SWA going to Denver!!!

[capt. megadeth]

I do believe that the "Southwest Effect" will end up benefiting all of our airlines as well as the State of Colorado and every human being who has the opportunity to visit this great land now.

WHOA..........easy on the kool-aid there Sparky.

The "Southwest Effect" will benefit SWA and SWA only.

 

[canyonblue]

WHOA..........easy on the kool-aid there Sparky.

The "Southwest Effect" will benefit SWA and SWA only.

It is a fact. Cite Philly...........

Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) marked yet another milestone in passenger traffic by processing a record 31,074,454 air travelers in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2005. The new record smashed the previous all-time high of 26,190,976 in FY 2004. Since FY 2003, PHL's passenger volume has soared a staggering 28% from 24,232,804.

Or it could of been due to the new pretzel vendor in the E Terminal. The Pretzel Effect.

 

[furloughfodder]

Okay hang on here while I catch my breath.

Allright, that's better.

Do you mean to tell me that you think UAL has only one hub? Hello? Been to ORD lately?

I think you mean that DEN is UAL's only Ted hub. Not too clear, skykid.

Cheers,
SCR

Actually, ORD is an American Hub. They just allow UAL to operate there.

 

[F9 Driver]

It is a fact. Cite Philly...........

Or it could of been due to the new pretzel vendor in the E Terminal. The Pretzel Effect.

Don't forget King of Pizza in B! Awsome pie!
:beer:

Also the media keeps bringing up PHL as an example of how low the fares go when SWA comes to town. This was true for legacy carrier hubs without any true low fare competition (PHL), but that isn't DEN.

IMHO I don't think DEN will change much after the initial fare sales and promotions fade. F9 v UA has brought fares down something like 25% in the last four years.

 

[F/O]

The "Southwest Effect" will wear off in DEN when people get past the hype and realize Frontier offers a better customer experience.

SWA flights may be "fun" or "zany" (or whatever you want to call it), but anyone who feels they offer a better product than Frontier is kidding themselves.

 

[F/O]

By the way, this is great news for commuters who fly from DEN to places like MDW, PHX, OAK, LAS, etc. Cuz you can bet UAL will be adding more flights from DEN to everywhere SWA's gonna be flying...

 

[flx757]

Herb told him fine, and even stated on the News that we're pulling out of Colorado and it'll be a Cold, Cold day in Colorado before we ever come back.

I was living in Colorado and based in Denver at the time. Although as I recall, it was then Gov. Roy Romer that was involved with Herb in the "battle of wills". (Of course, that's only how I remember it and in no way imply this as fact.:erm: )

 

[OffHot]

The "Southwest Effect" will wear off in DEN when people get past the hype and realize Frontier offers a better customer experience.

SWA flights may be "fun" or "zany" (or whatever you want to call it), but anyone who feels they offer a better product than Frontier is kidding themselves.

The southwest effect hasn't worn off in 30 years, and I would not bet the farm on you "customer experience". We do a pretty good job at what we do, which explains why we are the largest domestic carrier in the US. If it doesn't work we will leave, no sense loosing money. Our goal is to be the largest most profitable LCC at each destination we serve, last time I looked UAL wasn't a LCC, gee who would that leave. Good luck, only time will tell.

 

[miles otoole]

The "Southwest Effect" will wear off in DEN when people get past the hype and realize Frontier offers a better customer experience.

SWA flights may be "fun" or "zany" (or whatever you want to call it), but anyone who feels they offer a better product than Frontier is kidding themselves.

Since when do price sensitive travelers care about who offers a "better customer experience?" Many, many business travelers prefer WN over any of the legacies due to the greater convenience and customer service.
Bottom line is that Southwest will set the price in Denver. If you don't want to lose too many customers, you had better match. They are coming to play.

 

[gt1900]

Here is the thing.... Yes SWA will bring in lower fares, and F9 and UAL will match the fares. But, remember, this is F9's turf, and they employee a lot of people in the area, and there is a lot of loyal F9 pax since it is Colorado's only airline. Plus, F9 does offer a better service. Since many people who travel F9 live in COL, all F9 has to do is match SW's prices, and SWA will have a problem filling seats to the same destinations. This is sort of the same thing that has happened in Seattle. SW, hasn't crushed Alaska like they would have hoped. There are a lot of loyal AS customers up and down the west coast, and as long as AS continues to match their faires, or even within $5 bucks, SW won't be able to pull pax from AS like they have from many other airlines. Thus the reason SW wanted to try and gain a cost advantage over AS by moving to Boeing Field. F9 will have their hands full, but it shouldn't take too much to protect their turf!! Yes, SWA is a incredably strong company, but if it weren't for their fuel hedges, their in the same boat as everyone else. If fuel stays at $60 a barrel, SWA will eventually be paying what everyone else is (even if its not until 2010, and they have all but taken over the world). And then they won't have the cost advantage over other airlines!! Just something to chew on!!

 

[koko nw]

Since when do price sensitive travelers care about who offers a "better customer experience?" Many, many business travelers prefer WN over any of the legacies due to the greater convenience and customer service.
Bottom line is that Southwest will set the price in Denver. If you don't want to lose too many customers, you had better match. They are coming to play.

Ya got number's to back that up champ?

How many gates does SWA's have? They will set the price to ......? OMA,OKC, OAK,MDW......? How much of that traffic is O/D?

Pretty bold statement there Miles, I guess F9 and UAL better just close shop and take their toy's somewhere else....

Doing the rain dance......

 

[CKS747RCC]

Here is the thing.... Yes SWA will bring in lower fares, and F9 and UAL will match the fares. But, remember, this is F9's turf, and they employee a lot of people in the area, and there is a lot of loyal F9 pax since it is Colorado's only airline. Plus, F9 does offer a better service. Since many people who travel F9 live in COL, all F9 has to do is match SW's prices, and SWA will have a problem filling seats to the same destinations. This is sort of the same thing that has happened in Seattle. SW, hasn't crushed Alaska like they would have hoped. There are a lot of loyal AS customers up and down the west coast, and as long as AS continues to match their faires, or even within $5 bucks, SW won't be able to pull pax from AS like they have from many other airlines. Thus the reason SW wanted to try and gain a cost advantage over AS by moving to Boeing Field. F9 will have their hands full, but it shouldn't take too much to protect their turf!! Yes, SWA is a incredably strong company, but if it weren't for their fuel hedges, their in the same boat as everyone else. If fuel stays at $60 a barrel, SWA will eventually be paying what everyone else is (even if its not until 2010, and they have all but taken over the world). And then they won't have the cost advantage over other airlines!! Just something to chew on!!

F9 does by far have the better package. I'd much rather fly an A318/319 with ample leg room, assigned seating and all the amenities of first class for the same price as WN's "cattle connections". I also prefer hub and spoke flying as opposed to "point to point" flying.

 

[jball2]

SWA HAS 32-33 inches of seat pitch. This is actually the MOST legroom of the majors except for AA (some a/c), UAL (economy plus)and maybe Jetblue. Our seats are also just under and inch wider than other carriers since we don't use beverage carts. So other than the tv's F9 has and their assigned seats, our products are comparable.

BTW- Our seats are leather.

This was not meant to slam Frontier but more to clarify that while Southwest has in the past, had a reputation for cramped airplanes, we actually have some of the roomiest in the sky. Certainly the most legroom in coach on a 737.

 

[ivauir]

I also prefer hub and spoke flying as opposed to "point to point" flying.

Really? You'd rather change planes in some large, delay prone airport and have twice the odds of being late? That seems a little odd. Oh well, W/E. Most folks I know prefer to get on a plane at the airport closest to their homes and get off of it at their destination.

Anyway, we are not going to DEN to "put XXX or YYY out of business". We are going because we think we can make a buck. Usually, we are right, and given the history in CO I'd say we must awfully sure to risk coming back.

 

[F9 Driver]

SWA HAS 32-33 inches of seat pitch. This is actually the MOST legroom of the majors except for AA (some a/c), UAL (economy plus)and maybe Jetblue. Our seats are also just under and inch wider than other carriers since we don't use beverage carts. So other than the tv's F9 has and their assigned seats, our products are comparable.

BTW- Our seats are leather.

This was not meant to slam Frontier but more to clarify that while Southwest has in the past, had a reputation for cramped airplanes, we actually have some of the roomiest in the sky. Certainly the most legroom in coach on a 737.

No slam taken. Just to set the record straight F9 has 33 inch seat pitch at every row and the Bus' fuselage is 7 inches larger in diameter than the 737 so we put one extra inch in each seat and an extra inch in the aisle.

All your seats are leather?

 

[koko nw]

Really? You'd rather change planes in some large, delay prone airport and have twice the odds of being late? That seems a little odd. Oh well, W/E. Most folks I know prefer to get on a plane at the airport closest to their homes and get off of it at their destination.

Anyway, we are not going to DEN to "put XXX or YYY out of business". We are going because we think we can make a buck. Usually, we are right, and given the history in CO I'd say we must awfully sure to risk coming back.

I found it odd too, but statistics is a funny animal,

On time performance Aug 2005 BTS.gov

SWA 78.4%
F9 85.1%
UAL 80.9%

Now NWA,DAL and AA were in the mid to low 70's but I believe your theisis of a hub and spoke being twice as likely to be late.....well a little inflated. Sorry couldn't find yearly figures.

On your second point your shack on.

regards

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Cuz you can bet UAL will be adding more flights from DEN to everywhere SWA's gonna be flying...

Well then, this tells me that UAL must have a bunch of airplanes that are just sitting around....or they are gonna take airplanes off other routes to add these flights to "everywhere SWA's gonna be flying."

I wonder which routes those airplanes will come from....

Tejas

 

[Hvy]

WAYYYYY bad for UAL! Looks like TED (terrible exicutive decision) has his work cut out

Still clueless, aren't you?

 

[ivauir]

All your seats are leather?

Just about, there are a very small number of interiors that haven't been updated, but they should all be done soon.

 

[canyonblue]

Lot of trash talking and the game hasn't even been played yet. There are plenty of people who want to fly out of Denver so enough with the "my plane is bigger than your plane crap", we get it already. From the DEN commuters I have talked to in the past, Frontier has a good product and Ted is a good product. We have No TV, No Meals and No assigned seats and apparently our August on-time stats suck. For Frontier and United this should be a cake walk, so don't fret about it. D#mn it's great to be the underdog.