FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Are higher fares in 2025 working for Southwest?
Old Jan 16, 2025 | 7:27 am
  #18  
Kacee
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Originally Posted by xliioper
Basically, OAK is WN's version of a "hub hostage" legacy airport. Focusing on a single route (LAX-OAK) really doesn't say much about WN's overall pricing.
No, but it is indicative of a broader strategy by WN, which is to hold its lowest fares on many routes at the 7 or 14 day AP minimum, even when the mainline carriers are discounting well below that. Doesn't seem like a very smart strategy to me - give me the choice between WN or UA/AS/AA at an equal or often lower fare on pretty much any route, and I'll choose the mainline carrier where I'll get elite benefits and not have to deal with WN's increasingly awful boarding process.

I've been seeing this not only in/out of OAK, but also SNA, BUR, and SFO.
Originally Posted by dlaue
The intra-California market is begging for a competitor.
There is plenty of competition, but only if you're flying in or out of a mainline hub (SFO, LAX, SAN). If you want to go point to point between regional airports, yeah, it's WN, make a connection, or drive.
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