I agree that this belongs on the Southwest board, but I could not disagree with Cordle more...as usual. Southwest up until recently was CONSISTENTLY profitable, more so than any other carrier. Their fare structure works as is...there is no need to nickel and dime customers...even now.
The old (read current) business model of the major airlines just do not work any more. But WN's does...when fuel levels off and demand comes back, they will be profitable again, and without many of the fees that the others have instituted. They have a simple fare structure--no more than 3 or 4 choices on the web site, and they have a premium Business Select product which provides some value.
Ancillary fees are an insult to an intelligent consumer. They are misleading, and they hide the true cost of a ticket. The REAL problem is that fares are still artificially too low. There is NO reason for ANY airline to offer $99 fares coast to coast any more--the airline industry is the ONLY one who prices their product without ANY regard for the costs involved in providing that product. That is a fundamental flaw of ANY business model.
If it costs X, you charge X+Y. They are in business to make money, not subsidize air travelers. Sorry, but it is not fair to business travelers who have been subsidizing the itinerant travelers for years.
Fares have to go up, but at the same time the real top end fares have to come down.
Maybe the Air Canada model is better--you choose your fare based on the level of service you want--with ony 4 or 5 fares in a market, the system would be simple, less misleading, and you know what you pay right up front.
The airlines today don't have a clue how to run a business, and the fees are their way of saying "we have no idea how to price our product so we'll just nickel and dime you to death".
Oh, and as to Doug Parker being right about something ?? Nah......not a chance.
