Virtually ALL of Southwest's competitors have added real dollar increases to consumer total flight( or segment) costs in one form or another. The most visible of these is the dreaded checked baggage fee implementations and increases. Southwest has avoided these specific increases and it has actually been a marketing and promotional tool for them to avoid hiked baggage fees (1st and 2nd checked bags are still free). This new "earlier boarding position" fee is the only new fee that Southwest has implemented recently, and be aware that it is indeed an "optional" fee increase for those customers who would choose to board the bus a little earlier. None of us can be receptive to any kind of airline fee increase or reduced service factors these days, particularly in view of the current general economic state. We're already ticked off and can't stand any more price hikes or service reductions from anyone or any entity. However, I challenge Southwest customers to do a tad bit of research and access a current and updated "airline fee chart"(hell, Google it) that includes some of these recent domestic airline fee increases already enacted. Subsequently, check out some of the fees that airlines are considering for near - future enactment. Then, come back and report on how Southwest relatively compares to other domestic airlines in terms of true total flight costs (to most destinations). I'm predicting that honest appraisals will reveal that Southwest compares
favorably with other domestic airlines in terms of lowest AVERAGE total flight costs to most destinations including Vegas..and that's the bottom line along with reasonable service for most of us.
Cheers...
Chuck60

Check out new and potential domestic airline fee increases article at
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4799-...

Anytime any group or individual thinks they're above the law or are hot stuff, or think they're an entity of some influence they should try ordering around someone else's dog. Other than traffic, few groups have limited progress in this country more than political action committees.

Truth is..the severity of this econocrash we're all enduring is a huge wake-up call. Tourists and gamblers don't have as much disposable income and the gaming properties don't either. The casinos aren't weathering this recession as well as they have in the past because of it's depth ; historically their best weapon has been to offer more free or significantly discounted room deals to entice us to darken their doors, yet visitor counts
and occupancy rates have been on a justifiably steady decline. In October, the overall Strip gaming revenue dipped a whopping 25% (the worst October in 25 years!); wouldn't we expect the casinos to tighten slot payback percentages (increase their hold percentage) ? I think so ; all of them are in fact scrambling to economically survive by suspending most all expansion projects, refinancing their loan and debt structures, trim employee jobs, and meanwhile continue to advertise and promote their businesses for continued patronage and customer service. The buying public is in pain as well... unemployment rates nationwide and recent job loss indexes are indicative of the situation on our side of the fence. It shouldn't be surprising that these times force both buyers and sellers to tighten their cumulative belts. Common sense and sound money management have to be utilized by us all presently. It will be interesting to see how many gaming properties actually avoid bankruptcy . The current economic state we're in
morphs many of the fantasy elements of Las Vegas into reality for all involved. Whining
won't fix it. Cheers...