No LUV for Southwest?

[EricNau]

Uhh- all arguements against Southwest are stupid? Excuse me BUT- read my arguements against them. They were hardly stupid. And if you're comparing that to buying a car, my arguements hold up nicely.

All arguments against them have been service-related. (not getting a good seat, rude attendants, etc.) Not one argument has been against safety, which is the most important thing when looking for an airline.

Safety is my first concern.

 

[Moof1904]

SWA routinely wins awards for being one of the best companies to work for. By all accounts I've heard (internal and external), they treat their people very well.

To me, how they treat their employees says a great deal about a company.

 

[leekohler]

All arguments against them have been service-related. (not getting a good seat, rude attendants, etc.) Not one argument has been against safety, which is the most important thing when looking for an airline.

Safety is my first concern.

Then that is YOUR concern. Some of us have serious, valid issues with their service.

 

[watcher2001]

Then that is YOUR concern. Some of us have serious, valid issues with their service.

and what serious valid concerns are those?

So far the only concerns I have heard are (From no one person in particular)
1: Not getting the seat you like.
2: Lack of meals and or drinks.
3: Having to listen to the flight attendants.

You know what, this is all part of their business model. Discounted fares, less perks.

If you want to pick your seat, fly someone else. Southwest tells you up front that it does not have assigned seating. If that is your complaint than boo on you.

If you want a meal and or drinks on your 2-5 hour flight then you have two options
a: find an airline that offers these and pay the extra money.
or
b: Bring something on board with you. Believe it or not, most airlines don't care.

If you don't want to listen to the flight attendants try to entertain you then do what I do. Plug in your ipod or watch a movie on your laptop.

I have logged countless hours and miles on over 200 flights (Probably 50 or so on Southwest) and in my opinion, as a business class traveler flying alone, they are the best. They have never lost my luggage, they have only been delayed once or twice (Which they made up for most graciously) and they have always gotten me to my destination safely.

 

[EricNau]

SWA routinely wins awards for being one of the best companies to work for. By all accounts I've heard (internal and external), they treat their people very well.

To me, how they treat their employees says a great deal about a company.

Yes, here's a Link.

It can be found under "Southwest Airlines' Recognitions"

 

[leekohler]

and what serious valid concerns are those?

So far the only concerns I have heard are (From no one person in particular)
1: Not getting the seat you like.
2: Lack of meals and or drinks.
3: Having to listen to the flight attendants.

You know what, this is all part of their business model. Discounted fares, less perks.

If you want to pick your seat, fly someone else. Southwest tells you up front that it does not have assigned seating. If that is your complaint than boo on you.

If you want a meal and or drinks on your 2-5 hour flight then you have two options
a: find an airline that offers these and pay the extra money.
or
b: Bring something on board with you. Believe it or not, most airlines don't care.

If you don't want to listen to the flight attendants try to entertain you then do what I do. Plug in your ipod or watch a movie on your laptop.

I have logged countless hours and miles on over 200 flights (Probably 50 or so on Southwest) and in my opinion, as a business class traveler flying alone, they are the best. They have never lost my luggage, they have only been delayed once or twice (Which they made up for most graciously) and they have always gotten me to my destination safely.

Did you read my earlier post? I said:

I can't stand them. I'm very claustrophobic and got there late once. I explained to them that I really needed a window seat so I could look out. They flatly refused to accomodate me. As a result, I ended up sitting between two people and started turning green and hyperventilating after about 10 minutes. The woman next to me talked me down until we landed, but it was the most unpleasant thing I've ever been through. The a**holes from Southwest never once asked me if I was OK. They're a crap airline. And I'm not the kind of person to start yelling at servicepeople and throwing a fit. My answer is- I just don't go back.

Now- you may not feel that's a serious, valid reason for not wanting to fly an airline, I do. I like to not feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin or get nauseous when I fly. The question here was whether or not we liked them and why. I answered it. I don't like them and I don't patronize them.

 

[EricNau]

Now- you may not feel that's a serious, valid reason for not wanting to fly an airline, I do. I like to not feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin or get nauseous when I fly. The question here was whether or not we liked them and why. I answered it. I don't like them and I don't patronize them.

There are a limited number of Window-seats on a plane. If you got there late, and they had already given all of them away, what are they supposed to do, take it from another passenger?

If you need a Window-Seat, it is your responsibility to make sure you get there early enough.

 

[leekohler]

There are a limited number of Window-seats on a plane. If you got there late, and they had already given all of them away, what are they supposed to do, take it from another passenger?

If you need a Window-Seat, it is your responsibility to make sure you get there early enough.

OMG! What are you not getting? I don't like their policy. I don't fly them, understand? You know what? If they had just done one tiny thing, like ask people if they might give up a seat for someone, that would have been fine even if no one did it. Instead, they were rude and dismissive. And even after I was obviously having difficulty on the flight, someone could have said "Other than getting you a new seat, is there something we can do to help?" That also would have been fine. Instead, nothing. Not one whiff of concern.

 

[EricNau]

OMG! What are you not getting? I don't like their policy. I don't fly them, understand? You know what? If they had just done one tiny thing, like ask people if they might give up a seat for someone, that would have been fine even if no one did it. Instead, they were rude and dismissive. And even after I was obviously having difficulty on the flight, someone could have said "Other than getting you a new seat, is there something we can do to help?" That also would have been fine. Instead, nothing. Not one whiff of concern.

I'm sorry they were rude to you; but they did get you there safely.

That's all I have to say.

 

[leekohler]

I'm sorry they were rude to you; but they did get you there safely.

That's all I have to say.

And I'll never fly them again. That's all I have to say.

 

[watcher2001]

Did you read my earlier post? I said:



Now- you may not feel that's a serious, valid reason for not wanting to fly an airline, I do. I like to not feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin or get nauseous when I fly. The question here was whether or not we liked them and why. I answered it. I don't like them and I don't patronize them.

My question to you is this. If you knew you were claustrophobic going in, and I assume you knew about Southwest's business model of "Cattle Car" seating, then why in gods name did you ever choose to fly with them in the first place. Did you even try to talk with other passengers to see if they would accomodate your clastrophobia? You have to look at southwests side of the coin as well. Say for example that you had gotten there on time and gotten your window seat. Now say a little old lady got on board and had her own set of issues and requested a window seat. The Flight attendant tells you that you are going to have to move to accomodate someone else.. How is that going to make you feel? You are going to be pissed off and vent about poor customer service. There is no way for the airline to win?


Edit, wow this post was started a while ago but had to run and help the kiddos . There have been some replies that I had not read. Oh well

 

[leekohler]

My question to you is this. If you knew you were claustrophobic going in, and I assume you knew about Southwest's business model of "Cattle Car" seating, then why in gods name did you ever choose to fly with them in the first place. Did you even try to talk with other passengers to see if they would accomodate your clastrophobia? You have to look at southwests side of the coin as well. Say for example that you had gotten there on time and gotten your window seat. Now say a little old lady got on board and had her own set of issues and requested a window seat. The Flight attendant tells you that you are going to have to move to accomodate someone else.. How is that going to make you feel? You are going to be pissed off and vent about poor customer service. There is no way for the airline to win?


Edit, wow this post was started a while ago but had to run and help the kiddos . There have been some replies that I had not read. Oh well

First of all, if someone needed my seat more than I did, I would gladly give it up. I do it all the time here in Chicago on mass transit. Secondly, I asked several people if they would be willing to move, including the person in my row. Southwest is more than welcome to their policy, I don't have to fly them though. Lastly, I was booked on an emergency flight through a travel agency to go to my brother's funeral. It was the earliest flight that was available, so I took it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have flown them in the first place.

 

[skoker]

Really? The snow isn't causing problems for me at all.

Do you go on their forums? I browse, but I still haven't signed up (I know I know...but I still don't feel the need to pay $25 to participate in a forum!)

I browse, but I think I'm buying myself a membership for Christmas

 

[skoker]

{...}
Should the City be sued? Why, for allowing an airport to be too close to a road? Not in my opinion.

{...}

Forgive me for my rant.

Should Chicago be sued? I think so. They ignored an FAA directive to extend the safety zone at the end of the runway and install crushable concrete to stop a "runaway" aircraft. This death could have been avoided if they had some better city planning

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Is this you Gary?

yeah, that's him.

 

[skoker]

yeah, that's him.

Pretty sure we figured that out a few days ago