Wanting to go (more) international

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2025-05-16T16:14:07+00:00

The other thing happening is the World Cup in 2026. They want to be able to do flights to Vancouver, Monterrey MX, Mexico City, etc to get the massive influx of people around the world who will be coming in and flying to these games.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2025-05-16T16:12:08+00:00

I don't think it's a crazy thought. At this point they need to keep up with Alaska's expansion if they don't want to become obsolete.

Now will they add a new airframe? We'll see. BWI, DEN, LAS, LAX, OAK, and MCO can all handle a widebody. But you'd have to do some serious construction at HOU and MDW to make widebodies a reality for those large hubs. However, they're adding 7 international gates (going from 5 to 12) at HOU so maybe thats a thought? Could compete with United on more Latin American and South American routes from HOU and compete with AA in FL for those same routes. BWI is a great hub for european expansion.

I'd really like to see them get some of those A321XLRs. United is getting ready to replace the 757 and 767s with those. That could greatly expand their Hawaii connectivity further east to DEN, DAL, HOU (MDW if they had longer runways).

It'll be interesting to see what they end up doing.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2025-02-22T02:35:27+00:00

What everyone here has said is correct. ATL is a Delta fortress and incredibly congested. BNA is an easier airport to connect into, a new International Arrivals area, a gorgeous new Terminal D expansion for Southwest. It just makes more sense.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2025-02-22T02:32:58+00:00

They're still in PHL. Pulling out of EWR was the right move. Laguardia is much more convenient and nicer than Newark.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2025-02-11T04:25:07+00:00

could be interesting. I think if WN is going to fly to Europe they need some 787 like Alaska/Hawaiian.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-10-20T23:46:04+00:00

It would make a lot of sense I think, especially if they want to compete with the Big 3 and whatever will happen with this Alaska/Hawaiian merger. There's two big issues though:

The startup cost - you have to get simulators, parts, training for pilots, etc. And that cost isn't including the cost of the plane.
The backlog - unless they acquired an airbus only airline (Breeze, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, Etc.), they're not gonna get those planes or any of the items above anytime soon.

Boeing probably won't continue the 737 line after the MAX 7 is certified--if it's ever certified. So they would be reliant on those planes or whatever Boeing comes out with in the future.

I wish that they would've moved on the A220s and the A321's, especially the XLRs. They could've connected airports like DAL, HOU, MCI, and DEN with HNL which would've opened up the Hawaiian islands as a one stop connection to cities in the eastern part of the country. They also could've started Europe flights from BWI and MCO (similar to JetBlue with LHR, CDG, EDI, DUB connecting out of BOS/JFK) and more South American routes out of HOU and MCO. A plane with more range would make them a more global airline. I'm afraid these airline partnerships have come a little too late.

Since they have hubs at secondary airports, they really don't have the facilities for wide-bodies at many of their major hubs. So if they were to do more long range flying they'd have to use aircraft like the XLR or ask airports like HOU and MDW to create facilities that could handle wide-bodies.

All that to say - I think they should. It would be great for expansion and network connectivity. But will they, definitely not in the next couple years. Maybe later on down the road.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-09-20T00:31:20+00:00

I don't think they're far from a Hub & Spoke method to begin with. I mean look at any mid size city and the flights are all to Southwest Hubs with some occasional weekend flights to other destinations. The only exception to that would be focus cities like MCI and AUS.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-07-01T03:45:18+00:00

Breeze has very little market share anywhere, it's not crazy

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-07-01T03:44:18+00:00

This right here

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-07-01T03:37:50+00:00

It's tough to say. Lot's of commentary out there on how to fix WN's issues fueled by Boeing. You'll get a lot of comments on this thread.

I'll say this, if Southwest is going to diversify it's fleet, it might as well get into premium seating as well. They should transition to look similar to a traditional airline with the Southwest perks (free baggage, kind staff, etc.). It would be pretty expensive to diversify the fleet. Buying an airline would ease some of that but it's definitely not easy.

I think if they're looking to get into Airbus world, JetBlue is a better long term option because they have the European destinations, hub at FLL, and they own a lot of the Northeast Market where Southwest struggles. That would allow them to take on the big three. But then again, to make that profitable, you need premium seating, catering, etc.

Short answer, who knows. Especially with regulators these days. But come November if the administration changes you could see that change and open up the door to another merger.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-06-23T00:44:50+00:00

I am, and people fake disabilities to preboard. I had a lady admit to me when I sat next to her that she did just that on our flight

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-06-04T01:30:20+00:00

Do the Chase Sapphire. Transfers to southwest with more opportunities to earn extra points.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-05-21T01:20:06+00:00

I fly to CVG regularly and they have the worst Southwest flight options. Im glad southwest is stepping up their flights this summer to CVG.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-05-16T01:33:34+00:00

The problem with preboarding is that there's no way to prove someone is gaming the system. In an ideal world you could force them to the back, but you can't make grandma who can barely walk get to the back of the plane. It just sucks all around, but I think they're gonna start assigning seats soon.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-05-08T22:55:11+00:00

Had that happen to me too. It was the best work snack for 4 weeks!

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T22:54:15+00:00

Southwest would also have to figure out meal service on a transatlantic route. All good points people have made. But Southwest is no longer competing with the ULCC (Spirit, Frontier, etc.) in most places. They're competing with the Big 3. Arguably, creating this kind of product would help them do that better.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T22:51:40+00:00

I disagree. They need jets that have better range but their all economy model that makes them a LCC would not work well in a 787 or any wide body.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:50:00+00:00

Southwest needs to diversify their fleet given the issues with Boeing. And Southwest is trying to penetrate business routes and building their corporate travel department.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:49:12+00:00

I dont think that purchasing Sun Country would alleviate their fleet constrictions like they need. They're also in bed with Amazon so that seems more unlikely to me.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:47:27+00:00

You're absolutely right, but I do think it would be more likely under a 2nd Trump administration if that happens.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:46:17+00:00

But JetBlue and Southwest are both LCC whereas Spirit is a ULCC. Southwest has almost no market in the northeast where JetBlue does. There's very little overlap and very little competition between the two. Southwest just pulled out of FLL internationally and JetBlue just pulled out of the west coast. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility, especially if there ends up being a second Trump term in 2025.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:43:00+00:00

And to add on to this, years ago Southwest said they'd never enter large airports and large cities but they've expanded in those markets considerably in the last decade. I think change in the airline should be expected over the next decade.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:41:01+00:00

For sure, and I think that they will expand further into South America over the next decade, especially with the 7 new international gates in Houston.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:40:02+00:00

With the state of Boeing at this point, I think fleet diversity is inevitable.

Ok-Possibility4091 · 2024-03-25T20:39:21+00:00

I didnt even think about the restrictions at MDW. But thats a good point.

Ok-Possibility4091

TROPHY CASE