Why is DL so weak where NW was so brutal??
Mar 10, 2011, 1:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Big Sky Country
Programs: CO PLT, DL GM, Hertz President Circle, SPG Platinum
Posts: 450
Why is DL so weak where NW was so brutal??
DL is not nearly as cut-throat and protective as NW was. I am wondering if this is a strategy in response to the LGA/DCA swap review; or, a change in philosophy.
DL left the door wide open and WN is blowing up the barn, taking full advantage. NW would have aggressively responded to the MKE build up and ATL/MSP invasion with all sorts of loyalty retention tools; ie. Double EQM, Triple Miles, etc.
They are even sleeping on Allegiant where NW would be sure to never let in the house, let alone even knock on the door. NW pulled out the shotgun when they stepped on our land and they ran away.
- Why has DL become so competitively weak??
- Are they focusing on JFK and not realizing that someone is sneaking up their prom dress??
- Is this a "we are playing fair" response to sooth along the LGA/DCA slot swap?
- Did they come to some awareness that marketshare does not matter??
I guess in the end it is good for travelers to have options; but, then we start seeing pull down of mainline jets to regionals, service reductions and more.
DL left the door wide open and WN is blowing up the barn, taking full advantage. NW would have aggressively responded to the MKE build up and ATL/MSP invasion with all sorts of loyalty retention tools; ie. Double EQM, Triple Miles, etc.
They are even sleeping on Allegiant where NW would be sure to never let in the house, let alone even knock on the door. NW pulled out the shotgun when they stepped on our land and they ran away.
- Why has DL become so competitively weak??
- Are they focusing on JFK and not realizing that someone is sneaking up their prom dress??
- Is this a "we are playing fair" response to sooth along the LGA/DCA slot swap?
- Did they come to some awareness that marketshare does not matter??
I guess in the end it is good for travelers to have options; but, then we start seeing pull down of mainline jets to regionals, service reductions and more.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
DL Has One of the Best Route Guys in the Business
his name is Glen Hauenstein.
DL probably made a business judgment to use their resources in other areas.
DL has a fantastic management team in place; I think one has to trust their judgment. This is not meant as a cheerleading post; it is an opinion based on having seen the management team in action and having followed the Big D closely for years.
DL probably made a business judgment to use their resources in other areas.
DL has a fantastic management team in place; I think one has to trust their judgment. This is not meant as a cheerleading post; it is an opinion based on having seen the management team in action and having followed the Big D closely for years.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:33 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
NW's reputation for retaliation wasn't built on fighting Southwest, but instead on wimps like Reno Air and Midway. It is not at all the same thing.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,246
DL is not nearly as cut-throat and protective as NW was. I am wondering if this is a strategy in response to the LGA/DCA swap review; or, a change in philosophy.
DL left the door wide open and WN is blowing up the barn, taking full advantage. NW would have aggressively responded to the MKE build up and ATL/MSP invasion with all sorts of loyalty retention tools; ie. Double EQM, Triple Miles, etc.
They are even sleeping on Allegiant where NW would be sure to never let in the house, let alone even knock on the door. NW pulled out the shotgun when they stepped on our land and they ran away.
- Why has DL become so competitively weak??
- Are they focusing on JFK and not realizing that someone is sneaking up their prom dress??
- Is this a "we are playing fair" response to sooth along the LGA/DCA slot swap?
- Did they come to some awareness that marketshare does not matter??
I guess in the end it is good for travelers to have options; but, then we start seeing pull down of mainline jets to regionals, service reductions and more.
DL left the door wide open and WN is blowing up the barn, taking full advantage. NW would have aggressively responded to the MKE build up and ATL/MSP invasion with all sorts of loyalty retention tools; ie. Double EQM, Triple Miles, etc.
They are even sleeping on Allegiant where NW would be sure to never let in the house, let alone even knock on the door. NW pulled out the shotgun when they stepped on our land and they ran away.
- Why has DL become so competitively weak??
- Are they focusing on JFK and not realizing that someone is sneaking up their prom dress??
- Is this a "we are playing fair" response to sooth along the LGA/DCA slot swap?
- Did they come to some awareness that marketshare does not matter??
I guess in the end it is good for travelers to have options; but, then we start seeing pull down of mainline jets to regionals, service reductions and more.
Mar 10, 2011, 1:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CHI/MSP
Programs: Delta Platinum, United Prem Exec
Posts: 1,334
Thought so.
I guess that Southwest only came into existence in 2008 after the merger, and NWA never faced a desire for Southwest to launch service into the Twin Cities.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:00 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Lessons Learned
Because Delta learned its lesson when it went head-to-head against Air Tran in ATL. That path took it to BK.
NW was always fat and happy in formerly secure hubs like MSP, and MEM, and to a lesser degree DTW.
NW was always fat and happy in formerly secure hubs like MSP, and MEM, and to a lesser degree DTW.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: DL; AA; UA; CO; LHLX; NZ; QR; EK; BA
Posts: 7,409
CEO - Anderson - came after Ch.11 emergence
President - Bastian - returned to Delta in July 2005
EVP Network/RM - Hauenstein - joined Delta August 2005
COO - Gorman - came with Anderson
Mar 10, 2011, 2:25 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Big Sky Country
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Posts: 450
Had to add another cliche, I was not quite up to 100
Mar 10, 2011, 2:29 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SEA
Posts: 12,485
Regardless of WN's desires, its ability to serve MSP was previously prevented by a lack of gates. The real opportunity came not with the DL/NW merger, but with Sun Country's latest round of problems, which freed up gates in the Humphrey terminal.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:29 pm
#11
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Location: Big Sky Country
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Posts: 450
Their history of aggressive retailiation kept WN at bay. WN isn't foolish, they knew they couldn't pick this fight. WN targets cities where there is a market pressence and a weakness. They stayed the heck away from NWA and now they are the rest of the gang are just taking market share at will.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:37 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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(For those who are too young, PeoplExpress was a large airline
)
Mar 10, 2011, 2:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Posts: 7,409
And regarding AirTran in ATL, here's an article for you from 2010 regarding how Delta had actually started beating AirTran at its own game despite FL's lower costs:
http://www.ajc.com/business/airtran-...ck-357614.html
That's why AirTran started looking for opportunities outside of ATL (e.g. MKE). The DL-NW merger made DL even stronger, and eventually helped force FL into WN's arms. And WN has higher costs than FL, so if DL is able to handle FL, WN is not going to walk over them easily when they come to ATL.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:43 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Their history of aggressive retailiation kept WN at bay. WN isn't foolish, they knew they couldn't pick this fight. WN targets cities where there is a market pressence and a weakness. They stayed the heck away from NWA and now they are the rest of the gang are just taking market share at will.
Now that NW is gone and Delta is no longer per se the home team the MAC has finally found competition religon.
Mar 10, 2011, 2:46 pm
#15
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Their history of aggressive retailiation kept WN at bay. WN isn't foolish, they knew they couldn't pick this fight. WN targets cities where there is a market pressence and a weakness. They stayed the heck away from NWA and now they are the rest of the gang are just taking market share at will.