Comments on: Southwest Continues to Grow in Denver, Frontier Pees Its Pants

By: CF

CF — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:50:20 +0000

If you’re going to spam the blog, I’d suggest that you post from different IP addresses. Instead, now we know it’s just the same person.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:44:35 +0000

I agree with bob Southwest has had 25 incidents in the last ten years with a fatality Frontier has had only 11 incidents with zero fatalities. I have friends in the aviation industry and they tell me that Southwest pilots are considered cowboys. Pre 911 the pilots who couldn’t get a job at a good airline went to southwest because no one else wanted them. I think I will stick with Frontier as well.

By: BOB

BOB — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:33:38 +0000

If southwest wins this war the people of denver will pay the price, the airline is the mainline version of mesa with cheep fares until they have a strong hold and recently busted by the FAA for poor maintenance. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29469571/ Frontier is a home town airline that employs our neighbors we need to keep them here and run southwest out. Fly frontier

By: KR

KR — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:29:30 +0000

I just booked some flights on Frontier and I am especially lucky that Denver is their hub, as thats my “hometown” (even though I’m located elsewhere). I can’t say enough how wonderful their employees are and how they really put the customer first, well over most other airlines. I really hope that they can get out of their rut and make it, because they definitely are an underdog I’d be happy to cheer for.

When it comes to Southwest v. UAL v. Frontier, unless Frontier decides to give me $900 tickets, I will choose them any day! I like choosing my seats before departure (though half of them are reserved for check-in so I get put in the back) and I really like the inexpensive TV systems that allow passengers sitting near my 4 year old to have peace and quiet! And I like their timeliness, almost every flight I’ve had has gotten to its destination before we were due at the gate.

Granted, I don’t fly often, but when I do, its nice to have Frontier Airlines.

By: darren

darren — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:27:14 +0000

The trouble with comparing Southwest’s O&D yields with Frontier is that Frontier has more connecting traffic, so therefore its RASM on the segment level may indeed be lower than Southwest.

Basically I think F9 is totally doomed. Everything they have done to try and diversify away from Southwest hasn’t worked, and there simply isn’t room for them to keep playing in DEN.

Southwest is growing in Denver because growing in its more established markets would have greater cannibalization on their network. Clearly Southwest is “on the fence” about parking 22 planes because if F9 liquidates they are going to swoop into DEN.

I don’t see why anyone would want to buy the lagging player at a competitive hub. Too bad it’s turned out this way, but it’s hard to deny the reality.

By: dee

dee — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:38:36 +0000

this sucks now i have to get on points.com to trade my frontier mileage for peanuts rather than lose it all when they shut down

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:52:13 +0000

Good point on how SWA’s growing presence could be impacting Frontier’s ability to get financing and more so on the cost of it.

By: CF

CF — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:59:15 +0000

Allen – I’m all for opposing opinions from cranky commenters as long as they’re respectful. So please, keep it coming.

It’s a fair point that Southwest has not solely been responsible for Frontier’s demise, but without Southwest, there’s still a compelling case for a low fare carrier in Denver. They would have an easier time getting financing without Southwest.

Now, whether or not Southwest is actually responsible, it seems pretty clear to me that they are trying to go in for the kill. Would you agree?

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:30:17 +0000

CF –> I agree that in terms of Frontiers future it doesn’t matter what’s causing it so much as that it’s happening. But why imply that it’s SWA? That’s where the debate lies. It’s one thing to question Frontier’s future. It’s another to say SWA is the cause. Of course some of us cranky commenters are going to dispute that claim.

By: CF

CF — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:21:22 +0000

Benji – You’re right, it was terrible, but so are most of my graphics! Too bad I don’t still have a game system to make a screenshot of my own. I believe Hartford goes away after the summer, so you’ll definitely have to hope nothing changes before then.