Just geard SW bought Airtran...hope this helps my budget!

[DebbieB]

I envision cutbacks in certain markets. For instance take pit to mco. I chose a random date. Airtran has a flight departing pit for mco at 7:50 and southwest has one leaving at 7:20. Do you really think that those two flights will be around after the take over? We wont just see reduced flights. Baggage handlers will be laid off. So will reservation clerks. And personnel that service the gates and planes. But Im sure that usair is happy to see the competition absorb another competitor.

USAir could care less about what happens at PIT, they've made that clear.

Unfortunately, I think it will be a net loss to PIT. SW has 3 flights to MCO, AT 2, on today's schedule. My bet is it goes down to 3 or 4. More connections for us.

 

[fallcolors]

Hopefully this will be a win-win for the consumer. I find both airlines to be better than most.

 

[MAH4546]

Hopefully this will be a win-win for the consumer. I find both airlines to be better than most.

Anyone who believes this will be a win-win for the consumer is buying into the PR spin the airlines are putting on this.

Consumers will lose. Plain and simple.

And I assure people that the increase in airfares in many markets will far exceed the $15-$20 baggage fees that are now being "saved" by flying Southwest-branded aircraft.

AirTran has the second lowest average fare of any airline in the country after Spirit adjusted for stage length. Those low fares will reach Southwest levels, which are actually on par, and often higher than, other carriers despite its marketing propaganda that makes people think otherwise.

Whether this is good or not is ENTIRELY dependent on your market.

Dallas has 2 airports - DFW and DAL. Due to some odd anti-compete things, SW ONLY flies out of DAL (the smaller airport). AirTran and American fly out of DFW. It has already been announced that SW will NOT be flying out of DFW. Period. SW does not have permission to fly in and out of DFW, so that's the end of that. More available gates at DFW once AirTran is gone, so American should be pleased.

Funny that people like to put the blame on AA here, when Southwest is the one playing the anti-consumer monopoly games.

The reality is that Southwest entered a non-compete agreement in exchange for being able to keep gates pace at Dallas Love Field. See, Southwest does not want competition at Love Field; so it has agreed to occupy a certain amount of gates at Love Field - thereby not allowing new competitors in the crowded airport - and not enter DFW. It is allowed to enter DFW whenever it wants, but in exchange for acquiring gates at DFW, it must give up gats at DAL for other airlines.

 

[Minnie J]

This means we are finally getting southwest at Atlanta Hartsfield airport. I am excited by the possibilities! We'll see what this brings.

God I do hope so cause some places Southwest doesn't fly Airtran does so I'm hoping it to be better costs=)

 

[Disneywedding2010]

Looks like I'll be finding another airline. I hate SW.

 

[beansmom]

I won't fly Southwest for fear of their "fat police". I am scared to death of being singled out for being fat. When I fly it's with my dh and dd. We buy 3 seats side by side. I have no problem fitting with my family. I would die though if I was singled out. I will never get on a Southwest plane.

eggzackly...and, no, all airlines do NOT do that. SW is notorious for it. As a pooh-sized person, I do understand their concerns but they do not handle the issue in a sensitive way and I just hate SW in general.

I'll pay a bit more and travel a better airline.