Originally Posted by
gloopy
I agree that widebodies are better all things equal. Maybe this is cherry picking, but I checked a couple random dates for DL-One vs Mint for trips on the same days and JB was well under half the cost. They don't have to strike revenue gold and out generate existing revenue; all they have to do is reduce yields and dump capacity enough to survive and they win simply by taking existing marketshare. Ignoring them out of an overconfidence about widebodies is a mistake. If they are poaching any premium pax whatsoever (and they clearly are) they are draining legacy airline's most valueable source of revenue and profits. Soon it will be tens of thousands of lay flat seats a year and growing. These aren't $49 cruise ship connection super savers; this is a direct attack on the crown jewels of revenue generation and ignoring it because its "just one flight" or "just two flights" etc will prove to be a complete blunder. This is a serious challenge that will grow significantly going forward. Airlines will either spend the money to deal with it now or they will inherit a far more costly battle long term.
I wouldn’t worry about it. Everyone wants to make money, and no one thinks they’re gonna price dump anyone out of a market. The apple is big enough for everyone to have a bite.
They buy credit card statistic data. JB and Delta both know how many sales they loose to each other, which routes, how far, and and at what price point. They know based on credit card zip codes how many passengers drive past EWR to fly JFK, and vis versa. They know how long you were on your computer before you pulled the trigger, which site you switched from and switch site you went to after.
Every employee I’ve ever met would spend more of their company’s dollars to gain Skymiles for personal travel.
Delta may loose some passengers that always fly JB, but previously couldn’t to Europe. Maybe they’ll gain a few British travelers who price shop and can deal with the connectivity JB can give them to US.