Us Slashes Business Fares At Syr

[ringmaruf]

US slashes business fares at SYR. They're trying something in a non-WN market. Nice move.

http://www.syracuse.com/business/poststand...78350276315.xml

 

[ojxux]

Not really surprising since SYR has some of the highest fares in the country. People started driving to Albany and Rochester for cheaper prices. Also pressure from 2 lcc (jet blue and trans meridian) have forced their hand. Trans Meridian goes direct to Orlando (Samford - not MCO), Ft. Lauderdale and las vegas for about 200 bucks round trip. Lets see fly direct for about 200 bucks or take useless air for about 500 bucks and have the privelage of connecting at PHL or Pitt - not too tough of a choice.

 

[USA320Pilot]

US Airways uses Syracuse as test market for new pricing plan

Airline hopes the lower fares will keep business travelers from driving to their destinations

SYRACUSE (AP) - A new pricing and scheduling plan is being tested here by US Airways, which finds itself battling growing competition from discount carriers.

See Story

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[Flying Titan]

What's interesting is that this does not look like its aimed at markets where it competes with LCCs - no Orlando, Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale (except NYC - JetBlue). Seems like its aimed more at walk-up/biz fares. Could this be the beginning of fare rationalization?

 

[ClueByFour]

They still don't get it:

There is no such thing as a business fare or a leisure fare anymore. People do business in MCO--somebody has to sell stuff to the Mouse, after all.

 

[ringmaruf]

What's interesting is that this does not look like its aimed at markets where it competes with LCCs - no Orlando, Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale (except NYC - JetBlue). Seems like its aimed more at walk-up/biz fares. Could this be the beginning of fare rationalization?

It appears to be aimed at the markets with nonstop service from SYR.

 

[Flying Titan]

They still don't get it:

There is no such thing as a business fare or a leisure fare anymore. People do business in MCO--somebody has to sell stuff to the Mouse, after all.

Huh?

No such thing as a business fare anymore?

I wish it were so, but I know I'm not flying to Nashville for the day this week on a $249 r/t fare. Try more than tripling that amount. Of course there are still business fares. Unless you're able to book well in advance and/or stay over on a Saturday night, there are still a ton of markets where business travelers are stuck paying high business fares.

What so many of us FFs have said for so long is that airlines like US will make more money in the long run if they bring down their top fares, slightly push up their leisure fares and simplify the fare structure. What seems interesting in this case is that it looks like US may be trying something like this in a market where they're not being hounded by an LCC. It will be nice to see if the "experiment" works.

 

[TomBascom]

Huh?

No such thing as a business fare anymore?

I'll probably get whacked upside the head with a x4 for putting words in his mouth but I think what Clue means is that "business" and "leisure" are no longer useful ways for airlines to segment fares (and markets).

Just as there are plenty of business people heading to MCO and buying advance purchase fares there are also plenty of last minute leisure travelers who will go to SYR when they can get a reasonably priced walk-up. The airlines are just shooting themselves in the foot as they continue to perpetuate the myth of the price insensitive business traveler.

 

[funguy2]

Its good to see that US Airways is at least doing SOMETHING, even though not forced by an LCC competitor (i.e. GoFares). However, this "test" should not last for years. US Airways does not have that kind of time.