ExpressJet branded flying

[NatureCalls]

I think Indy Air proved that 50 seat jets cannot make money on there own.

Serious?

 

[bailey3083]

You mean the XJT pilots are funding the project. I'm sure Kellner is still overpaid.
Regarding price and times, I see XJT offering a $183 non-stop RT ONT-AUS April 23, 23. Outbound is 0700-1200, return 0800-0918. Pretty darn good times for a business traveler.
Let's see-AA is $954 for a 0625-1325 thru DFW with a 0705-1100 return. Sure the price would come down to $700 of you traveled in the middle of the day with a longer layover. Who can justify that price difference just to get FF miles?
CAL is $476 for a 0615-1441 flight thru IAH and a 0540 (uggh)-1055 return. Again, a 3 hour trip for much less than half with no layover. AA is 5-hours, 4 times the price and incolves flying thru DFW.
WN is $418, thru PHX 0810-1440 and return, 0640-1000. Savings of over 2-hours at less than 1/2 the price. Mr. business traveler will "want to get away" from WN with these time and price differences. Same goes with every other WN route. Same or cheaper price and hours of time savings.
Even if a business traveler doesn't mind the 2 additional hours with the layover, most corporate travel departments will not allow the price difference. Once more and more folks see that they are the only non-stop option at very reasonable fares, they will garner more business, IMO.

But you still have that business traveler seeing the "small" plane against the "big" plane. No matter how much Kool-aid you guys drink or what you think people will go to AA, CAL, DL, WN and pay a buck less or even a hundred bucks more just to avoid a "small" plane.

 

[Avpilot]

But you still have that business traveler seeing the "small" plane against the "big" plane. No matter how much Kool-aid you guys drink or what you think people will go to AA, CAL, DL, WN and pay a buck less or even a hundred bucks more just to avoid a "small" plane.

That's undeniably true for a certain percentage of travelers. I have talked to lots of frequent fliers who prefer the 50 seater....single seat with no "neighbor," very fast boarding/deplaning times, fast turn times, etc. What is the percentage of people who prefer the 50 seater? I don't know. I would venture to say that it is close enough that a lower priced, more efficiently running, and no hub transitions airline might just be appealing. The ONLY big disadvantage I see is with the frequent flier programs. I wish XJT could find a major willing to offer a code share situation with the frequent flyer miles. That would make me feel better about that area of competition. Overall I think this will succeed. I could be wrong....let's see.

Tim

 

[Apache 5]

F- chatuaqua...

 

[mckpickle]

You mean the XJT pilots are funding the project. I'm sure Kellner is still overpaid.
Regarding price and times, I see XJT offering a $183 non-stop RT ONT-AUS April 23, 23. Outbound is 0700-1200, return 0800-0918. Pretty darn good times for a business traveler.
Let's see-AA is $954 for a 0625-1325 thru DFW with a 0705-1100 return. Sure the price would come down to $700 of you traveled in the middle of the day with a longer layover. Who can justify that price difference just to get FF miles?
CAL is $476 for a 0615-1441 flight thru IAH and a 0540 (uggh)-1055 return. Again, a 3 hour trip for much less than half with no layover. AA is 5-hours, 4 times the price and incolves flying thru DFW.
WN is $418, thru PHX 0810-1440 and return, 0640-1000. Savings of over 2-hours at less than 1/2 the price. Mr. business traveler will "want to get away" from WN with these time and price differences. Same goes with every other WN route. Same or cheaper price and hours of time savings.
Even if a business traveler doesn't mind the 2 additional hours with the layover, most corporate travel departments will not allow the price difference. Once more and more folks see that they are the only non-stop option at very reasonable fares, they will garner more business, IMO.

Not sure what you're talking about by saying the pilots are funding this? XJT has the highest paid 50 pilots in the industry. We were also given a contract extention and raises with it to lock in rates to 2010. So we're not giving anything to help fund this new venture.

 

[biggerguy]

Apache, you kill me!!!
Glad to see you've mellowed since your EWR days.
Ken

 

[EWRJ0225]

F- chatuaqua...

wow!!!

 

[ATRCA]

I agree. And throw in the frequent flyer programs that XJT is competing against, I think most people will choose the cheaper, well known airline with a frequent flyer program.

Part of me is just flabergasted that the bosses running XJT actually think this will work.

You fail to mention what the alternative would have been. Give up the airframes? Is that a viable business plan? What would you have done given the circumstances?

 

[Superpilot92]

I heard the load factors have been very light for the new operation. VERY light.

Is there a plan in place to scale it back if it doesn't work? XJT cannot go on for very long flying empty planes.

Also, I would imagine that they are getting stiff competition from about all angles - American Eagle, Horizon, CAL, Southwest.

Good luck to those guys, but it isn't looking good in my opinion. I think Indy Air proved that 50 seat jets cannot make money on there own.

Please Ignore Inspector HardNasty!! He/She Is Just A Lurker, Posts Nothing But FlameBait!! Dont Fall for this ******************************bag!!

 

[Non Union]

My guess on a percentage chance is no different than someone throwing a dart at a wall blind-folded.

Why would someone throw a dart at a wall blindfolded?

 

[Non Union]

Please Ignore Inspector HardNasty!! He/She Is Just A Lurker, Posts Nothing But FlameBait!! Dont Fall for this ******************************bag!!

Stop being such a flaming prissy-pants. It is a fair question/discussion and I am curious. Just because you work there and I don't doesn't mean I can't ask a question without you jumping my sh!t like a little girl.

I hope you guys make it, but I just don't see how the branded flying thing is gonna make any $$ on the west coast. You XJTrs are worse than SW pilots when someone asks a pointed question.

 

[Alchemy]

Why do you care if it works or not? Are you a customer? Do you work for xjet? Work for the competition? Or just trying to get some jollies by fear mongering?

 

[Captain Overs]

I saw a load factor today out of ONT with 38 people. Not too bad.

I don't see how XJT will win on this board. If they don't make it you'll say "See I told you." If they do make it you'll say "CAL funded it."

I still crack up at you guys who make the comparison to Indy Air. Those of you who make that comparison just show your ignorance of how XJT has set up the flying. It's nothing like Indy Air. No hub and spoke, no low cost carrier, not head to head with a major.

Also.... If there isn't much of a price difference why wouldn't someone take a smaller plane that can save them a few hours of travel? For a business man, time is money. He can spend that extra time with a customer and make extra cash.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Stop being such a flaming prissy-pants. It is a fair question/discussion and I am curious. Just because you work there and I don't doesn't mean I can't ask a question without you jumping my sh!t like a little girl.

Well I've turned a few comments back to you and you've failed to address them. Go figure. Back to your flames, eh?

 

[MEL'ed]

Just curious, when XJT does a charter in a mid sized city, ROC/SYR sized, would they board/deplane at the terminal or an FBO? Is the security the same since you really don't know 50 clients that well compared to chartering a small jet where you get familiar with clients? Thanks.