Southwest Airlines bid for Frontier Air could be a deal for consumers

A $113.6 million bid by Southwest Airlines for bankrupt carrier Frontier Airlines may make flying to Mexico a better deal for consumers.

Southwest has a history of opening in markets with low fares to force other carriers to do the same. The airline also has some of the cheapest fares around.

If successful in getting Frontier, it would give Southwest an entry into Mexico, where it doesn't yet offer flights.

So far Southwest's bid is just that -- a bid. Denver-based Frontier agreed in June to be acquired by Republic Airways for $108.8 million, so a bidding war could be in the air.