Can someone please explain to me...

[adctd2WDW]

...why Jetblue services Houston and Orlando but does not fly one to the other? This just does not make sense to me. And are they generally cheaper than Southwest? Or should I just be glad I have SW? Also, any other other "cheap" airlines?

 

[beccasmom]

I can't answer your first question; it does seem strange but there might be a good reason for it. I think the FAA or other governmental office needs to approve which airllines can fly between which cities.

SWA is generally pretty inexpensive and yes, IMHO you are lucky to have it. Generally, the competition often keeps the other airlines in the same ballpark fare-wise. That is what has happened in PHL anyway.

For budget airlines - Allegiant, Spirit, JetBlue (yes, I love this airline too and they do not fly from my city yet! ), AirTran, Virgin America are the only ones I can think of off-hand.

 

[DebbieB]

Many airlines only offer flights to their hubs and "focus cities", there's not enough demand considering other airlines that already service that route. I live in Pittsburgh and Jet Blue only flies non-stop to Boston and JFK, Southwest and AirTran have non-stops to Orlando. There's not enough demand for every airline to service that route non-stop, they would rather funnel you through their hubs. USAir recently dropped their Pittsburgh-Orlando non-stop, they could not be profitable on that route with the competition from Southwest and AirTran.