Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Last month, I flew American Airlines across country and back (4 different planes, all AA). On the return flight home, the lady sitting next to me said she was sorry she was on AA because all of her Southwest flights were *so* much nicer--from the plane itself, to the crew, everything. She said AA paled in comparison.
Originally Posted By indysoarin19 As a flyer of both AA and SWA, I prefer SWA for short flights (use them a ton on the Burbank-Phoenix connection) but AA is nice for transcontinental flights. SWA is nice except for when people charge the plane for boarding and disembarking (some members of my family have likened it to a cattle drive).
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>">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?"<<< Back of the plane-WINDOW seat! This is the seat the I request everytime that I fly Delta so they did not move me around. Like I said- there seems to be no rhyme or reason in the way they now seem to be handing out the "zones". It is not how early you book, nor where your seat is on the plane.
Originally Posted By frailejon >>>If your going with kids you'll be able to board first as well.<< BUT, the children must be under 5 years old.<<< That's not necessarily true; the first time I flew with them in 2001 my brother was 8; they said "do you want to board early?" and let us. Of course we were an uncrowded flight, so that may be why.
Originally Posted By wendebird ^^ Probably, because eveytime I've flown they've announced that people traveling with children under 5 can pre-board.
Originally Posted By wendebird Oh good point SuzieQ, I didn't catch frailejon was referring to 2001. It's been in the last few years (since my kids are 7 & 9 now) that I've noticed it.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ A couple of years ago, we flew with 5 children under ten. The one under 5 was allowed to pre-board with 2 adults. We did that, and held seats for the other 8 in the group.
Originally Posted By Mousekateer Mommy I personally don't think SW is all that great. I hate not having a specific seat assignment. I hate having to line up in groups and hope to get a seat with who I am traveling with (yes, I know I can go online the night before and try and alleviate this problem). I don't think the price is all that much better...depending on where I am flying, America West is usually the same price, and most of the other airlines are not that much different, with a few exceptions.
Originally Posted By gaydsnywitch I was just reading that SW is starting to investigate to see if they can start doing the assigned seating thing without increasing ticket prices. If they can, assigned seating is supposed to start late 2007/early 2008. (I have no idea why it would cost more to assign seats.)
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Same here. I frequently don't purchase my ticket at the same time as my flying companions. How are we supposed to sit together now!?
Originally Posted By DlandDug While I presently have no problems with SW, for a long time I wouldn't use them. Many years ago, when I was flying a lot on business, there was a last minute change in my itinerary. The travel person in my company told me I would have to make a tight connection in Florida, and change airlines to SW. She warned me to let them know I was confirmed on the flight, as I had no seat assignment (of course, no one did!). At the airport, I landed with barely time to rush to the next gate. The SW flight was boarding, so I walked up to the desk to let them know I was there. As I stepped forward, the attendant gave me a dazzling smile and said, "Please wait right over there." I stood where she indicated, and watched for a couple of minutes as they continued boarding. Getting alarmed at the number of people boarding the plane, I stepped up and said, "Excuse me..." The attendant gave me a tight smile and said, "Sir, you really need to wait right there." Being the polite person I am (or was), I did so. Finally, it looked like nearly everyone was on, so I again stepped forward, said, "Excuse me," quite loudly, and was told, curtly, "We'll be right with you, sir." I stepped back again, and watched them confer with a couple of last passengers, then SHUT THE DOOR to the jetway. Well, I immediately said, "What's going on? I have a confirmed seat for that flight." I laid the ticket on the counter. The attendant looked at it, looked up and said... "Oh. You should have told us immediately. I'm sorry, the flight is now full, and (she looked out the window), they've moved the jetway." So... it was a couple of years before I flew SW again. And I always make sure they see my ticket IMMEDIATELY.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Heck, that's practically the same story I have with United! My seat was supposed to be gate assigned. At SWA, no one even sees my ticket until I hand it to the attendant as I step on the plane.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 LOL I was gonna say Doug I fly all the time too. I've cursed every airline carrier out for very similiar reasons; United, Delta, American, SouthWest, Continental, the list goes on and on. I'm not crazy about doing connectors with SW but for quick hops between the Bay Area to Vegas, LA, DL, OR, WA and AZ - nothing beats them for me. ;>
