Southwest air

[wheatenwalker]

Anyone ever have any good or bad experiences on this air line? Today they have the best rate for our trip, we usually fly US Air, but SW is less and has better flight times. How dufficult is it to get 3 seats toghether? My kids are teenagers but arent great flyers (one gets motion sick, the other gets nervous with every little bump). Thanks

 

[TravelSheryl]

Southwest is a great airline. They are my favorite. There should be no problem at all getting 3 seats together as long as they get to the departure gate at least 1 hr. and 15 minutes prior to departure. They should then be in the first boarding group. Southwest does not assign seats.

 

[Disnydad]

We flew them for the first time this past December. They were great. So great, I bought stock in the company when we got back.

 

[travelcoupons]

They have good customer service, fleet is quite new.
Only thing I don't like is no assigned seats so you have to be in line 75 to 90 minutes before your flight to get a low # to board early in the boarding process (or be disabled or have small children) and they run lots of connecting flights through smaller markets so often you are the first one to get on the plane and its already half full from the incoming flight.

 

[disneygrly]

Our favorite airline--friendly staff--usually ontime--GREAT!!!

 

[ColoradoDis]

I lived in Texas for 14 years and flew Southwest at least once per week. They have great customer service and great on-time record.

Now that I'm in Colorado, I don't have Southwest as a choice anymore. I miss them.

 

[Syngrolsch]

hey Wheaten.

Sorry to be the negative voice here.
Where are you from??
From reading the previous replies it appears that Southwest is great in the rest of the country.
As for California, Southwest is known among my friends and family as Southworst.
They always are full or overbooked because there is always a couple of angry people at the gate when I board the plane.
Because there are no seating assignments, it always seems like a cattle call when boarding. Literally, I have seen people push and shove!
Also, regarding no food being served, can be rather hard when you're flying cross country.
Last year, my sister and mother flew from San francisco to Orlando and their flight was delayed Four hours getting there and Five hours on the return Flight!!!!!!!!!!
The last straw came last year, when I had an emergency on the plane, which resulted with a flight attendant and I getting into a heated verbal argument.
After that I swore I would never fly Southwest again.
Granted, I know they have good internet deals but I was able to find a great deal on Americawest for 480 dollors for RT for 2 adults from San francisco to ORlando.
So will see how americawest goes.
It seems you'll be ok as long as your not flying from Calif.
good luck!!!

 

[Chuck S]

I fly Southwest to Vegas, because they have some of the best packages from San Antonio. I don't like the seating not being assigned...but other than that have had no major problems. People I know in California have flown America West without problems to Orlando, BUT both times I flew America West I had 5 hour delays in Pheonix due to mechanical problems, and their assigned seating isn't much better than Southwest cattle calls. They often change equipment and seats are not re-assigned to match.

Have you priced Delta lately? Our flight next week to MCO is a few dollars cheaper than Southwest, and I like their service...even though we have to change planes in Atlanta.

Of course, someone will have horror stories from every airline. Try them and good luck.

 

[wheatenwalker]

I am in a suburb of Buffalo. Southwest is fairly new to this market. We usually fly on US Air but right now Southwest is much cheaper and has direct flights on the days I want to fly. The no assigned seats bothers me a bit because I wouldnt want my kids (even though thye are teens) to have to sit alone. Still have been procrastinating about buying tickets, have had my credit card next to the computer since yesterday, just cant make up my mind. Thanks for all the in put!

 

[TravelSheryl]

If the only thing holding you back from buying the tickets on Southwest is your seating concerns, I think they are very unwarranted. Consider this. They are ticketed on US Airways. Their flight is cancelled and a different plane with a different seating configuration is substituted. All seating assignments are lost. The flight is full. There are parents travelling with small children, who, for safety reasons, cannot be separated. They will be re-assigned seats first. Your able bodied teenagers are assigned two together and one on his own.

While this scenario is rare, it can happen. As I said above and others have commented repeatedly on this forum, if you arrive at the gate 1 hr. and 15 minutes to 1 hr and 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure, 3 people will not have a problem sitting together as they will be in the first boarding group.

 

[Lewisc]

Sheryl is right, if you get to the airport early you'll have no trouble getting 3 together. Unless a lot of people pre-board you can be most of the way through the third group until you have a problem. If wind up in group 3 or higher get in line as soon as you get your card.
Sherly--if you have 22 rows (44 groups of 3) you can seat 44 couples (88 people) until you have no more 3 consecutive seats available.

 

[pbhunt]

Syngrolsch, Who want's to fly out of San Francisco, anyway? We much prefer flying out of Oakland or San Jose. SFO is horribly plagued by fog, weather delays, and traffic for all carriers. That's why Southwest no longer flys out of there. I agree, that you trade comfort and amenities for a discounted fare on SW. We, don't mind that, more money to spend at our destination.

 

[Syngrolsch]

hey PBhunt
Actually, i fly out of oakland 90% of the time. I just generalize the whole bay area as San francisco so as other people who read the boards from around the country know what part of the country I'm speaking about. I've read a lot about the track record of SFO but the times I've flown out of there I've been apparently lucky because I've never been delayed.
I actually moved to Oakand a year ago from san fran and enjoyed the smallness and quietness of the oakland airport. Unfortunately, I just went there 2 weeks ago to pick up my friend and found massive construction going on and all the parking lots full. I guess everyone found out about the "small, quiet oakland airport".

 

[Uncle Mikey]

I have had nothing but great experiences with Southwest. Some people are put off by the no seat assignment. We have found the same thing as others have said. If you show up to the gate approximately one hour and fifteen minutes in advance, you will be fine. Over the past several years, I have flown Southwest more than twenty times. All of them to and from Oakland. I have yet to have a bad experience. I recently saw a report on NBC that rated the airlines and Southwest was among the top ones. America West on the other hand came out at the very bottom. Everyone's experiences are different. I have had my single best experience with a particular airline who also gave me my single worst experience. Sometimes it just depends on the particular people you have to deal with. I hope all our experiences and opinions are helpful because we all want to see you have a great experience.

 

[VickiVM]

Up until this past Christmas, I flew Southwest just about twice a month for work. They have the BEST rewards program that gives you a free flight voucher for every 8 r/t flights you take in a 12 mo. period (4 r/t if you book and pay online). I am using 2 vouchers next week to go on vacation to Seattle. Anyway, I have never been put off by the open seating and in all the places I've flown, I've found everyone to be polite and cordial (no shoving). When I fly, I often see parents boarding with children anxiously looking for seats together. Since so many of the passengers are business travelers, we often would change our seating to accomodate the families (hey, we have kids too and know what it's like carting them around). I once arrived in Birmingham, AL and my luggage didn't make it (2 days before Thanksgiving...what was I thinking when I checked in 1 overnight bag I could have easily carried with me??). I was actually visiting one of my stores in Montgomery and driving there directly, so Southwest took my numbers of hotel and the store and called me that evening that my luggage made it and they would drive the 2 hours to deliver it to my hotel that evening!! The bag arrived about 15 min after I checked into my room.

About the plane ride itself, I have experienced a couple of bumpy rides, but no more bumpy than other aircrafts that experience turbulence. Since I would often take the first flight out of the day, I often slept during both takeoff and landing.

Overall, get there early and you won't have a problem getting good seats. Don't let the "suits" intimidate you...they often are hanging around the boarding area. I didn't have a problem hanging out by the first group boarding section right when I checked in. Sit on the floor for 30 or 40 min and play with your kids. And enjoy the savings where you'll really know the difference...

One more thing...pack a lunch if your flight will be during a meal time. What airlines serve surely won't be as tasty as what you could prepare yourself. My kids LOVE lunchables and think that's the biggest treat there is.

 

[tink2dw]

I like the way southwest does it!! at least someone isn't assigning you the worst seats in the plane back against the rear bathroom,where the seats can't move but you get to have the seat in front of you layed back in your chest for 5 hrs.!!from west to Florida!!

 

[wheatenwalker]

Does everyone have to wait in line? I thought I would send the boys off to find food once we got to the airport and I would start waitng. The flight is early so I know they wont want to eat before we leave the house. Thanks again everyone for the input!

 

[TravelSheryl]

No, they don't all have to stand in line to get their boarding passes. As their parent, you can do that for them. Depending on their age, they may have to show a picture ID, but that can be done when they check their luggage in the terminal or curbside.

 

[dcedwards]

I travel SWA all the time. Used to use them for business and now travel with a 3 year old about 7 times a year.

I've flown America West and much prefer SWA. Typically out of Phoenix their ontime record is much better. The 2 times I switched to AMerica West I regretted it...the flight attendants were very unkind and I got the impression that I was bothering them every time I asked a question. (My brother flies first class all the time and doesn't have a problem with service.)

If you get to the airport in plenty of time you won't have a problem getting seats together. It is a long flight and we just bring our own food. Pack sandwiches in a collapsable cooler along with chips and even our own drinks. Always bring a water bottle with me, anyways.

We've traveled the Spokane Washington to Orlando route (10 hours) and never had any problem. They evne let me 2 year old walk up and down the ramp when we were stopped before loading.

Again, the trick is be prepared. Get there early and bring your own food. I enjoy their frequent flyer program. It is the best in the industry.

This is just my experience. Now I mind you, I've had some problems with them, but when I complained (in writing,) I always got immediate satisfaction from the CS department with a complete explanation.

 

[wheatenwalker]

I have decided that it isnt having a problem with a company that causes me to use or not use them again but how they handle the problem after it occurs. Sounds like SW does a good job with that. The flight from Buffalo to Orlando is only about 2 1/2 hours so if the boys eat at the airport, a snack should hold them over and some drinks of course. Thanks!