Yesterday, Southwest announced a pretty awesome offer to Atlanta residents. Fly three roundtrips and get a Companion Pass for the rest of 2015. Registration is required. Visit southwest.com/atlanta for details. That’s not a small deal. For those of you that never leave our airport, Atlanta people tend to be one of two types – ITP or OTP, that’s inside the perimeter or outside the perimeter, the soul-sucking stretch of highway that surrounds our city also known as I-285. 🙂 For the record, I’m an ITP guy, but I do occasionally venture out. One thing I noticed on my drive about town today is that Southwest has purchased most of the available billboard advertising available. OK, “most” may be an exaggeration, but believe me when I say that they have dropped some marketing money into Atlanta of late.
All of this has left me to wonder what will Delta do? It’s no secret that this is Delta’s hometown and largest hub. Delta’s schedule frequency is far better than Southwest’s, but I can’t help but think that Southwest’s latest marketing efforts are going to have some kind of an impact. While I suspect that Delta sees its core local customers as not likely to defect to Southwest, I have to wonder if all the changes at SkyMiles will lead some to flirt with Southwest? Delta has the local corporate market locked up I’m sure, but what about everyone else?
I’m going to speculate that Delta sits tight for now to see if they notice any market share shift locally? If they do, look for some kind of promotion in our future here in Atlanta. Do you think Delta will respond in some way to Southwest’s latest Atlanta campaign? What do you think they’ll do?
-MJ, February 14, 2015
A mostly DL flyer here, based in ATL. I had already begun the switch to SW & AA, where it made sense, over the past couple months. A week ago, I flew SFO-ATL non-stop on SW as it was $200 cheaper than DL and I had zero chance, even as a platinum Medallion, of getting an upgrade on DL. That is something I would not have even considered one year ago. I will be completing the three round trips on Southwest to earn the companion pass and will continue to move my business away from Delta, again, whenever it makes… Read more »
I 100% disagree with Delta Points. His bitterness clouds his judgement at times. Delta very much cares about the occasional traveler. An airline can not make it and sure as heck can’t grow carrying only high paying flyers. I have no doubt Southwest will succeed with this promo.
When I was commuting to Atlanta in 2010-11, the only time I got a break on DL prices was when AirTran had a sale, it got to the point that I only monitored AirTran fares. At the time, economy was down, and Delta was not so explicit of its disdain for the 99%.
Stefan,
It really doesn’t seem so long ago that we first met at Dantanna’s! But my gosh, how much things have changed.
I’ve also noticed WN’s increased billboard presence as of late. Interesting, though, because just up until their recent push, they had outdated marketing around the city (i.e. Advertising new DAL service beginning early November, etc). Will be curious to see what the big D does. P.S. – OTP. 🙂
I pack my passport to go out there Disco. 😛
No No No, hate to call you you out on this one. Let me explain.
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Delta hates those gate lice who pay too little and are happy to see them go to Southwest.
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Delta also hates everyone else as is seen by hiding the award calendar.
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Delta only loves those who spend WAY to much blindly and will redeem SkyRubles at any price. Those folks they will fight for by, uh, flying on time? 😉