ULCC Model in the U.S.
#162
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: 1900D CA
Posts: 3,395
I was happily sitting at Frontier but wanting to see how the ULCC model survived a downturn. Covid was obviously way worse than I ever expected but Frontier and Spirit seem to have survived better than the big boys.
I'm obviously staying at Frontier now!
#164
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2020
Posts: 407
And now Uncle Sam is still writing payroll support checks, which Spirit is gladly accepting, and using to fuel our growth. Not a bad deal for Spirit. PSP2 covered Spirit’s losses for the upcoming quarter, total losses. So it’s not even payroll support, it’s “total losses support”, allowing Spirit to tap into their proportionally ample cash reserves for growth.
Thanks Gov’ment for that cheese
Thanks Gov’ment for that cheese
#165
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,735
There is definitely room for Spirit to grow their market share. However, I do think their growth can only go so far. Don’t take this next comment personally as it has zero to do with the pilots: A lot of people out there hate spirit and will pay more to not fly on them. Just saying. But I agree they will make ground on those customers who chose the basic economy on legacies and those trying to save a buck.
#166
The biggest gripe I get from people when they find out that I fly for Frontier (and the same holds for Spirit complaints) is lack of flight frequency and the “nickel and dime” pricing. The first will likely be solved in time as both airlines grow. Neither will ever have legacy level six flight per day between city pairs, but even twice a day to popular locations could ease some passenger apprehension. The latter is a complaint that I’ve been hearing less and less. I do believe people are starting to understand that it’s a “pay for what you use” model, not a “milk the passenger” model. Why be forced to pay for an appetizer if you don’t want, or plan to eat, the appetizer when you go to a restaurant? Many people will eventually realize that bags don’t ever fly for free, just as they began to understand that “More direct flights than any other airline” does not mean “More nonstop flights...”.
#167
The biggest gripe I get from people when they find out that I fly for Frontier (and the same holds for Spirit complaints) is lack of flight frequency and the “nickel and dime” pricing. The first will likely be solved in time as both airlines grow. Neither will ever have legacy level six flight per day between city pairs, but even twice a day to popular locations could ease some passenger apprehension. The latter is a complaint that I’ve been hearing less and less.
#168
That/It/Thang
Joined APC: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,848
There is definitely room for Spirit to grow their market share. However, I do think their growth can only go so far. Don’t take this next comment personally as it has zero to do with the pilots: A lot of people out there hate spirit and will pay more to not fly on them. Just saying. But I agree they will make ground on those customers who chose the basic economy on legacies and those trying to save a buck.
same issues. Luckily for Spirit, 2/3 of the legacy carriers usually sit DFL in performance and overall ratings. So any apprehension some people might have about the product can be solved based on the more expensive Legacy alternative who will get you there with less reliable and in the same uncomfortable seat, just for more money.
#169
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2020
Posts: 407
That’s a very good point and a metric I didn’t consider.
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