AirTran and Southwest Merging

[mariepapa]

I hope this means the end of the flights being overbooked all the time! Airtran wa notorious for this. And the fact that you had to pay to sit next to your family. I am anxious to try Southwest with the same prices.

 

[aubriee]

This is great news for DFW.

Don't see how you get that! Looks like Terminal C will be empty now.

No its not, Southwest will still have their headquarters in Dallas, but will cease operation at DFW with the merger. See the article below.



http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/27/2498968/airtran-and-its-low-fares-to-florida.html

I agree this sucks for those of us that fly out of DFW. American Airlines and Air Tran were already our only two options to fly nonstop from Dallas to Orlando. Thanks to the Wright Ammendment, Southwest (or any airline they own) is not allowed to fly out of DFW. That means American can now charge whatever they want for nonstop flights. Plus Southwest has always been much more expensive than either American or Air Tran anyway flying out of Dallas.

With Air Tran we had cheaper flights, nonstop flights, were able to choose our seats, and A+ rewards credits that I could use to upgrade to first class for free. Now we're losing all of that and get to pay alot more for our tickets.

My Air Tran tickets are already bought for my Oct and Dec WDW trips, but I have no idea what I'm going to do for my May trip.

 

[n2mm]

I hope this merger brings back the non-stop SW flights back to Dulles. I've flown AT and while they are OK, they are not my airline of choice. I pretty much only fly SW and Jetblue and most recently stopped flying SW because there are no non-stops out of Dulles. If they come back, I would start using them again.

 

[TmlndSpdwy03]

I hope that with SW's big low fare competitor GONE from Orlando, it doesn't mean the fares will edge up. But that does often happen in the absence of competition.

I think that might happen too. Orlando is the airport I fly in/out of. Airtran and SW generally have identical fares to cities they both fly to (and then if you want to check a bag, SW is the cheaper choice). If you remove either airline from that equation, why would the other one keep lower fares in they don't need to?

 

[jsilvers]

Thanks to the Wright Ammendment, Southwest (or any airline they own) is not allowed to fly out of DFW.

Incorrect. The Wright Amendment, as modified in 2006, provides that if Southwest uses gates at DFW, it has to offer the same number of gates (up to a total of 8) to other carriers at Love Field. That doesn't mean that Southwest can't serve DFW - only that there's a price to be paid. (And it doesn't mean that any other carrier actually would want gates at Love Field - presumably Southwest wouldn't have to vacate them if no one else wanted them.)

 

[larryz]

No its not, Southwest will still have their headquarters in Dallas, but will cease operation at DFW with the merger. See the article below.



http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/27/2498968/airtran-and-its-low-fares-to-florida.html

http://views.washingtonpost.com/lea...e-boardrooms-across-the.html?hpid=smartliving

 

[Rhode Island Quahog]

Incorrect. The Wright Amendment, as modified in 2006, provides that if Southwest uses gates at DFW, it has to offer the same number of gates (up to a total of 8) to other carriers at Love Field. That doesn't mean that Southwest can't serve DFW - only that there's a price to be paid. (And it doesn't mean that any other carrier actually would want gates at Love Field - presumably Southwest wouldn't have to vacate them if no one else wanted them.)

Yes, regardless Southwest said yesterday in their press conference, that they will be closing their DFW location.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I love Airtran so I do not see this as a good thing.

I like their flexibility if there is a schedule change and I like that I can choose my seats ahead of time.

I flew Airtran exclusively but will now likely look for another airline!

 

[doclegler]

I hope it doesn't effect flight times! We are flying Air Tran in November. I'd sure LOVE it if they got rid of our baggage fees though!! Just wishful thinking...don't really see them turning DOWN my $$$....

 

[APB513]

I hope that this will mean non-stop SWA flights from Detroit/Flint. Right now AirTran is the best of three bad options (Spirit and Northwest/Delta being the other two). I'd rather fly Southwest but they don't go non-stop from here and I don't want to hassle with layovers/plane changes with 3 kids.

I agree Colleen! I have not flown SWA since they discontinued their non-stop flights to MCO.

I was told this had something to do with Northwest and Delta merging since Detroit used to be Northwest's hub.

In the good old days I could get a DING for a non-stop flight on SWA from DTW to MCO for $39 each way. Now I'm looking at a minimum of $138 each way with 1 or 2 stops and plane changes

I really hope SWA brings the non-stop flights back and I hope the prices come down. I don't expect $39 fares but something less than $100 each way would be nice.

 

[TravelinMouse]

We couldn't get Southwest to fly into Memphis because of AirTran. However, AirTran had raised prices to MCO (through ATL) to such an extent that it was only a few dollars cheaper than the Delta/Northwest *direct* flight! As they never credited me for any Frequent Flyer miles (also the discount airline without a discount price issue) I slowly gave up and started flying Delta/Northwest. If Southwest takes over and actually discounts their flights, I will be one happy girl!

 

[brernick]

This merger was done to gain market shares in cities that SWA has little on no service. Some cities will see a lower price and a few will have higher prices depending what other airlines sevice the same city.

Now there is only one airline withe free food on most flights and that will be changing soon to some markets. Trans-con flights food should still be free on Continental.

It will be interesting to see what SWA does with all the different type planes AirTran has in service. SWA saves a lot of money by using the same style plann for all its service.

 

[JB2K]

I hope this merger brings back the non-stop SW flights back to Dulles. I've flown AT and while they are OK, they are not my airline of choice. I pretty much only fly SW and Jetblue and most recently stopped flying SW because there are no non-stops out of Dulles. If they come back, I would start using them again.

I believe this was the driving force in Southwest's purchase of AirTran - to finally get takeoff/landing slots at major airports where SWA has a minimal (or no) presence such as IAD/DCA, BOS, JFK, EWR, and ATL.

There are several smaller airports which will also see new service from SWA in the deal.

From my point of view, there are going to be a lot of winners in this deal -- I am hearing a lot of complaining on these boards that airfares to/from MCO will go up as a result of this merger. Do you have any proof on that? True, when "legacy" carriers like Northwest and Delta hook-up, it's going to eliminate one of the two and yes, prices will increase.

Southwest only has a few small mergers under their belt and none of those were with any large carriers. This hook-up with AirTran will be the first major merger in their history. They (SWA) have no choice but to do right by the flying public, as their reputation will soon be on the line (and despite the comments of a few on this board who obviously have the means to pay more to fly other carriers, Southwest has something of a love affair with their customers).

Don't believe me? Think back to PHL before 2004, when the only flying option, there was U.S. Airways (and the other major carriers with flights to their respective hubs). Prices were outrageous -- people (myself, included) were driving to BWI to save a couple hundred dollars.

Needless to say, things are different, now -- not perfect, but definitely better.

FWIW, the winners will be the customers -- particularly, in those airports I already mentioned.

And the losers? Obviously, ATL/Delta's "fortress" hub, who successfully kept SWA out for many years. Until now.

 

[bubba's mom]

What will this do to YOUR plans to fly to WDW? Since these are the two deepest discounters to Orlando, how will YOUR travel plans fare?

I foresee two effects -- NO BAGGAGE FEES on AirTran (Yay!)
and no more Boeing 717's in the fleet (boo!).

We always fly SW...so, it doesn't really affect me. (altho, looking forward to more choices to caribbean )

and, I've heard & read that they DO plan to keep the 717s.

 

[JB2K]

Now there is only one airline withe free food on most flights and that will be changing soon to some markets. Trans-con flights food should still be free on Continental.

I suspect that may be changing as soon as this coming Friday (about an hour ago from this posting, a Federal Judge declined to block the United-Continental merger), which means UA & CO are moving forward...

Besides, I can do without that mysterious stuff the legacy airlines serve called "lunch".

It will be interesting to see what SWA does with all the different type planes AirTran has in service. SWA saves a lot of money by using the same style plann for all its service.

This is true - using only one type of aircraft (Boeing 737) has been very, very successful for SWA. I have heard rumblings that SWA may be interested in retaining AirTran's Boeing 717 fleet (the 717 is a modern-day descendant of the old DC-9) for smaller destinations that don't warrant a large planeload of passengers. I think two aircraft types (if used appropriately) wouldn't be that much of a hit on SWA (plus, it would give the American aerospace industry a boost, as many other U.S. carriers make use of certain Airbus aircraft, which are built in Europe).

 

[clkelley]

Personally, I don't think it will be good at all for our airport (HSV).

We JUST got Airtran (as in May), and we have two flights to BWI per day which are GREAT for my work travel. We only have ONE flight to MCO per day at NOON. Which in my opinion is the WORSE time in the world for leisure travel.

Also, from what the news is telling us, the rest of HSV citizens agree with me because in most cases the Orlando flight is underutilized. Most folks want to leave after work and school for leisure travel. (or first thing the next morning).

So we will probably either get SW flights connecting in Nashville or Atlanta, or SW will pull back out of HSV and leave us with Delta or leaving us driving to Nashville or B'ham for SW flights.

 

[JB2K]

Personally, I don't think it will be good at all for our airport (HSV).

We JUST got Airtran (as in May), and we have two flights to BWI per day which are GREAT for my work travel. We only have ONE flight to MCO per day at NOON. Which in my opinion is the WORSE time in the world for leisure travel.

Also, from what the news is telling us, the rest of HSV citizens agree with me because in most cases the Orlando flight is underutilized. Most folks want to leave after work and school for leisure travel. (or first thing the next morning).

So we will probably either get SW flights connecting in Nashville or Atlanta, or SW will pull back out of HSV and leave us with Delta or leaving us driving to Nashville or B'ham for SW flights.

You never know...the same thing was said back in 2004 when Southwest announced services to/from Philadelphia (which would pull from an existing customer pool that used to drive to Baltimore for low fares).

Since then, both of those operations have done well -- plus SWA has since added LaGuardia, Dulles Intl., and (soon) Newark, N.J. to that "regional mix".

As with anything, it's all based on supply and demand -- if there's a demand for it, Southwest will provide it.

 

[clkelley]

You never know...the same thing was said back in 2004 when Southwest announced services to/from Philadelphia (which would pull from an existing customer pool that used to drive to Baltimore for low fares).

Since then, both of those operations have done well -- plus SWA has since added LaGuardia, Dulles Intl., and (soon) Newark, N.J. to that "regional mix".

As with anything, it's all based on supply and demand -- if there's a demand for it, Southwest will provide it.

I sure hope so!!! I would kill for a 6pmish nonstop/direct flight out of HSV that goes to MCO on Friday night, then about an 8pm direct/nonstop return on Sunday night!!

Delta used to provide this and if I watched close enough, I could get it for a decent fare. We would manage weekend trips about 4 times a year. Then Delta killed the direct flights, so we had to go through Atlana, grrrrr.

Then I found SW out of Nashville at 8:45 pm. I could still drive to Nashville after work on Friday, and come home late Sunday, but now SW has killed those late flights except in the summer :-(

So now I'm limited to at least 4-day weekends pulling the camper down. It's hard to beg off that extra day every holiday as I have to take turns with my coworkers.

I miss my weekend warrior trips to Disney!!!

Yeah, I do get a week at Halloween and 2 weeks in December, but there is just something fun about hopping on a plane on Friday night and enjoying a nice weekend, with a few hours in a park, then a nice dinner on Saturday, then a couple of attractions on Sunday, then go home, no asking for time off, no telling anyone where you are going.

 

[MAH4546]

I believe this was the driving force in Southwest's purchase of AirTran - to finally get takeoff/landing slots at major airports where SWA has a minimal (or no) presence such as IAD/DCA, BOS, JFK, EWR, and ATL.

The United States airport system is very open market and largely does not run on slots.

Only six U.S. airports - Newark, JFK, LaGuardia, Reagan, Orange County and Long Beach - operate on a slot system. Everything else is open market.

What the merger means for everybody: higher fares. Plain and simple. Don't be fooled by the Southwest marketing garbage.

Also, while Southwest will no doubt evaluate serving the entire AirTran network currently, make no mistake that its business model largely runs a profit by operating to stations where it can have high gate utilization throughout the day operating on multiple routes in multiple directions geographically. Outside of Texas routes where Southwest has had a long and historical presence since before deregulation, all Southwest stations typically have at least a dozen daily flights to at least four cities. Many smaller AirTran cities cannot support this model, and will likely be goners.

Asheville, Charleston (WV), Hunstsville, Lexington, Portland (ME)...gone, gone, gone, gone and gone.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm cautiously optimistic about this merger. Right now we only have 2 airlines that fly out of our airport, of which Southwest is one. Otherwise we drive 125 miles to the next good-size airport. It's not unusual to have to make multiple connections or find out "you can't get there from here". I see this as opening up more posibilities for us.