Jetblue starts LAX service at T6: Let's hope UA matches fares
Feb 12, 2008, 2:45 pm
#1
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Jetblue starts LAX service at T6: Let's hope UA matches fares
From To Daily flights Sale fare (a)
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Los Angeles Boston 1 $159
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Los Angeles New York/JFK 3 $129
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Los Angeles Boston 1 $159
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Los Angeles New York/JFK 3 $129
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Feb 12, 2008, 2:47 pm
#2
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No way will UA matches this on its p.s. flights. Absolutely no way.
Feb 12, 2008, 3:00 pm
#3
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Remember that it is an introductory sale. I was looking around at some flights way out and I could not even find those prices. What I could find was about $425 round trip, which is about as low as I have seen PS flights way out these days.
Feb 12, 2008, 3:02 pm
#4
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I wish VX picked up the LAX-BOS route. B6 is intriguing but only if I'm flying coach. I would imagine that UA will match the BOS fares.
Feb 12, 2008, 3:18 pm
#5
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Not a factor in PDX
Jetblue has been at PDX and has been a non-factor as far as price goes...even on their greatly limited list of destinations, their prices are unimpressive and since we've only got the red-eye, I don't think other airlines feel obligated to match in the way that they do with southwest where there is almost a perpetual $99 sale to the east coast where as on Jetblue, $129 is about as low as they typically go and even then good luck finding the seats with only 1-3 flights a day 
Feb 12, 2008, 3:24 pm
#6
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Why not?
Or to say it another way, are you saying? UA will not match these fares because they cannot match them or need not match them?
B6 is exploiting the Achilles heel of PS.
Or to say it another way, are you saying? UA will not match these fares because they cannot match them or need not match them?
B6 is exploiting the Achilles heel of PS.
Last edited by J.Edward; Feb 12, 2008 at 4:49 pm Reason: clarity
Feb 12, 2008, 3:31 pm
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United needs to keep their pricing eye on JetBlue in the Los Angeles area. While B6's frequency at LAX to JFK ain't going to be much, the airline is a powerhouse for this route in Southern California. They will be flying from four of the five regional airports.
While FT road-warriors will continue to push business to their legacy favorites (AA, UA, DL), a lot of well to do travelers fly B6 from Burbank. It's hip to fly their coach service. People in the entertainment industry who could arrange for a paid "C" ticket on PS, will book JetBlue from Burbank to make a statement (whether to show they can be part of the proletariat, or for the convenience).
While FT road-warriors will continue to push business to their legacy favorites (AA, UA, DL), a lot of well to do travelers fly B6 from Burbank. It's hip to fly their coach service. People in the entertainment industry who could arrange for a paid "C" ticket on PS, will book JetBlue from Burbank to make a statement (whether to show they can be part of the proletariat, or for the convenience).
Feb 12, 2008, 3:40 pm
#9
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Premium F.
Premium C.
Premium Y.
The Achilles heel within PS is the need for people to pay a premium for the service as that's the only the service will remain viable. Should people not be willing to pay a premium, UA's still less revenue to offset the increased CASM of PS.
No matter who one looks at it, PS economic viability is dependent upon a RASM premium.
Back to B6 - I would be surprised if C demand is affected by this, and even more so with regards to F, but this will serve to risk hurting either UA's yields (should they choose to match) or UA's market share (should they not choose to match).
Feb 12, 2008, 3:42 pm
#10
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I am SO hoping UA matches (or at least comes close to) B6 to BOS since I go there a couple times a year now to the in-laws. For fun I compared prices for mid-August and there's a $216 fare difference between B6 and UA.
As I also stated in the B6 forum, it'll also be interesting to see how their BUR-IAD flights do. BUR-MCO didn't last too long a couple years ago.
As I also stated in the B6 forum, it'll also be interesting to see how their BUR-IAD flights do. BUR-MCO didn't last too long a couple years ago.
Feb 12, 2008, 4:42 pm
#11
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WOW $129 to JFK and $159 to BOS is HARDLY a sale. This is the introductory sale? 
Remember the LGB-ORD introductory sale? $39 each way. That, my friend, is an introductory sale.
Actually, I prefer flying out of LGB if I were to fly B6 for many many reasons. I wouldn't fly from LAX.
Remember the LGB-ORD introductory sale? $39 each way. That, my friend, is an introductory sale.
Actually, I prefer flying out of LGB if I were to fly B6 for many many reasons. I wouldn't fly from LAX.
Feb 12, 2008, 4:52 pm
#12
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I agree, it's hardly a sale...the standard cross-country "sale" fares are typically $99 each way.
Feb 12, 2008, 5:04 pm
#13
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It would be a sale if United matches them and loades the one-way fares as round-trips, as they have been known to do.
Feb 12, 2008, 5:15 pm
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Feb 12, 2008, 6:14 pm
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