Delta Vs. Southwest (What's wrong with Delta?)
Jan 25, 2014, 5:29 pm
#61
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I've never noticed Southwest to be cheaper for the routes I fly. I guess having 90% of the flights in my life originate out of ATL and NYC would will do that. Generally I have to go out of my way to fly one and two stops on Southwest when there are cheaper itineraries available from Delta, American, United, Virgin, whoever.
Jan 25, 2014, 5:29 pm
#62
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Lets compare the stocks for the last year:
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=D...rce=undefined;
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=D...rce=undefined;
Spirit stock did even better: http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=D...rce=undefined;
Jan 25, 2014, 5:30 pm
#63
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Jan 25, 2014, 5:32 pm
#64
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My experience is that out of MSP since Southwest's arrival is that Delta is usually the same price or less. Once in a while Southwest is $35 less.
The biggest thing is that MSP to CHI (all airports) the price dropped. Delta, American, and United were price gouging this route so badly, it used to be difficult to find a fare under $400, now 21 days out, it's easy to find sub $140AI.
With Southwest you have to fly to MDW, I always fly to ORD so Southwest helped me. The other issue is I fly non-stop to 95% of my domestic destinations with Delta, Southwest, it would be about 2%.
So Southwest comes to MSP, and gets the Chicago flights to drop in price, but joined the price gouging in my opinion.
The biggest thing is that MSP to CHI (all airports) the price dropped. Delta, American, and United were price gouging this route so badly, it used to be difficult to find a fare under $400, now 21 days out, it's easy to find sub $140AI.
With Southwest you have to fly to MDW, I always fly to ORD so Southwest helped me. The other issue is I fly non-stop to 95% of my domestic destinations with Delta, Southwest, it would be about 2%.
So Southwest comes to MSP, and gets the Chicago flights to drop in price, but joined the price gouging in my opinion.
Jan 25, 2014, 5:34 pm
#65
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,039
If other carriers are matching WNs low fares, then they ALL are "budget" LCC carriers. It just means WN is the leader. But make no mistake if they are all charging what you feel is a low budget fare, they are all LCCs. DL gains o stature by following rather than leading.
Jan 25, 2014, 5:42 pm
#66
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I didn't mean to start a big controversy here. If I've gotten anything from this thread, it is that YMMV is the truest mantra. I must admit that I predominantly shop sales and it is interesting to see that many times, DL will match WN if there is a sale, but WN will not match DL. Having WN's prices separate from all other searches is also genius as one has to do multiple searches to compare prices. DL works in my schedule and importantly takes me where I need to go (Int'l destinations). I also feel more rewarded (for the time being) on Delta as a LVC (let's face it, if we're fighting over who has the lowest fares, we're not bread and butter customers). I work at a law firm, where many of the attorneys have chosen WN as their primary carrier. They often boast how they got A22 for their boarding number as an A-List Preferred while I show them my boarding pass for 1A (and not on the CRJ2 or EMB). They get very wide-eyed very quickly 
lol...that's the best one I've heard in a long time
lol...that's the best one I've heard in a long time
Jan 25, 2014, 5:46 pm
#67
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Jan 25, 2014, 5:50 pm
#68
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So, a one-way advanced purchase fare from MSP-CHI on WN today is $73-$90, which other airlines have matched. When WN withdraws from the market, it becomes similar to CVG's (MSP was priced at/near CVG prior to WN's entry) at $404. But that doesn't make WN a LCC? Seriously? If you don't like WN, don't fly them. But stop pretending their impact on the industry is pure fantasy.
If an airline is willing to go down and match a fare- than they both are offering low budgetary fares. Pretty simple concept I thought. I make no judgment on which airline is better, or on WNs impact.
Jan 25, 2014, 5:51 pm
#70
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,039
Really? Inaugural fares are introductory fares. I was referring to fare levels after service was introduced. But I think some people knew that and are just trying to be trolls.
Jan 25, 2014, 5:56 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,039
You are missing my point completely -- which was basically, that your statement was silly. I have no skin in this game. I don't fly either airline.
If an airline is willing to go down and match a fare- than they both are offering low budgetary fares. Pretty simple concept I thought. I make no judgment on which airline is better, or on WNs impact.
If an airline is willing to go down and match a fare- than they both are offering low budgetary fares. Pretty simple concept I thought. I make no judgment on which airline is better, or on WNs impact.
Jan 25, 2014, 6:01 pm
#72
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Most frequently it was so I could get from Chicago (MDW) back to PHL non-stop after putting in a full day at the client's offices. As compared to leaving early to make a connecting flight on DL. Oh, Yes, and it allowed me to fly a real jet during a period when DL was increasingly replacing DC-9s on the ORD-DTW-PHL route with CRJs.
Jan 25, 2014, 6:20 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,039
Many casual frequent flyers use their points to take a family vacation in Disney World, spend the holidays with their family in Indiana, etc. Not everybody aspires to travel to some exotic destination. When I was younger, I traveled the world. Now I have younger children -- we took them on an African safari last year, and it turned into (more-or-less) a big bore for them, and a huge chore for us - I'd describe the trip as a nightmare. They'd rather visit the Animal Kingdom at Disney. Delta gets them there. And so does WN...
Jan 25, 2014, 6:21 pm
#74
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I'm not missing your point. Whole Foods temporarily matching prices of local competitors does not make them a discount grocer; it's just a business decision designed to keep market share away from the discounter (and hopefully drive the discounter out so that they may raise prices).
All semantics. And I'd argue your analogy to be a huge stretch.
More like Albertsons vs Kroger.
Delta most def is not the Whole Foods of the airline business.
Jan 25, 2014, 6:30 pm
#75
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Last line wins you multiple ignores, congrats.