Originally Posted by LarryJ
Single anecdotal data points don't give a good picture.
SWA just reported that their load factors are up by a large margin over last year. I think the figure was around 15% but don't quote me on that.
My anecdotal data points are just the opposite of yours. I haven't been on a SWA flight with more than 5 empty seats since early Spring. Almost all of them have been completely full for months. On Saturday I'm flying home on Delta because the SWA flight that I needed was sold out.
The reason that SWA is raising fares (9 times in two years, I think) is that the load factors are way up. Simple supply and demand.
On full flights, it requres 35-40 minutes to unload passengers, clean the aircraft, and reboard the aircraft -- particularly if there are wheelchairs to be boarded.
WN needs to schedule accurately particularly since they are raising prices.