He doesn’t get the only reason the airlines exist is for the credit cards. The psychological effect the points game has on consumers is baffling. Without the CC points system we wouldn’t have the same system at all.

Delta made 2 billion dollars just on credit card revenue q1 2025

2 billion. Paid to them by Amex. Amex revenue was 17 billion q1 2025.

there are people who’s sole job is selling how to maximize the points game to consumers.


scale is the only way to be successful. And not hiring **** gate agents.

 

This is exactly the problem with the industry at the moment. After years of consolidation all the small players have effectively been boxed out. The only way for smaller players to become legit competitors now is to scale up so they can play the CC game. You can’t play the CC game without scale and you can’t legitimately compete if you aren’t in the CC game. AA may have a few unprofitable quarters but no matter how poorly they are run they aren’t going anywhere. There is potentially a narrow path for NK or even SWA to take where they provide a slightly trimmed down version of what the legacies offer with good customer service and reliability. For SWA this shouldn’t be too difficult as they already have scale, they just need to tweak the product. For NK the big challenge here is executing the pivot while simultaneously finding a dance partner so they can scale and start legitimately trying to play the CC game.

 

NK already has a CC partnership. It’s not successful because no one wants the CC since makes the consumer feel like they have to commit to the airline. They don’t like the product, they just want to get where they need to go for cheap. Which brings us back to product and operation. The two things that NK (or any ULCC for that matter) doesn’t do well because the model doesn’t allow for it (cost).

CC partnerships are only as successful as the airline it partnered with.

 

Well yes… kind of. Nobody wants the product NOW because the legacies all decided to offer the same product on their large network. I know, I know… it’s not the “same” because they get a microscopic bag of pretzels and a free drink. Doesn’t matter at this point. The ULCC model is gone. The legacies were able to do it better and undercut the cost advantage by offsetting basic economy ticket prices with all their other revenue streams. We’re in a new world now. The ULCC’s are pivoting to a trimmed down photo copied version of what the legacies offer. The question is will they be allowed to scale or will the A4A use their political influence to strangle them in the crib before they’re allowed to consolidate and compete.

 

I haven't been providing context? I just hope to god we don't end up merging with Frontier. Yuck.

 

It’s a character building airline.

 

Thats the million dollar question in which only time can answer. The model would need a huge overhaul to be competitive. It’s not just some pretzels and a drink. FAs need to be nicer, wifi has to actually work, increase staffing, etc..

I think companies like NK and F9 are going to be fine in the long run. They’ll figure it out and there’s always people wanting to travel to secondary markets. It’ll just take time, unfortunately

 

Hello? It makes me nervous when pilots stop gossiping. Maybe everyone heard something I did not and I’ll find out on payday…

 

Nah… this place has been fueled by the “you guys are going to liquidate” crowd for months now and I think they finally tired themselves out and went away. It’s still fairly easy to summon FriendlyPilot if you’re really bored but I don’t recommend it.

 

Don’t forget about virtue signaler in chief slowmoflyer. He’s been busy with the Middle East stuff last couple of days; but he sends his hopes and aspirations our way. Just a lol gimp. Spirit is being chased by several horny airlines, one of which(Frontier) is basically Ted Bundy.

Q