just how much does everyone expect to pay for airfare these days?

Lately, anytime I've flown out of Memphis, I've been able to generally get a flight for under $300, with the exception of Detroit and San Francisco which were last minute decisions. Just this week I got a last minute fare saver e-mail from Delta to San Francisco for less than $280 through SLC.

It's been a while since I've been on Southwest, but the last couple of times, they weren't any cheaper, and I felt more like cattle than anything else.

The main thing that Southwest does right is have only one plane. Northwest has something like 10-12 different planes, which jacks up its costs on education/maintainance/etc.

I've really never understood all the hatred toward NWA. I've had one bad experience with them in all of my flying with them, and that was weather related. In comparison, America West/US Air tore up one of my bags the first time I used them last year.

The benefit of having NWA as a hub here is more direct flights, conserving time with no stop-overs. To me that is worth an additional $50 or so.

I'm flying southwest to dallas in june and it's about $125 round trip out of LR.

JerryJeff Wrote:

fsquid Wrote:Nashville has Southwest

Panic I would love for southwest to fly here from love but the restriction is on the Texas side not Tennessee. Flights from Love must be to border states of Texas so even if they did fly to Memphis you would have to have one stop on the way. At least that is my understanding of it.

Southwest to West Memphis NOW!

ChattTiger Wrote:just how much does everyone expect to pay for airfare these days?

Lately, anytime I've flown out of Memphis, I've been able to generally get a flight for under $300, with the exception of Detroit and San Francisco which were last minute decisions. Just this week I got a last minute fare saver e-mail from Delta to San Francisco for less than $280 through SLC.

It's been a while since I've been on Southwest, but the last couple of times, they weren't any cheaper, and I felt more like cattle than anything else.

The main thing that Southwest does right is have only one plane. Northwest has something like 10-12 different planes, which jacks up its costs on education/maintainance/etc.

I've really never understood all the hatred toward NWA. I've had one bad experience with them in all of my flying with them, and that was weather related. In comparison, America West/US Air tore up one of my bags the first time I used them last year.

The benefit of having NWA as a hub here is more direct flights, conserving time with no stop-overs. To me that is worth an additional $50 or so.

The most I have paid to fly on SWA out of Nashville anytime recently is $220 to San Francisco. If I had gotten off my butt and reserved earlier, I could have booked a trip to Chicago in August for $98; however, because we waited, it's going to cost $158. Almost always, SWA is cheaper.

Tunica is actively in talks with discount airlineS right now.

They'll end up getting somebody to fly in/out of there soon.

We have the busiest cargo airport in the world.

Supplying discount passenger service is simply not a priority.

It must be the slow part of the year, because here is our annual thread lamenting the absence of Southwest. I do wish we had SW, I love the flying Greyhound.

ChattTiger Wrote:just how much does everyone expect to pay for airfare these days?

Lately, anytime I've flown out of Memphis, I've been able to generally get a flight for under $300, with the exception of Detroit and San Francisco which were last minute decisions. Just this week I got a last minute fare saver e-mail from Delta to San Francisco for less than $280 through SLC.

It's been a while since I've been on Southwest, but the last couple of times, they weren't any cheaper, and I felt more like cattle than anything else.

The main thing that Southwest does right is have only one plane. Northwest has something like 10-12 different planes, which jacks up its costs on education/maintainance/etc.

I've really never understood all the hatred toward NWA. I've had one bad experience with them in all of my flying with them, and that was weather related. In comparison, America West/US Air tore up one of my bags the first time I used them last year.

The benefit of having NWA as a hub here is more direct flights, conserving time with no stop-overs. To me that is worth an additional $50 or so.

The number of non-stop destinations is a HUGE asset for Memphis. Hopefully we can garner an Asian flight in the next few years.

Panic Wrote:That would be great now wouldn't it?

So write your congressman, rep, senator, whomever. Somebody in Tennessee needs to do something to get Tennessee added to the states that Southwest can fly to out of Love Field in Dallas. People in Memphis need to show the politicians that they really want this. Or you can just do it for me.

I'm tired of flying to Little Rock.

Missouri, Mississippi, and Alabama have done it, where the hell is Tennessee at?

My understanding is Northwest paid big money long ago to keep them out of Memphis. Eliminate the competition.

Point well taken though.

kabluey Wrote:MEM isn't shy about their interest in either SWA or Jetblue or both. I can see SWA going to Tunica, and MEM getting Jetblue. Who knows . . . if NWA continues to struggle and reduces MEM, maybe Jetblue will see a need for a southern hub.

Also, it would be awesome if that former FedEx exec could get her airline started (I think it was Victory?) and BASE IT HERE.

The Ex FedEx attorney exec plan for her airline has gone up in smoke.

SWA just took on a greater market, DIA (Colorado) and they don't have enough airframes to do immediate expansion here. JETBLUE...God hope not. Just hold on. Let Bostontiger love 'em ... they are not half the airline that SWA is. Boeing is working as fast as they can to produce/refurbish 737s for SWA and others. You want a good site to see what's happening in Aerospace??? Let it be known.

Those having to deal with US Air/AmericaWest is no comparison. They had to get in bed with the Frogs to survive. Didn't you guys hear/read the story on that???? The two HAD TO buy all Airbus stuff to get a loan from Airbus. Kinda like "Kissing your sister". lmfao Their large body business is very shaky. That consortium has become so fraught with problem(s) that both the BAE(British) and the German partners are selling off their investment in EADS. The Airbus fiasco (A-380 & A350) has just about blown them outta the water. Couldn't happen to a better bunch ! ! LOVE 'EM !

Some recent comments. "Airbus plans new plane
It accepts criticism of its earlier plan to redesign A350
By ANDREA ROTHMAN AND JAMES GUNSALUS
BLOOMBERG NEWS

Airbus, acknowledging that the proposed redesign of the A350 plane is a failure, plans to spend $10 billion to develop a new 300-seat plane, three people with direct knowledge about the matter have said.

"The all-new plane represents Airbus' fifth attempt to come up with a competitor to the, highly successful, Boeing 787 Dreamliner."

There are sources for these sort of stories. You might even try the Seattle Post Intellgencer (PI) site.

I'm glad others feel the same about NWA as I do... what a sorry a - - airline ! !

The reason Southwest isn't in Memphis is that it believes it can't make money here, not because Northwest is keeping Southwest out. Southwest won't come because Memphis has excess air capacity. It is the smallest hub city in the country. Southwest won't be cheaper for much longer. The reason it is cheaper now is it because it wisely purchased oil futures at $22 a gallon. Those begin running out this year and will be gone by 2009. They have already begun raising ticket prices. Also, Northwest's position in Memphis is tenuous at best. Bring Southwest in, and Northwest will likely leave. That means you'll have cheaper airfares to some places, but a lot fewer options of where you can go. Forget about the flight to Europe or Cancun. You'll have to connect in Atlanta or Dallas to get anywhere. That will have a huge ripple effect in the Memphis economy. Business won't come here if they don't have a direct flight. Not to mention the thousands of Northwest employees that are major contributors to the economy. If Northwest leaves, Memphis will go into a recession. All that to save a little on airfare.

bourbonreb Wrote:If Northwest leaves, Memphis will go into a recession. All that to save a little on airfare.

Memphis is already in a recession (See Also - King Willie Herenton).

umbluegray Wrote:Tunica is actively in talks with discount airlineS right now.
They'll end up getting somebody to fly in/out of there soon.

You are correct. It'll be worth the drive ! !

Tunica is to Memphis like Colorado Springs is to Denver!

That little distance made competition great.
Airfares reasonable.
Destinations ... GREATER ! !

Even overseas ones ! ! !

Competition always works for the betterment of any product and/or service. Northwest can seek it's own level. I think it will be ... lower. They do have a trend developing. lol

Panic Wrote:

JerryJeff Wrote:

fsquid Wrote:Nashville has Southwest

Aren't you going to tell him there is an "appropriate forum" for this discussion?

Panic I would love for southwest to fly here from love but the restriction is on the Texas side not Tennessee. Flights from Love must be to border states of Texas so even if they did fly to Memphis you would have to have one stop on the way. At least that is my understanding of it.

I understand the Wright amendment just fine. It's actually not Texas that restricts it, it is DALLAS and DFW airport.

A lot of states have been pushing them through to getting added to the list of direct flight states by going through their congress. Tennessee should be doing the same, and I hear that they might be.

The Wright amendment is an absolute joke. The area I live in, Virginia Beach has two major airports that operate together just fine. And it's a much smaller metropolitan area than Dallas/Ft. Worth as well. The two airports are Norfolk and Newport News/Williamsburg. Maybe 15 miles apart.

Northwest is ripping of Memphians and anyone who flies into Memphis, plain and simple.

Our corporate HQ is in Indianapolis and the boss comes down two or three times a month. The best he can do is $263 with advance notice.

For me to fly into Memphis from DFW, anytime, any advance notice, the best I can normally do is just at $300, usally more because of short notice, and that's just the nature of my business or personal travel.

I have flown from DFW to Orlando for $150 and DFW to Vancouver, BC for $225. I have also flown Amercian West from DFW to Monterey, CA for $220. DFW to Boston last year for $215.

It's amazing that I can fly almost anywhere for under $250 but Memphis. And you can fly Dallas to LR for $140!

Now if you have all day, you can fly from DFW to Atlanta via AirTran, layover and finally get to Memphis in about the same amount of time it would take you to drive, for about $200.

Something needs to be done. I know the Wright Amendment (what a joke and collusion between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and American Airlines) has limitations, but I think with Graceland and Tunica that Memphis is enough of a destination to attract Southwest. What's in LR? They go there.

Tiger46 Wrote:Northwest is ripping of Memphians and anyone who flies into Memphis, plain and simple.

Our corporate HQ is in Indianapolis and the boss comes down two or three times a month. The best he can do is $263 with advance notice.

For me to fly into Memphis from DFW, anytime, any advance notice, the best I can normally do is just at $300, usally more because of short notice, and that's just the nature of my business or personal travel.

I have flown from DFW to Orlando for $150 and DFW to Vancouver, BC for $225. I have also flown Amercian West from DFW to Monterey, CA for $220. DFW to Boston last year for $215.

It's amazing that I can fly almost anywhere for under $250 but Memphis. And you can fly Dallas to LR for $140!

Now if you have all day, you can fly from DFW to Atlanta via AirTran, layover and finally get to Memphis in about the same amount of time it would take you to drive, for about $200.

Something needs to be done. I know the Wright Amendment (what a joke and collusion between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and American Airlines) has limitations, but I think with Graceland and Tunica that Memphis is enough of a destination to attract Southwest. What's in LR? They go there.

What he said.


:iagree:

I weigh around 175 lbs. What would it cost me to pack a lunch w/some bottled water, climb in a box and ship myself FedEx Priority Overnight?
Say.....from Dallas or Chicago?

Someone could pick me up at the hub.

TG4 Wrote:I weigh around 175 lbs. What would it cost me to pack a lunch w/some bottled water, climb in a box and ship myself FedEx Priority Overnight?
Say.....from Dallas or Chicago?

Someone could pick me up at the hub.

To where? lmfao Maybe you meant the Memphis hub, but there are others. :shhh:

tigertom Wrote:

TG4 Wrote:I weigh around 175 lbs. What would it cost me to pack a lunch w/some bottled water, climb in a box and ship myself FedEx Priority Overnight?
Say.....from Dallas or Chicago?

Someone could pick me up at the hub.

To where? lmfao Maybe you meant the Memphis hub, but there are others. :shhh:

Yeah, I've been away from Memphis so long I still think there's only one hub.

it's really silly when you think about it. Visualize the US map around Memphis....Southwest flies into Little Rock, Nashville, Jackson, Birmingham and St. Louis. There's a big hole in the middle. Reb, nice post, but SW has gone into other hub cities like Pittsburgh and Philly with US Airways. Southwest also flies here in Cleveland, even though it is a 3rd tier Continental hub as Memphis is with NWA.

This reeks of something more, like politicians or higher ups striking a deal to keep the cattle car out of Memphis.