Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch I've been doing some searching for my July trip and SW has the other airlines beat by about $80. I've never flown on SW and was just wonder what kind of experiences people have had with them. Thanks.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I have never flown SW, but I am sure they are "fine." If you are okay with the service you get at a store like Wal-Mart, then it's likely you'd be happy enough with SW. My Mom has used then a couple of times; the only thing we don't like about them is that they only fly out of BWI, which is much further away than the other area airports. You should watch an episode of the A&E series "Airline" which chronicles the daily operations of SW. It's unbelievable how badly some passengers act!
Originally Posted By Mickey4MePlease Hi! I've been a reader of the site, but never posted before. Anywho, I usually ONLY fly SW due to the prices and the niceness etc. of the flight crew. I've never had a bad experience with them. Just thought I'd let ya know! )
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I use them all the time! Between SF and LA and up to your area. They do not do seat assignment you board in groups. A's first, B's second, C's third. So, it's important to check in on line 24 hours before you flight and get an A. Guarantees you a preferred window or aisle seat. They are a no frills airlines. Peanuts and drinks. I love them.
Originally Posted By hammertime The customer service of Southwest is unbeatable in the airline industry in my opinion. The only negative is there are no seat assignments. You get a boarding pass with an A, B or C on it. A's get to board first so if go via SW be sure to do check in online 24 hours before you go so you can get an A boarding past. If your going with kids you'll be able to board first as well.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ I fly almost exclusively Southwest. There is a reason they've been voted #1 for customer satisfaction for years now!
Originally Posted By -em I also love flying southwest (and I shop at Walmart too ) we are flying them to Orlando this month -em
Originally Posted By -em oh and their larger baggage allowance (3 bags per person) is going to come in real handy... -em
Originally Posted By wendebird >>If your going with kids you'll be able to board first as well.<< BUT, the children must be under 5 years old. I also love SWA. Their reward program is great & so are the prices. Once my dh thought he was going to have to cancel his ticket. So I called SWA to see their policy. They said he could cancel & he would have a credit with them for the dollar amount we spent to purchase another ticket at a later date. I don't know if anyone else does that, but I was tickled!
Originally Posted By Disney Joy I have flown SW lots of time. I never knew about the checking in ONLINE --- Cool will be doing this :O)) That is my only complaint the seating ~ but for the price no biggy at all.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ They've been doing the online check-in for well over a year now (maybe 2?). There is a link on the homepage, and you print your boarding pass right at home. If you are unable to print, you can still check-in online, then print your boarding pass from a self-serve kiosk at the airport. Almost every hotel I've stayed at has printed my return boarding pass for me at not cost. The only exception I can think of was, ironically, the Grand Californian. A four star, expensive hotel, LOL!
Originally Posted By 4Disnee We have also flown SW a number of times and we have always had a very positive experance with them. We usually try to fly either SW or Alaska. We have found that they have the best rates from the bay area to Los Angeles.
Originally Posted By dlkozy Give me SW or Delta anyday! At least you can be in control of what group you are in by checking in early online. With Delta you have a seat assignment alright BUT-you have a zone listed on your ticket which has NOTHING to do with where your seat is located on the plane. As far as I AND the ticket agent could tell there is no rhyme or reason as to how the zones are assigned. For instance, for a flight last August, I had purchased my ticket 3 months in advance and I was assigned the very LAST zone to load! That means that you stand a chance of not having any place to put your carryon bag and end up with it either loaded underneath the plane or stuffed under your already cramped feet. I find their service to be below par. I used to fly just Delta until their service and their people skills went down the drain. I do not compare SW to Walmart at all-Delta is more like Walmart in regards to service, IMHO.
Originally Posted By AmyK-PrincessMom I agree SW rocks. I only fly SW. We have gotten several free flights through their reward program. Also, their downloadable DING program has saved me several hundred dollars. Twice I had booked cheap roundtrips on SW only to have a much cheaper DING price pop up on the exact same flights. SW allows you to cancel the first reservation, rebook through the DING link & keep the left over money in the form of a credit with them good for use on any flight, for any person I choose, valid for the next 12 months. Great service!
Originally Posted By hopemax >For instance, for a flight last August, I had purchased my ticket 3 months in advance and I was assigned the very LAST zone to load! Where were you sitting on the plane? On America West, the groups are based on where the seats are on the plane. They load the window seats back to front, then the middle seats, then the aisle seats. I like SW a lot, the no seat assignments has prevented us from using them for flights with connections when my husband and I fly together. But if we can fly NS, or it is just one of us, it is great. Not penalizing you for changing your schedule is a big positive.
Originally Posted By avromark Southwest is fine imho, I bring my own food on longer flights anyways, like everyone here I don't mind the cramp seats since i'll get them anyways. Did you know first class to India for example costs 15-19k? Service, well to be honest i'm not to impressed with any airlines service lately.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Southwest has more leg room than the last United plane I was on! I'm sure Delta's zones are done the same as America West's. They were the last time I felw Delta.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I fly Delta about every 6 weeks, have so for about the past 15 years. Hopemax described exactly the way the zones work. I have found recently a lot of seat changes and putting people in the last zone so they could rearrange other passengers. Seeing more and more unhappy customers because of it. You have the ability to check in online with Delta 24 hours preflight also this helps insure your seat.
Originally Posted By wendebird >> like SW a lot, the no seat assignments has prevented us from using them for flights with connections when my husband and I fly together.<< I fly with my kids occasionally. From CA to NJ. I've never had a problem on Southwest with getting seated with them. Even when I was a "B" I think the trick is to go online to check in, don't wait to do it at the airport.
Originally Posted By seanyoda gaydsnywitch -- both smeeeko and I love flying southwest. In fact, southwest is our airline of choice because they deliver a consistently good product. Unlike every other airline, they don't charge any fees to change your ticket (you only have to pay the difference in fare, if it's higher. If the fare is lower, you get credit which you can apply to future travel) Some folks complain about the open seating policy, but we don't. When checking in on-line 24 hours before your flight, you're pretty much guarenteed the A boarding card; And, if you're on a connecting flight, you can check-in for both segments. Still, even in the B group, you'll get a window or aisle. And, if you get a C card, just show up early and get to the front of the line. trekkeruss -- Southwest recently announced that they will begin flying into IAD later this year. One last note, Southwest recently created it's own blog -- <a href="http://www.blogsouthwest.com/" target="_blank">http://www.blogsouthwest.com/</a> -- It's worth reading.
