Southwest at it again..July changes

[Sweettears]

Jacksonville isn't a "normal" destination from Chicago. SW has gone much more to a hub and spoke airline with hubs at MDW-BNA-BWI and DAL. It's not the point to point airline it used to be and won't be ever again. It's so much more efficient financially to operate this way when trying to run a national route map.

And yet they are still running full flights just about everywhere. I'm sure the profit margins are higher for flights other than STL-SDF which is a major consideration for an airline that is being severely limited by pilot shortages.

That is somewhat true as I have flown into Jacksonville many times. They at least used to have fights through places like Atlanta with minimal layover. Even that is hard to find

 

[sdoll]

We had our June flights all changed. I booked the cheapest flights when I booked my trip (flying with 8 people) I was able to change my flights to a decent time and took the opportunity to extend our trip a day. I think its very frustrating but at the same time we all know what the industry has been through. I try to keep perspective, even if it's frustrating.

 

[DebbieB]

We had our June flights all changed. I booked the cheapest flights when I booked my trip (flying with 8 people) I was able to change my flights to a decent time and took the opportunity to extend our trip a day. I think its very frustrating but at the same time we all know what the industry has been through. I try to keep perspective, even if it's frustrating.

This is going to be my strategy going forward. I had my return flight in July change by 5 minutes and I was allowed to switch to any other flight. I chose one a couple hours earlier that was far more expensive for no charge. My friend moved her flight 3 days later for free.

 

[bakerworld]

Currently the only NS flights on SW out of PHL to MCO are on Saturdays only. I have such a hard time believing that Philly is such a small venue that NS flights are unsustainable during the week. Cripes I think if SW scheduled one NS flight on Tuesday and Wednesday, along with Saturday, from PHL to MCO it would be filled, especially if SW scheduled it at 7a. At this point I'm wondering if SW are trying to fill the 1 and 2 stop flights out of Philly.

 

[sam_gordon]

Cripes I think if SW scheduled one NS flight on Tuesday and Wednesday, along with Saturday, from PHL to MCO it would be filled, especially if SW scheduled it at 7a.

I don't think it's that simple. So, ok, the NS flight from PHL to MCO is filled. Now you need to get the plane to PHL. Maybe the issue is crew or airframes. I'm guessing not airframes, but it may be a lack of crew.

 

[Anthony1971]

These issues are not alone to SW But SW just earned the lowest rating for the reasons in this thread. We use to JB a lot and flight times keep changing and luggage issues. This is our last time with them since we accumulated a lot of miles and had a credit for a looooooong delayed bag as in they decided to put one of our bags on the next flight that arrived at 2 something in the afternoon and delivered to our resort at 1:30 AM when it was promised by 7PM then 9PM then.11PM...... We are switching to the airline who has the most flights out of our airport. We are near a Hub for United that has alomost hourly flights so that is who we will be using.

 

[bakerworld]

I don't think it's that simple. So, ok, the NS flight from PHL to MCO is filled. Now you need to get the plane to PHL. Maybe the issue is crew or airframes. I'm guessing not airframes, but it may be a lack of crew.

Why would SW have more crew issues than other airlines that preclude them from offering NS from PHL? Reality is that when their NS is full or non-existent customers will move to the airline that does provide NS service. Why would any airline encourage people to move to their competition? I noticed a few years ago SW tried to steer people to the 1 and 2 stop flights by making them less expensive so it is a definite historical focus. And it may be that they were successful in moving people over to the less expensive connecting flights to the point that their daily NS flights were no longer full. My reality is DH won't fly a connector.

 

[sdoll]

This is going to be my strategy going forward. I had my return flight in July change by 5 minutes and I was allowed to switch to any other flight. I chose one a couple hours earlier that was far more expensive for no charge. My friend moved her flight 3 days later for free.

It can be inconvenient but my goal is to make the changes work to my advantage. An added day of vacation is worth it for me.

 

[DebbieB]

Why would SW have more crew issues than other airlines that preclude them from offering NS from PHL? Reality is that when their NS is full or non-existent customers will move to the airline that does provide NS service. Why would any airline encourage people to move to their competition? I noticed a few years ago SW tried to steer people to the 1 and 2 stop flights by making them less expensive so it is a definite historical focus. And it may be that they were successful in moving people over to the less expensive connecting flights to the point that their daily NS flights were no longer full. My reality is DH won't fly a connector.

The goal is to make profit. If a competitor is driving the fares down, sometimes it’s better to let them have it and put that plane where it can make more money. In this case, the main competitor in PHL is American, it’s a major hub. They can make more money in Baltimore. Looking at today’s schedule, they have 10 non-stops BWI-MCO. Airport costs also figure in.

 

[Sweettears]

The goal is to make profit. If a competitor is driving the fares down, sometimes it’s better to let them have it and put that plane where it can make more money. In this case, the main competitor in PHL is American, it’s a major hub. They can make more money in Baltimore. Looking at today’s schedule, they have 10 non-stops BWI-MCO. Airport costs also figure in.

Just saw an article on CNN that SW is set to make a profit .

 

[sam_gordon]

Why would SW have more crew issues than other airlines that preclude them from offering NS from PHL?

Because they staff differently?

 

[han22735]

It can be inconvenient but my goal is to make the changes work to my advantage. An added day of vacation is worth it for me.

I did the same for my recent flight change. I was forced to arrive a day earlier. LOL