Southwest Is Coming to Town!

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Thu, 11/06/2008 - 12:06 — Terry Trippler

Terry Trippler is a respected travel expert from the Twin Cities.

When Southwest Airlines announced Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) would be the next city to join their family, the Twin Cities media asked if MSP would experience the “Southwest Effect”. Coined by the Department of Transportation to describe how Southwest’s entry into a new market results in lower fares on all airlines and an overall increase in demand for air travel, the "Southwest Effect" will soon hit MSP with a vengeance.

Southwest begins service March 8, 2009 with 8 non-stops between MSP and Chicago. Fares? Southwest’s lowest fare will be about half of the current lowest MSP-Chicago fare. Will other fares drop? You can bet the rent they will.

I was in Dallas when Southwest made the announcement. I returned home to over 150 e-mails from travelers wanting to know more. When will they start? Where will they fly? How much will they charge? These folks were excited!

Southwest Airlines offers exceptional reliability, excellent service, complimentary in-flight beverages and there is no charge to check baggage (the first two bags are free). In addition to the 8 daily non-stops, travelers can take advantage of connecting flights to 56 cities throughout the United States. Does that mean that fares will drop between MSP and those 56 cities? Yep.

Like all new service, the air traveler is who decides if this new route succeeds. Judging from my e-mails, the people who stop me on the street and the airline I know Southwest Airlines to be – MSP will soon become a permanent member of the Southwest Airlines family.

Come March, you will not only be “free to move about the country,” but you will be able to afford to do it more often. See you onboard.

Terry Trippler

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Comments

I had to change my Christmas flying plans. It was a breeze. There was no extra charge, except for the difference in price.

Chris Baker — Thu, 11/06/2008 - 16:40

Great little article, I think I may just take a day trip up to MSP for Spring Break! Yes, I'm that nuts about this airline. :-P

Joseph R. Meyers

Dallas, Texas

JoeDal — Thu, 11/06/2008 - 21:22

I'm from Minnesota and I am really excited about this. I've gotten the travel bug but I can't afford to go anywhere. I love the low fares and can't wait until March.

Anonymous — Thu, 11/06/2008 - 22:17

Chris --
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh, now that you've discovered our well-kept secret, PLEASE don't go blabbing it around to everyone. If others find out that we have No Hidden Fees, then more and more people will realize what a great deal we are and will start booking reservations on our planes, which means you won't get to have all of those empty seats around you to stretch out!

Try to keep this under wraps, ok?
Kim :-)
CRBB

Kim Seale — Fri, 11/07/2008 - 09:53

Now that the MSP fares and schedule have been unveiled, I can't help be anything but disappointed. Aside from the excellent fare to MDW, everything else is as bad or worse than the "Big Boy" airline prices. I can't find a "weekend getaway" from MSP to anywhere on either coast for less than $400. In most cases the fares are well above that - closer to $600.

Looks like Southwest is doing its best to not provoke a wider fare war... and is content to simply shuttle people back and forth between MSP and MDW while it gets settled in. I hope the MDW route proves profitable and we can see service expand in the near term to the point where it may actually make sense to fly Southwest from MSP to a city other than Chicago. We're not even close to that point now, and it's a true disappointment.

Tommy M — Sat, 11/08/2008 - 10:33

I actually disagree with Tommy M. I researched several flights out east and found that Northwest was 20-30% lower than NWA.

SWA has a game plan. Within a few short years, they will add direct service and flying out of MSP will be much different than it is today.

Anonymous — Sun, 11/09/2008 - 13:05

More good news from SWA, and we can all appreciate and revel in the "Southwest Effect", when airfares drop as SWA rolls into town. Southwest really knows how to generate buzz. It's not just about a good slogan or clever marketing, it's the core business itself. Now, if only you'd come to Charlotte...

B. Whelan — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 15:03

It is so wonderful that in these hard economics times that we are seeing businesses continue to expand and grow!!

I'm also pumped that you keep the perks coming (i.e. free baggage still applies with SWA)!

Mel — Mon, 11/10/2008 - 16:51

Anybody know when southwest will post job openings for msp on their website???

amber — Tue, 11/11/2008 - 00:03

PLEASE PLEASE MORE NEWS CITES FROM DULLES AIRPORT!!! I AM disappointed We have not seen any new service from Dulles a airport SWA is already at??!

swafan08 — Wed, 12/03/2008 - 17:41

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