It’s open season on Southwest Airways, as rivals and different firms have thrown shade at SWA for throwing out its distinctive and fan-friendly decades-old playbook to undertake new insurance policies similar to each different airline. One week later, it’s gone past barbs on social media, as one rival airline is courting spurned Southwest followers.
In case you missed it, Southwest introduced final week that it could finish its long-standing “luggage fly free” coverage for many passengers. The transfer is one in every of a number of controversial adjustments on the airline, that additionally contains the addition of premium seating, finish of open seating, devalued factors, finish of “wanna get away” fares with out change charges, introduction of fundamental economic system, and extra. All of this has prompted pushback (to place it mildly) from some loyal Southwest flyers.
For our half, we wrote Is Bob Chapek Working (and Ruining) Southwest Airways?! Clearly, he isn’t, however essentially the most apt technique to describe the SWA adjustments is “Chapekian.” The Walt Disney World fan-favorite airline is altering all the things that made Southwest, Southwest. It’s voluntarily giving up its distinct model benefit and squandering a long time of goodwill within the span of days with a purpose to be similar to each different airline and chase a nonexistent class of shopper.
Unsurprisingly, one competing airline has stepped as much as fill the hole. Frontier Airways took a swipe on the strategic shift by Southwest Airways to begin charging for seat assignments and checked baggage by doing the alternative. Right here’s the complete announcement:
Some airways have modified. They’ve raised charges, taken away perks, and made journey really feel like a one-sided relationship. In case your airline is treating you want an afterthought, perhaps it’s time to file for divorce. Frontier is right here for the rebound – providing a contemporary begin with an unbeatable deal.
For all bookings for nonstop journey beginning as we speak by means of August 18, 2025, clients can obtain the Economic system Bundle for FREE, with perks vacationers love, together with a free carry-on bag, free seat choice, and free flight adjustments. Plus, Frontier is throwing in a free checked bag for flights departing Could 28 by means of August 18, 2025 with promo code FREEBAG! Fares begin as little as $39 every method. To make the most of this supply, bookings have to be made by March 24, 2025.
“We’ve at all times had coronary heart,” mentioned Barry Biffle, CEO, Frontier Airways. “Some airways are strolling away from what vacationers love, however we’re working in the direction of it. Consider this as the final word ‘divorce your previous airline’ deal. If vacationers present us the love, we’ll make these perks everlasting.”
Love This Frontier Deal? Make It Final!
Assist Frontier write the following chapter of a traveler-airline love story. If vacationers present that they love this deal, Frontier would possibly simply make it everlasting. The extra individuals who leap on board, the higher the probabilities of making this the brand new regular with Frontier, in keeping with the airline.
“On the finish of the day, vacationers simply need to be valued,” mentioned Biffle. “We’re bringing again the issues individuals love about flying – free luggage, free seat choice, and suppleness – with out the additional charges. No video games, simply nice worth.”
Frontier Airways has launched sweeping adjustments to its product and customer support choices, ushering in ‘The New Frontier.’ Among the many enhancements is UpFront Plus seating, an upgraded seating possibility with further leg and elbow room within the first two rows of the plane. Clients in UpFront Plus take pleasure in a window or aisle seat with further legroom and a assured empty center seat.
Within the coming months, Frontier Airways will introduce free, limitless companion journey for its most loyal clients. Debuting in late 2025, Frontier can even start providing First Class seating on each flight, combining unmatched consolation and area at Frontier’s trademark inexpensive costs.
Frontier continues to innovate with its industry-leading frequent flyer program, FRONTIER Miles, which permits clients to ‘Get It All For Much less.’ Members earn miles rapidly and get rewarded for every greenback spent on Frontier merchandise. Miles accrue primarily based on {dollars} spent with an ordinary 10X multiplier: $1 = 10 miles, with multipliers growing at each elite stage as much as 20X.
Elite standing is attainable at solely 10,000 miles and gives perks comparable to precedence boarding, seat choice and free bag(s) relying on standing stage. Just like the airline, FRONTIER Miles can be household pleasant, providing simple household pooling of miles making it easy for households to take pleasure in rewards collectively. Becoming a member of is free.
Our Commentary
I’ve been considering lots about Southwest Airways’ bombshell announcement and paradigm-shifting information over the course of the final week. Generally there’s an inclination to overreact to adjustments, particularly these made by beloved manufacturers with loyal fan followings and plenty of nostalgia. There’s consolation within the acquainted, and discomfort within the unknown.
In the case of Walt Disney World, I attempt to be cognizant of this, additionally contemplating the counterfactuals or how informal shoppers differ from followers. It’s simple to be a part of an echo chamber, particularly as a fan writing a web site for fellow followers. Good examples of this occurred with the strikes away from FastPass+ or digital queues, each of which rewarded higher-knowledge visitors on the expense of first-timers. Was I falling into this similar entice with the Southwest adjustments?
The extra I considered it, the much less I assumed it was an overreaction. Truthfully, I’m unsure that it’s potential to overreact to the Southwest adjustments. Nicely, I imply, one thing like a starvation strike or switching to Spirit would possibly qualify. However relating to phrases on the web, I believe most reactions are in all probability throughout the realm of affordable.
Southwest was beforehand a textbook instance of carving out a distinct segment in a aggressive {industry}, creating shopper goodwill and fostering a fandom. Fairly actually a textbook instance–I bear in mind studying concerning the airline’s distinct ethos and its charismatic founder, Herb, in enterprise programs. Now, it looks like the ‘underneath new administration’ airline is dead-set on being a case research in future enterprise textbooks…for the precise reverse cause.
Frankly, I hold anticipating a “we’re listening and studying” e mail from Southwest Airways any day now, strolling again among the adjustments. I doubt they’ll undo the entire injury, because the activist buyers calling the photographs are involved in short-term acquire, even when it causes the corporate long-term ache.
It’s thus no shock one other airline would dip its toes in the old fashioned Southwest Airways enterprise mannequin, and even much less shocking that airline can be Frontier. I’ll be sincere: I’m no fan of Frontier. Beforehand, I’ve written that Frontier’s angle appears to be “the shopper is a burden who must be grateful to reach inside 6-8 weeks of supposed departure.”
I’ve additionally written that my points with Frontier stem from the corporate nickel and diming passengers, with a aim of extracting as a lot cash as potential from shoppers with insurance policies that aren’t at all times clear and generally really feel hostile in the direction of flyers. I make the error of flying Frontier about each different 12 months, enticed by a low fare as soon as my earlier damaging expertise is sufficiently out of thoughts. Therefore the road above.
What I’ve additionally seen about Frontier is that the airline has character and appeal. From the lovable critters gracing the planes to the intelligent campaigns, Frontier has at all times been an airline that I’ve needed to love. The “solely” stumbling block to that has been…the whole lot of their service and flyer expertise. Only a minor element.
Clearly, that’s really lots to vary. However it feels like that’s precisely what’s taking place with this announcement–eliminating the nickel & diming practices that typified Frontier, even when quickly. It will make full sense for a competitor to fill the hole vacated by Southwest and seize its clientele. If Frontier Airways’ company tradition already matches its cute animals and acerbic emails, maybe it’s potential.
Perhaps gaining a few of SWA’s loyal followers will create a constructive suggestions loop that lifts up Frontier. It will be fairly the plot twist if Frontier has such an overwhelmingly constructive response to this promo that they do as teased, and make these adjustments everlasting and turn into the new old fashioned SWA.
If there’s something Southwest Airways has taught us, it’s that manufacturers can do full 180s in a single day. I’m not about to hurry out and e-book a flight on Frontier (I haven’t forgotten my final unhealthy flight with them…but), however I’ll definitely be watching, and wouldn’t rule it out. On the very least, competitors is nice for shoppers–simply as is the case between Common Orlando and Walt Disney World!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Resorts Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
Ideas about Frontier aiming to draw alienated Southwest followers? Would you turn from SWA to Frontier Airways in the event that they made these insurance policies everlasting? Prepared to roll the cube on Frontier in the course of the promotional interval? Do you might have a favourite airline? Any particular airline you dislike? Ideas on the totally different airfare search engines like google and yahoo or reserving websites? What about websites (like Airfarewatchdog) to observe for warm offers on flights? Any questions on what we lined? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share within the feedback beneath!
