{"id":13932,"date":"2024-05-27T12:28:03","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T09:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=13932"},"modified":"2024-05-28T13:14:31","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T10:14:31","slug":"finally-southwest-airlines-tests-google-flights-display-of-fares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=13932","title":{"rendered":"Finally: Southwest Airlines Tests Google Flights Display Of Fares"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

Southwest Airlines has finally fully joined the Google Flights menu, allowing its fares to be osted alongside those of other airlines. For Southwest Airlines, this means reaching more potential customers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Southwest Airlines\u2019 reasoning<\/h2>\n

Abridging from what Southwest Airlines shared with\u00a0Inc.\u2019s Bill Murphy, Jr.<\/a>\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re extending the reach of Southwest.com by giving users of Google Flights enhanced visibility into our available flights, fares, and the benefits of our products and services. In our initial piloting of this partnership, we’ve made it possible for Google Flights users to compare our different fare options and click directly into Southwest.com to book their selected itinerary.<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re excited to continue finding ways to expose more consumers to the appeal of our unique combination of value, friendly and flexible policies, and a breadth of flight service that’s built around the more than 800 nonstop routes Southwest will offer this peak summer travel season among 121 airports across 11 countries.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For the longest time, Southwest Airlines did not allow fares to be posted to flights.google.com, forcing shoppers to go to Southwest.com to find the airline\u2019s fares. This somewhat puts Southwest Airlines at a competitive disadvantage. According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo reporting, other websites that charge a commission, like Expedia, are frozen out to help keep fares low.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Get all the latest\u00a0aviation news for North America<\/a>\u00a0here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Additionally, in a recent earnings call, CEO Robert Jordan mused that there are ongoing Southwest Airlines studies into reforms and,<\/p>\n

“Customer preference and expectations change over time.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Perhaps this is part of what the CEO meant. But there are also musings\u00a0Southwest Airlines may go to assigned seating<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Loading<\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Finally, the Biden Administration has been attempting to\u00a0regulate the end of junk fees<\/a>, while the previous Trump Administration had quashed an effort at airline fare transparency in December 2017. But while Southwest Airlines is supportive of fare transparency, other\u00a0major US airlines are litigating<\/a>\u00a0the Biden Administration\u2019s new rule.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Google upgrading Google Flights<\/h2>\n

In an August 28, 2023 blog post, James Byers, Group Program Manager, Search, shared that Google has been improving Google Flights. For instance, Google Flights is tracking flights to see when the best dates to book are. This way, if you have a destination and date in mind but want to gamble on waiting for a fare sale, you may\u2014and Southwest Airlines is well known for fare sales.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Improving \u201cTransfarency\u201d from Southwest Airlines<\/h2>\n

Since October 8, 2015, Southwest Airlines has had a policy of \u201cTransfarency.\u201d As Kevin Krone, Southwest’s Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, shared in the airline\u2019s October 8, 2015, announcement,<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

“Transfarency is a unique approach to treating Customers the way they expect and deserve to be treated. Being a low-fare airline is at the heart of our brand, and the foundation of our business model, so we’re not going to nickel and dime our customers.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Indeed, one can log onto Google Flights and not see the fare, including the fee for two checked bags, as of May 26. However, one can calculate the round-trip fare for October 4 to Santa Ana (SNA) and return on October 6 to Seattle (SEA) after the Pacific Airshow. Without clicking the bags, Southwest Airlines ranks toward the bottom. However, by clicking the bag price option, Southwest Airlines rose in placement by price on Google Flights.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n