Third Year Running
12-30-2023, 07:46 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by dracir1
SW marketed cheaper fares at full service with an emphasis on their rewards programs which happened to be popular to business travelers. They didn't mostly TARGET business travelers specifically vs others. Their emphasis started out being a cheaper ticket with quality (albeit sometimes comical/quirky) customer service - via an appreciation of its employees. They also had lower overhead/costs in smaller airports (Dallas and Houston) as well as a more efficient fleet than the traditional fleets of the 70s. It was further assisted by wise business decisions like fuel hedging and paying labor less (but with substantially improved benefits packages - like friends and family discounts, etc.)
12-30-2023, 07:59 PM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by tallpilot
They achieved cost savings through productivity not by eliminating or charging for service options.
01-01-2024, 05:38 PM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Lineholder
Posts: 1,356
Originally Posted by Brickhut
I'm not sure which airline you're describing, but it isn't Southwest. You say they "marketed cheaper fares at full service". Full service? From the airline that only offered peanuts for the first 40 years of its existance (and only offeres three total snack selections today)? It was literally formed as a commuter airline to serve the Texas Triangle- Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, and did only that for it's first four years of service. The full service airline that has never had advance seat assignments? "Emphasis on their rewards program". A rewards program (The Company Club) that wasn't introduced until halfway through 1987, a full 16 years after their inception? A"cheaper ticket with quality"? This airline was founded on the "No Frills" ideology. Full Service and Southwest Airlines have zero business commingling.
The point of my post is that SW as a LCC developed a fairly loyal customer base and kept them despite all the eb and flow of the times (9/11, housing crisis, covid, etc.) via GOOD customer service, quirkly/comedic announcements and appealing to a niche market that grew in popularity and size. It appears that even since they aren't really low cost anymore, they ARE focused on keeping and growing their customre base. ULCCs of today are NOT concerned with that and is why they are starting to fail.
01-07-2024, 06:01 AM
#34
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2021
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by dracir1
Every airline has an origin. SW started in Tx as you mentioned. And it was a LOW COST CARRIER - that's not really debateable. I flew SW back then. Most other airlines only offered peanuts and drinks as well in coach. I guess I should've mentioned full service for MOST of America that wasn't so uppity it could afford a meal on a plane. Advanced seat assignments came in the form of checking in earlier than others. It isn't completely random. Back then, airlines used to board from the back forward for time saving purposes. The evolution of customer service changed that as well as the advent of rewards programs (which didn't start until 1981 - AA and UA had been in existence for FAR LONGER than 16 years before they offered theirs). SW started theirs as their popularity grew (particularly outside of Texas) and as their route structure grew - the airline wasn't really large enough to offer a rewards program back when they started.
The point of my post is that SW as a LCC developed a fairly loyal customer base and kept them despite all the eb and flow of the times (9/11, housing crisis, covid, etc.) via GOOD customer service, quirkly/comedic announcements and appealing to a niche market that grew in popularity and size. It appears that even since they aren't really low cost anymore, they ARE focused on keeping and growing their customre base. ULCCs of today are NOT concerned with that and is why they are starting to fail.
The point of my post is that SW as a LCC developed a fairly loyal customer base and kept them despite all the eb and flow of the times (9/11, housing crisis, covid, etc.) via GOOD customer service, quirkly/comedic announcements and appealing to a niche market that grew in popularity and size. It appears that even since they aren't really low cost anymore, they ARE focused on keeping and growing their customre base. ULCCs of today are NOT concerned with that and is why they are starting to fail.
Post pandemic, customer service took even a worse dive. I'd arrive 45 min early, and while waiting for a gate, watch other F9 planes push back with connecting pax still on my plane. The constant delays, angry pax, law enforcement at gate etc etc. As pilots we are a proud bunch. But we are also the face of the company, and it's hard to put the game face on, when grandma just got hit with a $100 bag fee at the gate. Saw a kid about to get hit with a bag fee, and the dad pulled out a sweater from inside the backpack and had the kid wear it (then the bag was ok). F9 was supposed to be my forever airline, but I couldn't in my right conscience be a part of the atrocity. As did many others senior to me. At the end of the day, our own families and friends fly or non rev on F9, and get a front row seat to the ******* show.
I love my colleagues at F9. Seriously a good group of people that deserve to be treated, compensated and respected way more. I took a stance and left. Everyone has a different situation in life and that call is not easy to make. When I left, the talk at that time was how the recession is gonna sink the industry etc etc. The only thing that has sunk further since I left is F9, sadly. Words are free. F9 mgmt uses words so well, affecting so many.
To be clear, I still think this place can be great, but lots need to happen. Announcing 10 routes while secretly cutting 15 is getting old, people will catch on. Stock price reflects reality and so do the rankings. No amount of words can fix that, only action can. And with contract negotiations, that's a while different can of worms. Good luck to everyone at F9. Love you guys, and you deserve nothing but the absolute best, and I'm always rooting for you.
01-07-2024, 09:51 AM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Lineholder
Posts: 1,356
Originally Posted by Chocolatemoose
I left F9 after almost 4 years. I remember when I interviewed, the energy was high. Morale was high. People were proud that F9 makes it affordable to anyone to travel. A family can now afford to take a trip somewhere, grandma can travel etc etc. Your job is secure in economic climate.. covid hit soon after and the real face of F9 showed. WARN notice.. some say F9 sent out more WARN notices as a percentage of the total pilot group than anyone else. That made me realize that I may have had a bit more cool aid. When they said the company thrives in the bad economic times, there's a tradeoff. Luckily senior guys took enough COLAs to save me, but the sting remained.
Post pandemic, customer service took even a worse dive. I'd arrive 45 min early, and while waiting for a gate, watch other F9 planes push back with connecting pax still on my plane. The constant delays, angry pax, law enforcement at gate etc etc. As pilots we are a proud bunch. But we are also the face of the company, and it's hard to put the game face on, when grandma just got hit with a $100 bag fee at the gate. Saw a kid about to get hit with a bag fee, and the dad pulled out a sweater from inside the backpack and had the kid wear it (then the bag was ok). F9 was supposed to be my forever airline, but I couldn't in my right conscience be a part of the atrocity. As did many others senior to me. At the end of the day, our own families and friends fly or non rev on F9, and get a front row seat to the ******* show.
I love my colleagues at F9. Seriously a good group of people that deserve to be treated, compensated and respected way more. I took a stance and left. Everyone has a different situation in life and that call is not easy to make. When I left, the talk at that time was how the recession is gonna sink the industry etc etc. The only thing that has sunk further since I left is F9, sadly. Words are free. F9 mgmt uses words so well, affecting so many.
To be clear, I still think this place can be great, but lots need to happen. Announcing 10 routes while secretly cutting 15 is getting old, people will catch on. Stock price reflects reality and so do the rankings. No amount of words can fix that, only action can. And with contract negotiations, that's a while different can of worms. Good luck to everyone at F9. Love you guys, and you deserve nothing but the absolute best, and I'm always rooting for you.
Post pandemic, customer service took even a worse dive. I'd arrive 45 min early, and while waiting for a gate, watch other F9 planes push back with connecting pax still on my plane. The constant delays, angry pax, law enforcement at gate etc etc. As pilots we are a proud bunch. But we are also the face of the company, and it's hard to put the game face on, when grandma just got hit with a $100 bag fee at the gate. Saw a kid about to get hit with a bag fee, and the dad pulled out a sweater from inside the backpack and had the kid wear it (then the bag was ok). F9 was supposed to be my forever airline, but I couldn't in my right conscience be a part of the atrocity. As did many others senior to me. At the end of the day, our own families and friends fly or non rev on F9, and get a front row seat to the ******* show.
I love my colleagues at F9. Seriously a good group of people that deserve to be treated, compensated and respected way more. I took a stance and left. Everyone has a different situation in life and that call is not easy to make. When I left, the talk at that time was how the recession is gonna sink the industry etc etc. The only thing that has sunk further since I left is F9, sadly. Words are free. F9 mgmt uses words so well, affecting so many.
To be clear, I still think this place can be great, but lots need to happen. Announcing 10 routes while secretly cutting 15 is getting old, people will catch on. Stock price reflects reality and so do the rankings. No amount of words can fix that, only action can. And with contract negotiations, that's a while different can of worms. Good luck to everyone at F9. Love you guys, and you deserve nothing but the absolute best, and I'm always rooting for you.
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