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Southwest - not so much
I used to fly Southwest a lot when I did a lot of business in Missouri City, TX. They had a direct flight from Columbus to Hobby airport. The and the operation was efficient and well organized.
But I just flew through Atlanta to Austin, TX and it was a mess. We had a 3 hour layover in Atlanta, the departing plane was 30 minutes late, then an hour late, then only 30 minutes late again. We almost missed the flight because we left the hot crowded gate area for a less crowded one only two gates down and missed the announcement that the plane was boarding. I just happened to look up and see the crowd around the departure gate. Why couldn't they make the announcement a little louder or announce it at the other, vacant gates? In line I was behind a person whose boarding pass wouldn't scan. The guy at the gate tried to scan it a couple of times, then took mine and scanned it, then let us both on. The result - there were 138 people on a plane with only 137 seats. We sat on the plane waiting while it took them OVER AN HOUR to figure this out and throw somebody off. I don't know how they chose the unlucky person, but she wasn't happy. Southwest takes the boarding passes at the gate, so once you give it up there is no way to show whether you are supposed to be there or not. When we landed we all had to sit in our seats while they counted the passengers again. OK. We were in the air for over 2 hours. No one was going anywhere. Couldn't they have taken the time to count everyone before we landed? I'm not so keen on Southwest anymore. They were so sloppy and seemed so clueless is I was concerned about our safety.
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03-15-2014, 07:30 AM
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When I think about how long it would take to drive or take a bus, then even with delays it is considerably shorter flying.
When you also you think about the number of no show passengers I can see why the airline overbooks. However I think good compensation should be given to the deplaned passenger. Add to that full loads, computer goes down, mechanical problem delays the logistics of moving people is quite an achievement. My .05 cents. Guy. 
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03-15-2014, 07:48 AM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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The ticket guy letting that person in is odd.
Did they ask for volunteers to bail for a freebie? Related story - Christmas time - (IAH-> CLE, Continental) crowds, etc - I am the last called on the plane. Get in my seat and the person who had my seat came out of the bathroom and says "HEY" They counted empty seats and did not check the head. I got me a free ticket and a meal voucher.
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1981 911SC Targa |
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03-15-2014, 08:09 AM
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03-15-2014, 09:07 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31,419
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Funny how life works. I have been doing a lot of work in Florida, Naples, and the best, cheapest flight down is SWA out of BWI into Fort Meyers.
The Swiss couldn't make it run any smoother. Write a letter to SWA. A friend of mine is a pilot for them and he mentioned to me that all letters are taken very seriously.
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1996 FJ80. Last edited by Seahawk; 03-15-2014 at 10:29 AM.. |
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03-15-2014, 10:20 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Posts: 521
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I fly SWA from New Orleans to Newark every week or every other week for over a year now. Always have a seat, on time arrivals and departures, only canceled once due to a snowstorm. Like me some SWA...especially since the started carrying Fat Tire brew...my favorite....
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Mark Howard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2023 Taycan GTS |
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03-15-2014, 10:26 AM
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least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
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I understand times are tough for the airlines... but... Overbooking=In the case of a no show that seat is still paid for. You can't get through security without a boarding pass, by the time you get to the gate they should know how many passengers they have for the airplane.
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone  1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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03-15-2014, 10:29 AM
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Given a choice, there are two airlines I'll fly - Virgin America and Southwest. Beyond that, I'm flying another carrier because there is no other way to get there. The only time I had an issue with SW was when it snowed in Houston and they shut down the airport so I couldn't fly back out on my transfer flight. They put us on a shuttle and got us a room at the Hilton, flew out first flight the next morning.
I never give up my seat for a perk - I hate traveling and I want to either be at my destination or home. No way I'm voluntarily extended time in-transit. I check in early, get to the airport early, and get home as soon as possible. Did I mention I hate traveling? Well, unless it is for a gig... |
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03-15-2014, 10:46 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 31,419
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1996 FJ80. |
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03-15-2014, 11:48 AM
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I see you
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 29,883
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Precisely why I drive to Pittsburgh for business.
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Si non potes inimicum tuum vincere, habeas eum amicum and ride a big blue trike. "'Bipartisan' usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out." |
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03-15-2014, 11:54 AM
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The other bizarre thing was that we flew for over 2 hours and they had to count passengers after we landed. Apparently there was no time at which they knew they had the right number of passengers on the plane. It seems that information would be fairly important BEFORE the plan took off, and even if they didn't care at that point, they could have counted us at some point during the 2+ hour flight. Why make us sit on the ground trying to figure it out before we left, and then make us sit on the ground again while they tried to figure it out after we arrived? It does not instill confidence.
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03-15-2014, 02:13 PM
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least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
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I find the SW system a little quirky... you call in the day before and get a letter? Then you show up and stand by your letter to que to get on the airplane? I honestly don't know how their system works, but I have friends and family that love SW. With JB or Ala. I would just do carry on, check in at the kiosk, get a boarding pass with my seat number on it then off to that fun, fun, fun, security line and then to the bar for those oh so yummy eight dollar beers!
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone 1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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03-15-2014, 02:30 PM
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I really like swa but not for the obvious reasons, I was an air traffic controller at socal tracon and burbank tower/approach before that, so I got to see their operation at close range, they operate like a Swiss watch. The pilots are very proficient and always seem to be on their A game, which makes it easier for controllers to give them shortcuts. When you get delays it's usually something out of their control like weather or broken airplane. one thing to know about delays they are usually worse later in the day....fly early!
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81 sc 3.0 turbo wb coupe |
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03-15-2014, 02:38 PM
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Lexus RX350
1981 Porsche 911 SC Targa
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
