Is spirit the next southwest?

[i fly boxes]

With spirits growth plans for the next 10 years and their ultra low cost business model, do you guys think in 20-30 years spirit will have hundreds of aircraft making huge profits or do you think as the legacies get younger and revamp their fleets they will be able to keep passengers from spirit.

 

[Flyer1015]

I think Spirit will be around for sure, their model is ultra low cost, and lots of families who otherwise couldn't afford the legacies (or even SWA) will travel on Spirit. I wouldn't exactly call them the next Southwest. Spirit's plans for their fleet growth don't include hundreds of aircraft. So far they just firmed up an order for 75, and that should take them through the next 10 years.

 

[damnflyboy]

Get hired there and hope so.

 

[XR650R]

Spirit will be around as long a they can continue to find first time customers.

 

[redflyer65]

Next Southwest? No.

Will they be around down the road? Absolutely. They do fill a niche, and are doing so pretty well.

 

[Flying the Line]

Yes, because they are a low cost carrier, while Southwest no longer is, and the employees don't know it's not.

No, because people will not be loyal customers like Southwest has built up by charging them $45 to carry a bag onto the flight.

If Spirit makes money this year, I say they have staying power.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Or $3 for a soda. Or $10 for a paper ticket.

 

[JASP-1]

Grew up in Texas(one of SWA early cities) in the 70's, 80's early 90's. I work for NKS and I am not saying we will be the next SWA but some of the same stuff that is said about us was tossed around back then about SWA.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Again, SWA never nickle and dimed the customers to death. There's only so much people will take.

 

[HRDiva]

Again, SWA never nickle and dimed the customers to death. There's only so much people will take.

No, SWA will just build the cost into the fares which are no longer competitive in many markets! You work for Alaska, and don't know anything about the Spirit model or what has happened to the SWA model. As a consumer (and wife of a pilot) I do. I hate having to go on an emergency overnight or out and back trip with no real bag and pay $900 round trip on a legacy or the SWA maximum for a 1 1/2 hour flight. I love the Spirit model where I can book that same trip and jump on board and not have to pay for someone else's luggage. If I want to buy a water, I do. If I want to buy it at the airport I do. It's my choice. I fly SWA less and less now because it's not meeting my business travel needs.