Originally Posted by
MikeMpls
With regard to fares purchased, the only American airline that relies primarily on the purchases of inexpensive fares is also the only one that has been consistently profitable over the years. The business model that relies on the purchases of expensive Y & J fares is broken. It's led it adherents back into bankupcy court time and time again, and once again all of them are reporting red ink. Even the vaunted BA & AF/KL are racking up the losses.
I think its a misnomer that WN relies on inexpensive fares. Yes, it offers cheap tickets. However, WN's fare structure is generally flatter, with a lower unrestricted fare and more sales "in the middle." Not being in major GDS systems allows WN to avoid some of the transparency and comparison shopping that plagues other carriers.
At the end of the day, WN offers a fair deal, with out depending on charging a few passengers an arm and a leg to subsidize cheap fares.