You are now free to book WestJet flights through a link that is available on southwest.com -- check it out here! As was previously written about in July by my colleague, Richard Sweet, we are very excited to eventually enter a codeshare partnership with the Canadian airline WestJet. And while it won’t be until late 2009 before we can begin offering Customers a seamless travel experience via our codeshare, we have officially embarked on our first important step toward this relationship with our friends north of the border.
It’s no secret that we constantly strive to make our web site friendly, fast, and convenient, and we’re always looking for ways to provide additional offerings, whether they be through our hotel, rental car, credit card, or cruise ship partners. And beginning today, we are very proud to offer a link on southwest.com to book WestJet flights.
So, whether you want to see some “real” hockey, ski, hike, or just want to get away, eh, our friends from WestJet can help you explore the Northern Country. Oh, and bring a jacket…I hear it gets cold there in the winter!
Comments
Baby steps...
You should change the starburst "NEW" graphic on the Canada tab to a maple leaf. :)
This is great news - the affiliation makes sense and we are looking forward to supporting the partnership as we do WestJet.
www.tripquips.com
It all sounds good...but I'm so so disappointed SWA won't fly their own red bellied worriors ;(
Sad day for the hardworking employees who made this a great place to work and now get to see their jobs and livilihood outsourced to a foreign carrier.
Truly sad how the GO feels about growing someone else at our expense and stepping over dollars to make pennies. They will rue the day...
Herb must be livid.
Brand dilution? The WJ product is one, if not the best in "low cost" world. If nothing else, it will put pressure on SWA to step things up.
Growing another airline? WestJet growth plans have been in place long before the partnership was put in place. None of it was predicated on a hook up w/ Southwest, so need need to believe you're growing another airlines operations...you're not.
What this will do is open up each others networks to more customers/guests with almost no risk or additional cost. Very simple and smart.
What about the growth prospects for SWA when your customers can fly from YYC-YYZ and SWA can collect revenue from the seat? Good luck flying that route...it can't happen!
All this growing others rhetoric is nothing but contract posturing and is very transparent.
This is certainly NOT a short sited move but rather one which will hopefully keep both airlines doing what they both do best - servicing the flying public - the code share should increase the opportunity for customers from either the United States or Canada, to travel and support both Southwest and WestJet who have historically made my journeys more pleasant
An arrangement this anemic isn't even worth the disk space and bandwidth to post on the internet. An airline that has built itself in the worlds #1 airline (temporarily #2) should be able to to better than this. Come back with something that offers:
1) Baggage interlining between Southwest & West Jet
2) Linkage between Southwest & WestJet itineraries -- If one delivers you late to your connection with the other, your rebooking (and if necessary temporary accommodations) should be guaranteed.
3) RR participation
What I read on your website just now is Dead on Arrival as far as I am concerned.
Most of the employees aren't upset by the YYC-YYZ routes that cannot be flown by SWA, but by the routes that could be flown by our aircraft. In regard to the number of passengers we fly yearly, the number added by Westjet will be small compared to what SWA will give to the equation thereby allowing Westjet (a potential competitor if cabotage occurs) to grow at a higher rate than if SWA wasn't providing access to it's huge number of pax. This growth will be fueled by SWA employees, past and present.
Either sign your REAL name or quit your crying. You won't put your real name why? In my opinion, the Westjet deal will take NO SWA jobs. SWA would not go to Canada on its own, at least for a long time. If anything, there is a chance it may create a couple of SWA jobs in cities where the flights are operating from. I think it is a great deal for both companies. The only thing that even comes close to upsetting me is the fact this codeshare keeps getting pushed back.
DON K
Don,
Why wouldn't SWA fly to Canada for "a long time"? Is there not a market from Toronto to LA? I understand Edmonton to Saskatoon may not be a market for SWA right now. Once cabatoge goes through, that's another story, but why would WestJet fly Toronto to LA, for example, but not SWA?
By giving Westjet access to the millions of passengers we fly each year it stagnates the growth of seniority lists because we aren't buying more airplanes to fly those passengers. Thereby losing a chance for a better schedule and upgrade in position and bringing on NEW employees. Many employees came here BECAUSE it was a growth airline and all the benefits being a growth airline brings.
WestJet is a great airline, I'm sure. It is nothing personal in regards to the WestJet deal. Employees feel betrayed by ANY type of codeshare that SWA has the physical ability to fly.
Why wouldn't we codeshare with Delta to London, Prague, Africa etc. THOSE are places SWA will not service any time soon. This is a bad strategic decision in the LONG TERM, IMO.
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