Originally Posted by
medic-again
I never remember seeing anyone from southwest claim to be a "champion of the consumer", they're a business. and by no means is this consumer fraud, there's no bait and switch or anything illegal. they're offering a discount off some base price.
I wouldn't be so sure they their actions here are legal. Stores do get in trouble in some states for raising prices immediately before a sale and then advertising "half off." There might be some federal preemption, but the Feds can be harsh on deceptive airline fares, too. This sale truly is deceptive and entirely unnecessary. They could easily have built up the same "excitement" by having a one-day "blow-out" sale from the same destinations. If I were running the airline and my marketing guys did this, there would be hell to pay. I think it's that bad.
Meanwhile, right on schedule, UA and AA have matched most of today's ABQ fares and are offering generally better inventory.