Brain Fertilizer

Bargain-rate flying.

Q: Your business model also requires passengers to pay for any extras—drinks, blankets—piecemeal. Will consumers go for that? A: They were paying for it before! Those were never free. Why should you be made to pay for all those sodas and blankets that other people use that you don't?

Q: You're even charging for checked luggage, $5 a bag.
A: If you don't check a bag, why should you pay for those who do? We make our prices very clear, so we've had very few complaints. If you pay $80 for a Skybus flight instead of $180 for the competitor's flight, and you pay $5 for a bag and $2 for a soda, that's $87 versus $180. America can do that much math.

I, indeed, can do the math.

And I like the idea, basically. I could pack lighter to save money. I agree that it is often transfers and the hub system are HUGE parts of what makes flying so expensive and such a hassle, and this airline will try to avoid them. Basically taking the best of Southwest Airlines' model, and going farther.

One thing that gives me pause is that I'd want to see a sufficiently-long safety track record, first. I'd hate to assume that an airline that cuts corners on service to lower costs might also cut corners on maintenance... But I'd also hate to pay for a $40 savings with my life.

We'll see how it goes. Southwest Airlines has an excellent safety record.