And throw in their points redemption cuts and it’s been a really bad week to fly out of MCI unless you’re taking another airline to a hub city
(We’re looking to go to London this summer and oddly enough, the best/cheapest options are through SLC on Delta if we want to splurge for biz class)
Southwest has a better on time arrival and completion rate than any other carrier. By the time everything shakes out they’ll probably offer a similar product to the big 3 since they’re adding premium seating.
I’ll never understand why people bypass a direct flight option solely brand perception. If I’m going from A to B and the only non-stop carrier is Spirit that’s probably what I’m taking (price dependent).
Unless you’re using branded miles find what works best for your schedule and work the problem backwards.
That’s not true though.
They’re also not comparable at all to the big 3 since their “premium seating” they’re adding is essentially just economy plus. There is no first or business class offering coming. Frequent flyers with the big 3 have the potential to be upgraded to an actual premium cabin, and redeem their miles for flights to a wide range of international destinations. Meanwhile a Southwest flyer gets…what, the privilege of an economy plus seat and now a de-valued rewards program that occasionally can get them to the Caribbean or Hawaii?
Delta about a year ago made temporary bases for crew in RDU and TPA that I think are still bases (maybe not but they kept the increased amount of flights). Think they are trying to get some strongholds there. RDU makes sense with CLT being an AA fortress, TPA is somewhat interesting being that MCO is also a Delta hub.
I know AA has a lot of coverage from TPA as well.
Delta also I believe is trying to get some more elbow room in CLT. I know the new expansion had Delta getting 7 of the 10 new gates, plus a sky club.
Sure, cherry picking stats from a single month is fun, what does a whole year of performance show?
But yeah, go off on how Southwest was the most on time carrier for the shortest month of the year… the fact that Spirit shows as 2nd in that ranking might be the tip off that it’s not the best sample size though
That’s just the most recent data, but Southwest is always near the top of the list.
I fly on them all. There’s not any elite stand out.
But they’re not “better,” that’s the point.
So, take a legacy carrier, strip it of all its premium cabins, in flight entertainment, widebody aircraft, hubs, international routes, partner airlines, airport lounges, etc etc, but keep the prices exactly the same. That’s Southwest.
And now one of the only things they held over the legacy carriers and best things about southwest, free bags, is gone.
The only advantage they have now is the unique routes they provide.
I would keep an eye on this too - Breeze Airways is quietly growing very fast doing the same thing Southwest got big doing; utilizing outlier airports in smaller markets. Except they’re offering a friendlier customer experience and affordable business class with a brand new fleet of A220’s. They don’t have the network WN does but I think the boys at Elliot are going to find out they misjudged the situation long term… of course by that time they will have cashed out and left the airline to die, so it won’t really matter.
Not that I’m aware of. It’s still rare for MCI to have direct flights to non-hub cities. I went to CLE recently and had to layover in MDW.
We really only have good flights to hub cities. Was hoping that the new airport would help, but two years later and it doesn’t seem like that is the case.
That’s fair. To be honest I don’t understand how they fill up on the carry on space so often. People are terrified to leave behind their bags.
At least maybe those folks can save a few bucks
more midsize city nonstops would be great. it’s insane that you have to connect somewhere to go to Indy/Cincy/OKC, etc from KC
For the last 20 years, Southwest has operated a hub and spoke system, they just patently refuse to admit that they did.
I grew up 15 minutes from the Islip Airport on Long Island. They basically existed as an airline to cheaply ship families to/from MCO as an alternative for folks not wanting to drive to JFK or LGA.
I think no one is more heartbroken about this than my father who would normally rather die than pay for luggage.
I’ll fly Hawaiian even if it means I have a layover in Ohio.
