Originally Posted by FahQ2

The problem with your theory is mint is a niche, not a scalable brand game changer. It works on a few key routes where some people want to flex a bit, but put an American 787 first class on the same route for a couple hundred less and I also get lounge access? See ya Blue. Same with the euro routes.

I did a transcon on mint a few months ago coming from over seas on a delayed flight, missed my company jumpseat connect and it was Super Bowl weekend so it was cheaper to fly mint than a hotel in LA. Nice product, but not the wow factor of Emirates or Singapore, but much better than say a Delta 737 first class. There were some real housewives of LA types, a D list comedian, and a well off Asian couple still holding their passports.

I get that there’s a niche LAX to NY and FLL/MIA, and selling out mint makes a boatload, but mint won’t do that on 90-95% of your other routes. It’s a newish thing for a crowd that’s always looking for the next thing.

Meanwhile, there are no shortage of chubby pale midwesterner’s who want to go on a cruise, visit the mouse, or go blow their inheritance or kids college fund in Vegas. They aren’t looking for the next thing, and are happy to do the same trips year after year.

That’s why Vegas is so canned today, they learned the real money wasn’t in staying hip for the young rich singles, but roping in the families spending Disney level money, old farts who are bored, and young people with no taste trying to flex.

The Walmart people will still be taking these flights to cookie cutter vacations long after mint gets phased out.