1st Q Numbers look great!

[robbedagain]

Does this plane go to paris: its the free bag fee is one of the few factors that I like n chose to fly swa to MCO. If given the opportunity in future.w the free bag fee ill gladly take them to the caribbean over the bag chargin mainline carriers any day!

 

[WorldTraveler]

Except the legacy carriers DO offer at least one free checked bag to the Caribbean, robbed.

Not sure what US offers, but most airlines offer at least as generous baggage policies to its employees.

Your new employer happens to be the largest airline in the Caribbean and Latin America but if you want to give your money to WN instead of AA, I guess that is your choice.

 

[robbedagain]

Try again most us legacy carriers charge 25 for the first bag on flights to the caribbean mexico canada n bermuda

 

[WorldTraveler]

actually, robbed, there are footnotes on both the AA and DL charts that show that there are still plenty of examples where there are free bags.

here is just one:

For tickets purchased on/after May 2, 2014

First bag fee does not apply in the following markets if traveling to/from the United States and Canada or within Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean:

Mexico - MEX, GDL, MTY, BJX

Dominican Republic/Haiti - SDQ, STI, PAP

Central America - GUA, SAP, TGU, MGA, PTY, SAL

further, all 3 of the legacies offer exceptions to bag charges for various levels of elites plus certain fare categories as well as via their credit card tie-ins.

yes, there are bag fees to some destinations in Latin America, but there are exceptions for specific customers and there are also many other destinations in Latin America, esp. S. America, where there are even more generous baggage allowances - up to Brazil's 2 free 70 pound bag allowance.

While it is not correct that WN will be the first carrier to offer free bags on international flights, your point does highlight how complex baggage rules are on the legacy carriers.

The average Joe who doesn't fly a lot probably does end up paying baggage fees on a deeply discounted ticket.

But many customers do get free bags even today, and the legacy airlines are being more and more successful at targeting increased fees to those who are most willing to pay them and who are least willing to walk away.

That is the whole point of why Wall Street is telling JetBlue to change strategies. Blanket policies that exempt everyone from charges is not usually revenue maximizing.

WN might have a catchy marketing phrase just like B6's free internet policy but there are people who are willing to pay and it hurts revenue to not charge those who will pay.

The legacy airlines allow plenty of free bags but they also charge where they can get by with it - and thus WN cannot accurately say that it is the first airline to allow free bags.

Further, I don't know all of B6's policies but they do allow plenty of checked bags and they have an extensive network to the Caribbean.

And other well-run business would do the same thing.

And, again, your employer is the largest carrier in the region and also makes a lot of money on checked bags. if you want to fly a competitor, that is certainly your choice but if you don't believe in the product your employer offers and aren't willing to buy it yourself, it is hard to argue that other customers should.

 

[swamt]

SWA still will be the FIRST.  Have a nice day folks...

 

[WorldTraveler]

no, WN won't be the first.

Other airlines allowed free bags long before WN ever existed.

Even today, after legacy carriers have added checked bag fees in some markets for some passenger groups, other carriers have liberal no checked bag limits throughout Latin America.

WN not only is blazing no new territory but it is leaving money on the table that it will ultimately be forced by Wall Street to capture.

 

[WNMECH]

SWA still will be the FIRST.  Have a nice day folks...

You are right.
I just heard that WN is the first US carrier to allow two free bags on international flights for everyone on the plane since the era of bag fees started.

 

[WorldTraveler]

incorrect.

all carriers flying nonstop RIGHT NOW between the US and Brazil allow 2 checked bags for every customer with a weight limit of 70 pounds per bag - more than what WN's for free on its current system.

that is just one market but it is the most significant case of why swamt's statement is incorrect.

I'm glad that WN is going to expand the market; customer choice is good and WN can absolutely develop a loyal following in Latin America and the Caribbean just as they have in the US.

But free checked bags are the norm, not the exception on international flights.

WN might offer two free checked bags for EVERY customer in some markets but other carriers do offer two free bags in some markets and/or two or more free bags to some customers in all markets.

Thus, I can readily acknowledge the simplicity of WN's marketing campaign about free bags but swamt's statement is not accurate that WN will be the first to offer free international bags, including two of them.

 

[swamt]

You are right.
I just heard that WN is the first US carrier to allow two free bags on international flights for everyone on the plane since the era of bag fees started.

I also believe SWA is the only airline left for free carry-on.  If I am not mistaken JB will be soon charging.  And I think they are allowing bag and personal to be carried on board 2 items.  

 

[WorldTraveler]

are you kidding?

None of the big 3 US legacy carriers charge for a carry-on and neither do several other airlines. WN's carry-on size restrictions are essentially the same as the legacies.

B6 has made no announcement about charging for carry-ons.

here is B6's baggage information

http://www.jetblue.com/flying-on-jetblue/first-bag-free/

 

[WNMECH]

I also believe SWA is the only airline left for free carry-on.  If I am not mistaken JB will be soon charging.  And I think they are allowing bag and personal to be carried on board 2 items.

Hey, I heard somewhere that if we start flying to Brazil, WN will be the first US carrier to fly there that offers everyone on their planes everywhere, international and domestic flights, their first two checked bags free (since the era of charging for checked baggage started).

The very first.

 

[WorldTraveler]

What a day that will be.

The legacy carriers will only be able to talk about their free checked bags to Europe, Asia, Africa and all those other places.

but then WN will have probably given up its free bags ad campaign by that point.

 

[robbedagain]

swamt,  wn  just wanted you and all the SWA folks to know we had one enjoyable pleasure ride to and from MCO on SWA  very professional all the way around   
 
As for choice  I'd rather go nonstop when I can wherever I go   But if I must make a connection then so be it.   2 chkd bags rode free as did my backpack as carry on!  

 

[FWAAA]

After AA and US outdid each other in starting checked bag fees,  Gary Kelly triumphantly said that Southwest's "bags fly free" policy was worth about $800 million in extra revenue that it was taking away from the legacies.   Of course, that was in the depths of the Great Recession, when all the legacies were losing billions of dollars.  
 
In 2013, however, now that the legacies are profitable again,    DL charged $833 million in checked bag fees and earned a whopping profit despite those fees.   AA-US combined charged just over $1 billion last year for checked bags and earned almost $2 billion in profits before special items.   In the first half of 2014,  AA has earned that much profit already, despite its checked bag fees.  
 
While the free bags may still be a key ingredient to WN's success, the bag fees aren't hurting DL or AA in the least.   Not.  At.  All.

 

[WorldTraveler]

that is absolutely right and despite what the WN fan club would like to believe, WN does in fact collect baggage fees and lots of them.

for 2013, WN collected $143 million in baggage fees.

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/subject_areas/airline_information/baggage_fees/html/2013.html

Some people fail to consider (or don't want to admit) that baggage fees include oversized and excess baggage charges. Considering that WN's revenue and baggage fees aren't really dramatically different from the legacy carriers given their larger size, the notion that the legacy carriers are collecting all of those fees from first and even 2nd baggage fees is incorrect.