High Fare Leader?

[jimntx]

Tex,
I never said SW was not a Major carrier.

"Blindly" focuses on outsourcing of maintenance ? The whole point of this discussion is that Southwest requires less employees/aircraft than other carriers.
My contention is these charts and graphs that are supposed to prove this are deceiving to say the least.
Hopefully you are aware that it is very easy to slant the numbers every which way you want to come to a conclusion..[Sometimes the TRUTH takes a beating].

Ah, but outsourcing is not the only or even the major reason that SW has fewer employees/aircraft. It has been proven time and time again by independent studies that the average SWA employee in every category is more efficient and proficient than the average airline industry employee in the same category. You don't have SWA flights delayed because "it's not my job" or "it's shift change time" or "I'm p*ssed off because of a reprimand from a supervisor so I'm going to walk out to the ramp as slowly as possible."

I found your story about someones sister being a man a little wacky, and it is not too difficult to come to the conclusion that SW's fuel hedges were by far the main reason they have been profitable in recent years. Heck, I've heard Southwest's CEO say it..

It's called an analogy (if you have a dictionary, look it up). I was using an analogously ridiculous argument to try to show how ridiculous your argument is. By saying that if SW didn't have fuel hedges, they wouldn't be profitable, you are trying to prove that one truth wouldn't be true if another truth were not true. The truth is that BOTH ARE TRUE. So what if the fuel hedges are the main reason that SWA is profitable? The facts remain that SWA had/has fuel hedges and they ARE profitable.

How about if I didn't have a mortgage to pay, I'd have an extra $2000/month to spend at the mall. If the speed limit were not 65 mph, I could go 80mph without worrying about getting a ticket. If the sun didn't go down in the evening, we wouldn't need electric lights at night.

Now, how are you going to deal with the fact that you yourself said that their fuel hedges are coming to an end, yet they just reported a record profit for the 1st quarter even though they had a drop in load factor? Besides, TEX, their fuel hedges are NOT coming to an end. Their new fuel hedges are just at a higher price than the old ones. And, horrors! They just announced another ticket price increase! It's as much as $2.00 one way in some markets. I see bankruptcy ahead for SWA. Passengers will desert them by the millions.

 

[Borescope]

Do they gouge the last minute pax's more than other airlines?


http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-b...iness-headlines

 

[FWAAA]

Do they gouge the last minute pax's more than other airlines?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-b...iness-headlines

Interesting study. I'm sure there are a few city-pairs where loser legacies are charging less than WN for walk up tickets, but IMO, $339 one-way isn't "gouging" for a walk up ticket.

Last time I heard, about 35% of WN's pax paid full fare - I doubt any legacy can make the same claim.

WN: Not always the cheapest, but their fares are always fair.

 

[insp89]

Ah, but outsourcing is not the only or even the major reason that SW has fewer employees/aircraft. It has been proven time and time again by independent studies that the average SWA employee in every category is more efficient and proficient than the average airline industry employee in the same category. You don't have SWA flights delayed because "it's not my job" or "it's shift change time" or "I'm p*ssed off because of a reprimand from a supervisor so I'm going to walk out to the ramp as slowly as possible."
It's called an analogy (if you have a dictionary, look it up). I was using an analogously ridiculous argument to try to show how ridiculous your argument is. By saying that if SW didn't have fuel hedges, they wouldn't be profitable, you are trying to prove that one truth wouldn't be true if another truth were not true. The truth is that BOTH ARE TRUE. So what if the fuel hedges are the main reason that SWA is profitable? The facts remain that SWA had/has fuel hedges and they ARE profitable.

How about if I didn't have a mortgage to pay, I'd have an extra $2000/month to spend at the mall. If the speed limit were not 65 mph, I could go 80mph without worrying about getting a ticket. If the sun didn't go down in the evening, we wouldn't need electric lights at night.

Now, how are you going to deal with the fact that you yourself said that their fuel hedges are coming to an end, yet they just reported a record profit for the 1st quarter even though they had a drop in load factor? Besides, TEX, their fuel hedges are NOT coming to an end. Their new fuel hedges are just at a higher price than the old ones. And, horrors! They just announced another ticket price increase! It's as much as $2.00 one way in some markets. I see bankruptcy ahead for SWA. Passengers will desert them by the millions.

jmintx,
I have no doubt that SW employees are proficient and efficent, [I personally know some of them], But they are not a super human race.
Could the difference be that SW employees have not been subjected to concessionary contracts and crooked bankruptcy courts ? Lets hope they never have to go there. I would be interested in reading some of those "independent" studies.

I'm glad we both agree your analogy was both ridiculous and wacky.

I'll make it simple for you and skip all the B.S.
Fuel Hedges is by far the Main reason that SW has remained profitable [In recent years].
In order to compensate for their larger fuel cost, SW has begun to raise fares..Elementary my dear Watson..
I am aware that SW's Hedges will continue, The only difference is that SW's competitors are now in position to also hedge going forward at the same rate, if they choose.

Sorry to hear that you are predicting bankruptcy and passenger desertion for Southwest, I don't agree with you.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Could the difference be that SW employees have not been subjected to concessionary contracts and crooked bankruptcy courts ? Lets hope they never have to go there. I would be interested in reading some of those "independent" studies.

So what is the excuse/reason for the difference(s) in productivity & efficiency & attitude & service between SW employees vs 'legacy' employees before bankruptcy filing or 9/11 concessions?

 

[insp89]

So what is the excuse/reason for the difference(s) in productivity & efficiency & attitude & service between SW employees vs 'legacy' employees before bankruptcy filing or 9/11 concessions?

Frugal,
First off, I am offering no "excuses" for differences between SW & legacy employees.[none are needed]

How can you lump all "legacy" carrier employees into one basket anyway?

Ever think it might be management styles that make the difference ? NAAAA, It's so much easier to point the finger at the person that is actually doing the work.

 

[WNjetdoc]

Hedges, hedges, hedges, thats all I hear about. The only reason SWA is making money is hedges, blah, blah, blah.

SWA has made money every year for over 30 years. There has been other economic downturns during those 30 years and we have somehow managed to make money during those times.

Me thinks we will continue to find ways to make money in tough times. I know it kills you SWA bashers to hear this, tough crap. FOAD

Bob,
As I stated before, US does 50% of it's 737 HEAVY Maint. Checks in CLT, and 100% of it's 320 "S" Checks in PIT.
Care to guess the percentage of HEAVY Checks SW does INHOUSE ? Heres a Clue, it's nowhere near "around the same percentage of MTC."
Bob, Could you please post that article that breaks down the number of employees/aircraft that you are talking about?
Do you actually think it is right to include the contract carriers with US mainline ?
Did you include American Trans Air into Southwest ?

No doubt SW "guessed" better on their fuel hedges, and no doubt they are better business people, There is also no doubt that the "good" fuel hedges are winding down.

 

[insp89]

Hedges, hedges, hedges, thats all I hear about. The only reason SWA is making money is hedges, blah, blah, blah.

SWA has made money every year for over 30 years. There has been other economic downturns during those 30 years and we have somehow managed to make money during those times.

Me thinks we will continue to find ways to make money in tough times. I know it kills you SWA bashers to hear this, tough crap. FOAD

jetdoc,
First off, I am not a SWA basher,Did you even bother to read my posts ??
I made it clear the fuel hedges got SWA thru the RECENT years !! Good Golly Man, READ.....
I hope you are correct that SWA finds a way to make money in the future...

 

[WNjetdoc]

jetdoc,
First off, I am not a SWA basher,Did you even bother to read my posts ??
I made it clear the fuel hedges got SWA thru the RECENT years !! Good Golly Man, READ.....
I hope you are correct that SWA finds a way to make money in the future...

insp89, I was not talking directly to you man, I didn't even read the posts for the most part. It is the subject of hedges in general.