 2 hours before flight time? An hour max for me, normally 45 minutes. > > I don’t check bags, and I’m pre-check. I’m guessing you don’t fly out of New York. Because I’ve spent over an hour just in the security line. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/28 "2017-02-01T19:24:04Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > I’m guessing you don’t fly out of New York. Because I’ve spent over an hour just in the security line. I fly out of JFK regularly. I’m usually through the Terminal 4 pre-check line in under 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009/29 "2017-02-01T19:30:25Z")
I fly out of O’Hare, and unfortunately, it’s still highly variable. There have been times where I would get through security in under 10 minutes, and times when it took over an hour. I finally signed up for TSA Pre-check last year; that line has never taken longer than 5 minutes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-direct-flights-from-philadelphia-to-newark/777009.md?page=1)