Quote:
Originally posted by DeltAlum
I wish SW flew to Denver because the lower fares are attractive, and you don't really get great service on any carrier these days.
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This is the biggest myth out there. Generally, SWA is no cheaper than any other airline.
If you have to fly (like Rudy said) with only a few days notice then its 10-15% cheaper than the other carriers. But SWA hasent been the 'low-fare' carrier (with 7+ days booking) since the 90's.
Plus, they dont fly the traditional 'hub and spoke' system, so you have to stop three times between San Antonio and NY. Yes, they are introducting more non-stop flights, but your odds are pretty good that you will have more than one stop if you are flying a longer distance (like I ususally do). So you spend more time traveling. (My friend Beth flew hoem to NYC yesterday from San Antonio via stops in Houston AND Orlando). Is the extra travel time and often destination airport which is less convienient (Islip for NYC) really worth the 15% savings? For me its not. Its a great business model tho. Give people a sense of false savings and they will come flocking. By the time you factor in extra travel time (in the air and at distant airports) you've eaten through any savings... you as the customer just dont realize it because its on 'your dime'. Its just a big scam.
I dont fly expecting great service either. I dont fly southwest because I dont want to fly with the toothless homeless guy with a live chicken on his lap, or the white trash family with 12,341 screaming babies and children in tow. While not a hard and fast rule, some of the non-discount carriers seem to have a better group of travelers onboard.
Rudy, I fly American or Continental and neither one uses tax dollars to pay for its pension.