Originally Posted by Captain_Nameless

I really am not a Southwest basher. Never interviewed there, but it looks like it would be a ton a fun to work there.

However, it seems with oil heading higher and higher if you look at what Southwest has done--made air travel affordable for a such a huge number of people that could simply not afford it at all before there was a Southwest-- then how are these people going to pay when the hedging eventually escalates (and it will) to the breaking point?

I guess the question is, will the average Southwest passenger still be capable of paying in 3-5 years? Airplane travel is speed travel. There used to be a premium for speed. Southwest cut that premium. Will Amtrack and Greyhound resume their former more cost friendly place in the lives of the American traveller?

I think the smarter choice may be to go fly airplanes for the rich people. Someday soon they are all who will be able to afford flying again.