Southwest Airlines

[Shaggy]

Is Southwest ever going to expand their schedule? They only offer flights for the next three months. This has to be just horrible for business.

I'd go elsewhere, but I have a free flight I want to use in June. And I'm getting pissed.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

That's the price you pay, so to speak, for all those cheap-ass flights.

 

[Batman]

I'm getting pissed, too. Batgirl and I are ready to book stuff for our honeymoon. Except we can't, since we're leaving in May and coming back in June. Somebody needs to ding their web buy with a frying pan.

 

[Oz]

I've noticed that, too. Thought maybe this was par for the course for Southwest, but I guess not.

 

[FileNotFound]

I love everything about Southwest -- love that it's profitable, love its managment style, love its corporate ideals. I love everything about Southwest except actually using its product.

 

[WSKY]

I had to fly Southwest to one game this year — it was by far my worst travel experience of the season. Because of it, no more Southwest for WSKY.

 

[Football_Bat]

Is Southwest ever going to expand their schedule? They only offer flights for the next three months. This has to be just horrible for business.

I'd go elsewhere, but I have a free flight I want to use in June. And I'm getting pissed.

So what's the big deal? Just wait until March and book it then.

 

[SnoopCoog]

Southwest is the worst (Southworst). First, give me a damn assigned seat so I don't have to line up like cattle to get on the plane. Second, eliminate those seats that face each other. No one wants to sit there.

 

[EStreetJoe]

I'm getting pissed, too. Batgirl and I are ready to book stuff for our honeymoon. Except we can't, since we're leaving in May and coming back in June. Somebody needs to ding their web buy with a frying pan.

It's your honeymoon. Don't be cheap with no assigned seats. Fly another airline and book seats next to eachother.

 

[Shaggy]

I've never seen a Southwest plane with seats that faced each other. Never.

Here's what Southwest has going for it:
1. Cheap
2. You're almost guaranteed a window seat if you check in online
3. The Rapid Rewards is the easiest way to get a free flight of any frequent flyer program.

But these microscopic windows for booking travel is irritating.

 

[SnoopCoog]

Yes, they have them, and yes I've sat in them, and yes they suck. You know what else sucks about Southwest? Their male flight attendants who wear shorts. Don't know what bothers me about that, but it does.

 

[Dyno]

Two hours ago, I got off a very pleasant Southwest flight. It was pretty empty (I had three seats to myself), the flight attendants served drinks twice, gave us lots of snacks and the captain kept us updated on when we were going to land, etc. Even our bags came out quickly. For the first time in I don't know how long I didn't feel like I was part of a herd of cattle.

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

DING

 

[imjustagirl2]

I haven't flown Southwest for years. But when I did, I could go see my friends in St. Louis for like $100, and I always got a window seat, never lost a bag.

 

[Sly]

Count me as one of the people who LOVE Southwest.

1. It's very easy to get a free flight. Book your hotel and car through southwest and it piles up like mad. Plus you still get Marriott points.

2. Everyone associated with the company is very nice and very personable, compared to most of the people at other lines who get paid twice as much as the folks at Southwest.

3. The seats are very big, compared to Northwest's and United's cubbyholes. You don't have to pay extra for "economy class" like United, either.

4. If you can't make your flight or need to cancel, they just apply your funds to a future trip. No penalty, no nothing.

5. Planes are usually always on time. Never lost a bag.

The only negatives are not that big of a deal to me. The cattle call isn't a problem as long as you're smart enough to get on top of things and get an 'A' pass (ever since they made it so you can check in via cellphone, you have no excuse not to get an 'A'). Flying to alternative airports (Midway instead of O'Hare, Providence instead of Logan) isn't usually a problem. And with books and an iPod, I don't need a radio or television.

 

[Bubbler]

I miss Texas International.

 

[donnie23]

Just got off the ol' cattle call last night. It's really not that bad. You just have to accept what you're getting in exchange for the reduced rate, including the open seating, etc. Get yourself an 'A' pass and seating is no issue. Hell, I almost missed my flight yesterday, boarded at the end of 'B' and still ended up with a window in Row 5. And the legroom is relatively good.

As for the facing seats, that's only on the older planes. They have phased out most of that older part of the fleet, and I haven't had the staring-at-my-ugly-neighbor experience in about two years.

 

[Shaggy]

I forgot the convenience of canceling flights. I had to cancel one last year and you basically get store credit. Next time I had a flight, I just used that and it was fine. No penalty.

What other airline offers that?

 

[Sly]

Just got off the ol' cattle call last night. It's really not that bad. You just have to accept what you're getting in exchange for the reduced rate, including the open seating, etc. Get yourself an 'A' pass and seating is no issue. Hell, I almost missed my flight yesterday, boarded at the end of 'B' and still ended up with a window in Row 5. And the legroom is relatively good.

As for the facing seats, that's only on the older planes. They have phased out most of that older part of the fleet, and I haven't had the staring-at-my-ugly-neighbor experience in about two years.

"You just have to accept what you're getting in exchange for a reduced rate?"

Like the rest of the airlines are putting luxury cruises into the air. As I said before, I think Southwest is one of the most comfortable airlines out there, in terms of seat size and leg room.

You know what they could use though? Those things on the headrest that allow you to curl it up so you can rest your head on there.

 

[donnie23]

"You just have to accept what you're getting in exchange for a reduced rate?"

Like the rest of the airlines are putting luxury cruises into the air. As I said before, I think Southwest is one of the most comfortable airlines out there, in terms of seat size and leg room.

You know what they could use though? Those things on the headrest that allow you to curl it up so you can rest your head on there.

It's not that I think the other airlines are giving you amenities that you just can't get elsewhere. There are some folks here who don't like the cattle call and prefer assigned seating, who wouldn't mind at least the option of TV or music on a mid-to-long haul flight, who occasionally offer food (although that pay-to-purchase thing is a joke), who would like to book a little farther in advance, etc. For all that Southwest has going for it, these things are seem to be traded for the lower fares.