Summary
- Southwest Airlines joins Google Flights, expanding customer reach with increased visibility.
- Southwest Airlines advocates for fare transparency, boosting placement on Google Flights.
- Southwest Airlines’ culture emphasizes no hidden fees, setting it aside from competitors.
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 implies reaching more potential customers.
Southwest Airlines’ reasoning
Abridging from what Southwest Airlines shared with Inc.’s Bill Murphy, Jr.’
“We’re extending the reach of Southwest.com by giving users of Google Flights enhanced visibility into our available flights, fares, and the advantages of our services. In our initial piloting of this partnership, we have made it possible for Google Flights users to check our different fare options and click on directly into Southwest.com to book their chosen itinerary.
…
“We’re excited to proceed finding ways to show more consumers to the appeal of our unique combination of value, friendly and versatile policies, and a breadth of flight service that is built across the greater than 800 nonstop routes Southwest will offer this peak summer travel season amongst 121 airports across 11 countries.”
For the longest time, Southwest Airlines didn’t allow fares to be posted to flights.google.com, forcing shoppers to go to Southwest.com to search out the airline’s fares. This somewhat puts Southwest Airlines at a competitive drawback. In accordance with Paddle Your Own Kanoo reporting, other web sites that charge a commission, like Expedia, are frozen out to assist keep fares low.
Moreover, in a recent earnings call, CEO Robert Jordan mused that there are ongoing Southwest Airlines studies into reforms and,
“Customer preference and expectations change over time.”
Perhaps this is an element of what the CEO meant. But there are also musings Southwest Airlines may go to assigned seating.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Easy Flying
Finally, the Biden Administration has been attempting to manage the tip of junk fees, 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 major US airlines are litigating the Biden Administration’s recent rule.
Google upgrading Google Flights
In an August 28, 2023 blog post, James Byers, Group Program Manager, Search, shared that Google has been improving Google Flights. For example, Google Flights is tracking flights to see when the very best dates to book are. This manner, if you will have a destination and date in mind but need to gamble on waiting for a fare sale, it’s possible you’ll—and Southwest Airlines is well-known for fare sales.
Improving “Transfarency” from Southwest Airlines
Since October 8, 2015, Southwest Airlines has had a policy of “Transfarency.” As Kevin Krone, Southwest’s Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, shared within the airline’s October 8, 2015, announcement,
“Transfarency is a novel approach to treating Customers the best way they expect and should be treated. Being a low-fare airline is at the guts of our brand, and the inspiration of our business model, so we’re not going to nickel and dime our customers.”
Indeed, one can log onto Google Flights and never see the fare, including the fee for 2 checked bags, as of May 26. Nonetheless, 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 baggage, Southwest Airlines ranks toward the underside. Nonetheless, by clicking the bag price option, Southwest Airlines rose in placement by price on Google Flights.
Also, on the Google Flights platform, seating classes may be compared with all other airlines. This enables one to see what seating class is best for a possible passenger.
A matter of Southwest Airlines’ culture
Ultimately, not having hidden fees is culturally vital for Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines has two bags fly free and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages plus snacks.
Since its birth, Southwest Airlines has allowed the primary two checked bags to fly free while other airlines collect billions from charging for luggage. The pondering is that as per their self-published book , 5 – 6 bags with fees can be needed to exchange the revenue from one customer.
![Southwest Airlines LCC.](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/artboard-2-llc.png)
Evaluation: Why Offering Free Checked Baggage Works So Well For Southwest Airlines
It’s just certainly one of the various elements that sets the airline aside from others.
Moreover, Southwest Airlines has trademarked the word “transfarency” with the serial number 86668468. Thus, only Southwest Airlines can use the word in marketing.
Bottom line
Southwest Airlines offering its fares on Google Flights is one other powerful tool for the airline to compete along with her peers. For an airline that has trademarked the word “Transfarency”, happening Google Flights is a logical step forward.
Photo: Bob Pool | Shutterstock
To cite the late founding father of Southwest Airlines Herb Kelleher,
“It’s my practice to try to grasp how worthwhile something is by attempting to imagine myself without it.”
Many, including the writer, find Google Flights to be incredibly worthwhile.
Do you discover Southwest Airlines being on Google Flights worthwhile? Please share within the comments.