Experience with Southwest Airline?

[mel&me]

We fly SW probably 90% of the time, never any issues.

 

[Suprachica79]

Another Southwest lover here. Have flown exclusively southwest for the last 5 years, only had one delay that was quickly worked out. I have the southwest credit card that gives a ton of perks and love it.

 

[mamamary]

We always fly SW. never had problems

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Southwest is our favorite airline. We've flown Delta too when SWA hasn't flown to the destinations we went to (St. Lucia and Hawaii---though SWA will eventually be flying there..sometime soon-ish..maybe lol).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't fly as much as some, but over the past 15 years I've flown an average of 4-8 times per year. I've almost never had a positive experience with Southwest. By a country mile, they are the worst airline I've ever used. I've had delays of 14 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours. Customer service is horrible...they're rude and not very helpful. Their seating strategy is utterly horrible. The flight attendants are obnoxious. They try to be funny, but it's annoying. The seats on their planes are terrible, and their in flight entertainment stinks. Other than that, they're wonderful.

I try my best to avoid using them whenever possible. I far prefer Spirit Airlines, Frontier, Delta, Jet Blue. However, for some places I fly Southwest is the only practical choice...so I cross my fingers, hold my breath and prepare for the worst.

Other than that, they're wonderful!?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Rapid Rewards points are so devalued now that its laughable. I checked last night and a $200 flight costs almost 13,000 points. We used to earn one flight a year, now it takes over a year to earn a one-way ticket.

Their RR points program is better in my opinion than others out there.

Easier to obtain points too:

~ RR Shopping Portal
~Bonus Points for certain things (I got 1,000 a couple years in a row when we did our taxes through Turbo Tax for instance)
~Surveys done
~Dining purchases with participating places (which is not tied to their credit card at all)
~Then there's if you have a SWA CC
~Hotel partners
~Rental car
~Etc.

Maybe you should look into if you're utilizing their RR Program to their fullest. I know we aren't as sometimes the deals don't work out to our advantage or we don't need to use xyz that gets us the points but we get points from flying, dining points, every once and a while using the shopping portal (sucks that Petco is now the retailer rather than Petsmart as I shop at Petsmart more often), using the SWA CC, sometimes rental car, and hotels have been once in a while.

That's not to say that points used to be worth more but I find that the case with other programs out there including hotels.

 

[sonnyjane]

I don't fly as much as some, but over the past 15 years I've flown an average of 4-8 times per year. I've almost never had a positive experience with Southwest. By a country mile, they are the worst airline I've ever used. I've had delays of 14 hours, 6 hours, 3 hours. Customer service is horrible...they're rude and not very helpful. Their seating strategy is utterly horrible. The flight attendants are obnoxious. They try to be funny, but it's annoying. The seats on their planes are terrible, and their in flight entertainment stinks. Other than that, they're wonderful.

Wow. I don't doubt your experiences, but it just goes to show how much it can clearly vary from one person to another. I have only ever had positive experiences with Southwest and their customer service, and I use them about 10-20 times per year. Two years ago, for example, we were delayed by nearly 3 hours due to weather. Bummer, but it happens - every flight in the airport was delayed, not just ours. We hadn't boarded yet, so we weren't entitled to anything, yet when we finally landed in our destination, we each had a $50 travel voucher to use on future flights along with an apology for the delay.

Last year my flight was delayed due to an issue at the airport (one of the runways was closed) so I would miss my connection. I found out about the delay while driving to the airport. Without even having to call, Southwest rescheduled me for the next available connecting flight and sent me the new confirmation. As luck would have it, my delayed flight ended up making up a bit of time and landed in the gate RIGHT NEXT to where I needed to be for my original flight about 10 minutes before that departure - the door was already closed. I'd already been rescheduled for the later flight, however, so would have had to wait around in the airport for 2 hours. Well, I went up to the counter, told the attendant that I knew it was a long shot but wondered if there were still any seats on that original flight and explained the situation. She typed a few keys on her computer, signaled to the guy to open the door, and handed me a candy bar because she said she knew I didn't have any time to grab a snack.

I think their seating strategy is incredible efficient - a lot faster than when I fly with traditional airlines - but admittedly I usually travel either alone or with just one other person so I don't mind much where I sit. I also think their in-flight entertainment is awesome in that you get free TV and movies - you just have to bring your own device to get them. I also love their cancellation/rescheduling policy. The fact that there are no penalties/fees is pretty amazing - love that flexibility.

 

[Hrhpd]

Love Southwest.
In 2018, according to JD Power, they ranked 1st in customer satisfaction for low cost airlines.
Their seating plan has been scientifically shown to be the most efficient although you do have to know the system to be able to secure seats you are happy with.
They have won awards for their customer service.
They were in the top 10 GLOBALLY (7th) in 2018 for on time performance, according to OAG.

I have never been late or had a problem and I fly exclusively Southwest. I have 8 trips for 2018 already booked and 75% are free with Rapid Rewards. With the RR card, it is insanely easy to rack up points and redeem them for any flight you want.

Their checked bag, carry on bags, refunds and change rules are some of the best in the industry. Their change rules are why I fly Southwest. Since most of my flights are with points, if they go down in points, I just get the cheaper flight and the excess points are immediately put back into my account.

I did it just today. My flight to LAX went down in price. I just went online, did a "change my reservation," picked the same flight as before, and the excess points were put right back into account which then gave me enough points to book the return flight. (I always book one ways so that each leg is easily changed.)

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I don't fly Southwest all that often, but I've never had a problem when I did.

By the way, the 2 letter code for Southwest is WN, not SW. When Southwest started flying, the code SW was already taken by what is now Air Namibia in Africa. Namibia was formerly known as Southwest Africa.

I don't know for a fact, but Southwest probably flies mores passengers in a day than Air Namibia does in a year.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

They are very reputable. The seating is unique, people love it or hate it. Either pay the extra for priority which is group A and boards 1st, After handicap, other special need passengers. If you're an A, you'll get to sit together even a B is most likely to not have a problem. If you do not pay the extra fee make you sure check in at the 24 hr time on the exact MINUTE you can to get the group B!!!

 

[lisaviolet]

I have driven to BUF and PIT to fly Southwest for close to twenty years.

I live two seconds from a downtown Toronto airport and a short train ride to our major one. I do and have used both. But still 90% of my flights are with Southwest.

In the first couple of years it was all about price. Used to get $39 and $49 flights.

But now it is loyalty to them because of -

*years of on time direct flights
*if delays, probably twice in my time with them, clear communication and drama free
*can't say that about Air Canada over the years - delays have been somewhat common ( I might just be unlucky) but communication is forever chaotic - no excuse for that. And AC gets tons of awards????!!

*free bags
*smooth, quick easy boarding (yes I know others don't see it that way)

But the best -

FREE CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS! Love that.

I phone at least once a year to thank them for their policies.

Also, issues. Just had one over Christmas, first time. Was listened to professionally and with empathy. Although I was given a fair outcome, the professional conduct on the other end was honestly more important.

I love them so much I will still probably shuffle off to Buffalo when I win the lottery.

Oh whoever said uncomfortable - I flew on one of their new planes in December. More leg room, wider seats, great upgrade.

 

[lisaviolet]

I have the southwest credit card that gives a ton of perks and love it.

Jealous!

It isn't available here in Canada. We keep waiting for it - wishing - hoping - dreaming.

And for Southwest to come here. There have been a myriad of rumours over the years but nothing comes to fruition.

Yet!

 

[Toolulu22]

Their RR points program is better in my opinion than others out there.

Easier to obtain points too:

~ RR Shopping Portal
~Bonus Points for certain things (I got 1,000 a couple years in a row when we did our taxes through Turbo Tax for instance)
~Surveys done
~Dining purchases with participating places (which is not tied to their credit card at all)
~Then there's if you have a SWA CC
~Hotel partners
~Rental car
~Etc.

Maybe you should look into if you're utilizing their RR Program to their fullest. I know we aren't as sometimes the deals don't work out to our advantage or we don't need to use xyz that gets us the points but we get points from flying, dining points, every once and a while using the shopping portal (sucks that Petco is now the retailer rather than Petsmart as I shop at Petsmart more often), using the SWA CC, sometimes rental car, and hotels have been once in a while.

That's not to say that points used to be worth more but I find that the case with other programs out there including hotels.

No, I don’t utilize the card to it’s fullest and actually plan to cancel it this year. I find that I get more value from my American Express card rewards program and offers, which are more aligned to my interests. I also can get hotels/vacation and entertainment offers through them. We do shop Petco, and the Reward tied to AE expired so I’ll check that out- but at this point we’ve kind of decided to book our last points and call it a day. It’s fine with me because I actually prefer to fly JetBlue, its DH who likes Southwest.

 

[DebbieB]

People refer to “cattle call” boarding. I find it to be more organized than others. On airlines with zone boarding, as soon as boarding begins people start hovering close to the front. They call zone 1 or 2, you have a hard time getting to the gate because a family with zone 5 is standing in the way. People push to get on first so that they can find a spot for their carryon. With Southwest, you have your number and you line up in order. No reason to get up until your letter/number is ready to line up. No one stands in the way or pushes.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No, I don’t utilize the card to it’s fullest and actually plan to cancel it this year. I find that I get more value from my American Express card rewards program and offers, which are more aligned to my interests. I also can get hotels/vacation and entertainment offers through them. We do shop Petco, and the Reward tied to AE expired so I’ll check that out- but at this point we’ve kind of decided to book our last points and call it a day. It’s fine with me because I actually prefer to fly JetBlue, its DH who likes Southwest.

No worries just wanted to chime in on that.

We have a Delta Skymiles Amex card and we just found it too entirely too long to get anything of value out of it. We still have it just don't use it often. Most recently we used up the points that took like multiple years to earn and bought 1 of the 2 tickets to Hawaii--if it hadn't been for my husband's business trip to Japan several years back it would have been many more years of earning before getting to the points/miles needed to get that 1 ticket. We have a whopping 11,000 pts left over with Delta now. The good thing about Delta's points is they never expire. SWA do expire after 24months but their program makes it easy to earn pts to reset the 24month clock. SWA also has hotel and vacation deals and packages (just mentioning as you mentioned Amex though you may not have a branded airline Amex like we do and that could be the difference in how we view the value in points).

But everyone has to go with what works for them and as programs shift and change that may change too

*We don't have Jetblue at our airport so I don't have experience with them so I can't comment on how it is to fly with them.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

People refer to “cattle call” boarding. I find it to be more organized than others. On airlines with zone boarding, as soon as boarding begins people start hovering close to the front. They call zone 1 or 2, you have a hard time getting to the gate because a family with zone 5 is standing in the way. People push to get on first so that they can find a spot for their carryon. With Southwest, you have your number and you line up in order. No reason to get up until your letter/number is ready to line up. No one stands in the way or pushes.

Yeah I disliked that about Delta. That and I felt like we were the ugly step-sibling because we were lowly Skymiles CC holders (course I was zone 2 flying on miles) in a plane full of Medallion members-not that they didn't earn that just disliked the Boarding process and I know they've adjusted it and added more recently if I remember correctly.

 

[bcla]

Well - it has changed over the years. Way back when, Southwest used to have a policy where one was assigned an order of 1 to how many seats were available, using reusable plastic boarding passes. Boarding order wasn't precisely in the order of number assigned. The first group was 1-30, and if #30 arrives first in the group that would be first to board. Then it was in the next 30 numbers, and so on and so forth. The really odd thing was that sometimes passengers would attempt to fold these passes, even though they were heavy weight plastic. And for a time in California, these passes were in the shape of the state.

Here's a collection that was donated to the Smothsonian's National Air and Space Museum:

This is one used at airports in California, in the shape of the state. The rack that they held them in was really oddly shaped too. This one didn't have a number because it was a spare used in case there was one missing in the sequence.

Of course every flight had its boarding passes in a single color:

Those were the days.....

 

[wgeo]

I'm sure I've shared this story before - but I think SW is great. A few years back we flew to FL and 2 days later my MIL passed away, the employee I talked to on the phone very late night while I was crying was exceptionally kind and helpful and got all 4 of us rebooked at no cost to ourselves on the first flight out the next morning. Since we had booked on points and the flight the next day was an insanely amount of higher points when she tried to change us it wanted to charge us the point increase - and she figured out a way to override that everytime so we didn't get charged anything.

We've had their cc for years, we usually get between 4 and 6 round trip tickets "free" a year using their points. I'm sure this is helped because we now live in FL and can often find competitive pricing - but still that is a significant savings for us.

I've never flown Allegiant - I've heard horror stories on the news, but in person I have one friend that flies them often and has never had issues, and I have another friend who's husband is an Allegiant pilot and of course she's a fan but no personal experience.

 

[_19disnA]

No matter which airline you fly, there are always be a few clueless people who either don't know the boarding process and/or are too busy texting/talking on their cell phone to listen to the boarding announcements. The most organized airlines start the process at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Plane is unlikely to take off on time if the agents are bumbling behind the counter and wait until the last minute to get things moving. SW always seems like one of the most organized airlines.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have flown with them once, I have no real complaints.