Shot Across the Bow to Connection Carriers?

There's still going to be a need for regionals. There are a lot of smaller market routes out there that wouldn't be cost effective to operate 100 seaters on those routes. Regionals would have to par down their fleets and competition will become quite stiff. If regionals want to survive, they're just gonna have to start bring back the t-props.
 
Fly4Pay said:
Wal-Mart anyone? They're winning through lower prices--definitely NOT on service. No slam against them, it's just the way Americans are leaning right now.
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Eh, not me. I don't care how super low priced the weed whacker I want is and if the price ends in .98 instead of .99. I'll go across the street to Target and pay the higher price to avoid setting foot in Wal-Mart. Some of it is the corporate practices that I don't agree with, but mostly it's because I can't stand the mob that inhabits that place.

Then there are places like my wife's hometown, Tupelo, MS, that people don't even have a CHOICE. Target was gonna build a store there.....until suddenly the city found a nice donation check from Wal-Mart and the land got re-zoned. They have THREE Wal-Marts, but nothing else to choose from.
 
I hate to say it, but Fly4Pay is bang on the money. Sure, everyone wants to pay $99 to go from JFK to ORL in 1st class. BUt you know what? They'll gladly ride cattle-class in a 73-slaveship for the same fare. You know it, I know it, and the execs sure as hell know it. Plain ansimple fact is, when the people book the flight, all they want is a seat on a plane at the lowest cost. That's as far as they think about it.
 
CapnJim said:
Plain ansimple fact is, when the people book the flight, all they want is a seat on a plane at the lowest cost. That's as far as they think about it.
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Guess I'm a freak then. I occasionally pay more to fly United because I get to sit in e-plus and because my bags, when I check them, come out first.

Plus, I pay more to fly out of IAD as opposed to BWI because I really don't feel like dealing with at lot of the people travelling in and out of BWI. IAD has a much higher percentage of business travellers and a lot fewer Aunt Bessies and Uncle Bobs so I prefer going there.

I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Whatever airline figures out how to get us to fly them and charge us a few bucks more is going to kick some ass.
 
tonyw said:
Guess I'm a freak then. I occasionally pay more to fly United because I get to sit in e-plus and because my bags, when I check them, come out first.
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I wouldn't use the word "freak." Aberration, maybe. I never said no one wants to get service over price--merely that there's not enough people in your shoes to support an airline.

Which is good, if you think about it--those would be some crowded shoes. ;)
 
tonyw said:
I disagree.

Look at the companies in the service/goods industry who are making money. The ones who are competing on price are not doing as well as those who compete on service.

As for me taking an airline into bankruptcy, is that any different than what the folks who tried to compete on low, low fares did?

The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

At least I'd be trying to do it differently.

Why some people don't see the goal of any business is to get PROFITABLE customers, not ANY customers, is something I'll never understand.
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It sounds great in theory and you're absolutely right. I just don't know if it'll work.
Although, we are seeing a shift in attitudes amongst some passengers who are willing to pay for service. Many are becomming frustrated w/ the poor service, lost bags, late arrivals, etc.... Unfortunately, I don't know if we've reached the epiphany stage just yet. It's really up to the MBA brainfactories out in management to take a stand and raise fares.....question is, can they weather the storm of the others with reduced fares. One can only hope it'll be here soon!
 
Doug Taylor said:
The arrival of new generation 100-seat aircraft at mainline carriers is going to send a shockwave thru the regional world I think. There's going to be a big game of musical chairs about to begin this fall so I'd start thinking seriously about climbing higher on the food chain.
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This is something I'm extremely worried about. I think about it night and day, worrying that I might miss the boat and have no chair to sit on. At the moment, things are OK in the regional sector is seems. At least for me personally, logging PIC time and facilitating CRM classes, I'm very happy. But I also don't want to miss an opportunity to climb the ladder... it is Catch-22... Take a good job now, but worry about being furloughed and forced into the $20 per hour regional FO job again, or hang on tight paying off debt and logging PIC time but possibly miss the boat on major airline hiring.

Oh well. We'll all know if we made the right decisions at age 65, right?
 
FlyChicaga said:
This is something I'm extremely worried about. I think about it night and day, worrying that I might miss the boat and have no chair to sit on. At the moment, things are OK in the regional sector is seems. At least for me personally, logging PIC time and facilitating CRM classes, I'm very happy. But I also don't want to miss an opportunity to climb the ladder... it is Catch-22... Take a good job now, but worry about being furloughed and forced into the $20 per hour regional FO job again, or hang on tight paying off debt and logging PIC time but possibly miss the boat on major airline hiring.

Oh well. We'll all know if we made the right decisions at age 65, right?
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Matt, Delta's hiring. So is SWA! ;)
 
I have 200 hrs PIC turbine, and have flown two legs in the past four weeks. Another two and a half weeks before I see the cockpit again. Can't say I qualify. ;)
 
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