SOUTHWEST Adding BIG at PIT! Who didn't know that

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

How long has HP been under WN's shadow in PHX & LAS and remained in business?

How long was the U under WN's Shadow?

Which one knew how to survive under WN and which one was in danger?

What short memories.

The U never knew how to compete.

 

[UWCactus]

by abandoning a market? how clever...
is that what an mba from vandy teaches you?!?!?!?!

Get over it, that market was abandoned before this merger.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Get over it, that market was abandoned before this merger.

Ignore the man behind the curtain.

He is not really there.

 

[US1YFARE]

Get over it, that market was abandoned before this merger.

The fight to keep the business customers wasn't--I guess you folks in Tempe figured out that you are the only airline that doesn't need them as the rest of your "competitors" (and I use the term very loosely since about the only that may be competitive is non-stops out of PHL) are doing everything they can to win the VFF as a loyal customer. You, on the other hand, are doing everything possible to chase them away.

Two people this weekend told me how miserable US is. Honest to God, I did not say anything to them to get them going. These were independent accounts because they knew how much I travel. One, a leisure traveler, took a flight this week and could not get over how miserable the employees are these days. I said they have an excuse, the airline is so mismanaged that their morale is in the toilet. The other one, a CP on US, told me that he left for CO because he couldn't take being treated like crap anymore--he had no idea about the status match and said that he had been doing it the hard way, but was on his way to getting Platinum status--I of course, provided him with the information so he could make his transition to CO an even smoother one.

But, US knows best and has figured out what no other carrier has figured out--screw the biz customers--we don't need them.

 

[ClueByFour]

How long has HP been under WN's shadow in PHX & LAS and remained in business?

Well, with a bankruptcy and an ATSB loan. Absent the ATSB loan, HP is as dead as US East.

So really, "HP+whacking creditors with bankruptcy+sucking at the teat of the taxpayer to stay in business" managed to "remain in business." Let's call that spade a spade, shall we?

How long was the U under WN's Shadow?

They ran from it, which is exactly what tempe is doing now, in spite of two more bankruptcies (East) and another ATSB loan. See the pattern?

Which one knew how to survive under WN and which one was in danger?

WN has forced them both into bankruptcy and a position to have to borrow money from the feds.

What short memories.

The U never knew how to compete.

Neither has HP, really. LAS is an anomaly--there are like 30 million O&D boardings a year there which are mostly (but not always) leisure related, and the "night flight" stuff has never competed with Southwest, since LUV don't do redeyes. Unless one's costs are completely out of whack, it'd be impossible not to "compete" with WN there, since even WN can't handle all the traffic. Which leaves PHX. Given how much WN has been able to grow in PHX, it's probably not such a hot idea to insinuate that HP has "competed" with them there.

 

[Doc]

The fight to keep the business customers wasn't--I guess you folks in Tempe figured out that you are the only airline that doesn't need them as the rest of your "competitors" (and I use the term very loosely since about the only that may be competitive is non-stops out of PHL) are doing everything they can to win the VFF as a loyal customer. You, on the other hand, are doing everything possible to chase them away.

Two people this weekend told me how miserable US is. Honest to God, I did not say anything to them to get them going. These were independent accounts because they knew how much I travel. One, a leisure traveler, took a flight this week and could not get over how miserable the employees are these days. I said they have an excuse, the airline is so mismanaged that their morale is in the toilet. The other one, a CP on US, told me that he left for CO because he couldn't take being treated like crap anymore--he had no idea about the status match and said that he had been doing it the hard way, but was on his way to getting Platinum status--I of course, provided him with the information so he could make his transition to CO an even smoother one.

But, US knows best and has figured out what no other carrier has figured out--screw the biz customers--we don't need them.

I agree with you about how they treat their customers (employee's worse). But every time you make the comment about business customers leaving in droves it's just not true. I see for every CP that leaves U creates another one and for every one that says how bad it is there is another one who will tell you how much they like U. I will tell you one thing the silvers can't wait to get their status upgraded. They may not like it when they get there but they are spending the money trying.

 

[boeingdriver213]

If SWA grows in PIT, they will do it on THEIR timetable, not anyone elses, and you can be sure if Allegheny county doesn't make them a good deal on gates and facilities, it won't happen. Something about being profitable, I guess......

 

[US1YFARE]

I agree with you about how they treat their customers (employee's worse). But every time you make the comment about business customers leaving in droves it's just not true. I see for every CP that leaves U creates another one and for every one that says how bad it is there is another one who will tell you how much they like U. I will tell you one thing the silvers can't wait to get their status upgraded. They may not like it when they get there but they are spending the money trying.

They are replacing US1's on a one-for-one basis? I doubt it.

 

[Travelpro72]

The number of CP on the manifest when I'm working is noticeable to me. There certainly have not been as many at least on my flights. I will be honest though about the few CP's I had on my last trip. They are obviously a different breed altogether. They were clueless about different things such as service and the pull down of the "perks" of first class. There were days when the lonely EIGHT seats on a 757 would be all CP with the occasional Platinum or Gold. YOU can have a whole first class cabin of dividend miles. I don't understand the quote by Doug in the last crew news session on Sept 20 where he said the number of FF's has doubled. Hmmmmm.

 

[Jimmy Neutron]

If SWA grows in PIT, they will do it on THEIR timetable, not anyone elses, and you can be sure if Allegheny county doesn't make them a good deal on gates and facilities, it won't happen. Something about being profitable, I guess......

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...g/s_531594.html

Southwest 'interested' in adding Pittsburgh flights

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Get over it, that market was abandoned before this merger.

You're absolutely right. This was Dave Siegel's doing. Hey, you cut the legs off a chair it can't stand, right? You stop feeding a hub with flights, WTF do you think is going to happen?

That being said, Parker and Kirby had an excellent opportunity to build PIT back into a successful market it once was. Alas, a good customer service experience and vision is not their strong point.

Later,
Eye

 

[Whatnow?]

Could it be all of the new "cash cow" applicants are adding to the ranks of the FF program? I've noticed a lot of entry level FF's on the manifest for F/C. I know that they can use a portion of the free miles towards Preferred status.

 

[Travelpro72]

Hey southwest is not that smart about their markets. Somebody better do them a favor and let them know that there isn't enough O&D to add much more service there. From the sound of that article I'd say they are thinking of adding more than one flight here and there. Usairways couldn't do it due to Philly being so close. How can Southwest add more than 22 flights with BWI so close? Good move Usassways. It will be DING country in Pittsburgh for sure.

 

[Whatnow?]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...g/s_531594.html

Southwest 'interested' in adding Pittsburgh flights

While it's a great thing for SWA to build up PIT.....I think too much SWA might also be a bad thing for PIT. Isn't it possible that too many flights from SWA will cause other Legacy carriers to further retreat from PIT because of the competition. PIT could be left with only short haul flights on SWA kind of like Long Islands' ISP airport is. You have to be careful for what you wish for? JMO

 

[Twicebaked]

Hey southwest is not that smart about their markets. Somebody better do them a favor and let them know that there isn't enough O&D to add much more service there. From the sound of that article I'd say they are thinking of adding more than one flight here and there. Usairways couldn't do it due to Philly being so close. How can Southwest add more than 22 flights with BWI so close? Good move Usassways. It will be DING country in Pittsburgh for sure.

If this would come to be the case, I would think that they would need to create a base in Pit with that many flights!!!

Wouldn't it be nice to be home again!!!!

One can dream...can't they!!!

I don't think I would EVER want to start over again......would be nice to get out of this company though!!!!