Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Southwest comes to New York. Eventually.
It looks like Southwest, the low cost carrier that grew to enormous proportions based on a strategy of using under-utilized secondary airports is now poised to fully crack the New York City market sometime next year.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Southwest is buying the operating certificate and gates and slots of now defunct ATA Airlines for 7+ million dollars. This will allow Southwest to fly 7 flights a day in and out of New York City proper. Currently, the airline has operations out of Islip on Long Island, but does not fly out of any of the major airports in the New York area. When these flights will start isn't exactly clear. The current slots are leased to AirTran Airways and will be in use through at least sometime in 2009, unless Southwest can buy out those leases earlier.
Also, Southwest is purchasing ATA's operating certificate which may allow Southwest to begin international operations to Mexico and the Caribbean, something that ATA once did and that Southwest is looking into. It makes a lot of sense, and as Brett at Cranky Flier guesses, it is probably great for Chicago bound travelers as it the most likely primary destination for those flights. (It might however come at the expense of Delta's increased LGA-Chicago Midway operation)
According to the Houston Chronicle, Southwest is buying the operating certificate and gates and slots of now defunct ATA Airlines for 7+ million dollars. This will allow Southwest to fly 7 flights a day in and out of New York City proper. Currently, the airline has operations out of Islip on Long Island, but does not fly out of any of the major airports in the New York area. When these flights will start isn't exactly clear. The current slots are leased to AirTran Airways and will be in use through at least sometime in 2009, unless Southwest can buy out those leases earlier.
Also, Southwest is purchasing ATA's operating certificate which may allow Southwest to begin international operations to Mexico and the Caribbean, something that ATA once did and that Southwest is looking into. It makes a lot of sense, and as Brett at Cranky Flier guesses, it is probably great for Chicago bound travelers as it the most likely primary destination for those flights. (It might however come at the expense of Delta's increased LGA-Chicago Midway operation)
Labels: AirTran, ata, lga, new york, new york city, southwest, travel
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Delta finally caves, charges for first checked bag.
For months, Delta stood alone. The last of the legacy carriers to allow passengers to check a bag has finally caved to peer pressure, however, and effective December 5, this policy is no more. Starting next month, any Delta passenger checking a bag will be charged $15 for that first bag checked on a domestic flight. (First Class and Elite frequent fliers are exempt.) However, the new baggage policy and other fee announcements aren't bad news for everyone.
In fact, if you normally check two bags? It's now cheaper to do so on Delta. Instead of charging a fee for each bag, Delta charged a relatively high $50 fee for the second bag checked, inconveniencing roughly 20-25% of passengers who check bags instead of everyone. By spreading the pain around, the second checked bag fee is now going to be $25 instead of $50. Net savings if you pack heavy? Ten bucks.
This does now leave just JetBlue, Southwest and AirTran as the only major domestic airlines to allow free checked bags aboard. Although AirTran may soon change their policy as well.
This doesn't seem to be chiefly motivated by fuel costs, but instead more about normalizing fees across Delta and its soon to be absorbed partner, Northwest which became a part of Delta last month. And although the headline is bad for the consumer, there are other fees which were actually reduced as well. No more $3 charge for curbside check-in, and reduced fees to use a Delta reservation agent instead of their website, dropping from $25 to $20. Also fuel surcharges on frequent flier award tickets are to get the ax as well.
In the end, its mixed news, and mostly negative news at that for the casual flier. But for the frequent flier, in the end it may actually end up a net positive, believe it or not.
In fact, if you normally check two bags? It's now cheaper to do so on Delta. Instead of charging a fee for each bag, Delta charged a relatively high $50 fee for the second bag checked, inconveniencing roughly 20-25% of passengers who check bags instead of everyone. By spreading the pain around, the second checked bag fee is now going to be $25 instead of $50. Net savings if you pack heavy? Ten bucks.
This does now leave just JetBlue, Southwest and AirTran as the only major domestic airlines to allow free checked bags aboard. Although AirTran may soon change their policy as well.
This doesn't seem to be chiefly motivated by fuel costs, but instead more about normalizing fees across Delta and its soon to be absorbed partner, Northwest which became a part of Delta last month. And although the headline is bad for the consumer, there are other fees which were actually reduced as well. No more $3 charge for curbside check-in, and reduced fees to use a Delta reservation agent instead of their website, dropping from $25 to $20. Also fuel surcharges on frequent flier award tickets are to get the ax as well.
In the end, its mixed news, and mostly negative news at that for the casual flier. But for the frequent flier, in the end it may actually end up a net positive, believe it or not.
