Have you waited anxiously for Southwest flights in Atlanta?
It may be what many Atlanta fliers have been hoping for — Southwest flights into and out of Hartsfield-Jackson.
With the announcement Monday that Southwest Airlines is buying AirTran for about $1.4 billion, the airline world is getting shaken up once again.
For years, AJC airline reporters have heard from local passengers anxious for the day that Southwest enters our market.
With AirTran’s biggest hub in Atlanta, it looks like that day could be arriving. Southwest said the deal includes “significant opportunities to and from Atlanta,” AJC staffers Rhonda Cook and Kelly Yamanouchi report.
Have you been craving for Southwest? Why or why not?
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151 comments Add your comment
PsW
September 27th, 2010
9:06 am
Absolutely, this will be great for the Atlanta market.
X Flyer
September 27th, 2010
9:06 am
I have a Delta mechanic / engineer friend who works for Delta and he tells me NOT to fly Delta. He said even HE will NOT fly his family on plane nowadays and it was only because of the FAA that issues even get resolved at Delta.
He said everything was done just to get by.
I fly others and now drive everywhere unless it is absolutely necessary that I fly. Besides who in wants to put up with the T S A B S nowadays either….
BW
September 27th, 2010
9:07 am
Yes…there truly is a God…been waiting for this forever. Birmingham just became Chattanooga after the GA Aquarium was built….irrevelant. Truly cannot wait for this deal to close so I can hop on the network. Delta just started sweating a little as well.
OlaDad
September 27th, 2010
9:09 am
**It’s your choice** Professionalism and Service found around the world or Domestic (ho-hum) service from agents that wear pullover shirts as uniforms. Remember what everyone thought of JetBlue years ago? Good luck Southwest….Delta is more than willing and waiting for your competition.
John
September 27th, 2010
9:09 am
Now we can actually PURCHASE those Southwest gift cards and be able to use them from our local Publix.
A
September 27th, 2010
9:09 am
More competition (especially for Delta) is never a bad thing. I just hope Southwest keeps the AirTran hub in ATL.
jabbatte
September 27th, 2010
9:10 am
Oh Happy Day!
Now lets see Delta Scamble!
They have been screwing Atlantans for years. Now BAGS FLY FREE!!!!
Flight Jockey
September 27th, 2010
9:10 am
It is so funny in a state where we talk about open and fair market that people here frown upon change. Especially when it comes against the patron saint airline of Georgia. Georgians if Delta could find a larger hub other than Atlanta in the south they would be gone like Nathan Deals credit rating. It is capitalism at its pure and simple if like Southwest fine and if you don’t thats fine too. But competition in a free market is what we pride ourselves on so just be thank that we no longer have a monopoly on the skies over Georgia.
Joe
September 27th, 2010
9:11 am
This will be great for us. Southwest announced that they are going to Charleston and Greenville/Spartanburg earlier in the year, and now with AirTran, they will be able to be in many cities that they are not in now.
Southwest will probably have some Atlanta round trips in the next couple years from Charleston, and that will lower airfares considerably locally, and make Delta work for their customers.
DJ
September 27th, 2010
9:15 am
Best thing to happen to Delta in a long time as far as this airline passenger is concerned! Don’t fly un-American. Don’t fly UScAir. Don’t fly cattle call Southwest. To echo Bortz this morning, Clark shut up! Looks like Delta has a lock on this airline passenger, as long as that unions don’t try to ruin it.
EatItDelta
September 27th, 2010
9:16 am
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Delta for too long monopolized Hartsfield, keeping SWA out. This should keep Delta and everyone else honest. Not to mention the level of superior service SWA brings to Atlanta as well. This is so long overdue! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
lovelyliz
September 27th, 2010
9:17 am
If I am going to get the Wal-Mart of service when I fly, I would just assume pay Wal-Mart prices.
AmazonRed™
September 27th, 2010
9:22 am
This is excellent news! I’m staying loyal to Delta, as I’m a Gold Medallion member, but I love how Delta will be forced to keep fares low in Airtran and Southwest cities. I also have a lot of friends who can now visit Atlanta via Southwest.
Very happy to hear this news.
Bill
September 27th, 2010
9:24 am
Booooooooooooo,,,,,I love AirTran and am an elite member. I usually get free upgrades and love the perks. Southwest is like a flying bus. You people are crazy if you think this is a good thing. They have a cattle car mentality with no assigned seating. No wifi, no XM…and a zillion stops. I am truly depressed today and will miss Airtran.
Louis The Warrior
September 27th, 2010
9:25 am
Beautiful.
Delta, you made your bed with crappy service and all the junk fees. Now you get to lie in it, and I can’t wait to see you rot.
Mark
September 27th, 2010
9:25 am
I cannot believe people are excited about this. It’d be one thing if Southwest announced new service to ATL in addition to AirTran, but they are not. All that is going to happen is that you are getting rid of one LLC (AirTran) with a half-way LLC (SouthWest). Their tickets aren’t really that cheap. They only make sense in rare events that you have to check a bag (which I hate doing) and they have a modest ticket price. This sucks, I will not be looking forward to my 3 stop trips.
Roadgeek
September 27th, 2010
9:26 am
Delta has become overbearing with their ever climbing baggage fees and surly customer service.
Having Airtran was a minor improvement, but with Southwest buying them now, Atlanta fliers now have real choice. All the knocks against the customers of Southwest are irrelevant. I am one of them and I don’t ride Greyhound. Bags fly free on Southwest!
N
September 27th, 2010
9:27 am
AWESOME. The news could not be better. And now we can get Southwest deals to Mexico and the Caribbean. Southwest already was the #1 AIRLINE IN THE U.S. BY NUMBER OF PASSENGERS, this makes them even bigger and hopefully better.
Look out, crooks
September 27th, 2010
9:31 am
Hahahaha…. I can’t wait to see Southwest call out the Hartsfield/city of Atlanta political yahoos when they try to get airport graft. SW won’t bend over and take it like Delta.
Lisa
September 27th, 2010
9:31 am
YAYYYY! Since I moved here six years ago I have been waiting for the day Southwest would come to Atlanta. It will enable me to go back home to Cleveland, Ohio to enjoy Polka music and dancing on the weekends at a cheap rate:)
Thanks Southwest:)
Lisa
Kev
September 27th, 2010
9:31 am
YES!!! NO MORE BAGGAGE FEE$$$
maxrotor
September 27th, 2010
9:32 am
This is a great news for Atlanta! I have been flying Delta for 20 years and I am a Platinum Medallion member. Delta’s service stinks. I can only hope that Delta uses this new competion to improve their service and business practices. If not, they will be out of business soon.
Fatboy14
September 27th, 2010
9:33 am
This is going to be interesting. To those “Delta Haters” out there remember, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! To those lovers of Southwest, keep in mind that the fundamental difference between Southwest’s business model and that of the legacy airlines as well as beneficial fuel hedge contracts have been the cornerstones of Southwest’s success. Those contracts have (or will shortly) run their course. The nature of the Southwest will likely change. More parts, more people, more maintainence, more of all the little things that conspire to erode profitability. True, Delta will feel significantly increased competitive pressure, but this is not their first rodeo. Delta will compete and hard. The bigger question is, can Southwest compete on “the big stage”? Is Southwest able to operate at little or no profit on these new routes as Delta as taps its’ significant resources? Will the Southwest of 2012 resemble the Southwest we know today? How will Southwest’s shareholders respond to the possibility of a of profit-less quarters (or years)? This will be very interesting indeed!
Bill
September 27th, 2010
9:33 am
If you are an AirTran Elite member you got to hate this. Why do people like Southwest?
Kim
September 27th, 2010
9:34 am
YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
N
September 27th, 2010
9:36 am
Fatboy — Only problem with what you say is BOTH Airtran and Southwest are profitable. And while the hedging may change their profit a bit their core customer is the coach passenger while for Delta it is the business/first class traveler.
Phil
September 27th, 2010
9:39 am
Delta cut routes and flights in SLC when it Southwest acquired Morris Air. Now, Delta, what now? Southwest has finally arrived in ATL. And for those folks who think Southwest is cheaper, over the weekend I priced an airfare from Pittsburgh to Raleigh over Thanksgiving weekend, US Airways and Delta where nearly $200 cheaper than Southwest and that includes bag fees. Cheap, at one time they were, not anymore.
Hilary
September 27th, 2010
9:39 am
I live in a Southwest city, and all my family lives in Atlanta and middle Georgia. I would be absolutely over the moon about being able to afford trips home more often. My fingers are crossed big time!
97 degree yogurt
September 27th, 2010
9:41 am
AirTran was already a low cost carrier, so how is this going to dramatically reduce fares in Atlanta?
Also, I’m sure that Atlanta and Orlando will be losing a significant number of jobs with this merger, so I guess that’s something to get excited about if you live in those two cities.
Tonya
September 27th, 2010
9:41 am
I love Southwest Airlines I am so happy they are finally coming to Atlanta
ejs
September 27th, 2010
9:41 am
They cant get here FAST enough. The day has finally come for the citizens of Atlanta. Delta rule is FINALLY OVER. Delta abused us the customer for way to long. Delta can die as far as I am concerned.
Southwest, thank you, thank you, thank you. You have a 100% loyal flyer waiting to be first in line on you first flight out of Atlanta.
Does anyone want to buy my 300k delta miles????? FU Delta
I am throwing a Southwest party tonight here in Buckhead. You have made my day and week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
W. Woods
September 27th, 2010
9:41 am
NO! This is the worst thing ever. I love, love, love AirTran. They offer great customer service. Nice clean planes. And it’s very easy to purchase business class upgrades. I flew Southwest a few times in the 90s and will NEVER fly them again. Total mayhem.
bigbird
September 27th, 2010
9:42 am
DELTA BLOWS !!!!!!!!! Read these comments Delta management – if you can read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shelly
September 27th, 2010
9:42 am
As long as Southwest gets rid of all the clueless Affirmative-Action employees currently working for AirTran at Hartsfield and stops using Clayton County Thugz as criminal baggage handlers who either steal or destroy every single thing they paw, I believe they will be successful here.
AmazonRed™
September 27th, 2010
9:44 am
@97 degree yogurt – There are several cities that are served by Southwest that are not served by Airtran. Delta will have to lower fares in those cities as well.
AmazonRed™
September 27th, 2010
9:45 am
Another perk, those who don’t travel frequently will be drawn to Southwest. That will leave more room on Delta to the elite fliers and road warriors!
Oh happy day.
MJ
September 27th, 2010
9:48 am
This is good b/c it will keep the Delta prices in check and will probably lower them. I don’t fly SW b/c the few times I have flown them, I think its a garbage, crummy airline but as a loyal gold medallion flyer on Delta, this will only steer passangers away and let me have more upgrades on Delta and lower the prices at the same time. Thanks SW!
T
September 27th, 2010
9:48 am
I’m very excited about this – Southwest has a superior rewards program, no bag fees, and they have better flights to ski destinations in Colorado and Utah.
Melvin
September 27th, 2010
9:48 am
I hear Southwest has some of the easiest, naughtiest, most-kinky flight attendants in the entire airline industry with some of the most welcoming “airplane hangars,” so Trojan Man & I are looking VERY forward to those Southwest Hotties landing here.
Low Blow by Both Carriers
September 27th, 2010
9:50 am
So… rather than coming here the legit way and forcing both Delta AND Airtran to have competition… they decide to remove the cheapest carrier out there (Airtran) and replace it with themselves (mid-range prices). So rather than $100 RT to Florida, I’ll be paying more than that. Same for everywhere else. Strike one! And while I’m no fan of Delta, why people say they are “expensive” is beyond me – they specifically price themselves to match Airtran, Jetblue, and Southwest where they carry the same routes. In fact, many times Delta is THE cheapest option… people must not buy when flights are on sale or something?
I’m going to have to use all of my Airtran flight credits asap. I hear Southwest offers a terrible rewards program. Bummer… that’s already two strikes. After the horror stories of former SWA employees, I’d say strike three is a-comin!
Delta Employees Unite
September 27th, 2010
9:51 am
All delta employees need to keep trashing SW and Airtan like 90% of the posts above!!! Unite workers! Get the union involved—trash your competitors to keep your prices high and service bad!
txdawg
September 27th, 2010
9:52 am
I find it funny that people don’t like the way Southwest boards its airplane. I have flown a lot of different airlines United, Luftansa, American, US Air, Delta, Northwest, Frontier just to name a few, and it actually takes less time to board the plane using their system, then other airlines. For years I have been tired of getting screwed by the major airlines, and having lived in Atlanta for 15 year and having to deal with Delta’s lack of customer service, and now living in Houston, where we are about to get totally screwed by United, my fly vs drive decisions for trips rest on whether Southwest flies to my destination or not. Go Southwest!
Bob
September 27th, 2010
9:52 am
I can understand people who have never flown SWA being excited about them coming to Atlanta, but having flown them, I can tell you it isnt the great experience people seem to think it will be. Ok, your bag may fly free, and your flight attendant will make jokes, but you better enjoy “cattle cars”, because that’s what you’re going to experience.(The person that mentioned the “Jerry Springer crowd” hit the nail on the head!) And dont think that SWA is always the cheapest fare, because they aren’t. I think SWA is a great company, but wont fly on them again.
Low Blow by Both Carriers
September 27th, 2010
9:52 am
Also, why are people saying “Finally, competition!” No… it’s not. You’re taking two big carriers (Airtran and Delta) and changing it to two big carriers (SWA and Delta). That’s not adding competition. That’s swapping apples for oranges and still winding up with customers as the real losers.
baby
September 27th, 2010
9:53 am
Bill
September 27th, 2010
9:33 am
If you are an AirTran Elite member you got to hate this. Why do people like Southwest?
Bill, your inability to understand that most people are not “elite” members is apparent, Some just want to go visit family, or take a family vacation without being completely gouged. A family of four could easily spend $200 in bag fees alone with Delta. This isn’t the case with SW
You can’t understand why everyday Joe’s don’t want to be gouged?
JemalKnows
September 27th, 2010
9:57 am
How does everyone think this will affect the Atlanta economy? Airtran’s such a large contributor.
~JemalKnows
https://sites.google.com/site/jemalknows/
97 degree yogurt
September 27th, 2010
10:01 am
@ Amazon-Southwest will not be operating any more gates than AirTran did, leading to a similar number of daily departures from ATL, so all those cities that Southwest files to won’t be served frequently, or non-stop for that matter.
Enjoy flying ATL-BNA-MDW-MHT or ATL-LIT-DEN-BOI
girl
September 27th, 2010
10:01 am
Orbit did not charge me for my bag to Canada because I was leaving the US. Got to the airport of course Delta did. I tried to tell them as far as I was aware the US hadn’t annexed Canada since the last time I saw the news, still had to pay for the bag. And boy was i p’d.
Delta has everyone over a barrel and they’re laughing all the way to the bank about it. I hope they don’t pressure SW to raise fees. I usually feel financially screwed when I fly Delta and it really makes for a miserable experience.
Every year a new fee for this or that garbage. Sick of it! Bring on the competition
PHYLLIS
September 27th, 2010
10:02 am
WHO CARES AIR TRAN SOUTH WEST BLAH BLAH BLAH
JUST BRING JET BLUE TO ATLANTA NOW THAT WOULD BE GOOD NEWS
PHYLLIS
September 27th, 2010
10:03 am
JET BLUE WAS IN ATLANTA AT ONE POINT IN TIME BUT WAS FORCED OUT
BY DELTA. GUESS THE COMPETITION WAS TOO MUCH FOR DELTA.