I said "high value" not "high-end". I was speaking of the value of the revenue produced from international travelers. They are indeed very valuable to the United profit margin.
We probably won't have a huge impact on "high-end" travelers which I would identify as frequent travelers mostly for business purposes where they themselves aren't footing the bill for the travel. Those travelers are used to either having a first class ticket purchased for them or spending frequent flier miles to upgrade. They are tied to one airline because that is where they have amassed many miles affording them "elite" status and all the benefits that spending thousands upon thousands of dollars with one airline will procure.
That being said, we will have an effect on all the rest of the travelers, which is certainly the majority in my opinion. Many, many folks travel for leisure or to visit family or even on a more limited basis for business. Many passengers, including business travelers are extremely cost conscious and will ultimately search out the best price and the most convenient airport. In many cases that option will be Southwest Airlines departing out of Hobby. That is the exact reason United battled tooth and nail to prevent SWA from flying internationally out of HOU. It had zero to do with what was in the best interest of the Houston community and was wholly aimed at the stopping the hemorrhage of high value international passengers to Southwest.
uke:
