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Posted Sept 1, 2010
The big news from last week was not that United and Continental passed Department of Justice scrutiny. It was that they did it by giving Southwest an incredible gift. In a behind-the-scenes deal, Southwest was granted 36 slots at Newark from Continental as part of a slot divestiture that cleared the merger of the DOJ's one area of concern. As a result, the DOJ dropped anti-trust proceedings and the merger has cleared a major hurdle on its way to approval.
Posted Aug 13, 2010
After Rearden Commerce announced plans to provide clients access to Southwest Airlines fares and inventory, Rearden vice president of worldwide sales Tony D'Astolfo noted a "slightly" higher transaction fee than bookings on other carriers. Why? Neither company would say.
Posted Jul 9, 2010
What do the airline execs think of Google's planned acquisition of ITA Software? They're not really saying, and in many cases they probably don't know. Contacted Wednesday, most carriers declined to comment, although Lufthansa and Southwest Airlines offered some words.
Posted Mar 31, 2010
What do you think of the new Southwest TV ads with ramp workers taking off their shirts and exposing their painted chests spelling out "Bags Fly Free"? I bet you can guess that I think they are just terrible. There must be a more creative way of telling the world that Bags Fly Free on Southwest Airlines. All I could think of when I saw the ad was the movie "Braveheart" when the Scots lifted their kilts to show the British what they thought of British rule. In years past I have always liked Southwest's ads. This one has to be their worst.
Posted Jan 6, 2010
As we all know the travel industry in particular (and most all other industries for that matter) face some real challenges in 2010. Before we get started on my best guesses for what 2010 will bring the travel industry, we should first examine my best guesses from last year.
Posted Dec 16, 2009
Southwest Airlines ranked first on Glassdoor.com's list for 2010 of the 50 best places to work, "selected by the people who know these companies best--their employees," according to Glassdoor. Fellow travel industry companies Continental Airlines placed eighth and Marriott snuck in at 50th.
Posted Oct 21, 2009
Wanna get Southwest to begin service to your city? Wanna write a check?
If some of you are scratching your heads over the news that Southwest Airlines is going to start service from "Northwest Florida's New International Airport near Panama City, Florida" in May 2010, all one needs to do is take a look at the fine print in an SEC filing from the St. Joe Company -- a major land developer in the Florida panhandle.
Posted Oct 15, 2009
This morning Southwest Airlines kicked off the third quarter earnings parade for the things with wings.
The bulk of the sector reports earnings next week.
Excluding items, the airline reported a profit of 3 cents a share. This was a bit better than the street consensus, which had forecast the airline would post a profit, excluding items of two cents.
Posted Oct 14, 2009
TripWare, whose Microsoft Outlook-based booking tool we spotlighted in The Beat in August, may have put a foot in its mouth with this press release which stated that the company has "a clear advantage" over online travel agencies because it offers Southwest Airlines. Well, no it doesn't. At least, that's what Southwest corporate sales and distribution director Rob Brown suggested when I talked to him last week ...
Posted Sept 25, 2009
The Beat's readers named Southwest Airlines the 2009 Supplier Of The Year, ProMedia.travel announced Wednesday during The Beat Live.
Polled this summer, readers of The Beat were asked which company in each of six supplier segments they "most admire for its policies, management style and service for business clients." Those who voted for their own company were disqualified.
Other winners included:
• American Express for most admired payment system
• Hertz for most admired car rental company
• Marriott International for most admired hotel company
• Concur as most admired technology provider
• Continental Airlines as most admired airline
• BCD Travel as the most admired travel management company
(from left) ProMedia.travel CEO Tim Reid, Southwest Airlines corporate sales and distribution director Rob Brown and The Beat founder Jay Campbell
(from left) The Beat founder Jay Campbell, Concur director of travel and industry relations Suzanne Fletcher and ProMedia.travel CEO Tim Reid
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