I'm curious why you didn't pose this question to Droneklax who first raised the issue of stock price, and to whom wnflyer's post was a response.
Actually, the OP brought up financials from the outset, so I suppose I should have responded to that. I don't look at Safeway's balance sheet or income statement when deciding where to buy milk and bread.
Actually, the OP brought up financials from the outset, so I suppose I should have responded to that. I don't look at Safeway's balance sheet or income statement when deciding where to buy milk and bread.
Remember that when UA bankruptcy 2 sticks you. With the UA/US marrage it won't be long
TalkBoard Member/Moderator: Southwest and JetBlue forums
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN CP & A-list, Interstate BBQ at MEM B17, CO Lifetime Presidents Club
Posts: 9,241
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMan
Remember that when UA bankruptcy 2 sticks you. With the UA/US marrage it won't be long
Frontier will be first, lifting some pressure from UA. But we may very well see an actual shutdown of one of the big legacies this fall if fuel prices stay high. That possibility is why I am more bullish on LUV stock than I have been for a couple years. Southwest will have some superb opportunities to grab market share.
But none of that has anything to do with comparing the customer experience between WN and legacies.
Actually, the OP brought up financials from the outset, so I suppose I should have responded to that. I don't look at Safeway's balance sheet or income statement when deciding where to buy milk and bread.
Maybe this is because you are buying small tangible products and not necessarily a service in your example. It has been proven time and again that financially stable companies have happier and more productive employees than struggling companies. This tends to equate to better service for you and me as customers. Think about it…if your company is about to go out of business, how much incentive do you have to perform your duties and perform them well?
No last minute equipment changes on WN. On WN, you are going to be on a 737, period. On UA, your flight could be scheduled to be on a 737 initially but you then have the pleasant surprise of seeing a CRJ pull up to your gate.
Exactly, and this is what I meant when I wrote that WN redefined the concept of service. I watched the FAs carefully during my flight home this evening, wondering where indeed they could mess up service compared to where FA could mess up a UA flight.
No standing by the door greeting passengers, no pre-departure drink, no meals to serve, no duty-free, no 300 passengers to take care of.
Not many opportunities to screw up (aside perhaps from the bag of peanuts landing on the floor instead of the seat).
No last minute equipment changes on WN. On WN, you are going to be on a 737, period. On UA, your flight could be scheduled to be on a 737 initially but you then have the pleasant surprise of seeing a CRJ pull up to your gate.
On what routes does UA sub CRJ's for 737's? I've never seen that happen (although I haven't flown on UA in a while...) I would think that the mainline unions would pitch a fit about that.
I'll Fly Southwest-
If I want to fly with people who have never flown before...
If I want to stand in long lines to check in...
If I want to sit in front of my computer 24 hours before my flight...
If I want to have a first-time flier try to take my seat (14C) because their BP says C14...
If I want to be at the gate well before my group is called
I'll fly a Legacy-
If I want to show up 5 minutes before the door closes and still have my reserved seat...
If I want to earn a decent amount of FF mileage (remember, one r/t ticket=2 credits on WN, regardless of distance)...
If I want to keep all the FF mileage I earn for life (as long as my account stays active)...
If I want to use a FF award for upgrades or international travel...
TalkBoard Member/Moderator: Southwest and JetBlue forums
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN CP & A-list, Interstate BBQ at MEM B17, CO Lifetime Presidents Club
Posts: 9,241
Quote:
Originally Posted by captaink
If I want to stand in long lines to check in...
I haven't stood in a line for more than 3 minutes to check or to board since the new system took effect November 8.
Quote:
If I want to have a first-time flier try to take my seat (14C) because their BP says C14...
I've never seen this happen in 1000 flights. Did you really see that or did you just dream it up?
Quote:
If I want to be at the gate well before my group is called
There's no need for that, but if you want to be there early you now have a desk to work at.
Quote:
If I want to show up 5 minutes before the door closes and still have my reserved seat...
Last time I flew NW they insisted on having everyone on board 20 minutes before departure and they closed the door 10 minutes before departure and just sat there. Go figure. Legacies will cancel your reservation 15 to 20 minutes before departure. WN waits until 10 minutes before, and you have a few more minutes if you have already checked in.
Quote:
If I want to earn a decent amount of FF mileage (remember, one r/t ticket=2 credits on WN, regardless of distance)...
If I want to keep all the FF mileage I earn for life (as long as my account stays active)...
If I want to use a FF award for upgrades or international travel...
I haven't stood in a line for more than 3 minutes to check or to board since the new system took effect November 8.
You haven't been to LAX lately. The line to check in was out the door and down the street. (On the plus side, I did get to meet Yolanda of Airline fame...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by nsx
I've never seen this happen in 1000 flights. Did you really see that or did you just dream it up?
I wish I could say I did. I was sitting in 14C when a woman asked me, "Are you sure that's your seat?" while waving her BP at me. I explained that she could sit wherever she wanted (not that there were many seats left at that point)
Quote:
Originally Posted by nsx
There's no need for that, but if you want to be there early you now have a desk to work at.
Not at LAX...
Quote:
Originally Posted by nsx
Last time I flew NW they insisted on having everyone on board 20 minutes before departure and they closed the door 10 minutes before departure and just sat there. Go figure. Legacies will cancel your reservation 15 to 20 minutes before departure. WN waits until 10 minutes before, and you have a few more minutes if you have already checked in.
Last time I flew NW, we arrived at the gate as they called our group, due to a delayed connecting flight. Some people went to get food, while myself and others boarded right then. Those who got food didn't lose their seats (and made me really jealous when I had to settle for the sketchy NW turkey sandwich)
In my experience, as long as you are checked in on time and board before the line disappears, you will be fine.
WN hit a grand slam when they came up with the new boarding process. They kept the efficiency of the open seating, but eliminated all the stress of getting to the airport early even if you had an "A" boarding pass. No more sitting on the floor, threatening to tackle some jerk who tried to walk to the front of the line.
