Article on the Seattle expansion
Jun 15, 2014, 8:30 pm
#16
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Maybe. Air Canada obviously decided it couldn't do both jobs well. My guess is that SkyMiles might be improved, as a business, from being divorced a bit from DL the airline business.
Jun 15, 2014, 9:45 pm
#17
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You mean selling frequent flyer miles is not the business Delta is in? I seem to recall American Express coughing up $500 million for miles that helped keep Delta in business when they were on the verge of going under...
Jun 15, 2014, 11:03 pm
#18
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Jun 16, 2014, 12:51 am
#20
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Nice article. It says:
He (Tilden of AS) said Alaska will stick to its strategy of low costs, low fares, superior operational performance and good service to passengers.
“I have a lot confidence that over the years ahead, we’ll do these basic things well and come out of this just fine,” Tilden said.
That would be nice, but how is that possible? How do you put out good service and superior performance while keeping both costs and fares low and then still thrive in the face of pressure from Delta? I wonder what AS is really thinking, because it's all just rhetoric on the article and I think it's going to be tough if DL keeps this up.
He (Tilden of AS) said Alaska will stick to its strategy of low costs, low fares, superior operational performance and good service to passengers.
“I have a lot confidence that over the years ahead, we’ll do these basic things well and come out of this just fine,” Tilden said.
That would be nice, but how is that possible? How do you put out good service and superior performance while keeping both costs and fares low and then still thrive in the face of pressure from Delta? I wonder what AS is really thinking, because it's all just rhetoric on the article and I think it's going to be tough if DL keeps this up.
Jun 16, 2014, 6:02 am
#21
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By this logic, DL should get into the retail business. Maybe some McDonald's franchises. At some point, businesses need to focus on what they do well.
FWIW, I am actually working on an analysis on whether to kill a product right now. It generates revenue, but it doesn't mean it is worth supporting the myriad things required to keep the product going.
FWIW, I am actually working on an analysis on whether to kill a product right now. It generates revenue, but it doesn't mean it is worth supporting the myriad things required to keep the product going.
Good for you. I worked in management for an airline for 7 years. No hearsay here.
It is a tough business and margins are not that great. I suspect that DL's nominal margins are high due to treating the business as largely marginal, but I'm less convinced they are truly profitable if you fully allocated costs related to running the network. If they are just filler for the passenger side of the business, you might as well have the passenger side of the business selling it.
Jun 16, 2014, 7:09 am
#22
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They had to get bigger to compete with Delta/NW. I suppose you think that it was sufficient that just Delta/NW should have been allowed to merge and enjoy a competitive advantage?
Last edited by hazelrah; Jun 16, 2014 at 7:17 am
Jun 16, 2014, 7:11 am
#23
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http://crankyflier.com/2012/06/07/th...ssed-to-delta/
Jun 16, 2014, 9:13 am
#25
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Interesting story, but is SEA, with TSA and ICE going to do anything about the international facilities at Seattle?
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.
I have GE so breezed past the pretty long lines in immigration (even though everyone now uses kiosks). The customs hall though -- my flight seems to have landed just after LH, Emirates, Hainan, and BA flights, all in very quick succession. All 4 belts were revolving and full when I go to the customs hall and was directed to belt 33 which was backed up with bags from the Hainan flight from PEK. We then got directed to another belt, then a third, and finally back to belt 33 where the bags eventually were delivered.
There are no video displays telling you which belt to go to except for the display on the belt itself (at least not that I could see). And no pa announcements for DL, just some people yelling above the din.
What a mess.
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.
I have GE so breezed past the pretty long lines in immigration (even though everyone now uses kiosks). The customs hall though -- my flight seems to have landed just after LH, Emirates, Hainan, and BA flights, all in very quick succession. All 4 belts were revolving and full when I go to the customs hall and was directed to belt 33 which was backed up with bags from the Hainan flight from PEK. We then got directed to another belt, then a third, and finally back to belt 33 where the bags eventually were delivered.
There are no video displays telling you which belt to go to except for the display on the belt itself (at least not that I could see). And no pa announcements for DL, just some people yelling above the din.
What a mess.
Jun 16, 2014, 9:25 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Is AS in any position to start acquiring smaller airlines and try to grow themselves a bit? In particular, I'm thinking of Sun Country, the small Minneapolis based airline. This would be another way to go after Delta that could be very interesting.
Jun 16, 2014, 9:40 am
#27
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If AS were able to grow their fleet then I would say setting up an east coast hub would possibly work in growing their footprint. There are airports such as PIT where it would be easy to set up a hub.
Jun 16, 2014, 9:43 am
#28
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Jun 16, 2014, 9:57 am
#29
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Interesting story, but is SEA, with TSA and ICE going to do anything about the international facilities at Seattle?
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.
http://www.portseattle.org/Business/...Pages/IAF.aspx
I don't know what they are going to do for the next four years. The arrivals facility is tiny and overcrowded, as you describe. GE is indispensable.
Jun 16, 2014, 10:24 am
#30
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Interesting story, but is SEA, with TSA and ICE going to do anything about the international facilities at Seattle?
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.
The last time I went through immigration at SEA was in the NW days -- and it was easy and convenient. I flew through last Saturday arriving on DL 198 from ICN at about 12:30 pm. The immigration and customs halls were both messes.