Air Canada

[DanJ]

Interesting that nobody has commented on this so I will. WestJet started out as a lo-cost carrier modelled on Southwest. Host Mike wanted a two hour flight and WestJet was $2 cheaper. Two measly bucks? Why wasn't it half the price? Compare Ryanair and BA for any trip you like. It can vary a lot but Ryanair comes in at one third of the BA price and they make a profit. WestJet has lost the plot. They look more like Air Canada every day. Daft b*gg*rs.

 

How much more would that route that Host Mike wanted cost if WS wasn't on it at all? Just like the Southwest Effect in the US, there are plenty of routes in Canada where the fares come down because WestJet starts serving them after Air Canada had gouged for years.

 

As for Ryanair, maybe they need to be a third of BA's cost to get people on their planes. Of course, they are also competing against a pretty efficient rail system in Europe.

[em-sk]

How much more would that route that Host Mike wanted cost if WS wasn't on it at all? Just like the Southwest Effect in the US, there are plenty of routes in Canada where the fares come down because WestJet starts serving them after Air Canada had gouged for years.

 

As for Ryanair, maybe they need to be a third of BA's cost to get people on their planes. Of course, they are also competing against a pretty efficient rail system in Europe.

 

Ryan Air charges for checked baggage and a host of other things. I believe they also charge to use airport check-in etc. Nasty behavior.

 

WestJet is also starting to integrate with other airlines. They now codeshare with American Airlines, Delta, KLM, Cathay, etc. As soon as they start to integrate their systems with other airlines there costs go up. Companies like Southwest and Ryanair don't codeshare or interline. I think a better comparison for WestJet is Alaska Airlines.

[Zach1213]

Ryan Air charges for checked baggage and a host of other things. I believe they also charge to use airport check-in etc. Nasty behavior.

If it was so nasty, people wouldn't fly them. However, because price is the #1 deciding factor for most people, Ryanair is able to offer cheap base fares and bring people in. People complain about Ryanair all the time, yet they are still in business after all these years...that means people like to complain, but it won't steer them away from giving them their hard earned money.

[calliopecruiser]

If it was so nasty, people wouldn't fly them.

 

Sure they would, because a lot of people will accept a lot of nasty behaviour if it saves them a buck. They don't recognize value, only price.

[FlyerTalker]

They don't recognize value, only price.

We have a winner in the quote of the week competition.

[scottbee]

If it was so nasty, people wouldn't fly them. However, because price is the #1 deciding factor for most people, Ryanair is able to offer cheap base fares and bring people in. People complain about Ryanair all the time, yet they are still in business after all these years...that means people like to complain, but it won't steer them away from giving them their hard earned money.

 

Comparing a base fare is almost completely useless these days. Airlines unbundle to make their fares to 'appear' cheap, and once you've locked into it, they sucker you with all sorts of charges for "booking convenience fee", "carry on bag fee", "checked bag fee" etc etc. There are two people at fault here, firstly the unsavvy traveler, and secondly the consumer protection departments who don't enforce their rules regarding advertising.

 

Air Canada charge a 'fuel surcharge'. Would it surprise you to know that on some transatlantic routes the fuel surcharge exceeds the airlines total fuel per seat cost?