Southwest Airlines Newest City: PITTSBURGH!

AlphaSigOU · #1 01-06-2005, 12:52 AM

Excerpt of their press release:

Quote:

DALLAS, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To celebrate the New Year, Southwest Airlines announces its newest city -- Pittsburgh! The low fare carrier will arrive in the Steel City in May 2005 to bring Allegheny County area residents its fabled low fare high quality Customer air service. Fares and flight schedules will be announced in early 2005.

"Pittsburgh is a great addition to our system -- this is a great community, a great airport, and a wonderful opportunity for Southwest," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's chief executive officer. "Southwest always strives to be the hometown carrier in each market we serve, and we are thrilled to call Pittsburgh our newest hometown."

lifesaver · #2 01-06-2005, 07:01 AM

Thats actually the sound of the end of US Airways.

Between not being able to compete nationally with SWA, SWA going into Philly, and now Pittsburg, the labor costs they cant cut (they have said they will liquidate if they cant cut labor costs) and the baggage issue (read: blue flu) over the holidays and I'd be suprised if US Airways was still around by Memorial Day. US Airways biggest shareholder (Alabama State Pension Fund) has been threatening to liquidate for the last year. Theyre gonna do it after this. Gurantee it. It will be one of the big news stories of '05.

And all those people will be outta work. Damn.

AGDee · #3 01-06-2005, 07:19 AM

They're 3 months too late for me... I have to fly to Pittsburgh Feb 4-6 and can't get a decent fare.

mmcat · #4 01-06-2005, 08:31 AM

lifesaver...
i fear you are right on. the debacle at xmas showed how vulnerable usa air is. so i guess it's now peanuts all around. at least the drinks are a bit cheaper.

ZTAngel · #5 01-06-2005, 09:12 AM

Now if they'd only add Atlanta to their service cities.....

kddani · #6 01-06-2005, 09:36 AM

I am SO happy about this! US Airways has been such a nightmare for Pittsburgh, and has made it so hard to get decent fares b/c they had such a monopoly. Part of me wants US Airways to go under b/c they've f'ed Pittsburgh pretty badly, but then again they still employ a lot of people here.

jess_pom · #7 01-06-2005, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AGDee
They're 3 months too late for me... I have to fly to Pittsburgh Feb 4-6 and can't get a decent fare.

Check www.flyi.com, I just got an email from them yesterday with a fare sale--$39-$89 one way. Not bad!

WCUgirl · #8 01-06-2005, 10:04 AM

I wish they would come to Charlotte. And Tampa. That would be really convenient for me.

This makes me very nervous about US Air going under. Our flights for our trip to Aruba in March is booked through US Air, so if they can just hang on until then, that would be marvelous! Of course, this time around we opted not to purchase the trip insurance, so I'm sitting here on pins & needles praying I'll still have a vacation in 2 months.

ZTAngel · #9 01-06-2005, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670

This makes me very nervous about US Air going under. Our flights for our trip to Aruba in March is booked through US Air, so if they can just hang on until then, that would be marvelous! Of course, this time around we opted not to purchase the trip insurance, so I'm sitting here on pins & needles praying I'll still have a vacation in 2 months.

I don't know if this is correct but I think if US Air was to go under, they would try to move you over to another airline. About 2 years ago, I flew to San Diego using United and there was talk about how United wasn't going to be around much longer. Someone told me that if United was to go under, my airline tickets would transfer to another airline but this person could've been talking out of their butt. United stuck around so luckily I didn't have to worry.

honeychile · #10 01-06-2005, 10:49 AM

I have WAY too many friends who work for USAirways to wish them out of business - to say nothing of all the dividend miles that I should really think about using!

Besides, the one experience I had with Southwest Airlines was plenty, thank you very much. I can't see fighting for a seat to save $10 on a ticket!

AlphaSigOU · #11 01-06-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
Now if they'd only add Atlanta to their service cities.....

No way in hell Southwest is gonna fly into a 'fortress hub' like ATL. Not unless Delta gives up the ghost, and that's highly unlikely. Plus, ATL would wreck Southwest's famous quick turnaround times.

I wouldn't be surprised if they snuck in service through Atlanta's 'back door' such as Macon or Chattanooga. They already serve Birmingham. People will drive a couple of hundred miles just for the cheap fares.

Gotta hand it to Southwest... their purchase and code-share agreement with American Trans Air finally allows 'em to thumb their noses at the Wright Amendment by codesharing outta DFW.

ZTAngel · #12 01-06-2005, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Plus, ATL would wreck Southwest's famous quick turnaround times.

LOL...sadly, this is true. I've never been to an airport before where I've had so many flights delayed, had to taxi around the airport for 30 minutes, or had to circle the airport for 30 minutes before landing as Hartsfield Jackson. The terminal/concourse set up is great with the tram but that's as far as it goes.

AirTran provides cheap fares from Orlando to Atlanta so I use them. I feel like Delta is in the perpetual game of catch-up with AirTran when it comes to their Orlando-Atlanta route.

docetboy · #13 01-07-2005, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
No way in hell Southwest is gonna fly into a 'fortress hub' like ATL. Not unless Delta gives up the ghost, and that's highly unlikely. Plus, ATL would wreck Southwest's famous quick turnaround times.

I wouldn't be surprised if they snuck in service through Atlanta's 'back door' such as Macon or Chattanooga. They already serve Birmingham. People will drive a couple of hundred miles just for the cheap fares.

Gotta hand it to Southwest... their purchase and code-share agreement with American Trans Air finally allows 'em to thumb their noses at the Wright Amendment by codesharing outta DFW.

What I find interesting is the heavy romancing DFW is giving Southwest now that Delta has dehubbed their operations and left almost an entire terminal empty...

PhoenixAzul · #14 01-07-2005, 12:53 AM

My dad was a ground mechanic for UsAirways...they paid him well, his union rep did his job, and he got good hours. When he got laid off, we were really upset. My boyfriend worked at the airport (staples and then Brookstone) and my cousin continues to work at the airport (at Gap). I'm just glad that there will be something to keep the airport going.

APhi Sailorgirl · #15 01-07-2005, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZTAngel
I don't know if this is correct but I think if US Air was to go under, they would try to move you over to another airline. About 2 years ago, I flew to San Diego using United and there was talk about how United wasn't going to be around much longer. Someone told me that if United was to go under, my airline tickets would transfer to another airline but this person could've been talking out of their butt. United stuck around so luckily I didn't have to worry.

I just bought my spring break tickets through USAir because my dad wanted to used up all his miles from his usair visa (thankfully he's gotten a new credit card).

Both of my parents assure me that even if usair goes under the other airlines will honor the ticket in "some manner." Which means I'll get to my destination eventually.

As for the lower priced airlines, it's making flying more "mainstream." Not that i don't love being able to fly from boston to baltimore or south eastern va to visit pals for $100 round trip.

I dunno, I can still remember being young and getting real food on a plane and the flight was only 2 hours.

but again

that was before it was "mainstream" to fly