Southwest to buy AirTran

[jynx242]

I love Southwest - their flights are usually really cheap and I used them all the time when I lived in Baltimore...if they served Savannah my life would be a lot easier right now. I'll just keep dreaming.

 

Word! Flying out of Savannah is just expensive, but the alternative of driving to Jacksonville or Atlanta takes extra time and gas and ends up working out. Sucks.

 

David

[Skycoastin Steve]

^ They seem to attract a different clientele for whatever reason (probably price)

 

Truthfully, as someone who checked a bag yesterday for only the first time in about 15 flights, I'd rather have cheaper fares and pay a la carte for other stuff

And at the end of the day, you still get to the same place. I'd like to get there for as little as possible, thank you very much.

 

I guess I'm not as anal retentive as others when it comes to trivial things like where you sit on an airplane.

[Jew]

 

On the business side, one thing that I wonder about is that Southwest has always flown 737s exclusively. Using one type of aircraft minimizes costs because you're only buying and maintaining one type of plane. Air Tran has 737s as well, but they also have a fleet of 717s (which is actually a redesignated MD-8x class aircraft after Boeing bought McDonnell-Douglas). A number of people I know don't like those with their strange 2 + 3 seating arrangement (doesn't concern me personally), and find them to be uncomfortable. I wonder if SouthTran, er, AirWest, er...whatever they'll be called...will eventually end up with an all-737 fleet at some point?

 

Eric

 

Southwest has already said they will fly both the 717's and 737's, and also exercise AirTran's options for 737's. They are also looking at buying the 737-800 now that they have all these extra routes.

[cfc]

I have flown Southwest a couple of times and have no complaints about their service or seating policy. They just haven't been competitive out of southeastern Virginia when it comes to price and availability of flights (at least not for the last couple of years). Maybe buying AirTran will solve this problem. Who knows?

[ginzo]

I guess I'm not as anal retentive as others when it comes to trivial things like where you sit on an airplane.

 

Next time you fly you should volunteer to sit next to the 700-pound guy then. Or in front of the screaming child who incessantly kicks the back of your seat even though you've told him/her to knock it off 10 times. Or the business traveler with 10 carry-on bags smashed up against your legs.

[ParkTrips]

^ Well, truthfully, it would be easier on Southwest to avoid the fatass/kids/whoever by just going to another seat

[ernierocker]

^^I don't think any airline lets you reserve who gets to sit around you.

 

I will be interested to see what kind of rates Knoxville gets from this. Southwest has always been hit of miss for me on their rates. If you HAVE to leave at a certain time/day it is usually not the best airline to fly with. However, if you are flexible with your departure/arrival times, you can usually find a good rate. (At least from my experience)

[chemical_echo]

^^ Not to mention that when seats are assigned, if they put you next to the 700lb guy or in front of the kicking and screaming kid, you're usually SOL since that's the seat the airline gave you.

[Skycoastin Steve]

I guess I'm not as anal retentive as others when it comes to trivial things like where you sit on an airplane.

 

Next time you fly you should volunteer to sit next to the 700-pound guy then. Or in front of the screaming child who incessantly kicks the back of your seat even though you've told him/her to knock it off 10 times. Or the business traveler with 10 carry-on bags smashed up against your legs.

 

I suppose I've been fortunate to not get the shaft on who I've sat next to, but I'm 6'5" so I tend to find smaller people to sit next to if I'm by myself. But I would think that kind of stuff can happen on ANY airline, more so on one with assigned seating. If you aren't assigned to a seat and other seats are still available, you can always move. If you have an assigned seat, sorry bub, but you're stuck.

[QueerRudie]

This merger is a great deal for everybody involved; For AirTran, it means long term strategies for survival against what has become a very competitive market; for Southwest, it adds a large new domestic presence in the central south, as well as 'Flag Status' for international flying.

 

In addition, the B717 fleet will fit in nicely with their growth plans overall, and will allow smaller cities where less capacity is needed to be used. This will be only the second time in Southwest's history that a second type will be used, but the size is just right for filling in the gaps in some markets where a 737NG won't fit well, or where additional frequencies don't demand the capacity of a larger aircraft.

 

It's going to be interesting to see what happens next... as now the bloodbath of the Northeast has a different feel to it.

 

R.D.

(Who just got done with meetings with Southwest, and will be visiting AirTran tommorow in Orlando....)

[Hercules]

As a Southwest fanboy and very frequent traveler, I love this deal.

[astroworldfan1]

The first airplane that I ever stepped foot in belonged to Southwest. It was an enjoyable flight. However, after flying with Delta Airlines, I now prefer them over Southwest.

[Saldek]

^I don't mind flying Delta as long as I don't have to go through Atlanta-Hartsfield!