Southwest Rapid Rewards - I'm No Longer A Virgin!!!!!

Well, I finally flew Southwest for the first on Tuesday, June 13 from Pittsburgh to Phoenix and first of all, I'd like to say thanks to: CURBCRUSHER, SAPMAN, EJMELTON & MR. JULY for providing me with some insights on what to expect and second of all, the flight was GREAT.

I obtained my boarding pass exactly 24 hours before my flight and in fact, I received boarding passes number 5 & 6 assuming that the number on the passes indicated the order in which people checked in online.

When I arrived at the airport, I was able to get a seat basically right at the beginning of the "A" line and when the GA announced that the plane was in range, 5 minutes later, there was a dash to get in all the lines and my wife and I ended up being the 5th & 6th people in the "A".

My wife and I basically like aisle seats, so that we set our goal in obtaining the aisle seats in the exit row.

Prior to the general boarding, they of course did their pre-boarding and about 15 or so elderly people and families with children boarded and then it was our turn.

Well as we got on the plane, there was someone attempting to get in the exit row, however, since they were pre-boarders, the FA wouldn't let them take those seats.

So my wife and I each grabbed one of the aisle seats on the exit row until she found out that that seat would not go back, so that she decided to sit
on the window seat on the same side that I was sitting.

Lo and behold, no one decided to take the middle seat, so that we had all the room that wanted.

I really loved those very comfortable leather seats.

They were just as comfortable as those in FC for the other airlines

The flight took off relatively on time and in fact landed about 25 minutes early.

We did bring some pretzels and pop for the long flight and of course, received the little Southwest snack pack.

All in all, we had a great flight and I hope that the return flight back to Pittsburgh on June 23 will be just as good.

Again, thanks to all who gave me advise and I look forward to flying Southwest again in the future.

So let's see what we learned from the story:

1. Getting a good seat on Southwest is essentially a "game" that requires setting your alarm to remind you to check-in 24 hours before, and maneuvering to the front of the line in the gate area and/or participating in a "mad dash"

2. Your flight left late

3. Southwest pads its schedule so much that a flight that leaves late still arrives 25 minutes early.

4. Southwest's load factors are low (middle seat unoccupied)

(Sorry, I'm in a bad mood today because of the idiocy going on in the various Wright Amendment threads in the AA forum.)

I flew SW for the first time last month (also was a SW virgin), but something about it just didn't feel right. Weird seatbelts, FA making sounds on the PA during take-off and landing (the cluck cluck of a trotting horse), etc. Although my SO absolutely loves SW (she's elite on NW as well), I think I won't be flying SW unless necessary. Though, part of the explanation might have been that the flight was headed to MCO; so, perhaps I got a flight out of the ordinary.

Steve, glad you enjoyed your flight. I also had a flight last week that was very full (3-4 seats empty), but somehow the middle exit row stayed empty! Usually not the case. In fact, if flight has about 10+ empty seats, I prefer to try for a row that I think will have the middle empty. Often with a BIG person on the other side.

geek was a bit critical. He knows Pitts. to PHX is a long flight and headwinds (or lack thereof) can have effect on flight times. So most airlines allow for some headwind and, if not bad, one gets in early. Conversely, if they did not do this, geek would complain that the flight was 15-20 min late when there were headwinds - and cause too tight connections. Sorry, geek, I know you said you are having a bad day. Cheer up - it's only air travel :p

I do agree that all the "planning and waiting in line" for a Exit row needs changed. But it is great for an non-elite with a long flight. In a legacy, the exit rows are reserved for Elite travelers. So good / bad depending on your status.

On your return, arrive at PHX 1 1/4 hr. early. Security can be slow and gates a long walk. Parking and Rental Car area are also a long way. The Rental Car garage is nice and organized (used for most companies), but a 10 min shuttle. I must say buses ran every 5 min or so. Still signage as to where to go to get bus could be improved (a problem with many airports).

I do agree that the "jokes" can be overdone by some FAs. But I do not hear as much as in years past.

I'm glad you enjoyed your flight. Take it easy in the Phoenix heat!

So let's see what we learned from the story:

1. Getting a good seat on Southwest is essentially a "game" that requires setting your alarm to remind you to check-in 24 hours before, and maneuvering to the front of the line in the gate area and/or participating in a "mad dash"
False. Personally, while I've always gotten an A pass with the new online checkin I never wait in line and board at the end of the A Group and always get a "good seat".

2. Your flight left lateThe OP said "The flight took off relatively on time", I suppose maybe he meant late, but that's not what he said.

3. Southwest pads its schedule so much that a flight that leaves late still arrives 25 minutes early.And this is different than any other airline how?

4. Southwest's load factors are low (middle seat unoccupied)This doesn't prove much, in my experience a Southwest flight can be 80% full or more and no one who doesn't want a middle seat will be in one (there are always families or other groups that take middle seats voluntarilly) (Note the flight (assuming a 737-300 or -700) needs to be at least 67.88% full before anyone needs to take a middle seat). Besides, it's a Tuesday flight, load factors are always low on Tuesdays (that's why so many Ding fares are Tuesday only!).

(Sorry, I'm in a bad mood today because of the idiocy going on in the various Wright Amendment threads in the AA forum.)No comment

4. Southwest's load factors are low (middle seat unoccupied)

First of all, passengers prefer empty planes. Unless there's a supermodel convention group "filling" the seats.

Also, why are people so focused on load factors? Anybody can fill an airplane -- just sell the seats for 50 cents each. It's yields that matter. If they can get one person to pay $1 million for a seat -- maybe because the airplane is empty -- what's the problem?

4. Southwest's load factors are low (middle seat unoccupied)

That flight from Pittsburgh to Phoenix on June 13th was flight number 1093 had 125 passengers on board out of 137. Yep. You're right. 12 empty seats out of 137 was a VERY low load factor.

First of all, passengers prefer empty planes. Unless there's a supermodel convention group "filling" the seats.

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- low load factor is indeed a good thing for the customer. I was just listing everything I learned from the story. Items 1 and 2 were definitely "bad," item 3 is debatable, and item 4 was not meant ot be "bad."

That wasn't meant to be a list of bad things about Southwest. My ideal airline would have a load factor of just me!

My ideal airline would have a load factor of just me![/QUOTE]

Someone from the AA was right. Maybe you SHOULD change your screen name to JustAboutMe.

Then maybe you should by that airplane that i read in the USAToday a couple of days ago about extravagance gifts for Father's Day. It was some sort of small jet plane that carries no more than 8 passengers and can go as high as 51,000 ft at a price of........................$42 MILLION. Crews not included.

low load factor is indeed a good thing for the customer.

Only in the very short run. In the long run, price has to exceed cost. Southwest's yield management model, with a high proportion of its relatively low walk-up fares and a lower average load factor, works very well for customers who are able to book Ding and other deep discount fares while still having a superb chance at having an empty adjacent (middle) seat.