Southwest Airlines coming to DM

[aute19]

As far as the prices go, if you wait too long to book a flight, then no, Southwest will likely not be much (if at all) less expensive than their competition. However, if you have plans several months in advance, one-way tickets routinely start at $99 (in my experience).

I'd take a $200 round trip out of Des Moines any day, where I'm starting to pay close to $400, even booking 4+ months in advance with other airlines.

And, irrespective of any price difference, it should be nice to have more options, provided that SWA starts flying to other places direct from DSM, instead of the usual MSP, ORD, DEN, DTW.

 

[Buster28]

I have driven frequently to Omaha when I travel to the west coast, but only when it's cost-effective to do so vs flying out of Des Moines. Southwest isn't always the cheapest, but more often than not, they are if you can afford to be patient with your travel planning.

Every so often, I have found good prices on Frontier from DSM to SFO, which is obviously more convenient coming from Ames. But it's not a difficult drive to Omaha and their airport is so easy to get to (if you know where you're going), so it's been worth it a lot to make the drive.

I know a LOT of people leave Iowa to fly elsewhere, so I think when Southwest does begin service, the volume of passengers should increase in Des Moines significantly. Prices are almost always higher and more competition should force other carriers to lower their prices. Even if it's not the 40% drop that some cities have experienced (according to KCCI's report), it will be most welcomed here.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Theyre also bigger cities. I'll believe the lower prices when i see them.

It is all about volume and ironically I do have to wonder what this will means for Omaha and/or KCI. DSM prices are already a lot more competive then they were just a few years. Will bringing SWA to DSM reduce volume for the airports that people were formerly willling to drive to? KCI is probably large enough to not really notice, but I do wonder about Omaha.

Hopefully it is just a positive all around.

 

[capitalcityguy]

-- WHO

 

[isuchicago]

Think they will have a nonstop to Phoenix? That would be great

 

[twistedredbird]

Southwest has driven prices down in Milwaukee quite a bit. Many here speculated that the other airlines would go low and run SW out like they have other airlines that came in, but it is not the case. When I moved here before SW I drove to Ohare exclusively to fly because MKE flights had no direct nonstops that were cheap. Now with SW, we fly out of MKE all the time with direct nonstops.

The thing is, the may run only one or two nonstop directs a day depending on locale, but that is worth it.

Sometimes other airlines might be a smidge cheaper, but not after you factor in bag fees.

I didn't buy the hype of SW until I tried it. I was a loyal AA guy. The only gripe I had is I hated not having assigned seats.

 

[cloneteach]

Any ideas on how this will affect Allegiant out of DSM to Vegas? I am in eastern Iowa but will occasionally fly out of DSM for certain dates and prices

 

[capitalcityguy]

Any ideas on how this will affect Allegiant out of DSM to Vegas? I am in eastern Iowa but will occasionally fly out of DSM for certain dates and prices

Legit question. I've heard people worry that this could cause Allegiant to pull out of DSM leaving their cheap flights to Vegas and Orlando behind. Hopefully that wouldn't happen. Losing Frontier could be a concern too.

 

[isuno1fan]

If getting SW means DSM loses Allegiant and Frontier....I will GLADLY take that swap.

So happy about this.

 

[dmclone]

Legit question. I've heard people worry that this could cause Allegiant to pull out of DSM leaving their cheap flights to Vegas and Orlando behind. Hopefully that wouldn't happen. Losing Frontier could be a concern too.

I've used Allegiant a ton going to Vegas and I like their prices and the fights themselves have been fine but I nearly puke every time I have to use their crap web site. Tricking people is not my idea of a good business model.

I'd be happy to pay $50 more on southwest to not have to deal with Allegiant's booking.

 

[capitalcityguy]

If getting SW means DSM loses Allegiant and Frontier....I will GLADLY take that swap.

So happy about this.

It is probably fine as long as they pick up at least the same frequency of routes. Nothing is guaranteed there.

I don't know how much credit to give person from another forum, but here's his comment on SWA coming to DSM. I just don't know enough about the industry to know how much credit to provide him:

Welcome to cheap flights to Chicago and Denver and expensive flights to the west coast. Say goodby to Allegiant and their service to Orlando, Tampa, LA and Las Vegas. Also wouldn't surprise me if Frontier leaves too.

My guess would be southwest flying 3x daily to chicago-midway, 2x daily to denver and 1x daily to vegas. Possible Dallas added too in 2015 or maybe a single Phoenix flight.

 

[capitalcityguy]

Theyre also bigger cities. I'll believe the lower prices when i see them.

Metro population isnt the entire equation. There are actually more potential customers for DSM than Omaha (i.e...travelers don't just come from the metro area) . Here's a quote from a really interesting article from today's DM Register:

Smithey also presented data showing which businesses in central Iowa have operations in what parts of the country and, more important, showing a population base of more than 2 million served by the Des Moines airport.

“We didn’t have that many in Omaha,” he said.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120129/BUSINESS/301290014/1029/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+desmoinesregister%2FBusiness+%28DesMoinesRegister.com+-+BUSINESS%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher


Bottomline: we could see some pretty exciting things happening in the next few years in terms of price/service.

 

[2020cy]

It's about time, silly to have to drive to Omaha for air fares 50% less.

 

[Buster28]

Looks like Southwest is gearing up for Des Moines flights. Right now, the way I read it, is that they will offer flights only to Chicago-Midway. This doesn't look like it will start until the fall, unfortunately. Air Tran's service to Milwaukee will end at the same time Chicago flights begin. Hopefully, there will be at least one other city that Southwest will connect with from DSM.

Southwest Talks New Nonstop Service DM To... - Automotive News Story - KCCI Des Moines

 

[4429 mcc]

Looks like Southwest is gearing up for Des Moines flights. Right now, the way I read it, is that they will offer flights only to Chicago-Midway. This doesn't look like it will start until the fall, unfortunately. Air Tran's service to Milwaukee will end at the same time Chicago flights begin. Hopefully, there will be at least one other city that Southwest will connect with from DSM.

Southwest Talks New Nonstop Service DM To... - Automotive News Story - KCCI Des Moines

DSM to Midway done...nice $184 intro rate too. In comparison I just booked a flight to Chicago for $800+

AirTran/Southwest to begin D.M.-Chicago Midway service | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

 

[aute19]

Looks like Southwest is gearing up for Des Moines flights. Right now, the way I read it, is that they will offer flights only to Chicago-Midway. This doesn't look like it will start until the fall, unfortunately. Air Tran's service to Milwaukee will end at the same time Chicago flights begin. Hopefully, there will be at least one other city that Southwest will connect with from DSM.

Southwest Talks New Nonstop Service DM To... - Automotive News Story - KCCI Des Moines

I am taking a guess, but I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see SW offer service from DSM to Chicago-MDW, Denver, and maybe Phoenix.

Personally, I'd love to see them offer non-stops to Baltimore-Washington, but I highly doubt the demand is there.

 

[mj4cy]

I am taking a guess, but I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see SW offer service from DSM to Chicago-MDW, Denver, and maybe Phoenix.

Personally, I'd love to see them offer non-stops to Baltimore-Washington, but I highly doubt the demand is there.

At least you can still fly non stop to Reagan.

 

[capitalcityguy]

At least you can still fly non stop to Reagan.

yes...Delta flys it now, US Airways adding it...with additional flights per day.

US Airways plans nonstop flights
to Washington, D.C.
US Airways announced today that it will launch nonstop service from Des Moines International Airport to Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport on May 2. Last month, US Airways said it would begin nonstop flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, US Airways' largest hub, on March 25. Republic Airlines, a US Airways Express carrier, will operate daily service, with the exception of Saturdays, between Reagan National and Des Moines on dual-class 69-passenger Embraer 170 aircraft. Flights will leave Des Moines at 6 a.m. and 4:10 p.m. flights will depart Reagan National at 1:50 and 8:10 p.m.

link: Business Record Daily AM 2.13.12

 

[BigBake]

All that and first non stop offered was Chicago?!?!?

 

[Goothrey]

Just hope it is cheaper, cause flying out of Des Moines is about 3X more expensive than flying out of O'hare.