Southwest & American Airlines

[TexasPlus]

Shares of Delta Air Lines Rank the Highest in terms of Level of Cash in the Airlines Industry (DAL, AMR, UAUA, CAL, LUV)
Written on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 1:02am
By Chip Brian

Below are the top five cash rich companies in the Airlines industry as ranked by Cash Equivalents (CE).
Analysts use CE as a measure to compare the cash cushion of companies in the same industry.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) ranks first with CE of $4.91B;
AMR (NYSE:AMR) ranks second with CE of $4.55B; and
UAL (NASDAQ:UAUA) ranks third with CE of $3.52B.
Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) follows with a CE of $3.15B and
Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) rounds out the top five with a CE of $2.77B.

http://www.mysmartrend.com/news-brie...dustry-dal-a-0

Interesting they can loose money most quarters but still put this much in the bank.

[TexasPlus]

Thursday, June 3, 2010, 1:42pm CDT

If you're a corporate executive who thinks downsizing is the way to spark a return to profitability, Newsweek has some advice for you: Lay off the layoffs. Relying on downsizing is killing workers, the economy — and even the bottom line, Newsweek says.

And who does it point to as a model of the right way to run a company? Dallas-based Southwest Airlines: Even after 9/11, when other airlines were eliminating tens of thousands positions, Southwest has never had an involuntary layoff in its nearly 40-year history: "It's now the largest domestic U.S. airline and has a market capitalization bigger than all its domestic competitors combined. As its former head of human resources once told me: 'If people are your most important assets, why would you get rid of them?'"

The article goes on to show how layoffs often backfire.The whole thing is worth a read. Apparently, there's a lot to love about LUV.

[mjblazin]

Interesting they can loose money most quarters but still put this much in the bank.

debt provides cash in bank

[mjblazin]

Thursday, June 3, 2010, 1:42pm CDT

If you're a corporate executive who thinks downsizing is the way to spark a return to profitability, Newsweek has some advice for you: Lay off the layoffs. Relying on downsizing is killing workers, the economy — and even the bottom line, Newsweek says.

And who does it point to as a model of the right way to run a company? Dallas-based Southwest Airlines: Even after 9/11, when other airlines were eliminating tens of thousands positions, Southwest has never had an involuntary layoff in its nearly 40-year history: "It's now the largest domestic U.S. airline and has a market capitalization bigger than all its domestic competitors combined. As its former head of human resources once told me: 'If people are your most important assets, why would you get rid of them?'"

The article goes on to show how layoffs often backfire.The whole thing is worth a read. Apparently, there's a lot to love about LUV.

Author criticizes a strawman that has not existed for 15-20 years. As volumes go down, you attempt to find ways to maintain volume through marketing and sales. If the volumes still drop, you have to let people go. You can provide packages, extend benefits, target growing vs.declining units, keep good employees and remove sub-performers, but you still need to get them out of the business. Every reduction of which I was a part started with the most senior execs and worked down from that level. Those reductions typically provide clues as to actions for the next level. Layoffs cause pain, but they are usually necessary.

[TexasPlus]

Author criticizes a strawman that has not existed for 15-20 years. As volumes go down, you attempt to find ways to maintain volume through marketing and sales. If the volumes still drop, you have to let people go.

More than likely in good times, they let themselves get way too fat, individual productivity was not high and management took no action to get or keep it high. So when lean times hit they had to chop heads to survive.

Not every business operates that way, and none has to, its a management choice. Good management hiring only the best people with a great attitude is key. You can teach skills, you can't teach good attitude, you have to hire it. In the example of Southwest, it is a part of the corporate culture, every employee is taught to manage in good times as if it were bad times, then when the lean times hit, little has to change.

Productivity, Southwest uses the metric of total employees to number of aircraft as a measure of corporate health. In 2000 they had about 32,000 employees, today they have about 33,000, yet they have roughly twice as many aircraft 10 years later, serve many more cities, while growing a loyal customer base, and maintaining a great, happy, fun loving workforce. Now look at AA, they have about twice as many employees per aircraft as Southwest, and a generally disgruntled workforce. Other airlines are closer to AA than Southwest on the people to aircraft metric, with productivity this low no wonder they struggle to turn a profit.

[TexasPlus]

Former Southwest Airlines 737 left the friendly skies and reported for ground duty with the U.S. Navy at NAWCWD China Lake

[PuddinHead]

More than likely in good times, they let themselves get way too fat, individual productivity was not high and management took no action to get or keep it high. So when lean times hit they had to chop heads to survive.

Not every business operates that way, and none has to, its a management choice. Good management hiring only the best people with a great attitude is key. You can teach skills, you can't teach good attitude, you have to hire it. In the example of Southwest, it is a part of the corporate culture, every employee is taught to manage in good times as if it were bad times, then when the lean times hit, little has to change.

Productivity, Southwest uses the metric of total employees to number of aircraft as a measure of corporate health. In 2000 they had about 32,000 employees, today they have about 33,000, yet they have roughly twice as many aircraft 10 years later, serve many more cities, while growing a loyal customer base, and maintaining a great, happy, fun loving workforce. Now look at AA, they have about twice as many employees per aircraft as Southwest, and a generally disgruntled workforce. Other airlines are closer to AA than Southwest on the people to aircraft metric, with productivity this low no wonder they struggle to turn a profit.

Airlines are a completely different animal from most companies. And Southwest is the exception rather than the norm for the airline industry. As with most unionized industries employees begin to think the job is an entitlment rather than a privilidge and additudes change to reflect that mindset as the companies and the work forces gets older. Fear not TP Southwest time is coming and people will be saying the same things about the Southwest work groups as to what is being said now about AA and the other airlines.

[Mballar]

^ Does your crystal ball show approximately when this is supposed to happen?

[mjblazin]

Think what will happen when business travelers start paying taxes on personal points/trips awarded on trips paid by employers. It will happen when we start reducing Medicare and SS benefits. All airlines will look like Southwest. No long term future exists for the high cost producer in a commodity business.

[tamtagon]

I think we'll see a dramatic reduction in planes with different classes of seating; the majority of carriers will configure their planes like Southwest does with each seat costing just about the same. At the same time, most carriers will operate air-taxi styled planes / routes of ultra deluxe first class seating -- almost like flying on a private jet.

[TexasPlus]

Some of you may recall the APA billboards of the past.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/a...n-puts-up.html

The website on the old billboard is still up and active. http://www.tellyouraastory.com/

For the last several months this APA billboard message spoke of the professionalism of AA pilots, a nice message.
This is on the south-side, east bound 183, about 1/4 mile west of 360 just before you pass the AA training center & Museum.

Yesterday I spotted a change back to trashing AA management on this billboard. I will try to get into a position this weekend to take a picture of it.
looks like the warm&fuzzy period has past again.

[downtownguy25]

I think we'll see a dramatic reduction in planes with different classes of seating; the majority of carriers will configure their planes like Southwest does with each seat costing just about the same. At the same time, most carriers will operate air-taxi styled planes / routes of ultra deluxe first class seating -- almost like flying on a private jet.

You think so? From my perspective, (I normally fly non rev as a d2 (from my ex bf) or d3 (from a good friend)). Seems the vast majority of people in first or bus are either non rev or using upgrade points. Plus I have flown private quite a some, its not as grand as they play it off to be. Now a days, I board, pop an xanax and sleeping pill and have a few drinks and crash. Granted part of that could do due to dealing with the beak up, of said pilot....

[PuddinHead]

Airline limits liability in case of 'mechanical difficulties'
Southwest: Breakdown is now an act of God

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/arti...16e9f5bad.html

Only southwest could find the cajones to try this one! Now they won't even take responsibility for their own mechanical problems!

[TheMapman]

Airline limits liability in case of 'mechanical difficulties'
Southwest: Breakdown is now an act of God

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/arti...16e9f5bad.html

Only southwest could find the cajones to try this one! Now they won't even take responsibility for their own mechanical problems!

They clarified on their blog - they meant mechanical breakdowns at the airport that would prevent flights ops, not their planes. Still not an "act of God" but a little less brazen.

[TexasPlus]

They clarified on their blog - they meant mechanical breakdowns at the airport that would prevent flights ops, not their planes. Still not an "act of God" but a little less brazen.

LOL leave it to the sensationalist in the media to forget that the airports, ATC (air traffic control), TSA, FAA, etc, all have mechanical/electronic parts/systems that the airlines depend on. An airplane is just one part of a large complex system operated by different eternities.

[PuddinHead]

LOL leave it to the sensationalist in the media to forget that the airports, ATC (air traffic control), TSA, FAA, etc, all have mechanical/electronic parts/systems that the airlines depend on. An airplane is just one part of a large complex system operated by different eternities.

The ultimate it is not our fault we cannot get your plane here on time catch all circumstances statement.

No other US airlines have feel required to issue the GOD declaration. Definately a arrogant sense of infallibility on WN's part. How many PAX will have the resources to determine the truth in the circumstances declared as the cause of late and canceled WN flights? Few if any at all.

[TexasPlus]

Aug 19, 2010 8:04 pm US/Central
Report: FAA Set To Hit American With Huge Penalty
FORT WORTH (AP) ―

A published report says federal officials are ready to hit American Airlines with a record penalty of $25 million or more for maintenance shortcomings that led to thousands of canceled flights in 2008.

The Wall Street Journal said in a story for Friday's editions that the Federal Aviation Administration hasn't made a final decision or informed American, and a decision could be weeks away.

"This is something that happened more than two years ago, and we haven't received any notification by the FAA about any pending action, nor do we believe any action is warranted," American spokesman Tim Smith told The Associated Press on Thursday night.

Smith said American "has always maintained its aircraft to the highest standards, and we continue to do so."

FAA officials did not respond to AP requests for comment.

The proposed fine would stem from improper electrical wiring around the landing gear of many of its planes. American was forced to ground its entire fleet of about 300 McDonnell Douglas MD-80-series jets in April 2008 while mechanics fixed the problem.

FAA officials argued the wiring work could have led to fires and fuel-tank explosions. American said it was a minor matter of improperly spaced clips that held bunches of wires together, and that passenger safety was never jeopardized.

The newspaper said outside experts have told American to expect FAA action.

American, a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., could challenge the penalty and negotiate with the FAA to reduce it.

The largest penalty imposed by the FAA was $9.5 million against Eastern Airlines in 1987 for violations that included delaying required maintenance work. Eastern went out of business after paying only about $1 million of the penalty, FAA officials have said.

In 2008, the FAA proposed a $10.2 million penalty against Southwest Airlines for operating about 1,400 flights with planes that had not undergone required inspections for structural soundness. Southwest negotiated with FAA to reduce the penalty to $7.5 million.

That penalty, and the crackdown against American, came after the FAA was criticized in Washington for being too cozy with the airlines it is supposed to monitor.

http://fwix.com/dallas/share/678124d...ucianne.com%2F

[PuddinHead]

Southwest finishes near bottom on October on time arriavals

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/a...ar-bottom.html

Southwest finishes near bottom in October on-time arrivals
10:01 AM Tue, Dec 07, 2010 | Permalink
Terry Maxon/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips

Southwest Airlines finished second from bottom, ahead of only JetBlue Airways, in October's on-time rankings, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported

[TexasPlus]

Which companies will be naughty or nice this holiday season?

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/mon...?CMP=OTC-NEWS4

[TexasPlus]

http://www.zagat.com/promo.aspx?pn=132

In the just released 2010 Zagat Airline Survey, Southwest scored first in the following categories: Top Website, Best Consumer On-Time Estimates--Domestic, Best Luggage Policy--Domestic, Best Value--Domestic, and Best Checki-in Experience. For details, click the link above.

[TexasPlus]

GI Jobs magazine recognized Southwest Airlines today as one of the top military friendly companies in the nation, with its eighth annual list honoring corporate best practices.

Southwest is on the Prestigious List for the Second Year in a Row.

To see the list visit: http://www.gijobs.com/2011Top100.asp...t=71&year=2011

[PuddinHead]

TP if anything you are dependable.

[ksig121]

You know, for all of the items listed, come 2014 I am dropping Greyhoun -- er AA like a hot potato. I don't know how government stats actually rank "on time" departures and arrivals, but pushing back from a gate and sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours is not an "on time" departure in my book. So, I am leery of these latest rankings for on time arrivals...

The flying experience on SWA from ticketing to arrival is heads and shoulders above anything that American offers. If Virgin America starts service to the east coast out of DFW sooner than 2014, then I will be dropping AA even sooner. DFW passengers have been held hostage for too long by AA. Until recently, I had forgotten what it was like to have a pleasant experience on a flight. I had become so accustomed to AA's level of service, that I was surprised (almost startled) when a Southwest gate agent smiled at me and asked me if I needed help as I approached her gate. With AA, the experience is usually a forced smile (if any) and being told to wait (even if they are not in the process of opening or closing a flight.).

I am SO excited about having options in this market very soon.

[PuddinHead]

You know, for all of the items listed, come 2014 I am dropping Greyhoun -- er AA like a hot potato. I don't know how government stats actually rank "on time" departures and arrivals, but pushing back from a gate and sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours is not an "on time" departure in my book. So, I am leery of these latest rankings for on time arrivals...



The flying experience on SWA from ticketing to arrival is heads and shoulders above anything that American offers. If Virgin America starts service to the east coast out of DFW sooner than 2014, then I will be dropping AA even sooner. DFW passengers have been held hostage for too long by AA. Until recently, I had forgotten what it was like to have a pleasant experience on a flight. I had become so accustomed to AA's level of service, that I was surprised (almost startled) when a Southwest gate agent smiled at me and asked me if I needed help as I approached her gate. With AA, the experience is usually a forced smile (if any) and being told to wait (even if they are not in the process of opening or closing a flight.).



I am SO excited about having options in this market very soon.

-ksig from the remaining AA passengers Adious we will hardly miss you.



Rest assured that if you fly often enough you will experience that tarmac delay on all airlines including Southworst.

Why do you blame AA for the lack of airline competition in this market?

Remember that AA has been able to fly to where ever you needed to go because they have been in competition for our market since the 30’s. Unlike Southwest who still hides at Love Field and has denied us the effect they had on the rest of the country because of their belligerent stance towards the region concerning Love Field. They have blackmailed this city and region for years to stay at an airport they knew by law they could not compete from. They stayed and we paid. So if you want to blame an airline for the lack of airline competition in this region blame the company who is responsible –Southwest-.

[ksig121]

-ksig from the remaining AA passengers Adious we will hardly miss you.



Rest assured that if you fly often enough you will experience that tarmac delay on all airlines including Southworst.

Why do you blame AA for the lack of airline competition in this market?

Remember that AA has been able to fly to where ever you needed to go because they have been in competition for our market since the 30’s. Unlike Southwest who still hides at Love Field and has denied us the effect they had on the rest of the country because of their belligerent stance towards the region concerning Love Field. They have blackmailed this city and region for years to stay at an airport they knew by law they could not compete from. They stayed and we paid. So if you want to blame an airline for the lack of airline competition in this region blame the company who is responsible –Southwest-.

Dude, you're like Fox News for AA... You think that if you scream the same thing loud enough for a long enough time that it will be true.

Every time that any competition tries to invade their fortress at DFW, they price them out of the market. There are LOTS of other carriers in this country besides SWA that should be able to offer competitive service at DFW. American does all that they can to snuff them out. Hopefully, VA can weather the storm and outlast AA's effort to price them out of the market. That will give other carriers the courage to try.

I would rather be on a tarmac for three hours with a Southwest Airlines crew than an AA one any day. I log close to 100,000 miles a year in the air and I have flown both carriers numerous times. Hands down, Southwest is the better product. The only reason that AA has a dearth of the frequent fliers in this metro is because of the Wright restrictions (and SWA's unwillingness to move to DFW. I'll give you that much...) As soon as there is a viable alternative at DFW to AA, people will scatter like there's no tomorrow. AA knows that. They just don't seem to care enough to do anything proactive about it where their customers are concerned. They would rather run off the competition.

[PuddinHead]

Dude, you're like Fox News for AA... You think that if you scream the same thing loud enough for a long enough time that it will be true.

Every time that any competition tries to invade their fortress at DFW, they price them out of the market. There are LOTS of other carriers in this country besides SWA that should be able to offer competitive service at DFW. American does all that they can to snuff them out. Hopefully, VA can weather the storm and outlast AA's effort to price them out of the market. That will give other carriers the courage to try.

I would rather be on a tarmac for three hours with a Southwest Airlines crew than an AA one any day. I log close to 100,000 miles a year in the air and I have flown both carriers numerous times. Hands down, Southwest is the better product. The only reason that AA has a dearth of the frequent fliers in this metro is because of the Wright restrictions (and SWA's unwillingness to move to DFW. I'll give you that much...) As soon as there is a viable alternative at DFW to AA, people will scatter like there's no tomorrow. AA knows that. They just don't seem to care enough to do anything proactive about it where their customers are concerned. They would rather run off the competition.

Truth hurts. Southwest is the problem.

Funny thing about your post is that if you actually logged that many miles per year then no airline would impress you especially southwest.

[NThomas]

Dude, you're like Fox News for AA... You think that if you scream the same thing loud enough for a long enough time that it will be true.

Every time that any competition tries to invade their fortress at DFW, they price them out of the market. There are LOTS of other carriers in this country besides SWA that should be able to offer competitive service at DFW. American does all that they can to snuff them out. Hopefully, VA can weather the storm and outlast AA's effort to price them out of the market. That will give other carriers the courage to try.

I would rather be on a tarmac for three hours with a Southwest Airlines crew than an AA one any day. I log close to 100,000 miles a year in the air and I have flown both carriers numerous times. Hands down, Southwest is the better product. The only reason that AA has a dearth of the frequent fliers in this metro is because of the Wright restrictions (and SWA's unwillingness to move to DFW. I'll give you that much...) As soon as there is a viable alternative at DFW to AA, people will scatter like there's no tomorrow. AA knows that. They just don't seem to care enough to do anything proactive about it where their customers are concerned. They would rather run off the competition.

Not this guy. Even if SWA flew out of DFW, I'd still fly AA any day of the week.

[TexasPlus]

Not this guy. Even if SWA flew out of DFW, I'd still fly AA any day of the week.

Why?

[ksig121]

Truth hurts. Southwest is the problem.

Funny thing about your post is that if you actually logged that many miles per year then no airline would impress you especially southwest.

I notice customer service because of my job. Spending that much time in the air, I take customer service from the airlines very seriously. I really don't know what you were getting at about not being impressed. I'm not one of those jaded business travelers. I still get the same rush from every takeoff that I did the first time I flew. I know that delays and cancellations are part of flying. That doesn't bother me. What I notice is how the airline handles that and how they treat their customers.

I'm not old enough to remember the "glory days" of airlines when everyone was treated as if they were first class, so my frame of reference is based on flying in the past 10 years. First class on AA domestically is not that much better than the "no frills" of Southwest.

I'm a pretty short guy and I don't drink, so the free booze and added leg room isn't really that much of a value-add for me. The flight crews on Southwest are far and away more professional and personable than ANY on AA. Also, the fact that I don't have to deal with people trying to stuff bags that are clearly NOT meant to be carry-ons into the bins (which delays departure) is a big plus for me.

I am glad that AA has fans. It is a local company and I want to see it succeed. However, until they address their labor force and customer service issues, they will always be a tier lower than Southwest in my book. Take it for what it is. It's my opinion based on my experience. Maybe you have had different ones. Or maybe you're just used to being undervalued as a customer. I don't propose to know, understand or even WANT to know your thought process where AA is concerned. Just sharing my thoughts on the subject.

[mjblazin]

People with any kind of elite status, a surprisingly big number, will likely prefer American. If you are in the herd (non-elite), you'd probably prefer Southwest.

[ksig121]

I'm AAdvantage Platinum and SkyMiles Medallion Gold. (all flown miles). I STILL prefer Southwest. Of course, I'm only one, not most. I'm sure that you're probably right, though.

[UptownDallas]

Why do you blame AA for the lack of airline competition in this market?

Two reasons:

1) Everytime a carrier attempts to introduce new service and or passenger service concepts into the DFW marketplace, AA floods the route in question with a combination of excess capacity and/or fares priced below the cost of providing the product until the innovative service provider retreats, at which point AA reduces service to previous levels and elevates airfares back to ogopolistic levels; and

2) AA consistently relies on paid for politicians (Reps. Wright, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Granger and Barton) as well as Sen. Hutchison to ensure that competition is inhibited through federal laws that exempt North Texas from the benefits of the Airline Deregulation Act and Sherman Antitrust Act.

Remember that AA has been able to fly to where ever you needed to go because they have been in competition for our market since the 30’s.

True competition didn't exist in the U.S. until the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act. Even now, however, the Airline Deregulation Act doesn't apply in North Texas (due to continued lobbying by American Airlines).

In other words, AA has been a consistent enemy of competition in North Texas.

Unlike Southwest who still hides at Love Field and has denied us the effect they had on the rest of the country because of their belligerent stance towards the region concerning Love Field.

Southwest doesn't "hide" at Love Field anymore than AA "hides" at DFW, Continental "hides" at Houston Intercontinental or Southwest and JetBlue "hide" at Hobby. DFW Airport is poorly suited to efficient, low-cost air carrier operations... that's why virtually all of the most efficient discount airlines in the U.S. (including Southwest) tend to avoid operating at DFW.

Love Field is just an airport, like any other airport in the U.S.--- the only reason that it is hemmed in by competitive restrictions is the combined efforts of the City of Fort Worth, American Airlines and the DFW Airport Board--- no other airport in the country is subject to these sorts of anti-consumer, protectionist rules.

They have blackmailed this city and region for years to stay at an airport they knew by law they could not compete from.

No, they really haven't. The only reason they can't fully compete at Love Field is due to a provision that Ft. Worth's Rep. Jim Wright snuck into an aviation appropriations bill without any disclosure or debate.

They stayed and we paid.

If by "paying," you mean saving hundreds of millions of dollars per year, flying new aircraft to a variety of close in destinations and avoiding the complete decimation of the neighborhood around Love Field (which basically became a slum when all the economic activity associated with the airport moved out to DFW, enriching Irving, Grapevine, Bedford and Tarrant County at the City of Dallas' expense.

So if you want to blame an airline for the lack of airline competition in this region blame the company who is responsible –Southwest-.

Yeah, whatever. Meanwhile, over the last several decades, Southwest has grown "around" the anti-competitive restrictions in Dallas to become a far larger U.S. air carrier than American by delivering a high-quality product at a fair price (rather than by attempting to use paid-for congress critter to browbeat other carriers into submission through special favors, etc.).

[TexasPlus]

DALLAS, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO spoke at the Wings Club in New York City and shared additional details on introducing the Boeing 737-800 to the Southwest fleet.

Kelly announced the Company will substitute 20 of its 737-700 orders for -800s, with the first delivery scheduled for March 2012. With both its Pilots' and Flight Attendants' Unions ratifying their contracts to add the -800 to their current collective bargaining agreements, the Company is continuing to finalize discussions with the Boeing Company regarding substitutions of the -800s for the -700 positions, and configuration and equipage options.

"The -800 represents many exciting opportunities for our Employees and our Customers," Kelly said. "We are looking to the future and the -800 sets the stage to bring more destinations into the realm of possibilities for Southwest, to operate a more economical aircraft, and to offer better scheduling flexibility in high-demand, slot-controlled, or gate-restricted markets."

The current plan is to deliver these 20, 737-800 aircraft in full Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) configuration. The current configuration also includes the Boeing Company's Sky Interior that offers a quieter cabin, improved operational security features, and LED reading and ceiling lighting.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...111939029.html

[PuddinHead]

Two reasons:

1) Everytime a carrier attempts to introduce new service and or passenger service concepts into the DFW marketplace, AA floods the route in question with a combination of excess capacity and/or fares priced below the cost of providing the product until the innovative service provider retreats, at which point AA reduces service to previous levels and elevates airfares back to ogopolistic levels; and

2) AA consistently relies on paid for politicians (Reps. Wright, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Granger and Barton) as well as Sen. Hutchison to ensure that competition is inhibited through federal laws that exempt North Texas from the benefits of the Airline Deregulation Act and Sherman Antitrust Act.

True competition didn't exist in the U.S. until the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act. Even now, however, the Airline Deregulation Act doesn't apply in North Texas (due to continued lobbying by American Airlines).

In other words, AA has been a consistent enemy of competition in North Texas.

Southwest doesn't "hide" at Love Field anymore than AA "hides" at DFW, Continental "hides" at Houston Intercontinental or Southwest and JetBlue "hide" at Hobby. DFW Airport is poorly suited to efficient, low-cost air carrier operations... that's why virtually all of the most efficient discount airlines in the U.S. (including Southwest) tend to avoid operating at DFW.

Love Field is just an airport, like any other airport in the U.S.--- the only reason that it is hemmed in by competitive restrictions is the combined efforts of the City of Fort Worth, American Airlines and the DFW Airport Board--- no other airport in the country is subject to these sorts of anti-consumer, protectionist rules.

No, they really haven't. The only reason they can't fully compete at Love Field is due to a provision that Ft. Worth's Rep. Jim Wright snuck into an aviation appropriations bill without any disclosure or debate.

If by "paying," you mean saving hundreds of millions of dollars per year, flying new aircraft to a variety of close in destinations and avoiding the complete decimation of the neighborhood around Love Field (which basically became a slum when all the economic activity associated with the airport moved out to DFW, enriching Irving, Grapevine, Bedford and Tarrant County at the City of Dallas' expense.

Yeah, whatever. Meanwhile, over the last several decades, Southwest has grown "around" the anti-competitive restrictions in Dallas to become a far larger U.S. air carrier than American by delivering a high-quality product at a fair price (rather than by attempting to use paid-for congress critter to browbeat other carriers into submission through special favors, etc.).

Wow straight from the Wiki page. Outstanding work uptown.

Tell me how old were you in 1979 when all this occurred?

Where were you in 1979 when this all occurred?

Do you have any actual personal recollections of the events as they occurred?

[TexasPlus]

Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success

For decades, Southwest has been the airline industry’s shining performer: the company of choice for travelers, employers, and investors alike. Why? Southwest’s leaders know how to lead with love. As Southwest’s President, Colleen Barrett proved that leading with love is the non-stop route to outstanding business performance. Lead with LUV is an extraordinary, wide-ranging conversation between Barrett and Ken Blanchard, the legendary author of The One Minute Manager. Together, they reveal why leading with love is the most powerful way to lead, how to make it work wherever you are, and how it can help you achieve truly amazing results.

http://www.ftpress.com/store/product...sbn=0137039743

* Book
* ISBN-10: 0-13-703974-3
* ISBN-13: 978-0-13-703974-6
* eBook
* ISBN-10: 0-13-269349-6
* ISBN-13: 978-0-13-269349-3

I just received Colleen Barrett's new book for Christmas.
Luv the cover subtitles: "A Different Way to Create Real Success." "It Pays To Put Your People First."

[aceplace]

I just received Colleen Barrett's new book for Christmas.
Luv the cover subtitles: "A Different Way to Create Real Success." "It Pays To Put Your People First."

I thought it was the customers who come first?

Of course the phrase "It pays to put your people first" is completely illiterate. As are many company slogans that sound good and have no meaning.

[ksig121]

I thought it was the customers who come first?

Of course the phrase "It pays to put your people first" is completely illiterate. As are many company slogans that sound good and have no meaning.

What are you talking about? Do you even know or are you just talking out of the side of your neck? It's a pretty simple concept. It has been proven time and time again...

If you put your people first, they will enjoy their jobs and in turn treat your customers well. Just about every company pays some sort of lip service to the concept. There are only a few who actually do it in practice. Southwest does and it shows by how their employees treat their customers. I'll bet that to Southwest's employees that phrase has a lot of meaning.

[TexasPlus]

I thought it was the customers who come first?

Assuming you are referring to external customers, that approach simply does not work nearly as well.

Of course the phrase "It pays to put your people first" is completely illiterate.

I find this use of "illiterate", quite illiterate.

As are many company slogans that sound good and have no meaning.

No "Company slogans" or any "slogans" for that mater have any real meaning unless the Leaders actually walk the walk, and allow/encourage/enable Everyone to walk the walk.


Please give us your thoughts on "Servant Leadership".

[PuddinHead]

What are you talking about? Do you even know or are you just talking out of the side of your neck? It's a pretty simple concept. It has been proven time and time again...

If you put your people first, they will enjoy their jobs and in turn treat your customers well. Just about every company pays some sort of lip service to the concept. There are only a few who actually do it in practice. Southwest does and it shows by how their employees treat their customers. I'll bet that to Southwest's employees that phrase has a lot of meaning.

Are you trying to get a job at Southwest? Or did you fall into a vat of company kool aid?

[ksig121]

Are you trying to get a job at Southwest? Or did you fall into a vat of company kool aid?

I have a great job with another great company that believes in this philosophy. I just like giving credit where credit is due. I would rather praise Southwest than focus on the negatives of American. Look, both companies have positives and negatives. For the purposes of this recent round of conversation about the airlines, Southwest has the positive and AA has the negative. If we want to talk about non-stop routes to more destinations, then you would probably hear me speaking of American in a better tone. However, that is NOT the conversation that we are having right now.

[TexasPlus]

I have a great job with another great company that believes in this philosophy. I just like giving credit where credit is due. I would rather praise Southwest than focus on the negatives of American. Look, both companies have positives and negatives. For the purposes of this recent round of conversation about the airlines, Southwest has the positive and AA has the negative. If we want to talk about non-stop routes to more destinations, then you would probably hear me speaking of American in a better tone. However, that is NOT the conversation that we are having right now.

I applaud your attempts. However you are not actually having a conversation.... If you were to review previous posts (going back several years) you would see you are simply providing further opportunities for textual "drive by shootings".
Like many here, I predict you too will learn to simply ignore the spin, twists, exaggerations, and omission of factuality coming from a single direction.

[ksig121]

I applaud your attempts. However you are not actually having a conversation.... If you were to review previous posts (going back several years) you would see you are simply providing further opportunities for textual "drive by shootings".
Like many here, I predict you too will learn to simply ignore the spin, twists, exaggerations, and omission of factuality coming from a single direction.

Honestly, it's been slow at work and Puddin is one of those long-term projects that I take off the shelf every once in a while and work on when I have time. I know that it's probably futile, but I figure that it can only get better. Maybe at some point they'll read a logical argument and something might actually click...

Thanks for the thought, though. However, this is pure entertainment for me.

[TexasPlus]

I thought it was the customers who come first?

Of course the phrase "It pays to put your people first" is completely illiterate. As are many company slogans that sound good and have no meaning.

The real world results, well documented year after year, render comments such as this null and void.

Jacquelyn Smith 12.15.10, 12:01 AM ET

With more than 500 million active users around the globe, more than 1,700 employees and five headquarters worldwide, the social network giant Facebook now holds a new title.

Glassdoor.com, a jobs and career community where people share information and opinions about the places where they work, has just unveiled its third annual Employees' Choice Awards, which lists the top 50 best places to work based on surveys collected from employees throughout 2010. Of the 50 employers honored, 16 have been on the list for each of the last three years, but 21 are new to it this year, including the No. 1 company: Facebook.
In Pictures: The 15 Best Companies To Work For

Unlike many workplace-related awards, which require companies to self nominate, the Employees' Choice Awards rely solely on the input of employees, who anonymously provide feedback through a survey. The survey only goes to employees in the U.S., but many of the companies have workers around the world.

"The magic of Glassdoor is that we get to hear stories from employees in their own words," says Glassdoor's founder and chief executive officer, Robert Hohman. "I think, especially in times of recession, it is a worthy and noble thing to recognize companies like these. The Employees' Choice Awards is truly about what the employees think."

The ranking of the top companies was determined by taking cumulative average ratings from all the employees who responded to the 20-question survey between Dec. 1, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2010. The survey addresses eight workplace topics: work/life balance, career opportunities, communication, compensation and benefits, fairness and respect, employee morale, recognition and feedback, and senior leadership.

Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and his company withstood plenty of criticism from the public and in the press this year, but their employees give us a different picture. Facebook led the pack with an overall company rating of 4.6 out of a possible 5, while Zuckerberg himself earned a 96% approval rating from his employees.

A Facebook business analyst based in Palo Alto, Calif., who participated in the survey praised the environment, the people and the opportunities at Facebook. The employee wrote, "I really like the pace that we're working at--there's so much going on, and there's a lot of inherent trust in people to run with what they're doing. Policies and red tape in previous companies sometimes left me feeling a bit stifled about what I was able to work on and share, but there really is a sense of openness at Facebook, not only in communication but in the ability to jump into projects that call out to you as well."

It's no mystery why those employees are so happy. Paid vacation days, free food and transportation, $4,000 in cash for new parents, dry cleaning, day care reimbursement, and photo processing services are just some of the perks of working at Facebook. "I'm surprised that Facebook is debuting just this year," Hohman says. "Facebook is about pleasing its users, and employees take great pride in that. That's what makes it the best company to work for."

Southwest Airlines, which topped the 2010 list, is second in 2011, with a 4.4 company rating and a 95% approval rating for its CEO, Gary C. Kelly. With a network of nearly 35,000 employees in 35 states, Southwest prides itself on giving its workers freedom to be creative, dress casually and have fun on the job. Not to mention that employees and their spouses, eligible dependent children and parents fly for free.

A Southwest flight attendant wrote in the survey: "The company was founded on the principle that in order to succeed you need to treat your co-workers as well as your customers. This has led to industry-leading salaries, benefits and a fabulous place to work."

http://www.forbes.com/2010/12/14/bes...vey_print.html

[PuddinHead]

Social Media is the latest way for companies to craft the image they want promoted. Southwest is no different. Getting a 2nd place rating on best places to work poll means only that you had the 2nd most responders to the survey.

It should not surprise you that companies actually encourage employees to participate in such surveys. The company I work for sent emails encouraging employees to participate in the same survey with suggestions and key phrases to include. What does this all prove? Only that Southwest manages its image very well? And people buy into the image lock stock and barrel.

TP is obviously an employee which accounts for his barrage of fluff piece posts to counter the posting of an article reporting on Southwest worst rating on time rating for the latest DOT reporting period. Ksig is probably an employee too.

Well folks even Walmart says they place employees first and they even have morning pep rallies for the workers before the shifts begin. Why is Walmart the most successful retailer in the country? Because for the same reason Southwest is currently the most successful airline they are both cheap for the consumer. Not any better than their competitors only cheaper.

[Alex Rodriguez]

Social Media is the latest way for companies to craft the image they want promoted. Southwest is no different. Getting a 2nd place rating on best places to work poll means only that you had the 2nd most responders to the survey.

Please.

PuddingHead is the Jedi Master of Customer Surveys. Apparently SWA is a Sith Lord able to use the dark side to influence the Survey Company to put them at the top of this list.

SWA Sith Lord: "You don't need to see our identification."
Customer Survey dude: "We don't need to see their identification."

SWA Sith Lord: "SWA is the #2 company in the nation to work for."
Customer Survey dude: "SWA is the #2 company in the nation to work for."

SWA Sith Lord: "Move Along."
Customer Survey dude: "Move Along. Move Along."

[F4shionablecHa0s]

PuddingHead is the Jedi Master of Customer Surveys. Apparently SWA is a Sith Lord able to use the dark side to influence the Survey Company to put them at the top of this list.

It's a cry for attention. Ignore it and it'll go away, like an unruly toddler.

[PuddinHead]

Southwest Airlines flight develops hole in roof, diverts to Yuma
ByTerry Maxon/Reporter
tmaxon@dallasnews.com | Bio

9:01 PM on Fri., Apr. 1, 2011 | Permalink
A Southwest Airlines jet, a Boeing 737-300, had to dive to lower altitudes and then divert to Yuma, Ariz., after a hole developed in its roof, Southwest said Friday evening.

In a statement, Southwest said the mid-afternoon flight from Phoenix to Sacramento, Calif., developed a loss of pressurization in the cabin.

"There are no reported customer injuries," the Dallas-based carrier said. "One of the flight attendants, however, received a minor injury upon descent."



Southwest said it had sent an airplane with maintenance, ground crew and customer service employees to Yuma to look at the airplane and help handle the 118 passengers who were on board at the time of the incident.

It said it would work with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration "as they investigate this event."

The flight departed Phoenix at 3:40 p.m. and landed in Yuma around 4:30 p.m., according to FlightStats.com.

FlightAware.com data showed that the airplane was flying at 36,000 feet at 474 miles per hour when the airplane began a sudden descent at 3:59 p.m. local time -- dropping more than 21,000 feet to an altitude of 14,600 over the next two to three minutes. A minute later, it was down to 11,100. It landed in Yuma at 4:27 p.m.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the airplane made a "rapid, controlled descent from around cruising altitude to 11,000 feet."

"FAA and NTSB are investigating what caused the hole in the fuselage," Gregor said.

In a similar incident, a Southwest jet had to make an emergency landing in Charleston, W.Va., in July 2009 when that Boeing 737 developed a hole on the top of its fuselage.

As in the 2009 incident Friday's flight involved a Boeing 737-300, one of the older jets operated by Southwest. Friday's airplane was delivered in 1996, while the Charleston airplane was delivered in 1994.

Passenger tells CNN: It was a three-foot-long hole on Southwest Airlines jet
ByTerry Maxon/Reporter
tmaxon@dallasnews.com | Bio

10:16 PM on Fri., Apr. 1, 2011 | Permalink
CNN has talked to passengers on Southwest Airlines Flight 812, and they describe an ugly sight: a three-foot-long hole ripped in the top of the Boeing 737-300.

Speaking by phone from Row 11, passenger Greg Hansen told CNN:

"I heard a loud popping sound about three or four minutes before it blew open on us.
"[Then] a big explosion happened. A big noise, and from there, you felt some of the air being sucked out. It happened right behind me, in the row behind me and it covers about two and a half rows."


The CNN story also quotes a passenger named Cindy who told CNN affiliate:

"I heard a huge sound and oxygen masks came down and we started making a rapid decent. They said we'd be making an emergency landing.
"There was a hole in the fuselage about 3 feet long. You could see the insulation and the wiring. You could see a tear the length of one of the ceiling panels."


The Yuma Sun has some startling photos from a passenger aboard the airplane.

Here's a photo posted on Twitter by one passenger.





The entry "Passenger tells CNN: It was a three-foot-long hole on Southwest Airlines jet"is tagged: airlines , airplane , aviation , Boeing 737 , Boeing 737-300 , CNN , hole , Southwest Airlines , Yuma Sun

[ihavebeenseen]

http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=3222

Despite 24 Percent Fuel Price Increase, AMR Reduces 1Q Net Loss by $69 Million Versus Prior Year Period

Excluding Special Items, 1Q Net Loss Was $405 Million Compared to a Net Loss of $452 Million in 1Q 2010

AMR 1Q 2011 Revenue Was Up 9 Percent Over Same Period a Year Ago

AMR Further Reduces 2011 Capacity

Found it interesting that they have $6 billion in cash and they ordered 2 more 77W.

[TexasPlus]

Good People, Good Management, Good Service leads the way again. I never have figured out why AA needs about twice as many people per aircraft as SWA, yet they only provide mediocre service, no wonder AA loses lots of money every year.

Southwest Airlines Co. says it made money in the first quarter despite higher fuel prices.

Southwest also says it expects to close its $1.4 billion purchase of AirTran Airways on May 2, increasing Southwest's size overnight by one-fourth.

Southwest said Thursday it earned $5 million, or a penny per share. Not counting one-time costs, Southwest met Wall Street's expectations.

Of the five biggest U.S. airline companies, analysts expected only Southwest to report a first-quarter profit.

Spending on fuel jumped 26 percent from a year ago, to more than $1 billion, surpassing labor as the airline's biggest cost.

Revenue rose 18 percent, to $3.1 billion.

Southwest is doing a better job than competitors at overcoming high fuel prices with a combination of more passengers — traffic on the discount airline has been growing faster than at bigger rivals — and fare increases. Just this week, Southwest joined other airlines in raising most U.S. prices by $10 per round trip.

CEO Gary Kelly has said business travel is continuing to strengthen but that leisure passengers may be more sensitive to recent fare increases.

"As airlines try to push fares up to cover fuel costs, I think it's inevitable that you're going to see some pushback" from consumers, Kelly said Thursday on CNBC.

Southwest said that without costs for hiring consultants to advise on the AirTran purchase, it would have earned 3 cents per share. That matched the forecast of analysts surveyed by research firm FactSet.

The company expects revenue per seat mile to rise again in the second quarter. That's a measure of revenue divided by seats times miles flown, and it rose 9.2 percent in the first quarter compared with a year ago but climbed even faster at smaller JetBlue Airways.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/business/120352874.html

[PuddinHead]

Good People, Good Management, Good Service leads the way again. I never have figured out why AA needs about twice as many people per aircraft as SWA, yet they only provide mediocre service, no wonder AA loses lots of money every year.

Patronizing employees, little or no service, cheap product, short routes, customers with low expectations.

Why so few people at southwest compared to AA?

Maybe it is all the outsourcing of maintenance services overseas by your airline. Nothing like flying in a plane with a view.