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
AmazonRed™
September 27th, 2010
10:05 am
@97 degree yogurt – I don’t plan on ever leaving Delta. Elite traveler on that airline. I just care about competition keeping Delta fares lower, no matter how many stops SW travelers have to take.
Bob
September 27th, 2010
10:07 am
Phyllis…that makes no sense. If Jet Blue left Atlanta, I would say that THEY were the ones that couldnt handle the competition.
PaulieOldSchool
September 27th, 2010
10:08 am
This is a big good news day for me. SW is the cheapest company to fly to the SW and many parts of the West. I’d heard they were going to start flying out of Greenville, but that is two hours away, still longer of a commute than I wanted. This is very good news. Now I just want to know when the deal is finalized.
don t care
September 27th, 2010
10:15 am
I don’t care because I don’t fly. With all the airport airline hassles and T S A junk I can drive quicker to my S E destinations within 400 miles faster than if I flew out of Atlanta….. think about it , 6 hours is 6 hours…
sliderule
September 27th, 2010
10:29 am
I see comments on no assigned seats, cattle car, etc. I have never flown SW. How exactly are flights boarded for a couple.
Bill
September 27th, 2010
10:31 am
@Baby…Airtan already has low fares..has wifi and xm. What is so great about Southwest except for the bags? Sorry you are not elite..but I fly enough to earn this.
Bill
September 27th, 2010
10:31 am
Southwest and Delta suck……Airtran rules!!
Jborodawg
September 27th, 2010
10:33 am
I agree that with SW (and Airtran) you get the “Jerry Springer crowd” (and the former Trailways crowd to boot) a lot more often. SW boarding is indeed akin to a “cattle call”. And their in-flight isn’t a whole lot better.
With Delta one can fly to almost anywhere in the world; and the U.S. and Canada. Delta’s customer service is hands-down better than SW and Airtran.
Having said all that, I agree that competition is good. This deal might make Delta reconsider their bag fees too. But, I’ll remain a Delta fan just for a better overall experience.
faye
September 27th, 2010
10:37 am
I am not sure I can complete understand!! First of all, everyone want cheaper price to fly out. I never flew with Southwest, so I can’t judge them. Air tran was good so was Valujet too!!! I wish that small airline would go to smaller city while big airline should go to big city. Example small city like (Macon, Columbus, Frederick MD and so on) while the big should be like (Chicago, LA, NY and Miama and so Atlanta). stop compare each other and stop hurt each other. I suspect one day it will be one Airline name and everything going to look better than what it is now. Speak of Southwest, I do have to say “Be careful” don’t expect all city will like to fly with you them. Wait and see. I wish Jet blue come back to Atlanta
Ken
September 27th, 2010
10:39 am
I have been a loyal A+ Elite member for years. This program is by far the best domestic business traveler program around. Southwest states loud and clear on their site that multi-class service is not part of the future offering. Real bummer. It’s back to earning status on Delta – awful.
Bill
September 27th, 2010
10:41 am
For all you Southwest lovers….so sad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6DdDlPT4Uc
Praveen
September 27th, 2010
10:48 am
I hate this. First of all, with Airtran, I have been able to fly to Houston or Boston for less than 100 bucks each way. How is Southwest going to do any better than that? Look at their phladephia to Houston fares. It was close to 250 plus when my sis kept checking every week for a few. IN fairness, i have seen some good Southwest fares too, but not any better than the frequent fare sales Airtran offers.
If you don’t check baggage, then southwest is useless compared to Airtran.
Airtran had the best business class upgrade (which gives you free baggage perk) in the business. This sucks for those of us who liked it.
Gettting elite status on Airtran was so easy. With Southwest, your elite status is no longer a perk.
I dont see many more NON STOP destinations added to the atlanta route because of ths merger. So what use is this for me?
baby
September 27th, 2010
10:50 am
Bill
September 27th, 2010
10:31 am
@Baby…Airtan already has low fares..has wifi and xm. What is so great about Southwest except for the bags? Sorry you are not elite..but I fly enough to earn this.
Bill- You’re screw everyone but me me me selfish attitude is everything that is wrong with America. today. Must be nice up there in the top 2%. I’m happy that you are “elite.” Have you considered letting the rest of America know perhaps through a billboard or something?
Hopefully everyday folks will be able to save some money and this is not a bad thing.
Praveen
September 27th, 2010
10:55 am
Don’t believe the hype. Maybe on a regular basis, Southwest has slightly better fares. But AIrtran has a great sale they usually open up once every two weeks, and a lot of the time, every single week(usually from Tues to Thursday). There is no way Southwest is beating those frequent sale fares on comparable routes. Southwest is mainly useful for families with baggage and who plan 21 days ahead with little flexibility. That is when you get the southwest advantage in fares for SOME routes.
If you are a frequent Airtran traveler, this is NOT a good deal unless they plan on keeping the airtran aircrafts separate.
Syphyllis
September 27th, 2010
10:58 am
MAYBE THEY CAN SHOW THE DODOS AT DELTA HOW TO ACTUALLY RUN AN AIRLINE.
OR, I PRAY, JUST TO ADD A DROP OF CUSTOMER SERVICE INTO THEIR BUSINESS.
Praveen
September 27th, 2010
10:59 am
Baby, elite on aritran is not that “elite”. I will be flying only 7000 miles worth (next month is my final elite status quliafying flight) to get my elite status. On Delta, unless you are gold or platinum medallion , you can kiss goodbye to decent perks. ( i hear with Silver, you got little chance of free upgrqades). ANd forget elite status perks, I flew to Boston economy for 85 bucks one way. No way, Southwest will lower that. THat is a sale fare Airtran has been offering 3 out of 4 weeks. So there was enough chances for me to get that fare. So how exactly is southwest going to beat that fare for me?
Why is Bill more selfish than you?
Flying sux!
September 27th, 2010
11:06 am
Flying sux!
Agree?
Praveen
September 27th, 2010
11:10 am
This is what is bothering me so much. Delta fills that consultant traveler niche who fly twice a month or more well. Southwest does a good job with families that have 6 or 7 bags to check in. For those, of us who travel alone or with one person and did it once a month on average, Airtran filled that great niche with just as cheap fares for economy or we could upgrade at a very affordable price or we could use out credits to get easy to attain perks(blackouts on free flights were less than delta). Plus we had free XM.
VA Frequent Flier
September 27th, 2010
11:13 am
This merger could easily be a negative for Atlanta. Southwest may reduce the size of the ATL hub to better fit it’s current route system, Delta will be able to raise prices on routes that Southwest choses to drop, and a few thousand current Airtran jobs will be moved to other cities or eliminated entirely. Southwests prices aren’t as great as they are reputed to be. I live in an area that is served by Delta, Sothwest and Airtran. In my experience, Delta and Airtran usually offer significantly better fares.
Praveen
September 27th, 2010
11:32 am
When Airtran left Newark, Atlanta-Newark prices jumped up and sale fares have been a lot rarer on Delta and Continental. I used to be able to fly to Newark on any of those airlines for anywhere from 70 to 100 one way. Now sale fares seem to be around 125 on Delta and Continental and the frequency of those sales are not as much.
Another group of travelers that Airtran benefited were those like me that traveled often to 500-1000 mile air routes since Airtran used credits instead of miles. Does Southwest even have a frequent flier program? I flew Southwest twice. I don’t get the fuss about it. Now, I would have loved to have seen Southwest enter the Atlanta market, but not at the expense of Airtran.
Phoenix to Atlanta Non-Stop
September 27th, 2010
11:33 am
Living in Phoenix there were few options to Atlanta – non-stop! USAir and Delta (both greed mongers) Several years ago Air-tran. Now Southwest will fly into Atlanta – Brighter days are on the horizon! Delta and USAir will do some considerable shaking in their boots for a while.
I’ll be flying the LOW Cost Airlines!!
hahaha
September 27th, 2010
11:47 am
2million more passengers? BS. More will come because its cheaper, but SW doesn’t use hubs so HJ will take a hit from losing Air Trans
Silver Lining
September 27th, 2010
12:00 pm
This is excellent! Now with the advent of Southwest, maybe we can get the trailer trash crowd off the Delta flights and on to Southwest where they belong. I’m actually looking forward to taking a flight for once where someone wasn’t attempting to change their babys diaper in the aisle. Southwest has my support all the way!!!
Erica
September 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
Pretty excited about Southwest coming to Atlanta. I’ve flown it out of Nashville a few times and found their fares and customer service to be pretty decent. I am very glad to see Delta have some bonafide competition in the Atlanta market. I can only hope that this translates in Delta revisiting all of its add on charges and the constraints on the use of Sky Miles.
hey melvin
September 27th, 2010
1:43 pm
UM, IDIOT! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE SOUTHWEST UNIFORMS??? U G L Y!! GROSS!! HOTTIES, THEY ARE NOT! me thinks you need to see it! ew!!
sam
September 27th, 2010
1:45 pm
i love delta. i’m a million miler . i don’t like the southwest way of doing business.
c
September 27th, 2010
1:45 pm
Enter your comments here
Fatboy14
September 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
N, your point is well taken but look at their 2nd quarter earnings. Both are “technically” profitable for the year so far but as the rest of the industry has enjoyed a modest rebound, their relative positions have weakened. Debt may prove to be the “X factor” in this equation. Since emerging from bankruptcy Delta has quietly but aggressively been buying down its debt. The strength Continental/United deal is that they grow without taking on much if any additional debt. Southwest is going to be hard pressed to pay for the increased fixed costs it will incur and remain price competitive without an increased debt load. Timing is a factor as well. The debt they take on now, while business is fairly strong, may prove too much of a burden when the cyclic nature of the airline industry swings the other way.
Joe Baumann
September 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
If Southwest’s acquistion of Air Tran is approved, passengers would no no longer have to pay outrageous baggage fees just for the ” privilege ” of flying the few remaining alleged ” legacy ” airlines , such as Delta and United-Continental, or even Air Tran ! Furthermore, I predict Southwest would eventually build its own new LARGE terminal at ATL ; between runways 9R/ 27L and the ” fifth ” runway ! It’s conceivable that Southwest could build a facilty with double ( or more ! ) the gates that Air Tran presently has at the mid-field terminal. There is space to do so – as confirmed by aerial views or photos ! Furthermore, Southwest has been profitable since YEAR one of its operations – even after ” 9/11″ ! No other US airline can make this claim ! Finally, I hope Southwest would adopt Air Tran’s IFE : Sirius/ XM radio onboard. I enjoy listening to it !
New Day!
September 27th, 2010
3:39 pm
If possible, I will not fly delta airlines again, once SW opens up these new routes!!! No fees, better service!
TnGelding
September 27th, 2010
3:48 pm
Welcome South Brother! Win for everyone….but Delta.
Phil
September 27th, 2010
5:10 pm
As an Airtran Elite member, I am very depressed by this news. I have really enjoyed my Elite perks the last few years and I thought it was the best loyalty status in the airline industry. Now I may have to start from nearly nothing to earn Delta Medallion status. As a frequent business traveler, there is no way I will fly on the Southwest ABC cattle drive. I hope Delta will offer some form of incentive to entice Airtran Elite customers.
Stump Barnes
September 27th, 2010
5:11 pm
As someone who flies both Delta and Southwest on a regular basis, let me assure you that Southwest is FAR, FAR, FAR superior to the arrogant, anti-passenger attitude of Delta.
It always amazes me that Southwest flights on a Boeing 737 have more leg room than Delta’s transcontinental and international flights on Boeing 757’s and 767’s.
Southwest’s cabins are usually much cleaner than Delta’s, and Southwest actually seems to depart on-time.
Finally, Southwest’s employees seem to like working there and don’t act as if they’re unsupervised prison guards with an opportunity to abuse the inmates like Delta’s employees do.
I hope really hope in the Atlanta market that Southwest kicks Delta’s ass six ways to Sunday for all of the abuse that Delta has served up to its customers.
In terms of organizations that deserve to be punished in the bottom rung of hell, Delta ranks up there with the TSA and the local cable company.
Jeff
September 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
Phil, looking at the rate you quoted, you are obviously a legacy airline employee. Lets see see, Pittsburgh to Raleigh over Thanksgiving: $294.80 with no baggage fees. Delta: $319 with baggage fees out the wazoo.
Airline employees do this in the national media all the time. Quote prices that are no where close to being truthful. They obviously are too dumb to realize that most everyone has an internet connection.
Joe Baumann
September 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
Southwest carries more than 100,000,000 million DOMESTIC passengers annually – more than ANY other US carrier ! More than Delta; more than un-American; more than Untied ( aka United ) ; more than US Air ( aka US Scare and Useless Air ) ! So, Southwest MUST be doing something … that attracts so many pax. ! And again, Southwest has been profitable since Year One of operation. Southwest has never furloughed its employees. Southwest has ZERO abominable RJs ( Regional Jets ) in its fleet ! How many of you Delta lovers have been jammed into one of ASA’s tiny CRJs – when expecting to be flying on a REAL airplane ?! Oh, the previous time I flew Delta out of ATL ( this past June ) , on a 763 ( 767-300ER ) up to JFK , I had to rip up the Sky magazine, fold it up and stick it into the window shade so that the shade would remain in the up position !? That airplane was to continue onward to Frankfurt . In addition Southwest, I hope that the highly rated Virgin America eventually enters the ATL market; as it receives more of the NEW mini-Busses ( Airbus A320 & 319 ) it has on order ! I too hope that Jet Blue returns to ATL ! At age 60, I’m old enough to remember when Delta WAS America’s premier airline. Delta apparently has devolved into Northworst !
Nick G
September 27th, 2010
6:22 pm
I’m glad Southwest is coming to Atlanta, but I have always liked AirTran. By the way Southwest’s three part rules of successful operation are: (1) Use the same equipment, so say goodbye to the 717s, (2) Turn the planes around fast and (3) No frequent flyer programs. So if you have any AirTran frequent flyer credits I’d use them in the next year before the merger is complete.
Terri
September 27th, 2010
6:54 pm
If Southwest is the “Trailer Trash” airline, which one is the “Ghetto Trash” airline?
I find the “Trailer Trash” crowd annoying but relatively safe, and they tend to smell better, listen to quieter music, use their inside voices and have consideration for others unlike “THOSE PEOPLE.”
J.B. STONER
September 27th, 2010
7:42 pm
The seats stink, smell like fartknockers had sat there.
Rampman19
September 27th, 2010
8:14 pm
Several facts for the readers. Southwest WILL keep the 717’s. Southwest likes the aircraft for some of the smaller markets. Southwest will have access to 32 gates on C and D concourse’s. Airtran just signed a lease to be in control of 10 extra gates on D concourse. Past business models for Southwest is 10 flights per each gate they have control of. 32 gates, 10 flights = a start of 320 flights in and out of ATL. With ATL having longer window of operating hours these flights might increase. I bet within 5 yrs Southwest will be up to 450+ flights with the possibilities of their own concourse by the 5th runway. Welcome to ATL Southwest.
chas
September 27th, 2010
8:39 pm
If you think bags fly free, I’ve got ocean front property in Snellville. That is simply a marketing scheme. The fees are built into the ticket prices. Check for yourselves. Compare Air Tran, Delta and Southwest. Southwest will be higher by $20. Tell them it is gold and they will all buy it. I am an Elite on Air Tran and Medallion level on Delta. I will miss Airtran. The free business upgrades were great.
It is simple economics. Southwest doubles their debt load with this acquisition. They care their existing debt, incurred additional debt to finance the purchase and inherit Air Tran’s debt. The only way to pay for this is to raise cash. How do you raise cash? Raise prices! Doing away with the free baggage is the easiest way to generate revenue streams. Just wait and see. This may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing deal. Looks great at first sight, but soon shows it’s ugly head.
chas
September 27th, 2010
8:46 pm
Joe Baumann – If you are 60, you will be retired before you see any of the construction of new terminals just for Southwest that you rave about. Won’t happen anytime soon.
ChasZee
September 27th, 2010
9:15 pm
Been waiting for Southwest since we moved here more than 10 years ago. Essential for decent prices westward.
Joe Baumann
September 27th, 2010
9:34 pm
Chas , if you re-read my earlier FIRST post … you will read that I write that I predict that Southwest will EVENTUALLY build a seperate terminal . How long was it that Concourse E had four additional gates added to it’s South side ? How long after that was it before the new ( still under contruction ) International Terminal was started? That’s right, only a few years ! But if Southwest expands its ATL operations to as many as 450 flights, as another blogger suggests, can the Sixth Runway be next ? There are already times when ATL arrivals ” hold ” even AFTER the opening of Runway 10/28 ! ( I listen to ATC communications ). It wasn’t too many years ago when Delta operated around 450 daily flights at ATL and Eastern operatted around 300 daily flights ! Not to mention that the Fourth Runway was added around the same time . Do you remember those develpments, Chas ??? However, if the national economy continues tanking none of this will happen any time soon ! BTW, Chas, I’m quite vibrant for my age !
David
September 28th, 2010
1:37 am
Yes, finally, Now watch Richard Andersen move Delta HQ to Minneapolis, and we can thank Kasim Reed for that. AT and Delta have been colluding as of late – evidenced by fares, but that is what happens when an airline or AOC runs an airport. Passengers suffer. August, flight to Boston, 14 day advance was 698.00 – took JET BLUE from Charlotte – 153 RT and $4.00 per day for parking. Well worth the 3 hour drive, shorter lines, and the opportunity to have some legroom.
BTW, the Briscoe field babies? These are the same people that cost us the outer perimeter. Talk with the people in the audience – NONE of THEM are more than casual travelers. NONE of them were daily commuters in the Atlanta mess. Just ask them what they are going to do as 2014 comes and truck traffic (due to the port expansion) quadruples.
Tom
September 28th, 2010
8:51 am
This is good for Atlanta travelers. Perhaps it will make Delta finally realize they need to offer more competitive fares and maybe, just maybe, make a push for on-time flights and better customer service. Lord knows that has been missing from Delta for years.
Travel Guru
September 28th, 2010
9:18 am
This is fantastic news. No more trips to Birmingham to get the SW flights!!! Much better airline—no tricky fees, best service.
idiota
September 28th, 2010
11:53 am
guess the competition was too much for jet blue!!! you are dumb phyllis… also, delta will be a dream when you fly swa. swa stinks!
Cal
September 29th, 2010
7:38 am
Enter your comments here
Bags fly FREE… get the message Delta!!!
Cal
September 29th, 2010
7:42 am
Welcome Southwest Airlines to Atlanta. Bags fly FREE… get the message Delta!!!
David
September 30th, 2010
10:38 am
As a former Delta employee and a current employee of Southwest, just let me say: Atlanta, you have a sweet deal ahead. I really don’t understand the bashing of Delta or Southwest here! If you want to fly first class and eat a prepackaged warmed up meal and fly trans oceanic, then fly Delta! If you want to fly anywhere domestic, get there quickly, and if you book a few days in advance, very inexpensively, and eat peanuts, then fly Southwest! After reading all the comments above, I think the people who kept mentioning Jerry Springer are the true fans of that show and are probably that way themselves! Happy travels to ANYWHERE in the world Atlanta and I will assure you that any domestic trips you make will be less expensive and more convenient! PS, all you haters of any particular airline whether it is Delta or Southwest, get your facts right before making an idiot out of yourself! You sound so…….Jerry Springer show material…LOL