Yes Or No Usairways Survives 2004

[usairways_vote_NO]

Why Yes why no?

 

[mweiss]

No, because the changes being discussed now are too little, too late. To be fair, US might survive to see New Years Day, but I doubt it'll be around much longer than that.

 

[WNrforlife]

Hell No!!!!! Because Southwest Airlines is the bestest airline in the country, and we are kicking a** in PHL!!!

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

No, because the changes being discussed now are too little, too late. To be fair, US might survive to see New Years Day, but I doubt it'll be around much longer than that.

I have to agree with you the changes they have been discussing are way to little and too late, nothing really substantial. No changing of the culture. Bandaids when an operation is needed.

Also the employee's have been lied to, the contracts broken and the company terribly mismanaged (and continues to be).

The employee's morale has been so deflated that a sense of hopelessness has set in.

Due to all of the above I think the employee's resolve is to leave the the concession stand closed and let go of the past and present and move on to a future without Usairways.

The only thing that I think would buy the company some time to make it into 2005 would be a huge drop in the price of crude oil long with a corresponding drop in the cost of aviation fuel and that doesn't seem likely.

 

[jetstewus]

It's already June...
Other airlines took several years to fail...
They are finally trying to fight back against the LCCs...
They will likely get some of the concessions they are asking for...
Wishful thinking...

 

[Light Years]

I was under the impression that the poll feature was more for opinions and such, not predictions of the future. What is the purpose of the results of a poll like this, bets?

It seems the only reason to post such a thing is to wind-up the usual people, and attract the same poster from another carrier that is convinced airlines have rear ends.

I'll ignore this one. I think the polls are getting silly, much like this whole board. I feel its the 'bestest' thing to do.

 

[mweiss]

Other airlines took several years to fail...

So has US. The airline has been failing since at least 1991 when WN started serving California.

 

[N607P]

Hell No!!!!! Because Southwest Airlines is the bestest airline in the country, and we are kicking a** in PHL!!!

Seriously, if you want credibility, don't use 'words' like "bestest."

 

[Heinrich]

No, because society today rewards those with a little superficial sugar, such as Southwest and Wal-Mart but deliver no meat such as Southwest (you go on standby if we cancel a flight - show up extra early for a decent seat even if you travel every week) or Wal-Mart (home of cheap plastic crap.)

It's also true with politics currently (George Bush) , popular music (take most any top 40 band), computers (AMD makes better processors than Intel)....and I could keep going.

Most consumers are flat out ignorant about what they are consuming - it just takes a 'cool factor' delivered by a sugar-coated ad campaign or heavy corporate sponsorship or plain old luck.

USAirways has none of those.

 

[mweiss]

Sure I love the "Turd Brown Bus", why I can take my Rapid Rewards free tickets and go to exactly 54 places ALL in the USA and some like Midland/odessa TX or Lubbock are real tourist hot spots.

OTOH, you can go as long as there's an empty seat. No capacity controls. Even if you're going to some of the real tourist hot spots.

And if I want an window seat I'll be sure to stop what I'm doing with my customer and be at the airport 2 hours early to get the precious "A" boarding card.

Or you can be smart about it and...check in online from home. Makes things quite a bit easier. Sounds like you haven't flown WN in quite some time.

Then I'll settle into my roomy seat in F/C!

OTOH, God help you if you don't get your upgrade.

Darn a weather delay! While I'll just go to the gate agent ans get an involuntary re-route on another carrier!

OTOH, if you want to change your plans, there are no change fees, and no runarounds. You lose something, and gain something else.

SWA is the airline for the people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Or perhaps they are the airline for the people who value flexibility in their travel plans more than the other stuff.

Why on earth are you being so derisive toward those who make different decisions than you? If the whole world had the same set of values as you, you'd never be able to afford anything you wanted.

 

[repeet]

Yes,

There are so many things left that the company can do to save money. As things get tighter they will enact them one by one, just keeping themselves on the edge. This will continue until their little exersize in squeezing is over. Then watch out, Profit City!!!

 

[wnbubbleboy]

Most consumers are flat out ignorant about what they are consuming - it just takes a 'cool factor' delivered by a sugar-coated ad campaign or heavy corporate sponsorship or plain old luck.

USAirways has none of those.

The is no luck over here at WN. Our management team is aggressive and proactive if an opportunity presents itself they take it. We negotiate those corporate sponserships and for the right price who knows who the next sponser of the NFL could be? USAIR had it NASCAR sponsership that they gave up in 90' or 91' how big do you think that would be now?

Next , choice is a big factor everyone has there own likes and dislikes we are not everyones cup ot tea. Also, assuming "ingorance" over loyalty is, well frankly, ingorant. We have people that like flying us again, and again. Finally, to Mr Piney Bob, we prefer "desert brown" on our Classic style aircraft.

 

[mweiss]

Because the SWA mystique is a myth.

Some of it is, yes.

1. NEVER found a situation where they were the cheapest option.

That'd do it for me. I don't think I'd ever fly WN for more than a legacy unless I thought I'd be changing plans frequently.

2. No assigned seating.

That matters much more for some people than for others. It matters to me, so I don't tend to fly WN either.

No interline agreements. Standvy on the next flight isn't worth a crap if it's the last flight of the day and you have family committments. Factor in the cost of a hotel room and SWA is not a bargain.

True enough. So, again, depending on the sort of travel you're doing, that may prove to be a significant issue. Or it may not. Consider that the likelihood of having to stand by for the next flight is lower on WN than it is on US.

4. I am a TCO guy (Total Cost of Operation) ao when I compare ticket prices I factor the extra 100 miles each way I have to drive to BWI (before SWA went to PHL) at $.375 per mile as it is the cost of an SWA decision.Not to mention the extra 2 hour drive to BWI

As would I. But the equation becomes much different when you're looking at WN at PHL.

5. Let's compare an upcoming trip to LAX from PHL and see where the SWA myth explodes.

I'm assuming you're referring to the "WN is always the cheapest" myth? It isn't. But if you're making last-minute plans, WN does far better on price.

SWA is all smoke and mirrors that's why they are so profitable

A gross oversimplification. Their RASM is far below that of US, so it's clear that their average fare is also lower.

But where I really get irritated is your holier-than-thou attitude toward those who choose to fly WN because it suits their needs better. I choose not to fly them much, though I actually have flown them a few times. But I'm certainly not going to go around telling everyone that their choice in airline is a wrong one.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

I was under the impression that the poll feature was more for opinions and such, not predictions of the future. What is the purpose of the results of a poll like this, bets?

Ask Adm. Poindexter at DARPA.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

Can you make you comments on southwest board?

Way off topic