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Old Aug 7, 2016, 5:59 am
  #1  
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FLL-NAS starts today

Southwest's attempt to fly internationally from FLL starts today and it's already not looking good. Tickets on today's outbound are only $88 and the base fare is just $20 on the return, but $130 with taxes. Good luck southwest.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 6:11 am
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It's actually looking great with quite a few dates almost sold out. The introductory pricing that was supposed to last a year is almost non-existant over the next few months. The station manager expects another flight to be added in short order.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 6:19 am
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I hope you're right...but I see $48 and $88 fares all the way through April. With the competition they need at least 2 if not 3 flights to be a viable alternative.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 9:13 am
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I was told by a southwest agent that a big party is planned for NAS but no festivities on arrival because the dignitaries can't clear customs quick enough. Possible water cannon salute. Don't know if Gary is here. Pics will come.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 10:55 am
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Originally Posted by jco613
I hope you're right...but I see $48 and $88 fares all the way through April. With the competition they need at least 2 if not 3 flights to be a viable alternative.
Looks like they are matching the jetblue price as you can usually get jetblue for $48 leaving and $134 coming back. Jetblue has 5 RT flights a day so they must be making some money at these prices.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 12:49 pm
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Originally Posted by Yellowjj
It's actually looking great with quite a few dates almost sold out. The introductory pricing that was supposed to last a year is almost non-existant over the next few months. The station manager expects another flight to be added in short order.
I just spoke with a lady who was getting off the flight at FLL and she said the flight was full! And from my view it appears mostly with Bahamian nationals! That is a huge deal for southwest! (Although I believe the usd is a more common currency here than other international destinations). I had my doubts but it looks like this will be a success!!! Sure, it's one day, but how often are inaugural returns full? Especially with mostly nationals from the country that's not the airlines home?
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 1:04 pm
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Originally Posted by jco613
I just spoke with a lady who was getting off the flight at FLL and she said the flight was full! And from my view it appears mostly with Bahamian nationals! That is a huge deal for southwest! (Although I believe the usd is a more common currency here than other international destinations). I had my doubts but it looks like this will be a success!!! Sure, it's one day, but how often are inaugural returns full? Especially with mostly nationals from the country that's not the airlines home?
Many inaugural flights are full and if you offer the fares low enough or even give seats to press, travel agents, etc it is not difficult to fill one plane. If airlines based their flight planning on the ability to sell out one flight, they'd all be bankrupt.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 1:31 pm
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Originally Posted by sfozrhfco
Many inaugural flights are full and if you offer the fares low enough or even give seats to press, travel agents, etc it is not difficult to fill one plane. If airlines based their flight planning on the ability to sell out one flight, they'd all be bankrupt.
The dignitaries could not fly the return as it was a 55 min layover and you have to go through Bahamian and US Customs in NAS plus Southwest cuts off international check in and connections at 60 mins. That's why the "celebration" will be tomorrow.

And the passengers I saw at baggage claim looked like they were coming off any other flight. The reason this is more significant for Southwest and this flight in particular is because of the well documented fact that they have trouble selling in other currencies and mostly rely on US based traffic for their international flights.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 2:28 pm
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Originally Posted by dustenm
Looks like they are matching the jetblue price as you can usually get jetblue for $48 leaving and $134 coming back. Jetblue has 5 RT flights a day so they must be making some money at these prices.
Those JetBlue prices were only there because of Southwest. The lowest regular prices I've seen was $85 and $160 which was off season pricing (think September)


Originally Posted by jco613
I just spoke with a lady who was getting off the flight at FLL and she said the flight was full! And from my view it appears mostly with Bahamian nationals! That is a huge deal for southwest! (Although I believe the usd is a more common currency here than other international destinations). I had my doubts but it looks like this will be a success!!! Sure, it's one day, but how often are inaugural returns full? Especially with mostly nationals from the country that's not the airlines home?
Southwest plans to attract the local demand which is huge. Currency issues wont be a problem since the USD is the 2nd "unofficial" currency of the Bahamas.

Originally Posted by jco613
The dignitaries could not fly the return as it was a 55 min layover and you have to go through Bahamian and US Customs in NAS plus Southwest cuts off international check in and connections at 60 mins. That's why the "celebration" will be tomorrow.
They could have. All they needed was an official police escort. Any hold-up would have been on the US Customs side.
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 2:45 pm
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Originally Posted by Yellowjj
They could have. All they needed was an official police escort. Any hold-up would have been on the US Customs side.
I'm assuming they probably had some events today as well in NAS.


By the way, I had looked at taking the flight last minute but I would have had to return on jetBlue and they wanted over $700 with the taxes...so that idea got squashed quick
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Old Aug 7, 2016, 4:12 pm
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There's this on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nassau_Airport/s...85937678553092

Proud mother waves to her son,Pilot Sean Smith as he releases the Bahamian flag upon arrival to Nassau @SouthwestAir
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Old Aug 8, 2016, 10:12 am
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Video report:

http://southfloridareporter.com/sout...bahamas-video/
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Old Aug 10, 2016, 5:08 pm
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Originally Posted by sfozrhfco
Many inaugural flights are full and if you offer the fares low enough or even give seats to press, travel agents, etc it is not difficult to fill one plane. If airlines based their flight planning on the ability to sell out one flight, they'd all be bankrupt.
It will not going to be bankruptcy. There's still have a good financial, but they didn't losing a money.

Originally Posted by toomanybooks
Wow! Very nice video. Thanks for sharing this. I am really appreciate that.
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