Southwest going in for the kill.......

[970Flyer]

So a day after Frontier filed Ch. 11, I was watching TV here in the Denver area and out of nowhere I see one of Southwest's commercials advertising discounted rates out of DEN. I haven't seen one of those commercials here in a while. Then today Frontier comes back with a full page ad in the local papers advertising new lower fares to several destinations ($99 to Orlando).

Correct me if I'm off base here, but isn't this one of the reasons the aviation industry got in this mess to begin with? Southwest may be sitting pretty with its fuel hedges today, but time will tell if this statagy works.

I, for one, will NOT fly Southwest out of Denver if I have an option to take Frontier or United. Even if it costs me a few more dollars. I would rather see Frontier get its act together and see Southwest go back to Texas.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by 970Flyer

So a day after Frontier filed Ch. 11, I was watching TV here in the Denver area and out of nowhere I see one of Southwest's commercials advertising discounted rates out of DEN. I haven't seen one of those commercials here in a while. Then today Frontier comes back with a full page ad in the local papers advertising new lower fares to several destinations ($99 to Orlando).

Correct me if I'm off base here, but isn't this one of the reasons the aviation industry got in this mess to begin with? Southwest may be sitting pretty with its fuel hedges today, but time will tell if this statagy works.

I, for one, will NOT fly Southwest out of Denver if I have an option to take Frontier or United. Even if it costs me a few more dollars. I would rather see Frontier get act together and see Southwest go back to Texas.

I agree.

Southwest is one of the major causes for the airline industry turmoil right now. Take your 15 minute turns elsewhere.

[Itchy]

Economic Darwinism.

[FlySooner9]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

Take your 15 minute turns elsewhere.

Why dont other airlines make 15 minute turns as well? I am always amazed whenever im in OKC. I will see 2-4 flights arrive and depart from one southwest gate in the time it takes one flight to arrive and depart at other airlines gates. I agree Southwest has been sitting pretty with their fuel agreement but common, dont be cutting on how hard they work.

[aloft]

Originally Posted by Craig_Davidson

Why dont other airlines make 15 minute turns as well?

Flight crews gotta eat, too.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by aloft

Flight crews gotta eat, too.

Well, a 40 minute turn is not much time to eat either. It is enough time to walk into the airport and purchase something from a place that has a short line. If that food doesn't appeal to you for reasons such as nutrition, then a meal is not an option at that time.

A 12 hour layover after a bunch of airport food breaks, or a 16 hour layover after a productive day?

In most instances I prefer the latter.

[FlySooner9]

plus if life is so bad at SWA as a pilot than why is it one of the most sought after jobs in the airline industry?

[Doug Taylor]

Life at SWA is not bad, pay is good, people seem to be happy.

[Sisson2011]

Another one bites the dust... keep up the good work SWA.

I think that SWA business model is increadable they're doing so good because they have very smart people sitting in their offices that know what they are doing and aren't following the broken paths of the other major airlines.

[970Flyer]

Originally Posted by Sisson2011

Another one bites the dust... keep up the good work SWA.

I think that SWA business model is increadable they're doing so good because they have very smart people sitting in their offices that know what they are doing and aren't following the broken paths of the other major airlines.

Okay... Just step away from the pipe and nobody will get hurt.

[Minuteman]

Originally Posted by 970Flyer

Okay... Just step away from the pipe and nobody will get hurt.

Are you thinking that Alaska, JetBlue, and Virgin America would never swoop in for a piece of the Denver market?

(Sorry Velo, I had to put 'em all in the same list )

[Doug Taylor]

Never say "never" in the airline business, Minute!

Lemme think, my carrier is acquiring/merging/something with NWA ("Oh, that'd NEVER fly!")

And our very own a.netter Max said, "DAL's going to fly to CDG out of SLC!" ("Oh, that'l NEVER happen!")

[mooneyguy]

Yeah...stinkin swa who do they think they are paying their pilots to much money, having a business plan thats MAKING them money!!! idiots! (honestly i dont think the sarcasm tag is nes., but then again)

[stuckingfk]

Originally Posted by 970Flyer

Okay... Just step away from the pipe and nobody will get hurt.

So what's the problem with SWA?

• They make money
• Smart people running the company
• Branded themselves as the lower cost when sometimes they're not
• Aren't on the orbitz, travelocity, expedias for a reason

[JoeBlow]

It's the culture. There's more to working for a company than showing up to collect a paycheck. Culture is the most difficult for competitors to emulate. Southwest’s sustainable competitive advantage is not just its fuel hedging; it’s first and foremost its culture and the people they choose to hire that will help sustain the culture. Running a business is all about sustainable competitive advantage, which is doing something that your competitors can’t easily copy. You can’t just copy culture. Culture starts and is maintained at the top, a top-down approach. Throughout the years when Kelleher was at the helm he was able to sustain a culture that has been admired by many within and outside the aviation industry, one that has always been replicated but never duplicated. Kelleher created Southwest’s culture from the beginning and many leaders within the company have been there since inception. Business schools use case studies on Southwest Airlines to teach corporate culture because they have been very successful in one of the most challenging and volatile industries.

Here are some things to think about that relate to the current aviation industry. Professor Charles O’Reilly of Stanford Business School discussed some great topics during a Stanford Executive Briefing. He conducted research for a new book that he had written and presented his findings at this event: How great companies achieve great results with ordinary people. His research was focused on how companies try to win the war for talent by hiring the best and brightest people. He points out how it’s best to focus on developing the people you have and how great companies achieve great results with ordinary people.

“What sounds right isn’t necessarily true. Industry by itself is not that important.
Industry growth rates are unrelated to a company’s creation of shareholder value.”

“There is NO correlation between industry growth rate and the growth rate for individual companies within the industry.”

“There is no evidence to support that size by itself adds value. There is no guarantee that simply being large will make the company successful.”

[falconvalley]

Yeah, something psychedelic must be emitting from SWA. Everytime I'm near a gate or on a plane, I notice the happiness of the employees and they always try to help me get from point A to point B, even when there seems to be no seats available. I don't get that as much from any other airline.

[cfii2007]

Like the poster above stated, Southwest has a corporate culture of service and hiring people with a certain attitude. They are an extremely efficient, well run company.

Being profitable for 30+ years isn't luck with these people, its a solid business plan adhering to principles that work.

[MQAAord]

SWA has proven they can run a good operation. I won't hurl any insults their way.

Contrary to popular belief, they do not always have the lowest fare. But, they have a skilled marketing department that leads one to believe they do! Hey, that's marketing! If you want the lowest price, you gotta shop around and compare, if you just buy SWA because it's "the low fare airline!" you may not always actually get the lowest price from point A to point B.

And as for predatory pricing, how about what AMR did to Legend at DAL?

[frog_flyer]

I look forward to their hedges running out. They'll have to raise fares and everyone will follow.

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by MQAAord

And as for predatory pricing, how about what AMR did to Legend at DAL?

The BS litigation did most of the work.

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Never say "never" in the airline business, Minute!

Lemme think, my carrier is acquiring/merging/something with NWA ("Oh, that'd NEVER fly!")

And our very own a.netter Max said, "DAL's going to fly to CDG out of SLC!" ("Oh, that'l NEVER happen!")

I remember that thead!, Wow who wuda thought?

Aviation on a whole is a roller coaster that you cannot see!

[bLizZuE]

It's business. Not about people, it's about money and making more of it.

I have supported SWA in the past, and will continue to in the future.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Never say "never" in the airline business, Minute!

Lemme think, my carrier is acquiring/merging/something with NWA ("Oh, that'd NEVER fly!")

And our very own a.netter Max said, "DAL's going to fly to CDG out of SLC!" ("Oh, that'l NEVER happen!")

DING! That's me!

[mpenguin1]

Originally Posted by 970Flyer

So a day after Frontier filed Ch. 11, I was watching TV here in the Denver area and out of nowhere I see one of Southwest's commercials advertising discounted rates out of DEN. I haven't seen one of those commercials here in a while. Then today Frontier comes back with a full page ad in the local papers advertising new lower fares to several destinations ($99 to Orlando).

Correct me if I'm off base here, but isn't this one of the reasons the aviation industry got in this mess to begin with? Southwest may be sitting pretty with its fuel hedges today, but time will tell if this statagy works.

I, for one, will NOT fly Southwest out of Denver if I have an option to take Frontier or United. Even if it costs me a few more dollars. I would rather see Frontier get its act together and see Southwest go back to Texas.

30 years of making a profit, Southwest must be doing something right

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

DING! That's me!

Nope, Sorry! Your name is Matthew