What is Southwest airlines Nuts ?

I read an article recently that most business travelers that used to fly on
trips
of 300 miles or less, now drive. This is where being a pilot really pays
off.
I've flown myself on trips like this(and longer) where other guys have
driven.
Can't blame them. After driving to the airport, getting there 2 hours early
for
security, praying your flight leaves on time(or at all), it's easier to
drive.



"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"569" wrote in message
oups.com...
That airline is pure hell. I used to travel 250,000 miles a year for
business, all domestic. I refused and still refuse to fly them.
It's
no better then the Greyhound bus.


Well, you get what you pay for. That is the market that Southwest
caters
to.

Southwest flies more passengers by far than any other airline and is one
of
a few actually making money. If other airlines want to survive it is the
Southwest model they will have to adopt.

Southwest is the most profitable, but although some other airlines have
tried to copy them, they have so far not been nearly as successful.

I wonder if business travelers should bother with the airlines at all
anymore.

I thought the same thing about driving from NY to Virginia on biz. Then I
got caught in the Wash DC Beltway traffic... NYC traffic pales in
comparison. Next time I fly.

Marco Leon


"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message:

Can't blame them. After driving to the airport, getting there 2 hours
early
for
security, praying your flight leaves on time(or at all), it's easier to
drive.



"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"569" wrote in message
oups.com...
That airline is pure hell. I used to travel 250,000 miles a year
for
business, all domestic. I refused and still refuse to fly them.
It's
no better then the Greyhound bus.


Well, you get what you pay for. That is the market that Southwest
caters
to.

Southwest flies more passengers by far than any other airline and is
one
of
a few actually making money. If other airlines want to survive it is
the
Southwest model they will have to adopt.

Southwest is the most profitable, but although some other airlines have
tried to copy them, they have so far not been nearly as successful.

I wonder if business travelers should bother with the airlines at all
anymore.

True, but this is where flying yourself really pays off. NY - VA would
be a nice quick trip flying yourself. I have a friend in the Boston area
who flies to DC area every week. Before he bought his Bonanza he was
flying down there on the airlines. The flight on the airlines is only an
hour
to DC from Boston, but when he factored in the drive to the airport, getting
there early for security, etc.., he could get there faster in his own plane.
Now he drives 10 minutes from his house to the airport where the plane
is hangared, lands at JYO(Leesburg, VA) and grabs a rental car. To me this
is the perfect way to use GA for business travel. His company loves it
too....
they don't have to shell out $600 for the airline tickets. g



"Marco Leon" mmleon(at)yahoo.com wrote in message
...
I thought the same thing about driving from NY to Virginia on biz. Then I
got caught in the Wash DC Beltway traffic... NYC traffic pales in
comparison. Next time I fly.

Marco Leon


"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message:

Can't blame them. After driving to the airport, getting there 2 hours
early
for
security, praying your flight leaves on time(or at all), it's easier to
drive.



"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in
message
...

"569" wrote in message
oups.com...
That airline is pure hell. I used to travel 250,000 miles a year
for
business, all domestic. I refused and still refuse to fly them.
It's
no better then the Greyhound bus.


Well, you get what you pay for. That is the market that Southwest
caters
to.

Southwest flies more passengers by far than any other airline and is
one
of
a few actually making money. If other airlines want to survive it is
the
Southwest model they will have to adopt.

Southwest is the most profitable, but although some other airlines have
tried to copy them, they have so far not been nearly as successful.

I wonder if business travelers should bother with the airlines at all
anymore.

In article xfgAd.716149$mD.426940@attbi_s02,
"Peter MacPherson" wrote:

is the perfect way to use GA for business travel. His company loves it
too....
they don't have to shell out $600 for the airline tickets. g

the shuttle from KBOS to KDCA is substantially less than that.
Last I time I took the shuttle, it was $341.50.

--
Bob Noel
looking for a sig the lawyers will like

Not sure why the difference. Maybe his company buys the more expensive
open ended tickets where there is no charge for changing your travel
dates/time.
I worked for a company that did this all the time. They would pay 2-3 times
more
for the ticket than it would cost if it were bought with restrictions. The
silly part was
my itinerary was pretty much set in stone, so I didn't need the more
expensive ticket
with more flexibility(and cost). But that was their policy and they weren't
changing it.



"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article xfgAd.716149$mD.426940@attbi_s02,
"Peter MacPherson" wrote:

is the perfect way to use GA for business travel. His company loves it
too....
they don't have to shell out $600 for the airline tickets. g

the shuttle from KBOS to KDCA is substantially less than that.
Last I time I took the shuttle, it was $341.50.

--
Bob Noel
looking for a sig the lawyers will like

In article cdAAd.279957$V41.146170@attbi_s52,
"Peter MacPherson" wrote:

Not sure why the difference. Maybe his company buys the more expensive
open ended tickets where there is no charge for changing your travel
dates/time.

Mine were also refundable.

curious.

--
Bob Noel
looking for a sig the lawyers will like

Not sure.


"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...
In article cdAAd.279957$V41.146170@attbi_s52,
"Peter MacPherson" wrote:

Not sure why the difference. Maybe his company buys the more expensive
open ended tickets where there is no charge for changing your travel
dates/time.

Mine were also refundable.

curious.

--
Bob Noel
looking for a sig the lawyers will like

I know--it's perfect. My company has a little clause in their travel policy
about using private aircraft for business only when another commercial pilot
is flying. It obviously was not written by a pilot! I'll just have to claim
regular automobile mileage reimbursement instead of listing aircraft-related
expenses. They shouldn't care how I get there. I couldn't do it last time
because my family came down and visited relatives in VA therefore needing a
car to get back to NY earlier than me.

My trip should be a little longer in my Warrior than your friend's
Bonanza...but who cares!

Marco Leon

"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message
news:xfgAd.716149$mD.426940@attbi_s02...
True, but this is where flying yourself really pays off. NY - VA would
be a nice quick trip flying yourself. I have a friend in the Boston area
who flies to DC area every week. Before he bought his Bonanza he was
flying down there on the airlines. The flight on the airlines is only an
hour
to DC from Boston, but when he factored in the drive to the airport,
getting
there early for security, etc.., he could get there faster in his own
plane.
Now he drives 10 minutes from his house to the airport where the plane
is hangared, lands at JYO(Leesburg, VA) and grabs a rental car. To me this
is the perfect way to use GA for business travel. His company loves it
too....
they don't have to shell out $600 for the airline tickets. g



"Marco Leon" mmleon(at)yahoo.com wrote in message
...
I thought the same thing about driving from NY to Virginia on biz. Then I
got caught in the Wash DC Beltway traffic... NYC traffic pales in
comparison. Next time I fly.

Marco Leon


"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message:

Can't blame them. After driving to the airport, getting there 2 hours
early
for
security, praying your flight leaves on time(or at all), it's easier to
drive.



"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in
message
...

"569" wrote in message
oups.com...
That airline is pure hell. I used to travel 250,000 miles a year
for
business, all domestic. I refused and still refuse to fly them.
It's
no better then the Greyhound bus.


Well, you get what you pay for. That is the market that Southwest
caters
to.

Southwest flies more passengers by far than any other airline and is
one
of
a few actually making money. If other airlines want to survive it is
the
Southwest model they will have to adopt.

Southwest is the most profitable, but although some other airlines
have
tried to copy them, they have so far not been nearly as successful.

I wonder if business travelers should bother with the airlines at all
anymore.

I don't know who you work for or what you do but there are several workers'
compensation carriers that flatly refuse to cover companies that allow use
of GA aircraft for business travel.


"Marco Leon" mleon(at)optonline.net wrote in message
...
I know--it's perfect. My company has a little clause in their travel policy
about using private aircraft for business only when another commercial
pilot is flying. It obviously was not written by a pilot! I'll just have to
claim regular automobile mileage reimbursement instead of listing
aircraft-related expenses. They shouldn't care how I get there. I couldn't
do it last time because my family came down and visited relatives in VA
therefore needing a car to get back to NY earlier than me.

My trip should be a little longer in my Warrior than your friend's
Bonanza...but who cares!

Marco Leon

"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message
news:xfgAd.716149$mD.426940@attbi_s02...
True, but this is where flying yourself really pays off. NY - VA would
be a nice quick trip flying yourself. I have a friend in the Boston area
who flies to DC area every week. Before he bought his Bonanza he was
flying down there on the airlines. The flight on the airlines is only an
hour
to DC from Boston, but when he factored in the drive to the airport,
getting
there early for security, etc.., he could get there faster in his own
plane.
Now he drives 10 minutes from his house to the airport where the plane
is hangared, lands at JYO(Leesburg, VA) and grabs a rental car. To me
this
is the perfect way to use GA for business travel. His company loves it
too....
they don't have to shell out $600 for the airline tickets. g



"Marco Leon" mmleon(at)yahoo.com wrote in message
...
I thought the same thing about driving from NY to Virginia on biz. Then I
got caught in the Wash DC Beltway traffic... NYC traffic pales in
comparison. Next time I fly.

Marco Leon


"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message:

Can't blame them. After driving to the airport, getting there 2 hours
early
for
security, praying your flight leaves on time(or at all), it's easier to
drive.



"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in
message
...

"569" wrote in message
oups.com...
That airline is pure hell. I used to travel 250,000 miles a
year
for
business, all domestic. I refused and still refuse to fly them.
It's
no better then the Greyhound bus.


Well, you get what you pay for. That is the market that Southwest
caters
to.

Southwest flies more passengers by far than any other airline and is
one
of
a few actually making money. If other airlines want to survive it
is
the
Southwest model they will have to adopt.

Southwest is the most profitable, but although some other airlines
have
tried to copy them, they have so far not been nearly as successful.

I wonder if business travelers should bother with the airlines at all
anymore.

Marco Leon wrote:

I know--it's perfect. My company has a little clause in their travel policy
about using private aircraft for business only when another commercial pilot
is flying. It obviously was not written by a pilot! I'll just have to claim
regular automobile mileage reimbursement instead of listing aircraft-related
expenses. They shouldn't care how I get there.

My former employer would fire you for that behavior. Their policy is that they
will not reimburse you for travel by private aircraft. If you claim to have
driven and didn't, that's fraud.

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.