Southwest? Never again!

[JFS]

We just flew SW and will probably never fly w/ them again. We felt like cattle being herded into chutes A, B, C,....No seating assignments equals free-for-all when boarding finally takes place. Why can't they assign a seat when they assign a boarding pass. We had to stand in the "chutes" for 1 hour+ in order to assure seats together. They also do not seem to have enough seating at the gates to accomodate all passengers waiting for a flight.
Also, we arrived at MCO early because we were departing the cruise. We could not check our luggage and get boarding passes until 4 hours prior to flight so we had to keep our luggage w/ us until we could check in.
Since the plane arrived late at our gate, the plane was not cleaned up before boarding, gross!
For a few extra dollars we will fly w/ another carrier next time.
Our most negative flying experience ever.

 

[Lewisc]

If you can find an airline that has offers assigned seating and has the price and schedule you want go for it.

If you have an "A" boarding pass there really isn't any reason to wait in line to get seats together.

SW attributes their "open seating" policy as motivating PAX to get to the gate early. This enables them to turn around their planes quicker than other airlines (sometimes less than 30 minutes) and allows them in some cases to run an extra flight using the equipment. One of the reasons they are profitable. SW gets PAX to line up before the plane is even at the gate. PAX with assigned seats frequently get to the gate 10-15 minutes before departure. You can't board the plane that fast.

Many airlines won't check luggage more than 4 hours before your flight.

 

[hercamore]

I would love to try SW. I just paid $620 for two NW tickets.

herc.

 

[disneymom3]

herc,
I am with you! Oh for the chance.........

 

[Pinnie]

SWA is providing some competition for NWA which has one of it's hub's here. Unfortunately it hasn't lowered NWAs fares by too much. I guess NWA has to pay for that $$$$ terminal at DTW somehow!

I hope you get SWA in MN soon!

pinnie

 

[disneymom3]

Well, we do have Suncountry and Frontier flies to a few locations from here. Helps me out to go to LA, but not too much going to MCO. The good thing is that the last two times I flew NWA the employees did seem to care a bit more than they did for awhile there. DH used to fly on business a lot and was always on NWA. They were pretty bad for awhile there in the late 90s.

 

[Pluto2003]

person who will go out of their way to stay off SW. The planes are filthy and you should see them at the end of the day.

 

[treehugger]

Hmmm, I've never noticed flithy conditions on any of the SW flights I've been on. I usually consider an airline good based on their on-time and safety records and SW is consistantly one of the best. My DH just flew Delta for business to Altanta GA, coach and it was $700 r/t!. His comment was that he enjoyed flying SW so much more, even with the boarding procedures. And considering I'm paying $99 r/t to MCO, we've could've done 4 trips together to Disney for his solo trip to Atlanta.

 

[maraakl]

Originally posted by treehugger
Hmmm, I've never noticed flithy conditions on any of the SW flights I've been on. I usually consider an airline good based on their on-time and safety records and SW is consistantly one of the best. My DH just flew Delta for business to Altanta GA, coach and it was $700 r/t!. His comment was that he enjoyed flying SW so much more, even with the boarding procedures. And considering I'm paying $99 r/t to MCO, we've could've done 4 trips together to Disney for his solo trip to Atlanta.

I have never seen a dirty plane with SWA, definitely from Delta and AA. SWA is fun, Delta is small and cramped. I guess it would be a thing about different strokes for different folks.

 

[frstimer128]

I just booked flights with Spirit for $39 one way! I just paid $190 total for me and my DD!

 

[Esmerelda]

I guess I'm extremely confused by this post. I'm not sure how long of course the original poster JFS has been with the boards but Southwest has been discussed on here many many times and is a hot topic due to their super rates. It's no secret how their boarding is done. It also states right on their website (obviously JFS has access to the web since he/she posted here) what their rules are on boarding and how their planes are boarded. I copied the following right from the SW website and it covers every complaint that the original poster seem to have. Did he/she NOT read the rules? I guess I just don't understand how they could have not known about the rules when they are here in black and white? I have flown with SW numerous times but I know the rules and it sure beats paying triple for a ticket.

Checkin Procedure
Customers may check in for their flight and receive their boarding pass and Rapid Rewards credit online at southwest.com (for eligible reservations only), at the Skycap Podium (in select locations), Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).

Customers may check luggage and receive boarding passes at the Skycap Counter (in select locations) or Ticket Counter up to four hours prior to scheduled departure. To determine the best time to check in for your flight, please refer to the Airport Arrival chart. The Departure Gate opens for checkin and boading pass distribution one hour prior to departure.
At 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure you can get a boarding pass only at the Departure Gate.
Customers checking in less than 10 minutes before scheduled departure may lose their confirmed reservation and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boarding Procedure
Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C (in that order) based on when the Customer checked in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).
Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, and families with children under five years of age will preboard. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers who choose a seat in an emergency exit row must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.

Esmerelda

 

[treehugger]

Oops, forgot to say that we are flying SW in September, gotta love those $99 r/t fares!

 

[Pinnie]

Esmerelda,

GREAT post!!!

pinnie

 

[Lewisc]

The website gives "the facts" BUT sometimes the SW gate attendants are generous with pre-boarding. It sometimes seems that on flights to/from MCO between famlies and senior citizens more than half the plane pre-boards. In that case a B and sometimes even an A boarding pass isn't enough to get seats together.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Southwest.

My mother has flown Southwest to Orlando for two trips, and only has had good experiences with them. I think the price is really the clincher for her though.

She flew American into Mississippi last week, and as soon as she got off the plane, she asked me never to book that airline again. She only wants to fly Southwest. I don't know specifically what she didn't like about American, but I know that I won't be looking at any other airline for her.

 

[CarolA]

Every airline has its fans and detractors.

Just look at it this way.... if they won't fly an airline that just reduces the number of people trying to buy your cheap tickets!

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by CarolA
Every airline has its fans and detractors.

Just look at it this way.... if they won't fly an airline that just reduces the number of people trying to buy your cheap tickets!

Amen Carol!!!

And if they won't fly with their kids, that is one less child that will be banging the seat behind me!

pinnie

 

[nuthut]

In the hundreds of trips taken in the air, I have never found any southwest ticket to be cheaper than the others. What's the big deal on Sourthwest? Delta, Continental and Northwest are always less. Is this true just for Michigan?

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by nuthut
In the hundreds of trips taken in the air, I have never found any southwest ticket to be cheaper than the others. What's the big deal on Sourthwest? Delta, Continental and Northwest are always less. Is this true just for Michigan?

You are not alone. I have found this to be true for me as well when I have been shopping for airline tickets here in Chicago. Many times ATA and even American and United have been priced competively if not cheaper and all of them offer assigned seating which I prefer. I have shopped SWAs fares a number of times but have never used them. Maybe SWA is more competitive on the East Coast?

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by nuthut
In the hundreds of trips taken in the air, I have never found any southwest ticket to be cheaper than the others. What's the big deal on Sourthwest? Delta, Continental and Northwest are always less. Is this true just for Michigan?

I don't know about elsewhere, but Southwest is usually about the same as other discount carriers out of Buffalo, but usually cheaper than the other airlines.

$115 r/t to Orlando on Southwest!!!!! I paid about $182 r/t on JetBlue.