Originally Posted by
atalerico
This
WSJ article said that DL saved $200m since January because of the merger. There should be much more savings because of the merger in the coming quarters.
That's just company spin regurgitated.
Originally Posted by
TheMoose
Yes, the business model works for those who don't mind making a connecting flight for nearly every destination, no first class/upgradeable cabin, and have no desire to fly internationally.
Sounds like most American customers.
Originally Posted by
TheMoose
You can put WN up against FL and you'll have a clear winner. But the legacies are different animals catering to a different kind of traveler. Comparing WN to DL is like apples-to-oranges, or at least grapefruits-to-oranges. They overlap in only a small area: domestic-only travelers who don't want to upgrade to first class.
Up to 90% of each plane full of pax does not upgrade to first class. You're pretending that a small % of upgrade pax is the norm; it isn't. And many of us who've "been there, done that" would rather fly with an airline that gives us a fair shake & doesn't try to shake money out of our pockets every time we turn around.
Originally Posted by
TheMoose
But it's not like WN is rolling in fists of cash, either. Their meager profit is still nothing to write home about. The whole airline industry is in trouble, and much of the reason why is because people keep demanding $49 flights and revolt when an airline tries to charge a baggage fee or a ticketing fee to recoup some of the losses from those rock bottom fares.
In this market & economy a break even position is something to jump up & down & brag about.