ILUVTrains
Oct 13, 01, 9:47 pm
I just returned from a short trip on Southwest Airlines to Phoenix, AZ to attend a conference. Below are some observations from my trip.
CHECK IN AT BWI
I arrived at BWI airport at 4:20pm for my 6:50pm flight. I figured that I would give myself about 2 to 3 hours for the checking and security process. When I entered the terminal, the baggage check-in line ran from the ticket counters (between B & C Piers) to the entrance for C Pier then towards the C Pier security check point and then around the corner down the between C & D Piers where the shops are (behind the ticket counters between C & D Piers). The line looked long, but it moved pretty quickly. What I figured would be an hour to hour and a half wait only took 45 minutes. And to Southwest’s credit, they had employees come through the line asking for passengers on flights leaving within the hour to go to a separate check-in line (unfortunately that was not me). At the ticket counter, everything was going smoothly with the photo ID check and tagging my luggage. They did have cubicles set aside for randomly selecting passengers for a thorough baggage check (fortunately this was not me).
The security line for Pier B ran down the hallway behind the ticket counters (where all the shops are and by the observation gallery) and ended in front of the security check point for Pier C. This line took about 45 minutes to clear, and again Southwest had employees going through the line to pull out passengers who had flights leaving soon. At the check point, Southwest had employees checking tickets and ID, but other than that going through security was normal (for me anyway). Security did “wand” a few people and a few others were having their carryons searched more thoroughly. Overall, I think Southwest did a good job, but things could have been better. My only criticism would be that they did not have enough employees checking in bags. The Southwest ticket counters between C & D Piers were not being used and of the 15 stations on the counters being used, 4 or 5 were not being used. I can understand why a whole section of ticket counters were closed (my guess would be security or staffing problems), but all stations on the open section should have been in use to help get people checked in.
WN161 BWI to PHX 10/10/2001
I arrived at the gate about 30 minutes before departure and had boarding card #103. This is the highest number I have ever received on a Southwest flight. But I did manage to get a window seat in the back of the plane. Overall, the flight was mostly full maybe about a dozen empty seats on a 737-700 (137 all coach seats). The highest number boarding card I saw was #114, but I don’t know how many through passengers were on the flight or how many higher card numbers there were. We took off on time at 6:50. About a half hour into the flight, the flight attendants started the snack service. The snack consisted of peanuts and the usual Southwest long-haul snack pack: a mystery meat stick, 2 packages of bread sticks (4 sticks total), spreadable cheese, and a Nutri-grain bar. Beverage service was the usual drinks (I used some of my drink coupons for a White Zinfandel). About 1.5 hours before we landed, the flight attendants started a second snack and beverage service with peanuts and trail mix (crackers, pretzels, etc). Overall, the flight was uneventful, which at this time is actually a good thing. I did manage to catch a few ZZZ’s during the flight. We landed in Phoenix about 10 minutes early, just before 9:00pm (local time). The flight itself was just under 5 hours. Upon arrival at Phoenix, I noticed that the airport was practically deserted. There were a few people waiting for a couple of short hops to the west coast, but other than that there was hardly anybody there.
WN1989 PHX to BWI 10/13/2001
Before the events of Sept. 11, I purchased a $30 internet fare from PHX to LAS which I was going to use for a milage run (an ease 2 credits), spend the night in Vegas, and fly home Sunday. However, since those attacks on the WTC, my wife became worried about my upcoming trip. She wanted me to cancel, but I needed to make the trip. But to comfort her, I decided to cancel my side trip to LAS and come home a day early. Since I was traveling on an Rapid Reward ticket, making the changes were very easy. And in all honesty, considering the war in Afghanistan and the terrorist threats against US interests (including more highjackings), I was a little uneasy in the back of my head. While I enjoyed my conference, after it was over I just wanted to come home.
Back to Phoenix. I arrived at the Phoenix airport at about 9:30am for my 12:10pm flight to BWI. As with BWI, the check-in line was a long one. It ran from the ticket counters down to the end of the terminal and curved around the escalators to the upper levels, where it ended. This line also took about 40 to 45 minutes to get through. But unlike at BWI, Southwest did not have anyone come through and ask for passengers who had flights leaving within the hour. The surprise came at the security check point, which had no wait. I was also expecting them to ask me to run my shoes through the scanner, which I read in news reports (not that I’m complaining). I breezed through security and had about a 40 minute wait until they started passing out boarding cards for my flight. I ended up with card #38 and found an aisle seat near the front of the plane (again a 737-700). I ended up sitting next to an older couple from Burbank whose son was a pilot for Southwest (but not on our flight). They were good conversationalists during the flight.
This flight was completely full (at least I did not see any empty seats), and again it was uneventful. Like the flight out, there were 2 snack and beverage services with the usual peanuts and Southwest “snack pack.” The flight took off from PHX on time, except for a wait for the runway (the pilot announced we were #12 for take off), and we landed at BWI on time as well.
Overall, both flights went well and I give Southwest high marks for the service and the way they were handling the heavy crowds and long lines. As I always say, Any landing you can walk away from is a good one.
CHECK IN AT BWI
I arrived at BWI airport at 4:20pm for my 6:50pm flight. I figured that I would give myself about 2 to 3 hours for the checking and security process. When I entered the terminal, the baggage check-in line ran from the ticket counters (between B & C Piers) to the entrance for C Pier then towards the C Pier security check point and then around the corner down the between C & D Piers where the shops are (behind the ticket counters between C & D Piers). The line looked long, but it moved pretty quickly. What I figured would be an hour to hour and a half wait only took 45 minutes. And to Southwest’s credit, they had employees come through the line asking for passengers on flights leaving within the hour to go to a separate check-in line (unfortunately that was not me). At the ticket counter, everything was going smoothly with the photo ID check and tagging my luggage. They did have cubicles set aside for randomly selecting passengers for a thorough baggage check (fortunately this was not me).
The security line for Pier B ran down the hallway behind the ticket counters (where all the shops are and by the observation gallery) and ended in front of the security check point for Pier C. This line took about 45 minutes to clear, and again Southwest had employees going through the line to pull out passengers who had flights leaving soon. At the check point, Southwest had employees checking tickets and ID, but other than that going through security was normal (for me anyway). Security did “wand” a few people and a few others were having their carryons searched more thoroughly. Overall, I think Southwest did a good job, but things could have been better. My only criticism would be that they did not have enough employees checking in bags. The Southwest ticket counters between C & D Piers were not being used and of the 15 stations on the counters being used, 4 or 5 were not being used. I can understand why a whole section of ticket counters were closed (my guess would be security or staffing problems), but all stations on the open section should have been in use to help get people checked in.
WN161 BWI to PHX 10/10/2001
I arrived at the gate about 30 minutes before departure and had boarding card #103. This is the highest number I have ever received on a Southwest flight. But I did manage to get a window seat in the back of the plane. Overall, the flight was mostly full maybe about a dozen empty seats on a 737-700 (137 all coach seats). The highest number boarding card I saw was #114, but I don’t know how many through passengers were on the flight or how many higher card numbers there were. We took off on time at 6:50. About a half hour into the flight, the flight attendants started the snack service. The snack consisted of peanuts and the usual Southwest long-haul snack pack: a mystery meat stick, 2 packages of bread sticks (4 sticks total), spreadable cheese, and a Nutri-grain bar. Beverage service was the usual drinks (I used some of my drink coupons for a White Zinfandel). About 1.5 hours before we landed, the flight attendants started a second snack and beverage service with peanuts and trail mix (crackers, pretzels, etc). Overall, the flight was uneventful, which at this time is actually a good thing. I did manage to catch a few ZZZ’s during the flight. We landed in Phoenix about 10 minutes early, just before 9:00pm (local time). The flight itself was just under 5 hours. Upon arrival at Phoenix, I noticed that the airport was practically deserted. There were a few people waiting for a couple of short hops to the west coast, but other than that there was hardly anybody there.
WN1989 PHX to BWI 10/13/2001
Before the events of Sept. 11, I purchased a $30 internet fare from PHX to LAS which I was going to use for a milage run (an ease 2 credits), spend the night in Vegas, and fly home Sunday. However, since those attacks on the WTC, my wife became worried about my upcoming trip. She wanted me to cancel, but I needed to make the trip. But to comfort her, I decided to cancel my side trip to LAS and come home a day early. Since I was traveling on an Rapid Reward ticket, making the changes were very easy. And in all honesty, considering the war in Afghanistan and the terrorist threats against US interests (including more highjackings), I was a little uneasy in the back of my head. While I enjoyed my conference, after it was over I just wanted to come home.
Back to Phoenix. I arrived at the Phoenix airport at about 9:30am for my 12:10pm flight to BWI. As with BWI, the check-in line was a long one. It ran from the ticket counters down to the end of the terminal and curved around the escalators to the upper levels, where it ended. This line also took about 40 to 45 minutes to get through. But unlike at BWI, Southwest did not have anyone come through and ask for passengers who had flights leaving within the hour. The surprise came at the security check point, which had no wait. I was also expecting them to ask me to run my shoes through the scanner, which I read in news reports (not that I’m complaining). I breezed through security and had about a 40 minute wait until they started passing out boarding cards for my flight. I ended up with card #38 and found an aisle seat near the front of the plane (again a 737-700). I ended up sitting next to an older couple from Burbank whose son was a pilot for Southwest (but not on our flight). They were good conversationalists during the flight.
This flight was completely full (at least I did not see any empty seats), and again it was uneventful. Like the flight out, there were 2 snack and beverage services with the usual peanuts and Southwest “snack pack.” The flight took off from PHX on time, except for a wait for the runway (the pilot announced we were #12 for take off), and we landed at BWI on time as well.
Overall, both flights went well and I give Southwest high marks for the service and the way they were handling the heavy crowds and long lines. As I always say, Any landing you can walk away from is a good one.