America West technically is not a low-cost operator. I consider a low-cost operator to be one where you’re never going to pay more than a fixed amount, for any fare. Obviously if you get a ticket far enough in advance, you’re going to pay considerably less. For instance, on Southwest, no fare is ever more than $199 one way; even if you walk up the day of departure. Plus there’s no Saturday night stay requirement and you can purchase one way tickets and not pay an arm and a leg. America West is just like the other majors in their ticketing policies, they just happen to be less expensive in most of their markets. You pay for what you get. Their fleet consists of A319/320, 737-200/300, 757-200’s, plus their express affiliate which operates CRJ’s and Dash 8’s, I believe. It caters very well to their route structure with them flying cross country from PHX and LAS to JFK and BOS, as well as down south to several Mexico destinations. I don’t think a fleet entirely of 737’s, per se, would be ideal for serving all these different markets, when a 757 is clearly preferable on 5 hour segments.

P.S. I’m headed to St. Maartens in August. I’m going to be planted on Maho beach for an entire week catching some rays, babes in bikinis, and plenty of jet fumes. I can’t wait!!