Yay! Bring on the -800!
One more fun thing for Schedule Planning to optimize for... I love operations management. 🙂
... View more
This better not be an april fool's joke!! 🙂 And agreed, you would get much more demand from a May 3-4 launch... but you might not get correct sales reads, which I'm sure you're trying to do 🙂
... View more
I've had a few days to calm down about this (okay, it really didn't affect me that much, I do have more important things to think about), but I agree with Mark DC on limiting the # of EarlyBirds per flight to some statistically determined number just like they do for Business Select. That way, you KNOW what you're buying with your $10, and then let the customer know what boarding number they're buying, or at least let the customer know that the # is limited, so the value proposition is more defined and you'll have a steady response to the initiative.
I'd go for that. And I'd probably pay $10 for the privilege.
... View more
@Anonymous 14:43 - I fly SFO-SAN as my most frequent route, taking usually 12-14 trips per year. VX and WN are usually price matched on this route and VX's promo coupons through their marketing partners are tipping the balance these days. This is a comment that is unique to my current situation and it may not apply to those who travel coast-to-coast, the BWI-LAS example was simply an example. And yes, I can deal with having a non-exit-row seat for 1.5 hours (length of flight from SFO-SAN), but that's besides the point.
What I'm really trying to say is that WN risks alienating their in-between customers like me, who fly frequently enough but not enough to reap the benefits of A-list, and I don't fly on my company's dime so Business Select is not an option. Those customers like me, who have flown WN for their consistently low fares now have other options through VX and the like and it is still those paying customers that contribute to the overall revenue of WN.
... View more
I've been a WN fan for many years, as a semi-frequent flyer and I feel like this is the final nail in the coffin. VX flies all the routes that I frequently take on WN, and all I have to do is not check bags and I'm at the same price.
A-list got me upset because I was only semi-frequent and I would often get to 70% for A-list, but never make it. Now, EarlyBird makes it even less likely that I'll get my coveted exit row seat, especially for long flights like BWI-LAS.
I feel like if I'm paying for the privilege, I should be prioritized ahead of A-listers. I'd pay $20 for that, to **guarantee** I get the seat I want. Legacy airlines charge $20 for those seats. $10 for barely a chance at it seems like a waste. But if you don't pay it, say goodbye to bin space and aisle/window seats. One fair way to do this would be to change A-list to be in the same lottery as EarlyBird people... but then they'd cry too.
WN's attempt at an additional $10 of revenue from me per flight has most likely reduced WN's revenue by several thousand dollars because I doubt I'd fly WN by choice now. It seems like WN has forgotten about those who aren't business travelers but still pay fares that allow the average flight to make a profit. It takes 7 passengers on average to break even, and now you're down to 6.
... View more
07-08-2009
12:42 PM
13 Loves
Wow, autothrottle on SWA, never thought it would happen. The prevailing attitude as of a few years ago is that once you stop manipulating the throttle (aka start using autothrottle) you're no longer as in tune with the aircraft as you would be if you were manipulating the throttle. I always made the argument that you could save tons of fuel (think of autothrottle as "cruise control") with a/t, however all the pilots I spoke to gave me the same "you're not really flying the plane" line. Guess things changed with fuel prices soaring! 🙂
... View more
Great Job! I look forward to seeing recycling onboard as it pains me to see that much aluminum and plastic mixed in with regular trash.
... View more
Southwest's culture and philosophy revolves on treating everyone, employees and customers equally. Automated programs like BoardFirst go completely against that philosophy and also most likely violate the SWA Website terms of service. I think that they definitely should shut down those sites both by litigation and by technical blocks such as image/word systems that sites like ticketmaster use to deter automated programs.
... View more
