A Southwest Convert...lol

momsgoofy

<br><font color=blue>Hello! My name is Laura and I
Joined
Feb 19, 2003
Messages
2,670
We used Southwest for the first time on our WDW trip 12/18 - 12/25 and are complete converts...lol

First, the airfare couldn't be beaten thanks to the info learned here at the DIS transportation board. I got the fare BNA to MCO for $35 an the return for $84 on a DING and systemwide sale repectively.

Second, the flight times were great...left BNA at 8:25am CST, arrived only 5 mins. late due to some weather at 11:15am EST. Left MCO at 8pm EST and arrived BNA at 8:50pm on time.

Third, the flight attendants just seemed more friendly and personable than other airlines we've flown in the past...that doesn't mean that they will always be that way though.

Fourth, the flight attendants doing the safety demo were more concerned. By this I mean that they took the extra time to go down the aisle, stop at a row with small children and explain that IF the mask dropped down that Mommy or Daddy would put hers/his on first THEN theirs. I think this reassured some children and their parents...I know it would have been nice to have that when DS was younger.

Fifth, snacks on the plane...I was very pleased to get something different than those waffle pretzels and a soft drink. For our morning flight we received a Quaker breakfast bar, banana nut, which tasted just like a banana nut muffin. On the return, we were given TWO snacks; a very small bag of peanuts and a nice size (vending machine size) bag of something like Chex mix...another brand name, but it escapes me right now. Also, I noted the flight attendants were asking if anyone would like a second snack on each flight.

Okay, now there has to be a down side to SWA...despite all the great things, we did think that SWA has been the worst bag handlers. We had 2 bags damaged, one was ripped about an 1 1/2 inches and the other had the zippers ripped off of the side pocket (which in itself would not be covered) but because the inspector noticed the sides of the bag were dented in, she determined the damage was the result of a bag jam and would be covered. I was offered comparable bags to swap out on the spot. It wasn't fun taking out all of the contents from the old one to the new one...one bag was nothing but the dirty clothes...lol However, even in this negative, there was a positive...prompt attention by SWA which was a happy resolution for me.

We will absolutely fly with SWA again in the future, but no matter what I will still base my choice on price and convience for our travel needs. Had I not read the posts here about SWA, I may have never considered using them...now I have to at least once more since I have almost $300 in credit thanks to those low airfares...lol Anybody see any great fares to Orlando for spring break? :rotfl2:
 
I have been thinking about booking with SW and your thread makes me feel a less leary of doing so. There have been different opinions on here about this airline and I was just not sure if I should try them. They do have good prices.

Thanks for the info.
:earseek:
 
I fly anywhere from 4 to 6 times a year and if not for SW there's no way I could afford it .

As for the flight attendents most are great (I think it's because they get to dress casuel).Any reasonable problem has been taken care of right on spot.
 
This is good to know! I've been debating Southwest and talking to others about them and so far have heard all good things, HOPEFULLY it will stay that way because if we do fly that is probably who we'll go with. Thanks!
 

I flew SWA for the first time in Nov. and would not hesitate to fly them again. It did not come into play for me this trip but I like the fact that I can book with them and then re-book with no penalty and get credit if a lower SWA fare comes out (ala DING!)
 
ccw said:
I flew SWA for the first time in Nov. and would not hesitate to fly them again. It did not come into play for me this trip but I like the fact that I can book with them and then re-book with no penalty and get credit if a lower SWA fare comes out (ala DING!)


AMEN!!!
 
I fly SWA 4 - 6 times a year and I can agree that customer service is top notch! Their Rapid Rewards system can't be beat either!

Only thing that I can't agree on is getting cheap flights on SWA from DTW! It is difficult with the high landing fees at metro. I am using my RR ticket to fly FREE on Good Friday but my DH is paying $402 for HIS fare on SWA. :earseek:

pinnie
 
momsgoofy said:
We used Southwest for the first time on our WDW trip 12/18 - 12/25 and are complete converts...lol

First, the airfare couldn't be beaten thanks to the info learned here at the DIS transportation board. I got the fare BNA to MCO for $35 an the return for $84 on a DING and systemwide sale repectively.

Second, the flight times were great...left BNA at 8:25am CST, arrived only 5 mins. late due to some weather at 11:15am EST. Left MCO at 8pm EST and arrived BNA at 8:50pm on time.

Third, the flight attendants just seemed more friendly and personable than other airlines we've flown in the past...that doesn't mean that they will always be that way though.

Fourth, the flight attendants doing the safety demo were more concerned. By this I mean that they took the extra time to go down the aisle, stop at a row with small children and explain that IF the mask dropped down that Mommy or Daddy would put hers/his on first THEN theirs. I think this reassured some children and their parents...I know it would have been nice to have that when DS was younger.

Fifth, snacks on the plane...I was very pleased to get something different than those waffle pretzels and a soft drink. For our morning flight we received a Quaker breakfast bar, banana nut, which tasted just like a banana nut muffin. On the return, we were given TWO snacks; a very small bag of peanuts and a nice size (vending machine size) bag of something like Chex mix...another brand name, but it escapes me right now. Also, I noted the flight attendants were asking if anyone would like a second snack on each flight.

Okay, now there has to be a down side to SWA...despite all the great things, we did think that SWA has been the worst bag handlers. We had 2 bags damaged, one was ripped about an 1 1/2 inches and the other had the zippers ripped off of the side pocket (which in itself would not be covered) but because the inspector noticed the sides of the bag were dented in, she determined the damage was the result of a bag jam and would be covered. I was offered comparable bags to swap out on the spot. It wasn't fun taking out all of the contents from the old one to the new one...one bag was nothing but the dirty clothes...lol However, even in this negative, there was a positive...prompt attention by SWA which was a happy resolution for me.

We will absolutely fly with SWA again in the future, but no matter what I will still base my choice on price and convience for our travel needs. Had I not read the posts here about SWA, I may have never considered using them...now I have to at least once more since I have almost $300 in credit thanks to those low airfares...lol Anybody see any great fares to Orlando for spring break? :rotfl2:


How long was your flight? Southwest has never given me that much food. I usually just get the peanuts.
 
ccw said:
I flew SWA for the first time in Nov. and would not hesitate to fly them again. It did not come into play for me this trip but I like the fact that I can book with them and then re-book with no penalty and get credit if a lower SWA fare comes out (ala DING!)
I did not know they did this either! Is this something new they are offering? If so then I will definately be booking with them.
 
ccw said:
I flew SWA for the first time in Nov. and would not hesitate to fly them again. It did not come into play for me this trip but I like the fact that I can book with them and then re-book with no penalty and get credit if a lower SWA fare comes out (ala DING!)

I used this convenience last Labor Day weekend. I now have $105 credit coming. My problem is I don't know how to go about using it? I tried playing around on their site, putting in any old date and putting in my Conf. # where it asks for Promotion Code, but then I get this:

southwest.com

What happened?
The offer you requested is not valid due to expiration of the offer, invalid travel and/or purchase dates, or missing information.
What you need to do:
Please use your browsers back button to return to the previous page to try again, or continue booking one of our everyday low fares.
Reference Number: 100027 Occurred: 01/02/06 11:09:40


Does anyone know how I use the credit to book a flight online??

Thanks,
 
allboyz said:
How long was your flight? Southwest has never given me that much food. I usually just get the peanuts.


Our flight from MCO to BNA (Nashville, TN) was right at 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Our flight from BNA to MCO was 1 hour 55 minutes.
 
CDoobee said:
I used this convenience last Labor Day weekend. I now have $102 credit coming. My problem is I don't know how to go about using it? I tried playing around on their site, putting in any old date and putting in my Conf. # where it asks for Promotion Code, but then I get this:

southwest.com

What happened?
The offer you requested is not valid due to expiration of the offer, invalid travel and/or purchase dates, or missing information.
What you need to do:
Please use your browsers back button to return to the previous page to try again, or continue booking one of our everyday low fares.
Reference Number: 100027 Occurred: 01/02/06 11:09:40


Does anyone know how I use the credit to book a flight online??

Thanks,
After you select the flight you want to fly, you will see a button "View and Apply Travel Funds". Click the button and you will be asked for the necessary information.

Hope this helps.
 
pirateparrot said:
After you select the flight you want to fly, you will see a button "View and Apply Travel Funds". Click the button and you will be asked for the necessary information.

Hope this helps.

Thanks! I tried that (just playing around) and it worked! Now, I just need to figure out where to go before my credit expires in June!

Thanks again!
 
I was just checking on my travel funds from rebooking at a lower fare a couple of weeks ago. They weren't there! So I called and a very nice lady straightened it all out...whew! That's $360 in credit I have and it was missing! She was so very nice about it! (of course, it probably helps that I was patient with her and not ranting about my lost money). I was also happy to see on their website...if you need to contact them, they do NOT do the automated email thing...so you get to talk to a person every time! very nice.

Off to WDW in a few days!!
 
Now that they're in Pittsburgh, I may have to try SW, especially since airfare for our summer trip is running about $340 on USair. So I guess I'll be checking every day for late June/July flights to open up.
 
If your bags were damaged in Nashville, I am not sure it's SW's fault. I KNOW the other airlines use the airport's service to do luggage and it is just HORRID!!!!! Of course the airport authority could care less what the passengers thing LOL!
 
CarolA said:
If your bags were damaged in Nashville, I am not sure it's SW's fault. I KNOW the other airlines use the airport's service to do luggage and it is just HORRID!!!!! Of course the airport authority could care less what the passengers thing LOL!


It may very well have been the handlers in the airport...not sure who was exactly responsible for the damage. I do know that SW wa quick to make it right though and for that I was glad. And now that you mention it....I do remember the first time we flew out of BNA and one of our bags...one of thoe rolling duffles...was almost ripped...you could see the beginnings of the tear and it was a different airline. But, hey that bag only cost $20 at Big Lots so I wasn't expecting much from it...lol
 
I have booked our upcoming trip (March/April) on SWA. I was able to get the return for $77.70 but going down to MCO I was holding out for a ding rate... initially only the Internet rate was "sold-out" so I couldn't get the $77.70 rate going, but I could have gotten it for about $97. Anyway, one day it was there, the next day EVERYTHING was sold-out except the refundable rate of $127. Needless to say, I book the refundable fare and check several times a day for a DING rate. I'm crossing my fingers that something a little lower might come up, but right now the DINGS only go thru March 9th from ORF to MCO.

Regardless, the combined rate of 77 and 127 is still lower than any other direct flight. However, I could sacrifice my entire day and fly from Virginia to Detroit to Orlando and save about $20. :rotfl2: (We need some better connections!)
 
I have a question on DING. We are considering going at the end of August this year. I know right now that we couldn't even check the fares on the SW web site but how many months in advance should we start looking for DING fares?

Also has anyone flown SW out of Albany, NY? How is that airport and how early do you need to be there before the flight?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
vascubaguy said:
I have booked our upcoming trip (March/April) on SWA. I was able to get the return for $77.70 but going down to MCO I was holding out for a ding rate... initially only the Internet rate was "sold-out" so I couldn't get the $77.70 rate going, but I could have gotten it for about $97. Anyway, one day it was there, the next day EVERYTHING was sold-out except the refundable rate of $127. Needless to say, I book the refundable fare and check several times a day for a DING rate. I'm crossing my fingers that something a little lower might come up, but right now the DINGS only go thru March 9th from ORF to MCO.

Regardless, the combined rate of 77 and 127 is still lower than any other direct flight. However, I could sacrifice my entire day and fly from Virginia to Detroit to Orlando and save about $20. :rotfl2: (We need some better connections!)


Keep checking!! That is how I got the $35 fare. I originally booked the lowest fare when my travel dates came out...it was $111 oneway...so to ensure we had the flight i wanted i booked and not so patiently waited for a Ding or sale fare. It came out about 10 days later....$35, but I couldn't get it for the return flight...so I waited some more...and about another week went by and the systemwide sale had my flight (MCO to BNA) for $84, so I saved about $100, which means there's a verra nice credit waiting for my next trip.

Be dilegent and check all the time...that is the only way I found out about the sale fares. Good luck!!
 




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