curbcrusher

Five BS passengers on my flight this morning. GA started A1-30 by asking them to come forward first.

SAPMAN

BS will be successful. Why? For a bit more money that business people have their company pay, they get the free drink, early boarding (good chance at Exit Row), and extra RR credit. If people were really trying to save their companies money, they could stay at Motel 6, or even Fairfield. But I see lots in Marriott, Hilton, etc. Why? Co. is paying. Many will admit if they were on their own dime, they would be at a Fairfield.

Note if they paid Refundable Fare and then claimed the $4 drink on expense report, they probably would not get it approved.

For me, who has 0 company travel, I will likely never use BS. But for the targeted audience, it will likely generate extra revenue at minor cost to WN.

ryerflyer

The BS concept will generate some additional revenue from exisitng WN customers. I don't see it converting ANY new customers from the competition. So, yes, it will be successful, but to what degree, I don't think even WN knows.

But, I think WN is at risk and may give up some of that BS revenue gain by driving off the discretionary flyer.

As a business traveller, when I have checked WN fares over the past few months, I have always found cheaper fares for the same travel on other airlines. And the discretionary flyer, who is more price sensitive (and will not likely be concerened about a change fee, as their plans don't change as much as the business traveller) is going to start looking around more and finding WN isn't the low fare leader they thought they were.

I have flown WN less and less over the years as their low-fare reputation doesn't live up to the reality, and am not in the least intrigued by the BS strategy. I'm fortunate to have too many other good options in the markets I travel.

WN may find it winds up not making any more money with BS after all, if the leisure traveller looks, and books, elsewhere.

zigzagg900

For frequent fliers the new procedure will become second nature. The infrequent fliers might have problems...so many signs, so many arrows. For the most part people are courteous and police themselves. It reminds me of grade school when we had to line up alphabetical order

I found it saves time. I won't worry about losing my place in line if I want to grab a coffee or make a pit stop.

nsx

IMHO Business Select will indeed draw customers from other airlines. A guaranteed non-middle seat near the front (or wherever else you like) is more important to some people than an iffy upgrade. Even UA's Economy Plus cannot guarantee you a non-middle seat.

SAPMAN

nsx, I agree. Even if WN does cost a bit more (and I am not sure) for fully refundable fares, the BS fare almost assures the purchaser an Exit row seat by being one of first on (unless there are thru pax). At least, so far, it appears there are not too many BS pax. And for sure can get a window or aisle up front.

Unless you are Elite, I do not think you can get an Exit row on AA or UA as these are reserved for the upper tiers.

And BS fare does give you one major advantage within WN over regular Full Fare. You will get an early A BP if you change flights close to departure time -- otherwise likely a B or C.

KevAZ

I agree. Just ***one*** teenie thing more would cause me to switch back to WN and that's a FF security line. Flying out of PHX, WN security can be a nightmare unless you have FF status to get through security.

jeffhacker

I agree. I just flew DAL-ABQ-OAK last night - first time since they made the changes. I thought it was a "cluster f*!k" and a total waste.

ryerflyer

CO has a no-middle seat guarantee; the seats in front are reserved for FF members, I can (and have) used FF miles to fly to dozens of more interesting place around the globe than I could on WN (as well as anyplace WN flies), and I can use the preferred FF security line at most airports to save a great deal of time.

So, BS really won't be that attractive to many other airlines FF members. It's really only better compared to what WN, not what most other airlines, offered.

lrickets

ryerflyer, i'm so 100% agree with all your postings regarding wn. my hubby fly wn practically every week from hou-dal with the cheapest fares (always purchase thru schedule whenever wn has a sale). but it doesn't mean he's not a biz traveler just because he pays the cheapest fare. he's just more of sensible biz traveler.

i think that the bs fares may attract the occassional/last minute biz travelers because may be a little cheaper than other airlines. and for frequent biz travelers, i'm sure, just like my hubby, they may already schedule and booked the flights way ahead and or committed to their airline which may provide much more than a free drink and measily .25 point.

i can see the new boarding procedure may work in the long run if all gas follow the procedure, but for the bs fares, i'll give it until spring break before wn call it quit.

SAPMAN

Is this true or not?

ON legacy a last minute change (within 12 hr.) to a different flight will likely land you in a poor seat (middle or ??) if the flight is 95% full during high business travel - FF or not.

Yet on WN, a BS fare will still usually get you on board as one of 1st 10 pax and you have a good choice of seats.

kh105000

Not true. I repeatedly have changed flights 30 minutes to 12 hours prior many times on AA this year and have never been stuck in a middle seat, in fact, almost all flights I retained my upgrade to first. The recent problem I'm having with SW are fares. I need 2 segments to kill another reward ticket and whether it is 2 weeks or 1 day prior SW has been quite a bit higher than the other airlines for the same route I'm trying to fly. I hope BS is not leading to higher overall fares.

nsx

Its purpose is just the opposite: to keep discount fares down by collecting more from business travelers.

curbcrusher

Three BS passengers on my flight this afternoon. No special mention from the GA.

Firewind

While adding $100 million in the first year.