Originally Posted by
3Cforme
We all like cheap fares but that doesn't excuse poor analytical method. Had one compared 21-day advance fares pre-WN-entry and post-entry, that would have had some legitimacy.
How is this for good methodology in comparing fares (for the market I fly, ATL-ORD)?
(All are Mon-Thu and purchased mid-week 3-6 weeks out when Delta tends to offer the cheapest fares, and I only included flights that arrive by 10am Mon and depart after 4pm Thu.)
Pre-Southwest
(average = $394.18)
01/02/12 $382.10
01/09/12 $364.40
01/16/12 $339.40
01/23/12 $370.40
01/30/12 $429.40
02/06/12 $479.40
>>> Southwest enters market 2/12/2012 <<<
Post-Southwest
(average = $517.60)
02/13/12 $480.60
02/20/12 $628.60
02/27/12 $480.60
03/05/12 $480.60
So Delta raised their price on this route by an average of $123.42 when Southwest entered the market.
Competitive comparison
(Current price for departure on 2/27/12)
Delta $480.60
Southwest $237.60
United/Continental $237.60
Airtran $237.60
I'm not sure if Southwest entering the market and Delta's delusional pricing taking effect are related, but it is certainly a strange play on Delta's part to refuse to match their new competitor's fares when all the other players did.
By the way, a glance at Delta's seat map for this flight shows 88 coach seats and 11 first class seats available.