Southwest to return to Denver

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10-21-2005, 08:46 AM
The AD

Southwest to return to Denver

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/10/21....ap/index.html
10-21-2005, 08:56 AM
smmokan

Could this mean cheap flights to Reno? Damn this is good news.
10-21-2005, 09:01 AM
mrryde

This is good news
10-21-2005, 09:16 AM
jump

This news pleases me greatly! Now if they just update their planes a little bit life will be good.
10-21-2005, 09:25 AM
The AD

Update their planes? Christ, they're buying more new airplanes than any other airline, I suspect. Yeah, they've still got some old ones flying but your odds are pretty good of flying in a 737 less than five years old. I think all their planes also have leather seats now, too.
10-21-2005, 09:31 AM
AjaxWSP

Pleather seats maybe......def not leather

Ajax
10-21-2005, 10:02 AM
The AD

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjaxWSP

Pleather seats maybe......def not leather

Yes, leather. This was basically a response to Jet Blue having all leather seats in their airplanes.

"2001
Southwest Airlines begins new service to West Palm Beach, Florida on January 22 and to Norfolk, Virginia on October 8. On June 18, Southwest officially turns 30 years old and marks the milestone with the unveiling of Spirit One. To celebrate the past and the future, all Boeing 737 deliveries will be in the new "Canyon Blue" exterior color scheme with an all leather seating configuration. The existing fleet will be retrofitted over time into the new livery."

http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html
10-21-2005, 10:09 AM
smmokan

Who gives a shit about leather? When you're hot, leather seats are the worst to sit on. As long as they get me there on time, I don't give a fuck.
10-21-2005, 10:24 AM
Big E

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd Christmas

Who gives a shit about leather? When you're hot, leather seats are the worst to sit on. As long as they get me there on time, I don't give a fuck.

With the exception of a return flight I had last week, Southwest has always had far better on-time performance than anyone else. The trip out last week, I landed 20 minutes early!
10-21-2005, 10:26 AM
Arty50

This is awesome news. Flights to Denver are recockulously expensive. The majors are insane. They're offering $800 flights from the states to Argentina, but it costs $400-500 to fly into Denver. Someone please tell me how this makes sense? It doesn't. It's fucking stupid. Although I don't mind being subsidized on my way to Las Lenas, the further you fly, the more you should pay.

As for Southwest, I fly with them a lot. They're awesome.
10-21-2005, 02:52 PM
meatdrink9

Hell yes!!
10-21-2005, 03:04 PM
Lurch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arty50

This is awesome news. Flights to Denver are recockulously expensive. The majors are insane. They're offering $800 flights from the states to Argentina, but it costs $400-500 to fly into Denver. Someone please tell me how this makes sense? It doesn't. It's fucking stupid. Although I don't mind being subsidized on my way to Las Lenas, the further you fly, the more you should pay.

As for Southwest, I fly with them a lot. They're awesome.

One of the big reasons is DIA is one of the newest and most expensive airports to fly in and out of. Their gate and runway fees are among the highest in the country if not the highest.
10-21-2005, 03:06 PM
shamrockpow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arty50

...the further you fly, the more you should pay.

And should the airlines magically take you wherever you want to go?
10-21-2005, 03:36 PM
Arty50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurch

One of the big reasons is DIA is one of the newest and most expensive airports to fly in and out of. Their gate and runway fees are among the highest in the country if not the highest.

Well then I guess Denver doesn't like visitors. Fucking stupid I say. It cost my buddy a fortune a few years back to visit his girlfried (now wife) when she was going to Boulder and he was at Cal.

As for me, I'm just pissed because I would rather fly to Grand Junction than SLC to get to Moab. But getting to GC is $$$$$$$$.
10-21-2005, 03:38 PM
Arty50

Quote:

Originally Posted by shamrockpow

And should the airlines magically take you wherever you want to go?

No, but they shouldn't have 50,000 fucking fares for the same flight. Isn't it funny that the airlines with simple fare structures are in the black, but the ones with complicated fare structures are in the red? Coincidence? I think not.

Granted, I neglected to factor airport fees into my prior statement. But simple fares seem to be the way to go. That's my main point.
10-21-2005, 04:03 PM
Lurch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arty50

Well then I guess Denver doesn't like visitors. Fucking stupid I say. It cost my buddy a fortune a few years back to visit his girlfried (now wife) when she was going to Boulder and he was at Cal.

As for me, I'm just pissed because I would rather fly to Grand Junction than SLC to get to Moab. But getting to GC is $$$$$$$$.

It is goverment run I doubt the high rates are to make money it's probably just above what they need to stay solvent.
10-21-2005, 05:31 PM
funkendrenchman

Fantastic news!
10-21-2005, 05:34 PM
surftb15

this is some good news indeed
10-21-2005, 11:10 PM
shamrockpow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arty50

No, but they shouldn't have 50,000 fucking fares for the same flight. Isn't it funny that the airlines with simple fare structures are in the black, but the ones with complicated fare structures are in the red? Coincidence? I think not.

Granted, I neglected to factor airport fees into my prior statement. But simple fares seem to be the way to go. That's my main point.

I agree that SWA has a better pricing model for flights, however there are three major factors that preclude the big boys from competing. Fully unionized workforces, underfunded pensions (aka piss poor management and regulation), and fixed investment in the hub system.

All the newest carriers benefit greatly from the point to point* model and are free from legacy costs. Just look at JetBlue and you can see that it's a good time to enter the airline business, terrible time to be exiting. After the major airlines succeed in dumping their existing obligations onto the taxpayers, we'll see how the rest of the business shakes down.

*This could also be good news for Boeing as their latest planes are far better equipped for these types of trips than the Airbus jumbos...
10-22-2005, 12:34 AM
Bum Z

This is excellent. Perhaps I can make a few quick trips to Colorado to score some powder skiing.
10-22-2005, 12:43 AM
Benny Profane

Yes, this is good! Albany is connected to the Southwest spider.
10-22-2005, 07:29 AM
Plakespear

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big E

With the exception of a return flight I had last week, Southwest has always had far better on-time performance than anyone else. The trip out last week, I landed 20 minutes early!

Coming back from the Summit, my flight was an HOUR early! (Phoenix to Philly flight)
10-22-2005, 11:50 AM
freshie247

Praise be! It's about time to get some new blood in here,it's way too expensive to fly anywhere from Denver.Welcome SWA!
10-22-2005, 12:13 PM
warthog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plakespear

Coming back from the Summit, my flight was an HOUR early! (Phoenix to Philly flight)

Is that ever a good thing? You are on the ground, but your bags have no where to go. I would rather get in on time, and know that my bags will come out soon. I hate waiting on baggage. But then, of course, I hate the general public too, so that might explain it.
10-22-2005, 01:36 PM
The AD

Quote:

Originally Posted by warthog

Is that ever a good thing? You are on the ground, but your bags have no where to go.

Why don't they? They were on the same airplane you were.
10-27-2005, 01:26 PM
The Dude

schedules and destinations have been announced, vegas, phoenix, & Chicago midway. flights are to start Jan 3
10-27-2005, 01:51 PM
mr_gyptian

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arty50

This is awesome news. Flights to Denver are recockulously expensive. The majors are insane. They're offering $800 flights from the states to Argentina, but it costs $400-500 to fly into Denver. Someone please tell me how this makes sense? It doesn't. It's fucking stupid. Although I don't mind being subsidized on my way to Las Lenas, the further you fly, the more you should pay.

As for Southwest, I fly with them a lot. They're awesome.

fly frontier, I flew from Denver to Reno last year for around $150 R/T.
10-27-2005, 02:07 PM
runethechamp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plakespear

Coming back from the Summit, my flight was an HOUR early! (Phoenix to Philly flight)

I don't know whether this is true, but I heard that Southwest overestimates their flight times. That way, they are almost never minutes late, and sometimes they are actually early.
10-27-2005, 02:39 PM
Big E

That would be easy enought to figure out. Off to orbitz...

I'm back.

According to my very quick research, that doesn't look to be the case. Figuring out another airline that flies the identical route (ie, non-stop) is a bit of chore, so I copped out and compared BWI (my home airport) to Chicago - Midway for Southwest and O'Hare for others. All of the SWA flights are listed as taking 2:05, while the other carriers are generally in the 2:10 region. I don't know how much time flying into O'Hare would add - certainly minimal distance change, but flight patterns might be much different. General would be a good one to ask.
10-28-2005, 02:35 PM
gretch6364

When I first read this thread I was very confused as i just booked a flight from Pittsburgh to Denver through southwest....Southwest flies me to Chicago then ATA takes me to Denver....but anyhow...can't wait for december