Is United becoming a budget airline?
Apr 19, 2021, 7:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 410
Is United becoming a budget airline?
I thought it was just my personal experience flying UA over the past year, and then I saw this which confirmed my suspicions.... sigh.
https://www.businessinsider.com/unit...uthwest-2021-4
It is worth adding that “budget airline” would be consistent with the current offerings and packed planes.
https://www.businessinsider.com/unit...uthwest-2021-4
It is worth adding that “budget airline” would be consistent with the current offerings and packed planes.
Last edited by nycflyer222; Apr 19, 2021 at 7:04 pm Reason: adding more commentary
Apr 19, 2021, 7:09 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
WN isn't a budget airline -- WN fares has not been significant better than the majors for years.
Is UA's in-flight F&B service levels worst then DL or is DL now a budget carrier?
Certainitly from a fare point of view UA / WN / DL are not budget airlines
Is UA's in-flight F&B service levels worst then DL or is DL now a budget carrier?
Certainitly from a fare point of view UA / WN / DL are not budget airlines
Apr 19, 2021, 7:12 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
WN has simply marketed itself as a "budget" carrier when it is not. Say something enough times and it sticks.
Or put another way, why does it matter? If WN suits your needs, why not switch?
Or put another way, why does it matter? If WN suits your needs, why not switch?
Apr 19, 2021, 9:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I feel confident I won't feel UA is a budget airline Wednesday night when I settle into seat 3A on my HNL-SFO redeye on a 777-300, and with only 34 of 60 F seats booked, a lot of happy upgraders won't feel that way either.
I don't think I'd feel that way on a Southwest flight.
I don't think I'd feel that way on a Southwest flight.
Apr 19, 2021, 9:19 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
As others have said, Southwest left budget airline pricing long ago. They are just as expensive on any given route. A true budget airline is Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, AirAsia, etc.
Apr 19, 2021, 11:02 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockin' the Bakken
Programs: Several
Posts: 978
Haven’t flown Frontier/Spirit in quite a while, but I wouldn’t want to fly Allegiant again on anything over 2 hours. Is there even padding on their seats? I feel like it looks like there is, but it feels like you’re sitting on a plastic chair.
Then again, I’d still take a budget airline over a CRJ-200...
I think the biggest difference between legacies and low cost carriers is mostly schedules at this point. Legacies still have first class too, but AA/DL/UA all offer a basic economy option which are mostly similar (and that’s mostly what SW offers as well but a better schedule than ULCC).
Apr 20, 2021, 11:22 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: IAH
Programs: MileagePlus-Premier Silver, Marriott Bonvoy-Silver Elite
Posts: 698
Apr 21, 2021, 12:48 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,823
I don't think United can win by trying to offer the lowest fares, and they don't seem to want to compete with Delta/JetBlue/Alaska on quality. As well their current strategy seems to treat every flight transactionally which undermines loyalty. I think that United is not a Wal-Mart or a Bloomingdales but more like a Macy's or Target as a brand that aspires to offer a premium experience, but does not want really know how to deliver.
Apr 21, 2021, 1:03 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
I don't think United can win by trying to offer the lowest fares, and they don't seem to want to compete with Delta/JetBlue/Alaska on quality. As well their current strategy seems to treat every flight transactionally which undermines loyalty. I think that United is not a Wal-Mart or a Bloomingdales but more like a Macy's or Target as a brand that aspires to offer a premium experience, but does not want really know how to deliver.
David
Apr 21, 2021, 2:19 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
I thought it was just my personal experience flying UA over the past year, and then I saw this which confirmed my suspicions.... sigh.
https://www.businessinsider.com/unit...uthwest-2021-4
It is worth adding that “budget airline” would be consistent with the current offerings and packed planes.
https://www.businessinsider.com/unit...uthwest-2021-4
It is worth adding that “budget airline” would be consistent with the current offerings and packed planes.
Apr 21, 2021, 7:11 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,823
Back in business school the adage was that in marketing people should take their biggest weakness and sell it as a differentiator. e.g. "we're afraid of data science" vs "we respect your privacy" or "we are an exclusive hotel experience" vs "our hotel charges for dumb stuff and probably will give you Dunkin either way/"
Apr 22, 2021, 8:10 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Back in business school the adage was that in marketing people should take their biggest weakness and sell it as a differentiator. e.g. "we're afraid of data science" vs "we respect your privacy" or "we are an exclusive hotel experience" vs "our hotel charges for dumb stuff and probably will give you Dunkin either way/"
Apr 22, 2021, 10:59 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
