Experience with Southwest Airline?

[Allison]

I hate it too, but guess what? The flight attendants are telling people to use whatever space they can find. A problem that could be SOLVED with ASSIGNED seats. ;-)
Just assign seats! Jeebus criminey crickets. It's like riding greyhound. I fully expect them to hand me a live chicken to hold while boarding.

We get it. You want assigned seats. You put your bag wherever you can. You hate Southwest. Lol.

 

[wilbret]

We get it. You want assigned seats. You put your bag wherever you can. You hate Southwest. Lol.

Hate is a strong word. I don't prefer them. I pay for early bird so I can get a decent non-middle seat, and I always put my stuff in my aisle. ;-) I just see the clusterfark every single time. People unsure if they'll find a seat, and being rushed by FAs trying to board the plane, and then people backtracking, etc...

It's like a cult. My uncle swears by them, even though it usually means sacrificing some convenience, like direct flights or flying into the most convenient airport.

 

[Allison]

It is pretty insulting to compare liking Southwest to being like a cult.

 

[wilbret]

It is pretty insulting to compare liking Southwest to being like a cult.

Sorry it offends you, that wasn't the intent. It's a board of opinions laced with attempts at humor. It's a way of illustrating the allegiance SWers have to their airline, even if it means things like having to book an extra night of a trip due to the last flight out being at 1:30pm in the afternoon, etc.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I hate it too, but guess what? The flight attendants are telling people to use whatever space they can find. A problem that could be SOLVED with ASSIGNED seats. ;-)
Just assign seats! Jeebus criminey crickets. It's like riding greyhound. I fully expect them to hand me a live chicken to hold while boarding.

If you had been following the conversation we were actually talking about zone boarding (which SWA doesn't have). Originally we were discussing how airlines like Delta and American and the like have so many zones (and the like for Medallion and whatnot) for Boarding. Having an assigned seat didn't mean you would get overhead bin space above your seat.

The conversation wasn't limited to SWA ergo your assigned seat comment is irrelevant The issue presents itself on airplanes in general in regards to overhead bin space.

 

[dish rag]

It is pretty insulting to compare liking Southwest to being like a cult.

SW does have a cult like following on the dis.

 

[Floridaman999]

All Hail Love Field!

 

[Allison]

Sorry it offends you, that wasn't the intent. It's a board of opinions laced with attempts at humor. It's a way of illustrating the allegiance SWers have to their airline, even if it means things like having to book an extra night of a trip due to the last flight out being at 1:30pm in the afternoon, etc.

You seem to have an allegiance to Delta. Either is fine.

 

[bcla]

I can't imagine messing with baggage check if you don't have to. We like to walk straight in to our gate and straight out of the airport.

Depends on the airline. When we flew on Spirit because the had the cheapest possible fare, we decided to pay $30 to check in one large piece of luggage rather than $70 to carry on the two pieces of carry on that would have allowed us to transport the same amount of stuff. They've got their system down pat though. Don't even think about putting anything in an overhead bin unless it's tagged as paid carry on.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I hate it too, but guess what? The flight attendants are telling people to use whatever space they can find. A problem that could be SOLVED with ASSIGNED seats. ;-)
Just assign seats! Jeebus criminey crickets. It's like riding greyhound. I fully expect them to hand me a live chicken to hold while boarding.

I was responding to comments about airlines with assigned seats and boarding by zone, back to front. Perhaps you did not read the thread leading up to my comment?

Actually, Southwest, with their lack of assigned seats, I rarely see this issue. Probably becuase MOST people in those first boarding groups on Southwst are also going to sit towards the front, so they are stashing their bags near where they sit. And, of course, if you are among the last 10-15 people on the Southewest plane, and all those front rows of seats are already filled, you know that space left in the overhead bins you pass near already filled seats is open space you can use without sending someone assigned to sit up front trekking to the back with a bag. Southwest's boarding procdeure (whether someone likes it or not ) IS effecient---far faster than most any other airline, one part of that may well be that it lends itself to not creating this overhead bin issue.

 

[Klayfish]

Hate is a strong word. I don't prefer them. I pay for early bird so I can get a decent non-middle seat, and I always put my stuff in my aisle. ;-) I just see the clusterfark every single time. People unsure if they'll find a seat, and being rushed by FAs trying to board the plane, and then people backtracking, etc...

It's like a cult. My uncle swears by them, even though it usually means sacrificing some convenience, like direct flights or flying into the most convenient airport.

Don't worry, you're not alone in your hate...yes I hate them...for SW. They have people who just love them and that's great, but they're just not for me. The boarding process just makes no sense

I don't bring any carry on luggage that needs to go in the overhead, so it's not an issue. Given how rude I see people being with their carry on luggage, I'm surprised the airlines haven't limited it even more. To me, they should board all planes from the back row toward the front. Limit carry on luggage to one item the size of a duffle bag. Everything else needs to be checked. I think that would eliminate so many issues and speed up the boarding process.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Don't worry, you're not alone in your hate...yes I hate them...for SW. They have people who just love them and that's great, but they're just not for me. The boarding process just makes no sense

I don't bring any carry on luggage that needs to go in the overhead, so it's not an issue. Given how rude I see people being with their carry on luggage, I'm surprised the airlines haven't limited it even more. To me, they should board all planes from the back row toward the front. Limit carry on luggage to one item the size of a duffle bag. Everything else needs to be checked. I think that would eliminate so many issues and speed up the boarding process.

Southwest’s boarding process with unassigned seats is actually the most efficient way to board of any of the airlines. The boarding process can’t really help with overhead space. Even limiting to the size of a standard (not oversized) carry on roller, there still aren’t enough overhead spaces for each passenger. Every time they add more seats, it decreases the amount of bin space per person.

The airlines are never going to limit carry-on to smaller than a standard roller. Their revenue comes from business passengers and business passengers don’t check bags so they aren’t about to alienate the revenue stream that keeps them in business.

Personally, Southwest isn’t my first choice as I’m a snobby pants and prefer first class, but do like Southwest and will take them over having to make a stop or obnoxious flight times or when I know I might change my plans.

 

[bcla]

Don't worry, you're not alone in your hate...yes I hate them...for SW. They have people who just love them and that's great, but they're just not for me. The boarding process just makes no sense

I don't bring any carry on luggage that needs to go in the overhead, so it's not an issue. Given how rude I see people being with their carry on luggage, I'm surprised the airlines haven't limited it even more. To me, they should board all planes from the back row toward the front. Limit carry on luggage to one item the size of a duffle bag. Everything else needs to be checked. I think that would eliminate so many issues and speed up the boarding process.

There is an airline that's experimenting with boarding and deplaning from both the front and rear doors. I think a couple of the airports (Burbank and Long Beach) only use airstairs, but San Jose and Sacramento use jetways for the front door .

https://www.southwest.com/html/travel-experience/dualdoor.html

 

[Hrhpd]

I hate it too, but guess what? The flight attendants are telling people to use whatever space they can find. A problem that could be SOLVED with ASSIGNED seats. ;-)
Just assign seats! Jeebus criminey crickets. It's like riding greyhound. I fully expect them to hand me a live chicken to hold while boarding.

Never going to happen on Southwest. It is part of their business plan and their method has been scientifically proven to be the most efficient process to board.

There are plenty of other airlines that do offer assigned seats. However, even those are never guaranteed. I have a flight for 6 people scheduled to Europe early fall. I purchased the tickets and picked seats a year out so that we could get the "good" economy seats. Our seats have been changed 3 times already without a change of equipment. It makes me appreciate the Southwest model even more. I just buy Early Bird and can just choose my seats when I board (I have never not been in A, so have a good selection.) This constant monitoring of my "assigned" seats is getting obnoxious.

 

[bcla]

Never going to happen on Southwest. It is part of their business plan and their method has been scientifically proven to be the most efficient process to board.

There are plenty of other airlines that do offer assigned seats. However, even those are never guaranteed. I have a flight for 6 people scheduled to Europe early fall. I purchased the tickets and picked seats a year out so that we could get the "good" economy seats. Our seats have been changed 3 times already without a change of equipment. It makes me appreciate the Southwest model even more. I just buy Early Bird and can just choose my seats when I board (I have never not been in A, so have a good selection.) This constant monitoring of my "assigned" seats is getting obnoxious.

The one thing I wish that Southwest would just take care of once and for all is to have a specific policy on saving seats for friends/relatives on the same flight but boarding later. Right now it depends on what the individual crew decides to do when someone complains about seat saving.

 

[jdb in AZ]

The one thing I wish that Southwest would just take care of once and for all is to have a specific policy on saving seats for friends/relatives on the same flight but boarding later. Right now it depends on what the individual crew decides to do when someone complains about seat saving.

That reminds me of Disney and their not enforcing their own rules (dress codes) because they don't want to offend their paying guests.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The boarding process just makes no sense

It's normally a like it or don't like it thing about SWA that's for sure.

But I haven't really run into people who say it doesn't make sense TBH. They all seem to get that it creates an orderly line, there's clear enough instructions, etc (you can't help everyone of course). But they don't like that it creates an orderly line and somewhere along the way it got connected with the description (apt or not) of 'cattle'-style boarding which is offputting to some.

 

[tex1989]

Living in the Houston area we have many friends that work for SWA. I have not looked in a while but one thing that the airline used to brag about a lot was on time take off and landings as monitored by the FAA. SWA was always at or near the top and the reason according to the airline was their loading process. They can certainly load a plane quickly and that help the stats a lot. There other claim was they had never lost a plane. I am not sure if that is still true but the engine incident did lead to one fatality that I know of. They fly one kind of plane and it keeps maintenence straightforward. I will fly any airline but try to stick with SWA. Some people like it, some don't but thats the way it is with everything in life.

I have actually heard that there are people who don't like to vacation at WDW! Can you believe that! Oh the horrors!!!!

 

[bcla]

Living in the Houston area we have many friends that work for SWA. I have not looked in a while but one thing that the airline used to brag about a lot was on time take off and landings as monitored by the FAA. SWA was always at or near the top and the reason according to the airline was their loading process. They can certainly load a plane quickly and that help the stats a lot. There other claim was they had never lost a plane. I am not sure if that is still true but the engine incident did lead to one fatality that I know of. They fly one kind of plane and it keeps maintenence straightforward. I will fly any airline but try to stick with SWA. Some people like it, some don't but thats the way it is with everything in life.

I have actually heard that there are people who don't like to vacation at WDW! Can you believe that! Oh the horrors!!!!

Never been there.

I guess it sort of simplifies things to fly one aircraft type, but even as far as a few years ago they were flying 737-300s which are a far different aircraft than the 737 MAX or NG models. I remember boarding one when I saw old school dials and gauges rather than a modern glass cockpit with electronic displays.

 

[mel2014]

There is an airline that's experimenting with boarding and deplaning from both the front and rear doors. I think a couple of the airports (Burbank and Long Beach) only use airstairs, but San Jose and Sacramento use jetways for the front door .

https://www.southwest.com/html/travel-experience/dualdoor.html

We've done this three times, twice leaving from Sacramento and once from Long Beach. It helps speed the boarding process and, for us, let us get 4 or 5 seats together. Because of people stopping in the aisle at the front of the plane and blocking traffic while they put in carryons and take single front seats, we've actually gotten seats CLOSER to the front of the plane by boarding in the back than we would have if we loaded from the front. Because of the stairs, it's not the best for people with mobility issues (Long Beach has a ramp for the front door, stairs for the back).