twoner32

I have done SW to ATL once. It was nice because coming from MSP the airport is MUCH easier on SW than Delta.
However, DELTA is way better because of the flight options. (times)

MikeMpls

And how did you accomplish that feat?

dickinson

I was wondering the same thing!

MikeMpls

Precisely -- once WN is in the mix & prices have dropped (the "Southwest effect"), they will charge has much as anyone else currently charges. Looking now at MSP-CHI & MSP-STL it's easy to claim that DL is as cheap (or expensive) as WN. For comparison you really need to roll back the clock a couple years to when NW/AA/UA had a tight grip on the market & wanted $400 for MSP-CHI & almost $600 for MSP-STL.

In the case of ATL, I doubt prices will drop much since DL & FL already compete head to head on many routes, at least not until the economy improves and capacity increases. The MSP-ATL tickets (DL) that I've bought the last couple years were pretty deeply discounted given the distance.

exwannabe

Air Tran is the LCC, not Southwest.

Air Tran has it's hub in ATL, not Southwest.

I also live in ATL and the flights out of Birmingham are more expensive now (years ago your post was correct).

If this goes though it will be bad for ATL flyers and good for DL's bottom line.

MikeMpls

Whatever ....

I doubt ATL will be a consideration since WN does not now serve ATL. They are not consolidating the services of two current competitors at ATL.

It really depends on your perspective. From mine (MSP) WN is very much a LCC. My "normal" fares to CHI & STL have dropped 60% since the "Southwest effect" took place here, and sometimes when they have fare sales the savings is 80% in comparison to how we used to be gouged.

performancefitness

+1 -- 9/10*

exwannabe

Please explain how ATL is not a factor in a thread titled Southwest v. Delta in ATL?

MikeMpls

When the merger is reviewed for anti-trust issues, they won't even blink at ATL, since WN currently has no operations in ATL. ATL will be a non-issue as far as the merger is concerned.

tkey75

It's a bit of give and take as far as the "Southwest Effect" goes. MSP saw a decrease in fares, as is your experience. BOS has seen nothing but fares increased since Southwest opened operations there. Complete coincidence.

tkey75

Yep. Fares won't move at all in either direction (in ATL). The competition already exists.

DenverBrian

You also can't buy wifi when it doesn't exist. Nor PTV. All things DL has that WN does not.

SilverSpy57

ok friends, get this:

SWA is blah. I've stopped flying them since 2009 because they dont really take measures to ensure the ride is enjoyable. I've had so many problems with my ears popping/clogging during landings because SWA does not pressurize their cabins properly.


Oh, and read this (from CNN.com article):

"SWA is the creeping cancer of the air, old aircraft, shoddy maintenance, hidden fees. Bags fly free? Total lie. Right before the started that ad campaign, they raised their fares across the board to hide bag fees. You're now paying a bag fee on SWA even if you don't have a bag to check."

That is VERY true. I see that they charge like $271 for ONE-WAY ticket from LGA to LAX. Are you freakin' kidding me? $271?!?!!? how is that LOW cost? Obviously the baggage-fees are built-in so nobody thinks that they are being charged. it's a very clever business trick.


Also, let's play the mergers/acquisitions (who marries who) game:

Delta/Northwest
America West/US Airways
ValuJet ---> AirTran (rebranding)
Southwest/AirTran
United/Continental


and maybe in the next few years: American Airlines/US Airways.


This is not a good sign for consumers. People should not be applauding these mergers. Price competition will drop.


Also, the Dept of Justice needs to ramp it up with being more strict on these mergers. They really don't have the consumer in mind.

I am totally against the SWA/AirTran acquisition.

Evan!

It's even better to be in a market served by Southwest, AirTran, JetBlue, Allegiant, Spirit, Frontier and now Virgin America. ^

Amen to that. What happened to putting a stop to "too big to fail"? Airlines are following the banking model. When the next crisis occurs DL and their giant ilk will line up to congress for a bailout and hold the threat of an economic meltdown over their heads unless they (congress) comes through.

reed2x

As for the bag fees, perhaps delta will eliminate/reduce them to match wn. I doubt delta would lower them systemwide, but it could be done on routes in direct competition with wn.

Keep in mind the network effects. Supposing fares/routes stay the same out of atl, travelers will be more attracted to wn than fl standing alone.

I'm hoping delta offers a sky miles promotion out of atl, ala the stl, bna, pit,...deal.