I LOVE Southwest Airlines

[Florida_Geek]

I just got a birthday card from them.... :bounce:

OK a couple days late but it was the thought that counted.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. They're HORRIBLE.

I wouldn't wipe my ass with any card they send me. They're never on time, they always lose my luggage, I hate being herded onto their planes, and I do NOT like the smarmy flight attendants.

Independence Air for me, thanks.

[Jack_Dawson]

9. Well aren't YOU uptight? n/t

[MercutioATC]

2. They're moving into Pittsburgh...

Taking up the slack left by U.S. Air.

[RPM]

6. woo-hoo

tired of being rape by USAir

[davidinalameda]

3. its like taking a bus with wings

I hate Southwest

flown them once and will never fly them again

[ProfessorGAC]

12. That's Every Airline

As someone who travels for the job, VERY regularly, foreign and domestic, there is nothing glamorous about flying any airline, even in B-Class. There all just 600mph bus rides.
The Professor

[Shakespeare]

17. But some buses are more comfortable than others.

I'll take an assigned cushy leather seat on a JetBlue Airbus over a crammed, fight-for-it seat on a SW 737 any day.

[HuckleB]

26. Hey, it's great that you can afford it.

And that JetBlue serves where you're going, but that's not the case for most people.

[Shakespeare]

27. um, JetBlue is a discount airline, just like Southwest....

But thanks anyway for the slam. :eyes:

[HuckleB]

29. It ain't that much of a discount airline.

I'm not talking out of ignorance, my friend.

I guess your the only one allowed to do the slamming?

:eyes:

[Shakespeare]

31. I didn't slam you. And yes, their fares are definitely in line with SW's.

I'm not talking out of ignorance, either, "friend." Around $200 for a coast-to-coast round trip. Tell me how that isn't cheaper than SW?

I'm sorry you seem to have a chip on your shoulder about what you assume other DUers can or cannot afford. I can't afford to fly anything but budget airlines, and JetBlue has been a MUCH better alternative to SW for me.

[Shakespeare]

4. My sister calls them "Air WalMart." Most appropriate.

Try JetBlue sometime--they're awesome.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. SWA Has Among The Lowest Turnover Rate Of Any Firm In U.S.

I don't think it's Air WalMart. They hardly ever have anyone quit. The turnover rate is in the lowest 0.5% of any company in the country.

I know a guy who is a pilot on the Midway, St. Louis, Tulsa, Dallas, and back run. He's been with them since he left Delta in 1985. He loves it! He lives in a 3,000 square foot Cape Cod on the 14th hole of a golf course. That's not exactly Wal-Mart like!


The Professor

[underpants]

10. They really work with the unions too don't they?

I remember hearing something about that a year or so ago when the brass at the other airlines were blaming unions for there horrible bottom lines. They said this of course from their penthous offices no doubt.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Remember Too, . .

. . .that when the gov't offered the airlines cash to recover from 9/11, SWA said no, they didn't need it.

Well run business; responsible mgmt, happy employees who stay there for a whole career. Seems it should be (like FedEx) the model to which all corporations should aspire.
The Professor

[Parche]

22. southwest

They have Penthouse at their offices???

I love Southwest, previously being in the travel industry

[Shakespeare]

14. I was referring to the passenger experience, not the employee perspective

And they're pretty good to work for, but not perfect (my best friend's sister worked for them for over 10 years, and I've heard many stories, good and bad).

But from a passenger standpoint--they're not my favorite. I'll fly them occasionally out of price considerations, but I always feel like I'm treated like one of a herd of cattle. I and my parents have both had customer service nightmares with them recently, too, regarding their refusal to control drunk, abusive passengers (on two different flights about six months apart). Not only did they refuse to intervene when they became belligerent with other passengers, but they also continued to serve them drinks.

That's specifically why I suggested JetBlue--their prices are in line with Southwest's, but the flight experience with them is so much better.

[blondeatlast]

23. "The customer comes SECOND"

is CEO Herb Kelleher's motto.

In other words, his employees come first and their enthusiasm and loyalty will come through in their performance. They bend over backwards for their employees.

I turned down a job with them to finish college and I still am sort of kicking myself about it.

[HuckleB]

24. Yes, there are better airlines.

But not necessarily for the money.

The real Wal Mart airline has to be America West. It's absolutely horrible.

[Shakespeare]

28. Yup, America West sucks, too. n/t

[Zero Gravitas]

32. Better, cheaper airlines

I flew from KC to DC over XMas..

Southmoooowest: $300 direct to Baltimore (1hr plus from my destination)

Midwest: $200 to national (20 min from destination, assinged seating and no middle seat)

Better service, more comfortable ride, no cattle call, hot choclate chip cookies and it even flew to the city I wanted to go to!

Even if the prices were reversed I'd still fly Midwest.

[underpants]

5. I Love Southwest but I haven't tried Jet Blue

I have always loved Southwest.

[Zero Gravitas]

8. Moooooo

Moooo mooooo

[Shakespeare]

15. LOL!!! Exactly!

I made a similar reference in my post above. They may be great to work for, but I HATE having to fly on Southwest.

[fluffernutter]

30. rofl! you got that right.

[amazona]

13. I hate Southwest Airlines

Fortunately they rarely have the low price any more to/from my airport.

It will be a sad day when all airlines are forced to follow the Southwest plan for cutting costs. At least cattle going to the slaughterhouse don't have to fight for their spot in line because Southwest Airlines refuses to assign seats.

Give me an airline that rewards my loyalty with first class upgrades and forgets to send me a birthday card...ANY DAY.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

16. Southwest doesn't serve Minneapolis

and even when I lived in Portland, which they do serve, they never had the lowest fare or the best schedule for where I needed to go.

For years, before Alaska Airlines started stripping down, I could get an assigned seat, sufficient leg room, and a meal with wine in coach for either the same price or for only slightly more than it would cost to fly to California on Southwest.

[Florida_Geek]

19. Let's see

Faster rewards with SWA. When I was flying them every 5th flight was free. And I fly on my dime. Normally every two-three weeks when I am out of town.

I hate assigned seats with it's slow get on the plane. I love SWA move on get a seat fast method. IT JUST WORKS.

And I got a letter from the CEO of SWA about my letter to a couple Senators and CC him. About 4-5 years ago when Northwest was holding people on planes for hours on the ground, I got a two hour weather delay after they loaded the plane. What did our pilots do, OPENED the door and anybody wanted to get off for food and cigs could using the same funny cards they use to get on.

[nosmokes]

18. much better from an employee pov than customer pov

i avoid them like the plague. i'll gladly spend $100 more R/T to not fly on their cattle car, just to get a damn seat assignment if nothing else.

[Florida_Geek]

20. They get ppl on and off planes faster.

and that cuts down their turn around time. I like it.

[HuckleB]

25. If you've got the money, go ahead.

I don't.

[AlCzervik]

21. The bus, thats what i call them

i haven't had a good expierence on southwest yet.