Why is FedEx using this shipping pattern?

They use a hub and spoke system, so your package goes from one city (or spoke) to a major distribution point (or hub).

I do find it unusual that it was sent to Alaska, and not to Memphis, where FedEx’s main hub is located, but then, the system must have determined that this route was the best. Don’t worry.

What @bob_ said. It’s the hub and spoke thing.

Memphis is the more likely connection @bob_ is right. I live just outside of Memphis and fedex flies morning, noon, and night. I know several fedex pilots, hard not to in this town. At the airport it is amazing to see all of the fedex planes lined up, there are so many. Maybe Alaska is a hub for going west, internationally, but it might also be used nationally. But, I would think it would still come through Memphis. Did it go from Alaska directly to Colorado?

@JLeslie Alaska is indeed a major FedEx hub. My guess is that it was sent through that hub because the system determined it would be the fastest route. The marginal cost of sending it all the way there is zero: the planes that fly to and from there were going to fly anyway.

@bob_ Best answer ever. It was amazing how you just tapped into my whole “make this insanity become sane” thing. Want a sandwich?

@JLeslie I don’t know yet, but man do I hope so.

@papayalily Well, I am an economist, so I know how everything works XD

Seriously, though, it’s a matter of optimization. @JLeslie is right in that seeing all the planes lined up is amazing, but it is even more amazing to see how it all works from behind the scenes. Take a look at this.

@bob_ Wow…. That’s so cool.

I agree that it was most likely the most practical route for some reason. Maybe it was the time of night it was mailed, and the next flight to Memphis had left, maybe all Colorado mail goes through Alaska? Maybe the fees at the Alaska airport are much less than Memphis is, so it makes fiscal sense. Who knows. It’s not like a passenger who is inconvenienced by a longer route, it’s all bottom line and efficiency regarding the business. I feel confident you will get your package on time.

@Bob I loved watching the map thing. Made me think (as I saw planes leaving the US from Miami etc) that FedEx delivers outside the US as well, making the Alaska hub make a bit more sense.