I see this as good news. SWA has the best customer service in the business and AirTran's has always been subpar in my experiences.

"Sure, there's Reagan National, but who wants to drive down there?"

On the flip side, DC-area residents are tired of driving up to BWI to use Southwest. If BWI improved public transportation, it might be a different story.

I've always had great experiences with AirTran. For my most frequent destination - Milwaukee - they beat Southwest by a few bucks on price, and have FAR superior flight schedules.

Not to mention the fact that AirTran is far more transparent since they actually make it easy to compare fares/schedules on search aggregator sites!!!

Sounds like a solid opportunity for JetBlue to increase its presence at BWI. Unfortunately for customers, JetBlue doesn't have many destinations in the middle of the country. They do fly to most of the Florida destinations.

@ DC-Southwest, What is wrong with the public transportation at BWI?

There's already a DC Metro Bus that comes up to BWI. It will pick up and drop off at the Greenbelt Metro Station I believe. There is rail service at the Amtrak station that is served by shuttle to and from the airport. Any taxi will take you to BWI from D.C. So what exactly is the problem?? And why is it BWI's problem to fix?? It would seem that MTA or Wash Metro would be the ones who need to increase service, wouldn't it??

Yea, seriously. MARC, Amtrack, MTA Light Rail, and WMATA B30 bus access to BWI. Seems pretty darn transit friendly.

BWI will likely see flight options continuing to increase post-merger. Both Airtran and Southwest are profitable at BWI; this is definitely *not* Southwest buying Airtran so they can raise fares & cut capacity to make money. They already make money and both have been *growing* fast and profitably. Airtran built its business at BWI by flying where Southwest doesnt. Sure, some flights will consolidate in those common markets mentioned and we'll see some fare increases, but they'll probably have to connect A/B and D somehow as they continue to grow.

The airlines not only competed on price, they competed on service. AirTran had a dual-class option and pre-assigned seating. Southwest has made it clear they will eliminate that when they take over AirTran. I'm sure they'll be busy ripping out the XM radios, too. There's a reason why many of us chose AirTran over Southwest out of BWI on routes where we had a choice.

I can only hope that this consolidation will make it more attractive for jetBlue and Virgin America to aggressively expand. Someone needs to provide the flying public with a few more amenities than a seat, a coke, and a stroll down memory lane with a color scheme out of 1974.

A stranglehold? Of GREAT customer service. This is great news.

I feel like Southwest is the google of flights (a few years ago). Everyone knows they're getting too big and taking over too many routes/airports, etc. But they're so darn good, that we're willing to trust them and keep on giving them our business.

@ SCOTT
@ D
@ JB

I am not saying that this is BWI's problem or responsibility. I agree that WMATA should improve service, especially on the poorly run B30 line. But why would I want to use BWI when Reagan/National has a metro stop right outside the concourse that makes the trip 45 minutes, and costs under $3 (while the B30 ride alone is $6)?

WMATA: The metrobus takes (optimally) 40 minutes to get to Greenbelt, although it frequently takes longer. Then you're looking at potentially another 30-60 minutes on the metro to get to your stop, depending on when you're traveling and whether you have to change trains. Also, the B30 runs only every 40 minutes, and frequently cannot accommodate all of the passengers waiting to get onto it. I live in Bethesda. The minimum amount of time this method could take is: 0 minutes (wait time for B30) + 40 min (B30 ride) + 50 min (metro ride) = 1 hr 30 min.
max: 40 minutes (wait time for B30) + 60 min (B30 ride) + 90 min (metro ride) = 3 hr 10 min.
Either of these ride lengths are long after sitting on an airplane for hour(s)

AMTRAK: Disqualifying the $39 and $45 trains because of price, you can catch an amtrak about once every 50 minutes from the airport to union station on a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes or so. Then, it's a 40 minute ride. Then, the metro ride (for me) is about 30 minutes. That's 1 hr 20 min. minimum or 2 hr. 10 min. maximum (not counting the amount of time it would take to transfer to the metro at Union Station). Not too bad, but convenience wise, it doesn't beat the metro to Reagan, especially since you have to wait 50 minutes for the next Amtrak train if you miss one.

MARC train: only runs in the morning and evening, limiting convenience.

Taxis and shuttles are not public transportation.

The public transportation options to the BWI airport for D.C. residents are not good compared to Reagan National. I hazard a guess that at least 50% of BWI's Southwest traffic is accounted for by D.C.-area residents (since Washington's metro population is twice that of Baltimore's), so why should we have to put up with a comparatively inaccessible airport? Going back to my original reason for responding to this blog post, this may not be a good deal for Baltimoreans, but it is a great deal for Washingtonians.

@dc-southwest: I'd have to disagree with your guess as to where most of the BWI travelers come from being 50/50 split between D.C. and Baltimore, based on the relative ratios of their populations. Given that D.C. has two large, world-class airports already within a short distance, it stands to reason that a significant number of the air-going public is using them, rather then going to BWI. They (you) have more options, compared to anyone north of D.C.

I use AirTran over SW for the ability to pick my seat when booking my flight. I have also found AirTran on many flights from BWI to Ft. Meyers cheaper than SW fares.
Thiswill truly be a monopoly, not only causing fares to rise, but locking all of us into services that we do not want.
Anti-trust dept., do your job and veto the plan.

SEC? Unaltered? What?! Do you actually read the stuff you write? You mentioned 12 cities to which both carriers fly That's 10% of the combined 120+ cities they currently service - the SEC does not operate in a vacuum and worry only about the citizens of Baltimore. Unlike you, they look at the big picture! SWA continues to prove that they are run by smart business people who understand consumer demand and market forces.

Very interesting!! Since AirTran has a presence at Reagan and Southwest doesn't, and since AirTran and Southwest both have a presence at Dulles, it's pretty easy to figure out what Southwest is up to at least in this part of the Mid Atlantic Region. Southwest has been losing passengers to Reagan and Dulles for the last 6-8 years to the likes of Independence Air, Air Tran, Jet Blue, Frontier, etc. That's why they had to get into Dulles. Now they'll sew up Reagan. The DC Metro's expansion to Dulles will only enhance Southwest's business there. Gone are the glory days at BWI when, if you lived in PA, DC or VA, you had to come to BWI to fly Southwest. No more. There will be no connection between A/B and D at BWI because SW won't need it. They will be dropping flights at BWI, adding flights at Reagan, Dulles and Phila., and increasing fares at each airport. Why?? Because they will have eliminated their only real competitor.

"@dc-southwest: I'd have to disagree with your guess as to where most of the BWI travelers come from being 50/50 split between D.C. and Baltimore, based on the relative ratios of their populations. Given that D.C. has two large, world-class airports already within a short distance, it stands to reason that a significant number of the air-going public is using them, rather then going to BWI. They (you) have more options, compared to anyone north of D.C."

A few points in response:

People living in the Baltimore area definitely have fewer airport options. However, Baltimore doesn't need access to three airports. D.C. can support the use of three airports.

Dulles is a non-option for many Washingtonians for the same reasons that BWI is a non-option. Reagan National is not a long haul airport, nor does it serve many destinations.

Southwest is not just another airline that gets compared when people are shopping for flights. It usually has the lowest fares as well as one of the best frequent flier programs, so its customers are unusually dedicated.

My population assumption is fine. Based on population, 66% of BWI fliers should come from D.C. You are correct that D.C. does have two additional airports, which is why I discounted my estimate to 50%. In 2002, 47% of BWI users came from the D.C. area, while only 28.9% came from the Baltimore area: http://www.baltometro.org/publications/bwi-airport-survey-2002.

In a 2007 survey (http://tinyurl.com/39mbrwp), 37% of local passengers used BWI, more than National (37%) or Dulles (27%). BWI is a great airport, but not convenient to public transportation for D.C. people, which this same report also shows.

Thus, BWI is popular, used more by Washingtonians than Baltimoreans, and is inconvenient for D.C. people. In summary, D.C. residents should have easier access to Southwest Airlines because it is a fantastic airline. This will be accomplished by their move into Reagan National.

(continued from earlier comment) Another interesting fact is that about two years ago Southwest muscled the State of Maryland into revising their Memorandum of Understanding (lease agreement). The State had no choice in the matter because of a breach of contract which they committed during the Ehrlich Administration and which only got worse in the O'Malley Administration. This revision substantially reduced the lease term from at least 20 years to only 5 AND reduced their obligation to gate space financed by the taxpayers of Maryland. It also gave Southwest considerable concessions on rent, and, it is believed, put the State financially at risk by terminating the very lease agreement that secured the bond financing for the construction of the new Southwest Terminal building. Of course you never read about this because it was concealed. So now Southwest has BWI by the you-know-whats. As more gate space becomes available in Dulles, Reagan and Phila. (and it will) where most of SW's opportunity for growth exists and where they will be greeted as a conquering hero, BWI will be left with the spoils. Thanks Bob Ehrlich for your business friendly tactics and reckless mismanagement of one of the state's most important generators of real revenue. Because of your personal greed, you killed the goose that laid the golden egg. Omelets anyone??

It has been great having two lost cost carriers serve BWI for the past 9 years. I will miss AirTran. I predict there will be some temporary dwindling of passenger levels when Southwest acquires AirTran and cuts some routes/redundancy. However, all of the AirTran service is going to have to move into the Southwest terminals and that is going to free up 9 gates in Terminal D. Just like when USAirways pulled out in 2001 and AirTran "back-filled" their presence, someone will move into Terminal D and do the same thing. It will most likely be Virgin America or else JetBlue will expand their presence at BWI. Either way, within 12 months of the merger, some other brand will increase their presence. I hope it's not Spirit Airlines. The opportunity is just too big and important.

I am sad to see this merger coming. I am a frequent flyer who has virtually stopped flying SW. Despite what other posters have said, on all of my recent trips (over 3 years worth) other airlines have been SW price (even after adding bag fees and the like). They ceased being the lowest price option for me ages ago. In addition I HATE the cattle call seating. Avoiding it was enough to make me pay extra. in addition, I liked Airtran's business class and ability to purchase upgrades at the gate. I have had terrible run ins with SW customer service, most notably in 20007 when they lost my bag forever - as in never found or returned- and 2008 when, during an August down-pouring rain that delayed then canceled my flight requiring me to sleep in the airport all night, they left the entire flight's bags on the tarmac for about 10 hrs to be soaked through by the rain- ruining clothes and other belongings and were completely unapologetic about it.

The things I like about Airtran will be truly missed if phased out.

Smitty: Don't hold your breath!! The airline industry is in the tank and, for the most part, very unprofitable. AirTran wasn't afraid to take on SW because they knew how to compete with them - and did. Because AirTran was so successful and SW knew they stood in the way, SW had no choice but to buy them if they wanted to eliminate their competition. The other low fare carriers arent' going to want AirTran's gates at BWI because they know SW will pulverize them. Keep your eye on the Board of Public Works agenda. You will likely see some interesting contract revisions at BWI.

dc-southwest -
I worked at BWI and 50% of the market. It's more like 27%.

Besides, with the afore mentioned response, why should BWI and the State of MD pay for additional transit options for DC area redidents when you stated there are other otions.

dc-southwest,

Re-check your MARC timetables. Trains run all day, 5 days a week (yes weekend service would be fantastic).

Also, I really see nothing wrong with a columnist from the BALTIMORE Sun stating it's a pain to get to DC airports vs. BWI.

I've refused to fly AirTrans after a bad landing in Atlanta that I was certain was going to kill me and the cockpit did not even acknowledge or apologize for it despite it being so bad that the flight attendants were also terrified.

Now that I am moving to Miami in January, I am worried what a merger will do to the $74 fares that will let me fly "home" whenever I want. I had already planned to fly in and out of FLL despite it being a 40 minute drive from South Beach in order to take advantage of those great Southwest fares.

Does Southwest not service Reagan National anymore? I know they used to because my grandparents would take Southwest out of Midway when they would come to Baltimore to visit. Granted, this was quite a few years ago when Southwest didn't service BWI, so I was just wondering if service was stopped at National.

BWI has convenient access via public transportation for those that live within a subway ride of Greenbelt as does National Airport. Neither is without problems as both can be very expensive now ($6 on the B30 bus is exorbitant as is $5.20 from Glenmont to National during rush hour on the Metrorail). The B30 usually takes 35 minutes but also usually leaves 5 minutes late and although sometimes crowded I have never been passed by a full bus. The Metro can also be packed and subject to delays. I think that there is certainly room for improvement in transit options (like running MARC trains throughout the day and on weekends and increasing frequency of the B30 and reversing the fare doubling of earlier this year) but in this age of government austerity I certainly don't expect any improvement in public transit anytime soon. Most people won't use public transit to get to the airport anyway.

Airfare is the most important factor in airport choice for many and I would take the long public transit trek from Baltimore to National if it saved me $100 but it's usually the folks in DC that will save that $100 by coming to BWI.

I think this merger would be bad for fares in the region and hope it is not allowed. I actually think it will be bad for Southwest as well. Air Tran uses different aircraft and serves several smaller airports like Tunica, MS and Flint, MI which are a departure for Southwest's business model. I totally disagree with Mr. Hancock's assertion that Southwest has grown as much as it can alone. It simply can expand as it did to BWI and add a few flights to cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Honolulu, Cincinnati, Memphis, San Juan, PR and gradually expand service to these markets. After establishing a presence in these large markets it could expand to Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Alaska and other smaller regional airports in parts of the USA.not yet served like Columbia, SC, Portland, ME, Charleston, WV, Des Moines, IA, Billings, MT, and Bakersfield, CA. Expanding in the way it has in the past and not by acquiring a "hub and spoke" conventional airline with a separate corporate culture will best serve Southwest's shareholders and the citizens of Maryland.

@ Dr. Suess: I don't understand what you mean by "I worked at BWI and 50% of the market. It's more like 27%." With regard to your other comment, you're missing the point of the discussion, which is that Southwest coming to Reagan is good for D.C. fliers. I am in no way saying that BWI's attempts at integrating public transportation aren't adequate. Without a direct metro line to BWI (and a B30 bus with an improved schedule), it just isn't that convenient for D.C. people compared to Reagan. I am a dedicated Southwest customer, and their move into the D.C. market would be great for me (except if their growing domination of regional air travel leads to the death of all competition, as others have pointed out). I am not looking for other options in airlines, just other options in airports that Southwest serves.

@ blarge: Sorry about that misstatement. My only experience with MARC is with traveling from College Park to Baltimore, and the College Park station is only serviced during rush hour. However, MARC is no more convenient than Amtrak, and as you say, it doesn't run on the weekends, when I most frequently use the airport.
I agree with you about the column. It is from a Baltimorean's perspective. I was just using his logic to demonstrate how the inverse is true.
Jay Hancock's point: Why would Baltimoreans want to drive to Reagan?
My point: Why would Washintonians want to continue struggling to get up to BWI? I am merely demonstrating that the same logic provides good reasons in both directions. I see nothing wrong with a D.C. resident pointing out that a Baltimore Sun columnist, writing about an airport predominantly used by D.C. residents, should perhaps consider the flip side.

@ WeBoDavid - I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the convenience of the B30 bus, although I'm happy you've had some luck with it. In one experience, I (and three other travelers) were stuck waiting outside in the freezing cold for 50 minutes when the B30 skipped the lower level stop. In another, I was the last person to board the bus, which left nearly 2 busloads of passengers waiting at the airport for the next buses. My third experience was sitting in traffic on the BW Parkway down to Greenbelt on a bus trip that took a total of 1 hr 20 minutes. The report I cited earlier showed that 14% of Reagan National fliers use metro, which indicates that public transportation is not lost on travelers. Whenever I travel, I try to take public transportation to/from the destination airport, and BWI is without a doubt the least accessible major airport (with regard to getting into D.C.) I have used.

This is bad for BWI and Baltimore. Southwest hasn't had the lowest price in a long time. And Airtran is just more comfortable and usually cheaper. Sigh.

@ Bobo and others:

I can understand if you've had experiences with Southwest being more expensive, but there just isn't a whole lot of evidence for this in my own experience, or in the price check I show below.

I chose four random Southwest destinations departing from BWI on four random dates (the 7th of each of the next four months), and Southwest beats the competitor on 3 out of 4 of the days. In the one day that they lose, the competitor has a $25 bag fee that would make that flight more expensive:

Cleveland, OH, October 7: Southwest ($127), Continental ($138), extra continental bag fee would be: $25

Jackson, MS, November 7: Southwest ($139), Continental ($132), extra bag: $25

New Orleans, LA, December 7: Southwest ($84), Air tran ($95), extra bag: $15

Providence, RI, January 7: Southwest ($79), US Air ($80), extra bad: $25.

Southwest = cheapest

I respectfully disagree with dc-sw that BWI is the least accessible airport to get into DC via public transit. At the moment that honor goes to Dulles as the only method is to take the Metrobus, while there are MARC and Amtrak trains and local buses serving BWI. BWI is not predominantly used by DC residents. Marylanders are the main users of BWI and while many of them may live in the DC metro area their driving time may be the same to BWI as it is to National

I feel some may get the wrong idea from your extremely critical remarks of the public transit options to BWI. Sure National is more convenient if you live in or near DC but if you save money flying to BWI the public transit option is tolerable.

I question your expertise since the B30 stops are only on the lower level (one by the new Southwest terminal and one near the International Terminal/light rail stop) and on weekdays trains run to New Carollton and Union Station from the nearby BWI rail station. I am sorry you have had so many bad experiences on the B30 bus and I too was stuck in traffic, once, on the BW Parkway for over an hour but I have taken that bus about 100 times and it has never passed me because it was full and often only takes 35 minutes.

It seems to me the fact that 14% use the Metrorail to get to National confirms my point that most people won't use public transit to get to the airport especially if they have to take a bus and not a "subway" or light rail. 86% is most people.

I don't disagree that it will be a good thing for DC travelers if Southwest remains a low cost carrier and operates a lot of flights from National but I think this merger may very well signal the end of Southwest as we have known it. It's fare structure may be more like United and Delta without competition from an airline like Air Tran and among the area airports. I also think Southwest may make the disastrous decision of becoming more of a "hub and spoke" airline with the addition of all of Air Tran's Atlanta routes. "Hub and spoke" will doom it's profitability as a low cost carrier. Therefore, sure you'll be able to fly from, the more convenient to you, National on Southwest but it won't be reasonably priced anymore. I will also to be able to fly from, the more convenient to me, BWI but it won't be a low cost airport.

@ WeBoDavid

I'm happy you've had good experiences with the B30. I sincerely wish mine were better, because I love Southwest as well as BWI Airport, and I would like a more convenient way to get there, since I'm forced to fly Southwest out of BWI. I don't understand why you question my expertise on the grounds that the bus stops on the lower level. Is it because I said that the bus skipped "the lower level stop" (singular)? I have no way of knowing if that bus made the other stop after it skipped the Southwest stop, which comes first. Also, the people who were left behind in my other experience were waiting at the second stop. It was unnecessary of you to take the approach of discrediting me. There is no need to make this discussion personal.

Dulles is a pretty terrible airport, and I try to avoid it if possible. Dulles has a WMATA bus running on a comparable schedule to the B30, and it gets you into downtown D.C. as opposed to a suburban metro stop in comparable amounts of time. Also, there is a comfortable shuttle that runs every 30 (as opposed to 40) minutes, and gets you to the metro system in 20 minutes (as opposed to 40). Plus, the bus can travel on the Dulles toll road, and avoid the type of traffic you'd find on the BW Parkway. Dulles doesn't have the train options that BWI has, for sure. I'll have to try the MARC or Amtrak train the next time I fly out of BWI. That could be a good (although comparatively expensive) solution.

"I feel some may get the wrong idea from your extremely critical remarks of the public transit options to BWI. Sure National is more convenient if you live in or near DC but if you save money flying to BWI the public transit option is tolerable."
- That's why I'm happy the status quo is changing with this merger. Why should I have to continue commuting up to BWI if Southwest is willing to start service at National? Best of both worlds: easy access and I get to continue using my favorite airline.

"It seems to me the fact that 14% use the Metrorail to get to National confirms my point that most people won't use public transit to get to the airport especially if they have to take a bus and not a "subway" or light rail. 86% is most people."
- I didn't say most people use public transportation, and obviously, most don't. I was demonstrating that there is a sizable population that does take advantage of public transportation. 14% is not negligible, unlike the 1-2% that take public transportation to BWI, which is negligible.

I am on board with you about the concern over Southwest's prices rising as they gain more market share. I am originally from Albany NY, where Southwest was once a great addition to the list of airport carriers. In the beginning, their prices were ridiculously low compared to other airlines (I frequently booked round trips for $90), but now, the prices are far less competitive, and Albany is one of the most expensive airports in the country to fly in to and out of. With regard to the hub and spoke issue, Southwest has always made smart decisions with their scheduling to maximize profits, so I would assume they will continue with a routing model that keeps their costs low. Someone mentioned the issue of aircraft maintenance earlier, with regard to the aircraft Southwest will absorb from Air Tran. I'm concerned with that too. My impression has been that Southwest keeps costs low in part because they service only one type of aircraft. Hopefully this doesn't change.

I fly WN to BWI and then train to DC to avoid paying the sky high fares charged by USAIR.

If WN begins to fly direct into Reagan, I will fly into Reagan because it is quicker/easier than BWI; however, BWI is a Focus City for WN and for those needing connections...will continue to use BWI.

It is not likely that DCA or IAD will become Focus Cities for WN

I fly WN to BWI and then train to DC to avoid paying the sky high fares charged by USAIR.

If WN begins to fly direct into Reagan, I will fly into Reagan because it is quicker/easier than BWI; however, BWI is a Focus City for WN and for those needing connections...will continue to use BWI.

It is not likely that DCA or IAD will become Focus Cities for WN