Originally Posted by GotCalcio4
On most other routes, load factors are sitting in the 70-75% range- so why the need for more Y seats when their not filling the ones that they already have?
Because if they lower the fares, they get more people to buy, and if they can get enough people on the plane, even at those lower fares, they can make more money then selling less seats at a higher fare.
Most carriers like UA (due to outrageous pricing) sell less than 3% of all seats in their First class cabins on domestic routes.
Which is why AS has seen, at least on the longer runs, pretty decent sales with their new rational F fares. On the short-hops, their product is pretty lame (it's closer to UA's Economy Plus then UA's First), so sales aren't so hot there.