SWA to buy AIRTRAN

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Sep 27, 2010, 10:21 am

#76

toomanybooks

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tolkiennut

Biggest losers in this from a fare perspective could be folks at BWI...

And the biggest winners may be DL-captives at ATL, like my brother, who is ecstatic at this news.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:28 am

#77

toomanybooks

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingTigers

Best part of this is San Juan and Cancun in my opinion. Finally!

And Jamaica, mon!

Sep 27, 2010, 10:31 am

#78

jco613

Join Date: Mar 2010

Posts: 616

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomanybooks

And the biggest winners may be DL-captives at ATL, like my brother, who is ecstatic at this news.

You know, I would not be surprised to see a now stronger Delta build up again at BWI, MCO, and continue strong ops at LAS and LAX.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:32 am

#79

bluedevils

Join Date: Oct 2007

Posts: 141

is there a reason, perhaps in Southwest's business model, that explains why AirTran is listed on the lowfaresfarther pdf as having more customer service agents than Southwest, when Southwest has 3-4 times more employees in most of the other listed categories?

That jumped out to me as very odd.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:32 am

#80

formeraa

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ATL-based flyers may have a double-blessing here, because DL/NW have been very aggressive in fighting LCC competitors in the past. So, there may be some great price wars in the short to medium term.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:37 am

#81

amejr999

Join Date: Aug 2004

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bluedevils

AirTran outsources their ground staff in many cities, WN doesn't.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:50 am

#82

gogreyhound

Join Date: Dec 2005

Posts: 401

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomanybooks

And the biggest winners may be DL-captives at ATL, like my brother, who is ecstatic at this news.

Then again, when A+ members see no business class and no assigned seats, they might well head for DL. I think it will be close to a wash domestically, with DL still having a huge lead in international routes.

Sep 27, 2010, 10:54 am

#83

jsds

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: ORF - offering nonstops to your favorite hub

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Quote:

Originally Posted by toomanybooks

And UTM, here I come! (anybody know what that is without looking it up?)

No, I had to look that one up! The question it raises is "why"

. But, if that's "your" spot, that's GREAT news!

-C

Sep 27, 2010, 11:03 am

#84

HPN-HRL

Join Date: Dec 2007

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alggag

<Snip>
ATL will be dehubbed for the simple reason that WN doesn't have to route everybody through it (XXX-ATL-YYY) the way FL did. It will certainly remain a major city in the new WN of course.
<Snip>

alggag makes a huge point here - WN will have immense opportunities to "reshuffle" flights currently flown by FL into ATL.

RE business class: I'm a bit disappointed. I would hope that Gary's team would have at least considered examining how the availability of business class would positively affect both 1) passengers on business who are used to getting a more comfortable seat and 2) how credits can be burned on upgrades (reducing WN's liability for outstanding credits). Not having any inside info, it appears that those sorts of considerations were not examined.

Sep 27, 2010, 11:12 am

#85

WIRunner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jco613

MKE might also get the axe with MDW right down the road.

Its unlikely that MKE will get dropped due to MDW. Remember that the north suburbs would have to drive through Chicago to get to MDW (not fun at all and can take well at or over 2 hours with traffic. Having MKE on the north side to handle traffic from the north 'burbs, and MDW would be quite a powerful combination. I fly quite regularly thru MKE and in the saver lot I see just as many IL plates as I do WI plates. I can see fares rising in MKE though, going from 3 LCCs (WN, FL, F9) to 2. (WN, F9). DL doesn't seem to be doing much with MKE these days though, shame really.

Sep 27, 2010, 11:14 am

#86

stdatwmu

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uastarflyer

WN just added EWR and now ATL in the span of a couple months. So the only "fortress" remaining nationwide is....CVG?

At least northern suburb folks in the CVG area now have a mini WN effect to look forward to in DAY.

This is actually a really interesting point. Delta has cut service to CVG by something like 66% over the past 5 years and now both the A Concourse and C Concourse are boarded up. Yet the airport was just completely remodeled (completed in 2009 - obviously planned/begun when CVG was still a major part of DL) and a new runway opened a few years ago.

It would be a perfect opportunity for WN to open up a new hub if needed. Although MDW isn't far from CVG, I have to think there's not much room left to expand in Chicago...

Sep 27, 2010, 11:25 am

#87

Cholula

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Quote:

Originally Posted by stdatwmu

This is actually a really interesting point. Delta has cut service to CVG by something like 66% over the past 5 years and now both the A Concourse and C Concourse are boarded up.

And I'd bet that CVG would cut WN a very, very sweet deal to move into town

Sep 27, 2010, 11:26 am

#88

jrpaguia

Join Date: Nov 2006

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Quote:

Originally Posted by HPN-HRL

RE business class: I'm a bit disappointed....
1) passengers on business who are used to getting a more comfortable seat...

And give Biz Select customers something more tangible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPN-HRL

2) how credits can be burned on upgrades (reducing WN's liability for outstanding credits).

Maybe because we won't have as many credits to burn under RR 2.0

But even under the current credit earning level, I won't use them for upgrades as CP and reward tickets are more valuable.

I was hoping business class will be preserved for Biz Select passengers and for A-Listers (give them any available upgrades at T-36 based on segments flown*).

*Would've been nice to discuss how much tougher it is to score an upgrade on a Friday night SFO-SNA flight than a mid-day Saturday OAK-ONT.

Sep 27, 2010, 11:41 am

#89

fullnelson3

Join Date: Sep 2003

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Absolutely fantastic news....a great move by WN IMO!!! ^ I can't wait to see the impact on my options from Denver to the Caribbean!!!!!

Sep 27, 2010, 12:07 pm

#90

alggag

Join Date: Jan 2010

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Random tangent...

I was seriously considering buying LUV stock a few weeks ago but decided against it as I would have done it on margin.

LUV is +25% in that time period.

Dang it.