Are WN fares higher than other airlines' in my markets?
Dec 22, 2015, 2:23 am
#31
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Bottom line, some years ago, maybe coincidental with the expiration of fuel hedges or Gary taking over or whatever, WN stopped being a fair, cost / distance based fare airline (the $299 caps) and joined the legacies into a gouge, whatever the market will bear, airline...
Dec 22, 2015, 2:24 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Dec 22, 2015, 11:18 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Real low cost carriers such as Spirit, Frontier and Jet Blue, are more often the price leader. While many still incorrectly perceive it to be real, unfortunately, the "Southwest effect" is long gone.
RIP to the 'Southwest effect'?
Dec 23, 2015, 7:50 am
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Southwest is almost always the most expensive choice for me. It makes sense: in 2015, they are the premium major domestic airline. As the premium product, they can charge more. Their planes are full.
When I fly them, it's because they deliver FAR more value than their competition. Nonstop flights, better airports, larger planes, customer service that is less-bad than the legacies, better frequencies, etc.
When I fly them, it's because they deliver FAR more value than their competition. Nonstop flights, better airports, larger planes, customer service that is less-bad than the legacies, better frequencies, etc.
But WN won this trip for me because it was the 1 time they were actually cheaper, had direct flights that met my schedule needs, and I had points to burn.
Dec 23, 2015, 1:17 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
I like WN as an airline. Haven't flown them as much as AA or UA, but most trips have been problem free and the crew pleasant. That said, I think one of the airline's secrets at the moment is the competitiveness of their fares. It is a tribute to their success in branding themselves a low cost carrier (and in the past frequently delivering) and the decision early on to avoid participating in global reservation systems has effectively disguised, without additional effort on the travelers part, their increase in fares. I suspect if you were to interview an infrequent traveler (or a ill informed business journalist), they would describe the airline as "very competitive with fares."
Fares from central Texas (AUS/SAT) are frequently substantially higher than the legacy carriers (i.e. $100 higher on a $300 fare)
Fares from central Texas (AUS/SAT) are frequently substantially higher than the legacy carriers (i.e. $100 higher on a $300 fare)
Dec 23, 2015, 2:39 pm
#36
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,622
I believe that these instances are evidence that Southwest is simply less agile and less sophisticated than other airlines in setting fares. The 7-day cutoff of discount fares is a prime example. Southwest often holds that line where other carriers flex it.
Dec 24, 2015, 2:31 am
#37
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Or alternatively, Southwest sets the market price, and other carriers decide to match or go a little lower.
Dec 25, 2015, 3:33 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,912
Delta is the dominant carrier at DTW, yet Southwest and Spirit are the price leaders in this particular market. @:-)
Dec 26, 2015, 4:31 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: san antonio, texas
Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt
Posts: 1,586
I was going to suggest that one of the consequences of refusing to participate in the Airline Tariff Publishing enterprise was that SW didn't know what its competitors were doing real time fare wise, but it looks as though they are contributing fare information again.
Dec 27, 2015, 12:00 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,053
According to latest DOT numbers (from 1Q 2015). DTW roundtrip fares are roughly equal to ATL ($426 vs $427), but cheaper than airports like MSP, EWR, and IAH. It's certainly not a cheap airport, but I wouldn't really call it a "deadbeat" either. Clearly, these airports all share a commonality (a large incumbent legacy carrier hub).