Southwest Airlines Enters Hawaii - Alaska Airlines May Be the Biggest Loser
Feb 26, 2018, 10:16 pm
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
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Feb 26, 2018, 10:55 pm
#32
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Really?!? Have you looked at WN's route map lately? The shorter route frequencies have been cut dramatically. They are flying to major cities (e.g. BOS with cuts at MHT and PVD). Their stage length has increased significantly over the past decade. WN already flies 5+ hour flights and have the same large load factors that all the other airlines have. Lack of catering is a problem on all airlines. AA routinely runs out of BOB by row 15 -- you really can't count on having it. At least AS has pre-order for BOB.
Feb 27, 2018, 10:03 am
#33
Join Date: May 2006
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I see our resident troll has begun to chime in with outdated WN information again. Underserved airports? Short flights? 
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
Feb 27, 2018, 10:45 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Realistically, AS need to focus on beefing up their SFO/SJC routes, and discontinue OAK, it's the weakest network of the SFO area airports. I think AS might have temporary gains with Hawaiian currently having difficulties with A321neo engines but AS should plan their exits out of this airport.
On a side note, VX/AS should feel lucky knowing that VX 321neo engine is manufactured by CFM rather than the troubled P&W engines.
Jiburi
On a side note, VX/AS should feel lucky knowing that VX 321neo engine is manufactured by CFM rather than the troubled P&W engines.
Jiburi
Last edited by jiburi; Feb 27, 2018 at 10:53 am
Feb 27, 2018, 11:10 am
#35
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Interesting data. Keep in mind that WN pulled a DL back in 2015, made WGA redemption rates variable So, How Bad Was Southwest's Recent Devaluation? - One Mile at a Time. So while Kelly will likely allow WGA redemption if/when they FINALLY start Hawaii service, I believe it is reasonable to expect poor valuations.
Will be fun to watch all of the whining and moaning in the WN forum when they see WGA Hawaii redemption rates - particularly during peak holiday travel periods.
Will be fun to watch all of the whining and moaning in the WN forum when they see WGA Hawaii redemption rates - particularly during peak holiday travel periods.
I see our resident troll has begun to chime in with outdated WN information again. Underserved airports? Short flights?
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
I suspect AS will do OK when it gets down to it; they've had 10 years in some of these markets and they're not going away in SJC/SFO/LAX/SAN.
Feb 27, 2018, 11:17 am
#36
Join Date: Apr 2009
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The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal.
Feb 27, 2018, 11:22 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2017
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I see our resident troll has begun to chime in with outdated WN information again. Underserved airports? Short flights?
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
Feb 27, 2018, 12:08 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
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Without the benefit of actual flight stats, I trust my empirical observations. Anyone who sits in the WN satellite or aux gates in SAN will see a significant majority of intra-California, or less than 2 hour (DEN, LAS, PHX) flights. Sure, there is the occasional BWI, DAL and MDW.
The $99 companion fare AS has is ok if you fly once a year (and AS doesn't end all their routes!), but it's definitely not the most cost effective thing if you're flying places more than once a year. Having the WN CP where someone comes along for $10 r/t is an incredible deal. Only thing better is employee travel (and non rev really sucks these days unless you can get a jumpseat).
Feb 27, 2018, 12:55 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
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I realize your schtick is hating WN with a burning passion, but besides the fact that they serve LGA and EWR, do you seriously think it's a mark against them that they use alternatives to DFW and ORD? DAL and MDW aren't three-gate airports out in the boonies.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:18 pm
#41
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It makes total sense to me to cut redundant routes between VX and AS as VX gets more and more integrated into AS. And other routes, if they don't have the traffic makes sense to cut those too. I would rather have a profitable healthy airline than one that has a bunch of unprofitable routes just to have them.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:27 pm
#42
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They serve CHI and NYC just fine (MDW, EWR and LGA). Their NYC airports are the same ones UA serves. I guess if you squint hard you could call ISP NYC too.
This statement is probably true of (insert airline and airport here). Top 10 destinations from SFO involve LAX, SAN, SEA, PDX, DEN, LAS. SEA has zero transcon destinations in their top 10 unless you add EWR+JFK to make NYC (at which point you can add ORD and MDW to get CHI, LAX, BUR, SNA and ONT to make QLA, and so on).
Feb 27, 2018, 1:27 pm
#43
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,637
Realistically, AS need to focus on beefing up their SFO/SJC routes, and discontinue OAK, it's the weakest network of the SFO area airports. I think AS might have temporary gains with Hawaiian currently having difficulties with A321neo engines but AS should plan their exits out of this airport.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:38 pm
#44
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Since when do AS Hawaii awards fluctuate rationally with price/inventory? The nonstop is a less expensive cash ticket but costs almost 2x more in miles. The W bucket is open on the one-stop, but it's not open on the less expensive nonstop flight. This took me something like two seconds to find. Since when does WN price nonstops nearly twice as much as one-stops on WGA awards if the cash price is LESS?
Same date as you picked. SFO is cheaper than OAK for cash. It's also cheaper for miles.
Feb 27, 2018, 1:39 pm
#45
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They have a major hub in DAL. That's just a crazy straw man argument for an airline that started OUT serving Texas and Texas alone, and whose corporate HQ is in Dallas.
They serve CHI and NYC just fine (MDW, EWR and LGA). Their NYC airports are the same ones UA serves. I guess if you squint hard you could call ISP NYC too.
They serve CHI and NYC just fine (MDW, EWR and LGA). Their NYC airports are the same ones UA serves. I guess if you squint hard you could call ISP NYC too.
