These prices aren't helping anything!

I was listening to Clark Howard (syndicated radio consumer issues/money host specializing in travel deals) on the radio today and he announced that AirTran was offering $69 to the Northeast and he was driving from ATL to BHM to catch a SWA Tampa flight for which he payed $29!

$39 after all fees. Thanks to these marketing departments for lowering the BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm not going to speak to what SWA is doing....they seem to have a clue as to what is going on....

BUT!!!.....

$69 fares on AirTran and they are going to furlough/terminate the bottom 177??? Unreal.....

 

How many seats in that market do think are being sold for $29? Now, how many people will hear $29 fares and go to the SWA web site for details?

It's marketing.....and pretty good marketing at that.

 

that loss leader airfare crap was really a boon for SkyBus. Of course, I know your right, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

Just looked at the SWA website and they're still available to over 12 cities. I'm sorry but $29?!? I hoped that crap died with SkyBus!

 

I am not meaning to make anyone angry with this comment, but I think the only thing SWA has a clue about is how to finish off the weak or injuried. What happens when their competition is gone? Are they going to continue to fly people around the country for free; or are they going to frustrate the public by bringing their customers to the reality of what it cost to fly?

To anyone whom is being or about to become furloughed, I honestly wish you all the best. I am teetering on the edge of furlough myself, but I would rather be furloughed than to have my peers take another massive paycut. I would rather come back to something good than to stick with something getting worse.

 

As someone who has already received the "thanks...see ya" notice, I completely agree.

 

No offense, but Air Tran furloughing is like WalMart laying off because they cannot afford to pay a sales clerk $10/hour.

 

Man, you guys kill me. What country do you live in? Oh that's right, the one with a free market economy. Wow, maybe Apple shouldn't lower their prices to take market share from competition. Or all the auto makers could raise their prices....I'm sure everybody would pay them. It's called BUSINESS. Look I hate that anyone, in ANY job gets fired or layed off, but that's business. 15yrs ago the Atlanta falcons couldn't get 20 people to a game. Ticket prices were $50+ a game and the team sucked. What did the new owner do, he came in, lowered ticket prices to $10 bucks a game and started to fill the stadium. The team got better and people were willing to pay MORE for their product and prices went up. Filling airplanes is what makes money for some carriers......once they hit a quota on a flight, seat prices go up. It's not every seat on that flight that is $39. I, for one, want to see people flying.

Once again, hate to see people losing their jobs....skybus included, but in case you hadn't realized, it's not SWA's fault. It's their company's.

 

Do you still want to see people flying in 15 years when you are still at your regional making less money than a high school drop out does. I guess my flight instructor years ago was wrong when he told me at the completion of my CFI ride..."You have now intered a professional field, never charge less that what the job is worth."

 

Yes, but places like SWA don't pimp their employees and treat them like sheeeeeeet in order to offer low fares.