Southwest Lovers..I am starting to HATE Southwest

[antree]

I loved SW, we have been flying with them since they started at the Philadelphia Airport. I am not loving them that much these days. I am planning my Nov. trip right now, Nov. is open the day we leave so I am waiting for the return to open up. So far what I am seeing is not making me happy. All the flights on their site is mainly Air Tran, only 2 straight flights to Orlando and it's the only 2 flight to Orlando, which is OK we like leaving with the first flight going down. We DON'T like leaving Disney with the first flight going home. The only 2 flights going home to Philly on SW is 9:50 am and 1:05pm in Oct so I am figuring that is how Nov is going to come out..What is up with this We usually get the 7pm flight, now it's not even a choice, not even with stops.

I emailed SW telling them how unhappy I am with their flight schedule so far, and if they keep it that way I'll have to fly with another airline. They responded with, With the take over of Airtran they are making it easier to book on one site for both airlines. That the take over will take until 2014, and they forward my email to the appropriate people so that SW knows how their costumers feel. Well that isn't helping me right now with booking I am so sad SW seems to be pulling their flights from Philly to Orlando.

Just had to say how we are.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Southwest has been losing my business on my flight to MCO because the only two direct flights are too early or too late for me. I've been taking US Air there and Southwest back on the 7pm flight. I will give all my business to US Air in this case.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

I agree. I used to love Southwest. Now we fly USAir.

 

[tjmw2727]

Yes - I totally agree and I also fly out of Pihilly !

I had been flying SWA almost exclusively for leisure (wdw) travel for the past several years but this year US Air has been very competitive with non-stops and pricing even with the charge for checked bags.

I don't like the bottleneck for boarding on US air vs the organized boarding at SWA and I don't care if I get my seat in advance or on the spot.

Luckily US Air is the airline I have to use for work and SWA was my "leisure" airline so I have both ccd's. Right now the US Air has gone back to my primary card and US Air is my first choice for PHI to Orlando until this gets straightened out.

The thing I miss most is the flexibility of SWA booking- the lack of change fees esp with a college age dd ! Wonder how that will play out as the merge goes on?

 

[3happydancers]

We can still get early non-stop flights from Islip but I have noticed less offerings replaced with more stop/change over flights. Coming home, we always booked a late non-stop flight. This year we are stuck with a 4:45 out of Orlando which means being ready for ME by 1:30. So not happy but I think right now we only have SWA at Isp.

 

[msjprincess]

We can still get early non-stop flights from Islip but I have noticed less offerings replaced with more stop/change over flights. Coming home, we always booked a late non-stop flight. This year we are stuck with a 4:45 out of Orlando which means being ready for ME by 1:30. So not happy but I think right now we only have SWA at Isp.

Same here. We used to get a 7pm or 8pm flight home. The latest non-stop coming home for this trip was at 1pm and it was over $200. there are only two non-stops to ISP that day. So we ended adding a day to the end of our trip and we're flying home the next morning.

 

[Neesy228]

We too have been disappointed with southwest. Not only are the schedules worse, with fewer direct options, but their prices aren't great anymore. And by the time you add the extra annoyance/cost of EBCI, I'm about done with them....last trip we flew USAir, next one is on Delta. I am sad about it though, because we enjoyed southwest for many years.

 

[brettb]

<snip>I am planning my Nov. trip right now, Nov. is open the day we leave so I am waiting for the return to open up. So far what I am seeing is not making me happy. All the flights on their site is mainly Air Tran, only 2 straight flights to Orlando and it's the only 2 flight to Orlando, which is OK we like leaving with the first flight going down. We DON'T like leaving Disney with the first flight going home. The only 2 flights going home to Philly on SW is 9:50 am and 1:05pm in Oct so I am figuring that is how Nov is going to come out..What is up with this We usually get the 7pm flight, now it's not even a choice, not even with stops.<snip>

Are you unwilling to take the Airtran flights "operated by" Southwest? If you book through Southwest, they have all the benefits (2 free checked bags, etc.) of a Southwest light with the exception of the Earlybird Check-in option. You can use (or earn) Rapid Rewards points, too.

On 11/1, you're correct that there are only two *Southwest* flights:
7:10am->9:35am
12:40pm->3:10pm

But there are two Airtran flights, too:
8:30am->11:05am
3:00pm->5:40pm.

For return flights, I don't know how November will be, but at the end of October, there are Airtran options that aren't so bad.

Thu:
10:10am->12:25pm (Southwest)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)


Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday:
9:50am->12:05 (Southwest)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)

Saturday:
9:10am->11:25am (Southwest)
11:00am->1:20pm (Airtran)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)
7:20pm->9:35pm (Southwest)

 

[tjmw2727]

Can't speak for the OP but my hesitation in booking Air Tran via SWA is the seating as you can't choose your seats via Air Tran or purchase EBCI. As someone who likes to purchase EBCI or pay extra for my seats it is disappointing for now as I can choose neither ?

Are you unwilling to take the Airtran flights "operated by" Southwest? If you book through Southwest, they have all the benefits (2 free checked bags, etc.) of a Southwest light with the exception of the Earlybird Check-in option. You can use (or earn) Rapid Rewards points, too.

On 11/1, you're correct that there are only two *Southwest* flights:
7:10am->9:35am
12:40pm->3:10pm

But there are two Airtran flights, too:
8:30am->11:05am
3:00pm->5:40pm.

For return flights, I don't know how November will be, but at the end of October, there are Airtran options that aren't so bad.

Thu:
10:10am->12:25pm (Southwest)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)


Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday:
9:50am->12:05 (Southwest)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)

Saturday:
9:10am->11:25am (Southwest)
11:00am->1:20pm (Airtran)
1:05pm->3:20pm (Southwest)
3:10pm->5:25pm (Airtran)
4:30pm->6:50pm (Airtran)
7:20pm->9:35pm (Southwest)

 

[mrsstats]

Yes, we fly out of Islip and we fly to other areas other than Florida. Everything has a stop now. We know we can fly out of JFK or LaGuardia but add the cost to park there or have a limo, it just doesn't make any sense.

 

[brettb]

Can't speak for the OP but my hesitation in booking Air Tran via SWA is the seating as you can't choose your seats via Air Tran or purchase EBCI. As someone who likes to purchase EBCI or pay extra for my seats it is disappointing for now as I can choose neither ?

That's true for "operated by" Airtran flights - for now. Once the integration is completed (end of 2014), everything will be Southwest.

I totally get how the seating thing could be a dealbreaker for some. When my daughter was younger, we had more anxiety about seating than we do now. Both our flights in August will be operated by Airtran. Even worse for us is my tickets are on a separate confirmation than my wife's and daughter's because we used points in different RR accounts. We'll see how it goes.

But for us, the flight times are more important than SWA boarding procedures. And I'm such a cheapskate, now that Early Bird is $12.50 per person, I probably wouldn't do it anyway.

If we get split up and people won't switch with us, I'll tell my wife to ask whoever is sitting next to her to hold her hand during takeoff. And then sneeze in her hands. I'll break out a kabanos and start chewing away. (It's even stinkier when I burp it than it is when I eat it.) I'll coach my daughter to ask everybody in her row to pass down their air-sick bags because she's not feeling well. (I kid! I kid!)

 

[Belle2007]

We are in Philly two and usually travel by Air Tran. I was thinking to try out Southwest this time around, but now I'm rethinking!

Sorry to hear about the times. I wouldn't be happy about that either.

 

[DebbieB]

I've read that Southwest is cutting back in Philadelphia, in favor of Baltimore. I know they completely cut the Pittsburgh-PHL flights last year. They also cut Philadelphia-Boston completely. They have cut back in other airports where another airline has a hub (Washington Dulles, Detroit, Cleveland). PHL has USAirways as a hub (soon to be American), they have a hard time competing for business travelers with a legacy airline.

 

[TamaraQT]

I have been disappointed with SW from PHL to MCO over the last few years. Two years ago, I flew United from PHL to Orlando with a 1 hour layover at Dulles in DC. Only reason was because Southwest lowest fares were over $100 when I was ready to book and United had a $59 special. Well let me say, I was glad I did fly United and have no regrets. My flight back home was on Airtran which was also a nice experience. Since then I now check ALL AIRLINES before booking. Since we travel in either July or August, we always had desireable flight times for SW. Those months are high season and we like an early 6am flight out of PHL. This year we are flying SW due to the $99 special I found back in January. But believe me, I am now open to other airlines. Consider me an unsatisfied customer too. It's just not the same anymore.

 

[antree]

In my email I told them I was not happy with them and they are forcing me to go back to USAIR. We use to fly them until SWA came along. Maybe if everyone emails them our disappointment they will reconsider and bring back SWA the way we remember and like them for.

As far as traveling with Airtran, I haven't wanted to give them the chance because, my sister flew with them a few times and hated every flight and she says the planes are smaller.

We are flying home on a Sunday and was hoping for a 7 pm flight. We like to take advantage of all the time we can. Maybe I should go back to USAir. I remember getting 9pm flight off of them. I wonder if they still have them.

Also my main concern is my sons peanut and tree nut allergy. SWA have been GREAT for that, never an issue and going to someone new with him is scary.

 

[robinb]

Meh. I live in Wisconsin and we never have direct flights. It's really not getting your undies in a bundle over IMO.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Meh. I live in Wisconsin and we never have direct flights. It's really not getting your undies in a bundle over IMO.

I disagree with this. I am a very nervous flyer. One take-off is all I can handle.

 

[DebbieB]

In my email I told them I was not happy with them and they are forcing me to go back to USAIR. We use to fly them until SWA came along. Maybe if everyone emails them our disappointment they will reconsider and bring back SWA the way we remember and like them for.

As far as traveling with Airtran, I haven't wanted to give them the chance because, my sister flew with them a few times and hated every flight and she says the planes are smaller.

We are flying home on a Sunday and was hoping for a 7 pm flight. We like to take advantage of all the time we can. Maybe I should go back to USAir. I remember getting 9pm flight off of them. I wonder if they still have them.

Also my main concern is my sons peanut and tree nut allergy. SWA have been GREAT for that, never an issue and going to someone new with him is scary.

They make these decisions based on financials. A few e-mails from infrequent flyers are not going to make them change their mind.

AirTran flies 737's (same as SW) and 717's (a little smaller). SW is in the process of subleasing the 717's to Delta. So when they are completely merged, all SW flights will be 737's.

I disagree with this. I am a very nervous flyer. One take-off is all I can handle.

The OP still has the option of several non-stops. As Robin said, some cities have none.

 

[goofy4tink]

That's true for "operated by" Airtran flights - for now. Once the integration is completed (end of 2014), everything will be Southwest.

I totally get how the seating thing could be a dealbreaker for some. When my daughter was younger, we had more anxiety about seating than we do now. Both our flights in August will be operated by Airtran. Even worse for us is my tickets are on a separate confirmation than my wife's and daughter's because we used points in different RR accounts. We'll see how it goes.

But for us, the flight times are more important than SWA boarding procedures. And I'm such a cheapskate, now that Early Bird is $12.50 per person, I probably wouldn't do it anyway.

If we get split up and people won't switch with us, I'll tell my wife to ask whoever is sitting next to her to hold her hand during takeoff. And then sneeze in her hands. I'll break out a kabanos and start chewing away. (It's even stinkier when I burp it than it is when I eat it.) I'll coach my daughter to ask everybody in her row to pass down their air-sick bags because she's not feeling well. (I kid! I kid!)

Glad to see that you're kidding. It gets tiresome to see those that are serious about that kind of thing!!! They want the cheapest available fare, don't want to pay anything extra, but want all the amenities! Those that want to be assured of being seated with family members or traveling companions should either pay for EBCI on SW, or pay a bit more to fly an airline that allows to to pre-select your seats.

I have flown Airtran a couple of times. I was prepared to be underwhelmed. I was pleasantly surprised! Yes, I did pay extra to board early and choose my seat. But I was flying with carryon only, so needed to be sure I had plenty of room for that bag in the overhead. But, the fare I ended up paying, with those extras, wasn't huge. Yes, I had to make connections, but such is life. All in all, they were very nice flights.

 

[rwdavis2]

I know it's a drive but have you looked at flights out of BWI?