Southwest Airlines - not a fan

[disneysteve]

Fewer bags coming on board makes boarding go really fast.

This is definitely true, and I don't know why other airlines don't seem to understand this. By forcing people to cram more into carry on luggage, you just increase the chaos at boarding and disembarking.

Of course, some airlines now charge for carry on bags too.

[TexasHusker]

I thought Southwest did a fine job, other than the seat/boarding thing. I do not normally utilize Southwest because they are almost always more expensive than United or American for me (oddly), so I didn’t know the rules. That’s on me.

I do travel quite a bit, and I was shocked how different the overall demeanor of the plane is - even the passengers. Folksy, leisurely, lots of visiting amongst complete strangers. I find that refreshing. The atmospheres on AA and UA are a lot more like the local morgue: A lot of suits, downcast faces, and bags under the eyes.

The travel etiquette of the southwest passengers was pretty sketchy. I mean if I’m in row 33, when the plane stops at the gate and the ding dong goes off, is it really necessary for everyone to rise in unison and start pushing, and shoving? The aircraft was NOT on fire. There’s a lady in front of me whose neck was at a 45 degree angle for 10-12 minutes, just so she could get that piece of overnight luggage and not let anyone dare cut in front of her.

And you’re politely sitting in your seat waiting for your turn to go while some idiot is contorting himself over you with his aromatic arm pits in your face, trying to latch on to his prized possession. Dude was standing in line for luggage with me 25 minutes later and didn’t save a second from his rudeness.

Good news is we made it to DC without a scratch.

[creditcardfree]

People are eager to get off the plane likely because of their connecting flight. My daughter often feels rushed to get to the restroom, pick up lunch and get to her flight that boards about 15 minutes after she lands. But she along with the majority of passengers does not push and shove.

I've always seen exit go row by row every time I'm on Southwest. Yes, people on the aisle like to jump up, possibly because they have been in a small space for over an hour. I don't blame them for wanting to get out of their seat. It is true they do not need to start getting their luggage out until it's their turn to start moving however.

[TexasHusker]

People are eager to get off the plane likely because of their connecting flight. My daughter often feels rushed to get to the restroom, pick up lunch and get to her flight that boards about 15 minutes after she lands. But she along with the majority of passengers does not push and shove.

I've always seen exit go row by row every time I'm on Southwest. Yes, people on the aisle like to jump up, possibly because they have been in a small space for over an hour. I don't blame them for wanting to get out of their seat. It is true they do not need to start getting their luggage out until it's their turn to start moving however.

There was no connecting flight in this case.

[JBinKC]

For what it is Southwest is a pretty good airline carrier. At least they don't nickel and dime you to death like most of the remaining carriers.

Compared to the standard in the industry 20 years ago the quality of the experience and service certainly has diminished and is a huge disappointment if you were used to flying Midwest Express.

[moneybags]

DD flew Southwest exclusively for 4 years to & from college. There are 2 reasons we loved it:

1. 2 free checked bags (and you can bring a carryon also). She was overweight on a bag once, & they let it go with charging her extra. Nice customer service!

2. You can change your flight without a fee and get a credit if the price has decreased. The credits were not the best as you have to use them within a year of booking your flight, but if you book with miles, you get the miles back into your account without restrictions. I would watch the price of the flight & rebook every time it dropped.

She was a pro at checking in at the 24 hour mark!

[klarose]

I LOVE Southwest! It is the only airline I will fly if possible.

As others have said it doesn't matter when you buy your tickets. You have a get your boarding pass 24 hours before your flight. The quicker you get them the sooner you get to board.

[Smallsteps]

I know just like just about every other big company some people can have very different experiences with airlines.
I used to fly Southwest a lot when we traveled more. I never had a bad experience with them. Since then we have traveled a few times on another airline and I can honestly say I would much prefer SW over other airline.
I always felt like an appreciated customer with southwest on the other airlines no one ever seems happy. The crew on other airlines in my experience only crack a smile when flight is OVER.
Most SW crews are happy and tell corny jokes etc. SW says hello upon boarding and goodbye and are really aware that people have choices of whom to fly with and appreciate being chosen. I have had zero of those experiences with another airline. Sure I have heard the obligatory thanks for flying with us but on other airlines it is read as fast as possible and in monotone.
I mostly book flights based on my time frame/ destination and not by particular carrier but if I had to choose I would rather pick a company (southwest) that did not make me feel like an inconvenience.

[rennigade]

People are eager to get off the plane likely because of their connecting flight.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/air-rage-96496033942.html

People wanting to get off a plane rarely has to do with catching a connecting flight. There's a thing called air rage...and its real. Basically flights wreck you psychologically...and you dont even realize its happening because its a gradual thing that starts before you even leave for the airport. By the time you land you're at defcon 1.

You can check out the article but just observe the next time your plane lands and the seat belt light goes off. People jump up like a jack in the box only to stand in one place making comments about how long its taking to get off...or people rolling their eyes, making weird faces, staring up front at other people, etc etc. It happens ever single time (unless your'e in 1A)

[disneysteve]

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/air-...496033942.html

People wanting to get off a plane rarely has to do with catching a connecting flight. There's a thing called air rage...and its real. Basically flights wreck you psychologically...and you dont even realize its happening because its a gradual thing that starts before you even leave for the airport. By the time you land you're at defcon 1.

You can check out the article but just observe the next time your plane lands and the seat belt light goes off. People jump up like a jack in the box only to stand in one place making comments about how long its taking to get off...or people rolling their eyes, making weird faces, staring up front at other people, etc etc. It happens ever single time (unless your'e in 1A)

Yep. I doubt that more than a handful of people are racing to a connecting flight. Most are just rude and impatient. If I'm in row 20, I know there are 19 rows of people ahead of me who have to get off before I can, so I just stay in my seat and wait. Unless I'm in the aisle seat, I can't stand up anyway, so what's the point. I'm not going to get off any faster if I stand up and if I have a bag in an overhead compartment, it will be much easier to get it once a bunch of others have taken theirs.

[Like2Plan]

... but if you book with miles, you get the miles back into your account without restrictions. I would watch the price of the flight & rebook every time it dropped.

Oh ya!--that reminds me of a points flight I booked on a legacy airline earlier this year (on which I don't have status). We had enough for 1 flight for 1 person on economy and I was worried about losing track and having the points expire.
I booked a flight that looked like a sure thing and then had to change it. The airline slapped on a $125.00 change fee to change the flight since it was less than 3 months in advance.

I like being able to make penalty fee changes with points on Southwest.

[kork13]

Yep. I doubt that more than a handful of people are racing to a connecting flight. Most are just rude and impatient. If I'm in row 20, I know there are 19 rows of people ahead of me who have to get off before I can, so I just stay in my seat and wait. Unless I'm in the aisle seat, I can't stand up anyway, so what's the point. I'm not going to get off any faster if I stand up and if I have a bag in an overhead compartment, it will be much easier to get it once a bunch of others have taken theirs.

Actually, if you're in row 20, there's only up to 18 rows ahead of you, and fewer if there is a bulkhead/galley/toilet between first class & the main cabin.

The aviation industry is outrageously superstitious, and there's not an airliner in the sky that has a row #13. Numbering of rows/spaces on an aircraft are also static, so if they tear out a couple rows of seats to add a galley & toilet between first class & the main cabin, they don't re-number the rest of the rows. It makes it easier to know where specific seats are on a particular aircraft type, and more importantly, it helps with managing an aircraft's weight & balance measurements.

(sorry for the tangent, I fly for a living and there's alot of funny little quirks about aviation... just figured I would point this one out )

[rennigade]

The aviation industry is outrageously superstitious, and there's not an airliner in the sky that has a row #13.

Im not sure if I ever saw a hotel elevator that had floor #13. Always goes from 12 then 14. Sorry floor 14 folks...you're actually on floor 13. The office building I used to work in didnt have #13 in the elevator either.

Hard to imagine that in 2018 people are still freaked out by numbers...#13, #666. Or they think #7 is lucky.

[creditcardfree]

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/air-...496033942.html

People wanting to get off a plane rarely has to do with catching a connecting flight. There's a thing called air rage...and its real. Basically flights wreck you psychologically...and you dont even realize its happening because its a gradual thing that starts before you even leave for the airport. By the time you land you're at defcon 1.

You can check out the article but just observe the next time your plane lands and the seat belt light goes off. People jump up like a jack in the box only to stand in one place making comments about how long its taking to get off...or people rolling their eyes, making weird faces, staring up front at other people, etc etc. It happens ever single time (unless your'e in 1A)

On our last four flights this week, we had early bird, so we we're anywhere from rows 7-10, I guess I don't experience that, since we are in the early rows. But honestly most people go pretty fast considering the tight quarters and need to get their bag. I have no doubt if you are in the rear you and haven't learned patience than this is real. I wonder if airlines will ever have more than one exit (that's not for emergencies)?

Today I noticed that on a plane of 250 people, only probably 100 to 125 had checked their bags and needed to wait to pick them up. However I think weekday travel in the summer is different than holiday travel...more bags get checked.

[kork13]

To the main point, anyway, I've always been one to hang out & let most of the other passengers (the angry/frustrated/Jack-in-the-box folks) get off first, and just jump into the aisle when there's a bigger opening (while somebody behind me wrestles with a suitcase). In fact, traveling with our two >3 y/o boys (which includes flying with their car seats), we intentionally make ourselves the VERY LAST passengers off the plane, so that we don't hold up people while we juggle kids, car seats, and bags. Plus, the flight crew is often more accommodating with helping the last passengers off, because all the angry, antsy people are gone, and the flight crew wants to get off the jet just like everyone else at that point.