I have been a SWA RR member for a long time. But as an old man, I have learned to look at life from both sides (sometime multiple sides). As the customer, I think that SWA must have known that this was going to disappoint people who have been members for a long time and take the time to study what information is available online at this time. The cost for the vast majority of flights is many times higher than the old program. Having said that looking at it from the SWA side, it must have been clear to the "bean counters" in Texas that the old program was costing way too much. So, we must have been getting a fantastic deal. No business can be successful if the plan "gives the farm away instead of selling the farm".
So, to the person who "is selling their stock" ... I say you are not making a very wise choice but one from emotion. If LUV is going to become a more profitable company they will be sharing those profits with the stockholders. My guess is that you aren't one, just angry, hurt and mad at them right now.
But with all of the changes to the program that will certainly result in a huge cost savings to SWA, ask yourself, why have flight attendants been very happy to tell me.... " I am getting a big raise because of the Air Tran deal". I am sure that SWA is not happy to hear that the information is being shared. Many travelers can still put 2 and 2 together and get the correct answer. I am not saying the workers are not worthy of an increase, but is it that they have to match pay at Air Tran? Does this mean that they were working for "peanuts" before? (pun intended) You know of course where the money for these raises will have to come from... That's right the US Post Office... all of those air mail letters they carry. They would never ask the paying public to cover the pay raises, right?
The airline business is very tough and has been for years. I flew from Indianapolis, IN to Orlando, FL in 1967 for $150.00 one way, that year school teachers were earning around $4,000.00 a year. Today in south Florida, starting teachers earn $40,000 a year. Picking a random day in March of 2011 you can go to from Indy to Orlando for $77.00. (Hmm 10 times increase in teacher pay, almost 50%cut in cost of flight ) I know not all of the flights come out the same. For example, Nashville to Fort Lauderdale is 166.00 same time in 2011 and it is much shorter than IND to MCO but over double the cost. But, for those of you who like puzzles check this out. Fly FLL to BNA March 10. $166.00. Book FLL to DTW (Detroit) pick the flight with one stop and a change of plane in Nashville. $89.00. A second plane much longer trip, more fuel almost half the price, what is wrong with this picture? I guess I should not check bags and skip the connector. But there is probably some FAA rule or something that will get me in dutch with someone.
I don't like the new program but remember the saying... "all good things must come to an end." Keep smiling and try to keep an open mind. Of course, if you don't like the radio station hit the scan button, if you are not happy on the plane; they tell us at the end of most flights "we know you have a choice...."
Southwest has the problem that most companies have. Scaling the business and keeping it the customer experience at the same level as when they were much smaller. Easy to say in a quarterly / yearly meeting but very, very hard to do. I have been watching Southwest take a downward slide for the last 10 years in many areas. Some of them I feel are dollar driven some of them are people driven. It has been slow but steady. In contrast look at the other airlines, they have not been moving up the ladder. SWA is just sliding down to meet them. I don't intend to place fault it is just a matter of what happens in a business when you grow it so much. Any one of you who run a business know that getting an keeping quality people is the number one challenge in the this country right now. Southwest is not immune to this.
Lastly, (if anyone is still reading this novel), if the people who have the job of selling this "all-new" program where under the "Pinocchio" spell, I think their noses would be around 5 foot long by now. Mr. Green Senior Director writes 1/6/11 "best of all we listened" and " and we truly believe that we have taken an award-winning program and made it even better". Sorry Mr Green really ... made it better..... that dog just won't hunt with long time members. I wonder if Mr. Green is still listening. I bet he is and I will also bet that he could have written all of these posts ahead of time, weeks ago. (of course this one he would have punched out in 50 words) Lawyers don't ask questions in court that they don't know the answer to and senior staff at large corporations know where the weaknesses are and where they can sell the strengths. SWA will be tracking the data carefully and consider changes but don't expect the new baby to be thrown out with the bath water here.
It is a scientific fact that if you put 10 beautiful women in a line, one of them is the ugliest. Line up 10 airlines each of you pick the best one. Good luck.
If you are wondering, (I doubt that anyone is) look for me on board SWA for now. The slide has not gotten down the the others level yet. I am not as happy as I once was but everything changes nothing stays the same... for very long. Back in the 90's SWA made fares low enough that a school teacher and a nurse were able to take their two daughters on flights to many destinations and made it possible for the girls to have visited the lower 48 before either graduated high school. And for that I am very thankful and will remain loyal to them.
Best wishes to all for a "happy landing" where ever and with whom ever you fly.
Tom of
Sunny South Florida and
places where I am allowed to park my camper.
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