Southwest Airlines?

[Nedlo2]

However, gotta love those DING rates. If the 2 of us had to be split up for a 1.5 hour flight to WDW... I wouldn't really care if it saved me $100 per ticket... and it has nothing to do with the 'class' of the traveler.

Couldn't agree more. There are 8 of us flying from BWI to MCO. Southwest will save me $70 a ticket. $70 x 8 = $560. Not being able to sit together as a group is well worth $560 RT. Actually, after spending 8 days together in WDW we might want to send a few hours sitting near someone else

 

[dgaston]

My understanding is there are 45 A passes, 45 B passes, and so on. DH and I do get into the A line early and have been able to sit in the exit row many times. He's only 6'2" but has trouble unless he can move his legs a lot. And SWA is the only airline, I've been able to earn free flights. Gotta love their Rapid Rewards program.

 

[sagwanamu]

Southwest Airlines- Budget travel at it's finest.

It really is a giant cattle call to board with people sleeping on the floor to get a place in line. That low price you got won't seem so good when you end up in seating C and you are your significant other are seated apart. Southwest and its day in the sun are over. They hedged on the price of fuel and it paid off. That hedge is over so you will now see higher Southwest prices. I've already seen it. Southwest will be soon known as Southworst. They try to say there greatest asset is there employees........ RIGHT! They are the most unprofessional, sloppy dressed people I've ever seen. It is just plain embarassing flying with them. It screams, "Hey I'm broke so I took the cattle car to WDW!" Do yourself a favor and buy yourself some class and some dignity.

Doc

You can call it whatever you want... I can't wait until SWA starts flying from IAD (I hope they fly to MCO when they start in the fall). I rather spend the saved money buying my kids more toys from WDW than dumping it on big airlines. Some airports need more competitions from budget airlines.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Southwest Airlines- Budget travel at it's finest.

It really is a giant cattle call to board with people sleeping on the floor to get a place in line. That low price you got won't seem so good when you end up in seating C and you are your significant other are seated apart. Southwest and its day in the sun are over. They hedged on the price of fuel and it paid off. That hedge is over so you will now see higher Southwest prices. I've already seen it. Southwest will be soon known as Southworst. They try to say there greatest asset is there employees........ RIGHT! They are the most unprofessional, sloppy dressed people I've ever seen. It is just plain embarassing flying with them. It screams, "Hey I'm broke so I took the cattle car to WDW!" Do yourself a favor and buy yourself some class and some dignity.

Doc

Back under the bridge with you, nasty troll. But to clear up some, ahem, mis-statements:

The fuel hedge is NOT over; SWA still enjoys a substantial savings. Also, if you take a moment and get your boarding pass ahead of time (something every DIS poster can do over the internet) you'll have no problem sitting with your SO. SWA staff are, IMHO, much more friendly and helpful than other airlines' staff - some have a great sense of humor! "Cattle car" it may be (not sure how much different it is from NWA, Delta, etc) but when I board, I can be sure not to sit by a screaming infant - does your online seat selector give you that option? Finally, I'm pretty sure that DVC owners don't really care about buying dignity....

To vascubaguy: you are correct about the early lining up at MCO. That is because - as someone else mentioned - there are so many families that qualify for pre-boarding leaving WDW. We flew with another couple once; we all had "A" passes but we got in line early while they scoffed. MrsT and I were able to sit together, but by the time the end of the "A" line boarded, they were not.

 

[MrShiny]

I like a number of things about Southwest. Sure the cattle call is bad, but on the other hand I've never managed to snag a seat at the front of a plane on another carrier, seemingly no matter how far in advance I book.

While they aren't using ACRS for data from the ground, they do have pilot heads up displays in all their planes. I like that quite a bit.

Their loyaly program works great. We have earned so many free flight from them. Can't wait until they start Rapid Rewards to Hawaii this year. We'll be saving our points up for that for sure.

They actually give you credit for changing or even casncelling a non-refundable flight. That's great.

These days, if they were starting over, they probably could do things like assigned seats and tie in with the main computer booking systems and still make the same money, but it would probably cost too much to retro fit that now.

I also love that they don't have that stupid drink cart. Hate when that bumps my knee on other flights!

For me, the best plane flight is like saying the best long bus ride. It's an experience to be tolerated, not really enjoyed. The difference between Southwest and American aor United is really not worth the extra expense at all (and that's major, with the free flights I earn on Southwest - I use my Amex, Diners and Hilton points for Rapid Rewards!)

 

[brianm27]

Actually, prior to ABC Southwest gave you a plastic boarding card with a big number on it at the gate. Everyone had to check in at the gate.

In those days, the first boarding group was numbers 1-30, the second 31-60, and the third was 61 and higher. When the kiosks and online check-in came about, the old numbers were replaced with ABC. I can say whether they have changed the distribution of seats, but it used to be 30 - 30 - all the rest (which on a full 737 is about half the plane less preboards).

Sometimes the gate attendants will play games to let people preboard. On one flight they let anyone preboard who was flying on their birthday or anniversary, as well as the longest wed couple. The gate agent was really surprised when he went over to a couple who said they were in their 80's. He thought they would be longest wed - turns out they were going on a honeymoon! He let them board early anyway!

 

[Nedlo2]

I hope they fly IAD-MCO too As it stands, I will have to go to BWI to go the Southwest BWI-MCO route this coming winter. There are 8 of us going and the savings is around $550. That is a nice chuck of change.

You can call it whatever you want... I can't wait until SWA starts flying from IAD (I hope they fly to MCO when they start in the fall). I rather spend the saved money buying my kids more toys from WDW than dumping it on big airlines. Some airports need more competitions from budget airlines.

 

[yitbos96bb]

This will be my first time on Southwest as well. Still a little cloudy on the whole A, B or C thing. Do I understand there is no assigned seating? You just kinda get on the plane in groups and play musical chairs? Because I'm 6'3" I try to get an aisle seat or exit seat so I can stretch out a bit. Will I have trouble doing so?

I have never had a problem in getting an aisle as an A or B group. Make sure you check in 24 hours before. Check out SEATGURU.COM... best site ever for travel... has a map of almost all airlines seat configurations and tells you the best and worst (like what doesn't recline, what has more leg room, etc.). I recommend getting there early and just start queuing in line, especially if you are trying for the exit row.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Back under the bridge with you, nasty troll. But to clear up some, ahem, mis-statements:

The fuel hedge is NOT over; SWA still enjoys a substantial savings. Also, if you take a moment and get your boarding pass ahead of time (something every DIS poster can do over the internet) you'll have no problem sitting with your SO. SWA staff are, IMHO, much more friendly and helpful than other airlines' staff - some have a great sense of humor! "Cattle car" it may be (not sure how much different it is from NWA, Delta, etc) but when I board, I can be sure not to sit by a screaming infant - does your online seat selector give you that option? Finally, I'm pretty sure that DVC owners don't really care about buying dignity....

To vascubaguy: you are correct about the early lining up at MCO. That is because - as someone else mentioned - there are so many families that qualify for pre-boarding leaving WDW. We flew with another couple once; we all had "A" passes but we got in line early while they scoffed. MrsT and I were able to sit together, but by the time the end of the "A" line boarded, they were not.

I'm not a huge SWA fan, but yeah Doc Doc is nuts. They are still the most profitable in the business. While I am sure everyone of us would prefer first class, most of us can't afford it. Coach on most airlines is pretty bad. Midwest is awesome as they have wide seats. Jet blue is great for leg room and the united Economy Plus is excellent too. Other than that... it is pretty much the same in coach.

Lining up isn't just at MCO, it is everywhere. Midway is notorious for it as well. Ihave had to do it in New orleans, Kansas City, Nashville, etc. I usually make sure I have something to drink and read and just camp out.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I am so psyched... I had no idea they were going to be going into IAD... reading your posts prompted me to find the press release!

I used Southwest a few times when I lived in Chicago, and while I don't like their boarding system at all, $$$ is $$$. In fact, just yesterday I decided to suck it up and bought a Southwest ticket from BWI for a flight to Tampa, even though I've never flown out as BWI before, and it's about 20 miles further than Dulles (which I already hate) and 45 miles futher than National. Non-stop, better schedule, and cheaper.