Time on Wing Podcast

Brett Snyder - Founder, Cranky Flier LLC

Courtney & Gueric Season 2 Episode 9

Brett Snyder shares his journey in the aviation industry, starting from his childhood fascination with airplanes to working in the airline and travel industry. He discusses his experiences at America West, United, and PriceGrabber, as well as the founding of his blog, Cranky Flier, and his travel agency, Cranky Concierge. He also talks about his challenges during the pandemic and how he adapted his business to survive. 

The conversation covers the evolution of the Cranky Network Weekly and the weekly discussions on airline schedules. They discuss the challenges of forecasting schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unpredictability of airline operations.

The conversation then shifts to the trends in the North American airline industry, including consolidation, up-gauging, and the rise of ULCCs. They discuss the current struggles of ULCCs and the need for the business model to adapt. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue are facing challenges in the middle market. Spirit Airlines is facing financial difficulties and struggles with negative perceptions.

 In this final part of the conversation, Brett Snyder discusses the potential outcomes of Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy and the challenges they may face. He also explores the possibility of new airlines entering the market and the role of credit card partnerships in the industry.