Originally Posted by
redheadtempe33
Actuallly WN's fuel costs have doubled since 2007 if you think about it. They had such a good hedging position that when those hedges ran out, they had two choices - fees (like everybody else), or raise fares (or both).
Yes the fuel hedge was GREAT for them while it lasted. But like RR1.0, a lot of good things unfortunately come to an end.
I have priced some delta flights I have booked on WN for the fun of it and usually WN is more expensive, and isn't direct non-stop. In some cases there has been a huge difference (Around $185 going DTW/MDW RT on DL in May and over $300 on WN unless I want to fly to STL and connect or take undesireable flight times). I am lucky enough to have 2 free checked bags on Delta, but on some of the flights i have compared, if a kettle has has to check one bag and pay DL the $25 they are still better off flying delta.
WN is definitely no longer a low cost carrier.