Blog post "11 Reasons Why Southwest Is the Best Airline You're Probably Not Flying"
Apr 21, 2015, 3:15 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
My favorites of Southwest:
* No change fees
* First 2 checked bags are free - I steered someone to Southwest because of this
* Free snacks - small benefit but nice to have when other airlines (except for Delta) give no free snacks
* No change fees
* First 2 checked bags are free - I steered someone to Southwest because of this
* Free snacks - small benefit but nice to have when other airlines (except for Delta) give no free snacks
Apr 21, 2015, 5:01 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: AUS, SAN, EDI, BA F, WN Exit Row
Programs: Southwest Airlines AP & CP; BA Gold
Posts: 169
My list of WM advantages
#1 NO change fees. That is sooo appreciated when you absolutely have to change to an earlier or later flight, or even cancel. $150 or $200 to cancel is just a rip-off. That means you AA, UA and just everybody else. WN captures me on this alone if they have a flight within a day or a hundred miles of when and where I have to go.
#2 The frequent flyer program. You can actually use the points. Youre not faced with, No flight available in the next 100 days. The points are easy to earn AND use.
#3 The Companion Pass. Unlimited free flights for a year not just one.
#4 The Boarding System. You can sit where you want. Status, early bird or just checking in at T-24:00 will get you an aisle or window in the front, middle or back. No extra fees for a good seat. Just generally NO FEES.
#5 Family Friendly Boarding. Save your wife a seat or board with the little kids. You can sit together with family.
#6 Two free checked bags per passenger. My wife insists on checking one or more bags, and when traveling with the grandkids, they bring a whole lot.
#7 You can call them; they answer the phone (usually); and they dont charge you $25.
#8 You really dont feel that they are trying to scam you, unlike most of the others.
#1 NO change fees. That is sooo appreciated when you absolutely have to change to an earlier or later flight, or even cancel. $150 or $200 to cancel is just a rip-off. That means you AA, UA and just everybody else. WN captures me on this alone if they have a flight within a day or a hundred miles of when and where I have to go.
#2 The frequent flyer program. You can actually use the points. Youre not faced with, No flight available in the next 100 days. The points are easy to earn AND use.
#3 The Companion Pass. Unlimited free flights for a year not just one.
#4 The Boarding System. You can sit where you want. Status, early bird or just checking in at T-24:00 will get you an aisle or window in the front, middle or back. No extra fees for a good seat. Just generally NO FEES.
#5 Family Friendly Boarding. Save your wife a seat or board with the little kids. You can sit together with family.
#6 Two free checked bags per passenger. My wife insists on checking one or more bags, and when traveling with the grandkids, they bring a whole lot.
#7 You can call them; they answer the phone (usually); and they dont charge you $25.
#8 You really dont feel that they are trying to scam you, unlike most of the others.
#1 No change fees also allows me to rebook during sales and bank the savings.
#2 & #3 Booking reward flights is easy and Companion pass super easy. Try booking a free ticket or upgrade on United or AA; systems architected to frustrate.
Apr 21, 2015, 5:14 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 622
Former Airtran guy here. Been on SW A List since last October. It seemed like a lazy compilation. Let me start off my list
POSITIVES:
1) Getting credit for canceled flights. I love this part. I have come to peace with WN mainly because of this feature. I just changed my mom's flight on the return because something came up and no tension in worrying about a change fee. If there is anything that makes this airline stand out, it's this. My only concern is if such a policy encourages people to book the low fare tickets quickly and some of us lose out on them because they get sold out faster to those just booking tickets on a hunch they might travel. I don't know enough about Southwest's fare buckets to know for sure if this is a factor or not. I wouldn't mind a compromise between this and the standby policy. IN return for a modest change free ($20), make standby easier and cheaper .
2) THe two free bags. This is not as a huge deal for me because most FF programs let you have at least the first bag for free. But good for the casual traveler. I think one free bag is more than enough to give us the benefit of no stuffed overheads in the flight.
What I don't like
1) Lack of assigned seating. It's all well and good to say you have a choice. But that means I not only have to worry about making the flight on time , but I have to be there at the gate a good 35 minutes or so before the flight every time I fly in order to get a decent seat. My status goes to waste if I show up a mere couple of minutes after boarding starts.
2) ONly one exit row has enough leg room. There is that odd seat with a lot of leg room on the left side. Most airlines have 4 good aisle exit row seats where you have both the height and the width accomodated.
3) Stopovers: Yeah, what good is my status if all the good exit row seats are already taken by passengers flying through?
4) Their Standby policy.
Overrated:
1) The cheap fares. Fares have gone up for some of us. Delta seems not worried about low fares in ATL after WN took over. Though I do see WN getting better at promotions here in ATL.
2) ON time? I noticed as much or more delays with WN than Airtran. Compared to delta here, the delays seem about the same for me. Sure anecdotal, but I don't think the writer of that article used any hard data either.
3) Service: At least in ATL, i see a downgrade in service in airport services. Flight attendants are corny. It doesn't mean they are better just because they try too hard to be amateur standup comics. I am sure some like it. I don't care either way. Some are funny, some are annoying. It's a push for me.
POSITIVES:
1) Getting credit for canceled flights. I love this part. I have come to peace with WN mainly because of this feature. I just changed my mom's flight on the return because something came up and no tension in worrying about a change fee. If there is anything that makes this airline stand out, it's this. My only concern is if such a policy encourages people to book the low fare tickets quickly and some of us lose out on them because they get sold out faster to those just booking tickets on a hunch they might travel. I don't know enough about Southwest's fare buckets to know for sure if this is a factor or not. I wouldn't mind a compromise between this and the standby policy. IN return for a modest change free ($20), make standby easier and cheaper .
2) THe two free bags. This is not as a huge deal for me because most FF programs let you have at least the first bag for free. But good for the casual traveler. I think one free bag is more than enough to give us the benefit of no stuffed overheads in the flight.
What I don't like
1) Lack of assigned seating. It's all well and good to say you have a choice. But that means I not only have to worry about making the flight on time , but I have to be there at the gate a good 35 minutes or so before the flight every time I fly in order to get a decent seat. My status goes to waste if I show up a mere couple of minutes after boarding starts.
2) ONly one exit row has enough leg room. There is that odd seat with a lot of leg room on the left side. Most airlines have 4 good aisle exit row seats where you have both the height and the width accomodated.
3) Stopovers: Yeah, what good is my status if all the good exit row seats are already taken by passengers flying through?
4) Their Standby policy.
Overrated:
1) The cheap fares. Fares have gone up for some of us. Delta seems not worried about low fares in ATL after WN took over. Though I do see WN getting better at promotions here in ATL.
2) ON time? I noticed as much or more delays with WN than Airtran. Compared to delta here, the delays seem about the same for me. Sure anecdotal, but I don't think the writer of that article used any hard data either.
3) Service: At least in ATL, i see a downgrade in service in airport services. Flight attendants are corny. It doesn't mean they are better just because they try too hard to be amateur standup comics. I am sure some like it. I don't care either way. Some are funny, some are annoying. It's a push for me.
Last edited by saneman; Apr 21, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Apr 21, 2015, 7:03 pm
#21
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,648
saneman's list is quite accurate, except for the standby policy. Ever since they started giving top priority to A-List Preferred members, I don't need to worry about missing my flight! YMMV. 
Apr 21, 2015, 10:19 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
My list of WM advantages
#1 – NO change fees. That is sooo appreciated when you absolutely have to change to an earlier or later flight, or even cancel. $150 or $200 to cancel is just a rip-off. That means you AA, UA and just everybody else. WN captures me on this alone if they have a flight within a day or a hundred miles of when and where I have to go.
#2 – The frequent flyer program. You can actually use the points. You’re not faced with, “No flight available in the next 100 days.” The points are easy to earn AND use.
#3 – The Companion Pass. Unlimited free flights for a year – not just one.
#4 – The Boarding System. You can sit where you want. Status, early bird or just checking in at T-24:00 will get you an aisle or window in the front, middle or back. No extra fees for a “good” seat. Just generally NO FEES.
#5 – Family Friendly Boarding. Save your wife a seat or board with the little kids. You can sit together with family.
#6 – Two free checked bags per passenger. My wife insists on checking one or more bags, and when traveling with the grandkids, they bring a whole lot.
#7 – You can call them; they answer the phone (usually); and they don’t charge you $25.
#8 – You really don’t feel that they are trying to scam you, unlike most of the others.
#1 – NO change fees. That is sooo appreciated when you absolutely have to change to an earlier or later flight, or even cancel. $150 or $200 to cancel is just a rip-off. That means you AA, UA and just everybody else. WN captures me on this alone if they have a flight within a day or a hundred miles of when and where I have to go.
#2 – The frequent flyer program. You can actually use the points. You’re not faced with, “No flight available in the next 100 days.” The points are easy to earn AND use.
#3 – The Companion Pass. Unlimited free flights for a year – not just one.
#4 – The Boarding System. You can sit where you want. Status, early bird or just checking in at T-24:00 will get you an aisle or window in the front, middle or back. No extra fees for a “good” seat. Just generally NO FEES.
#5 – Family Friendly Boarding. Save your wife a seat or board with the little kids. You can sit together with family.
#6 – Two free checked bags per passenger. My wife insists on checking one or more bags, and when traveling with the grandkids, they bring a whole lot.
#7 – You can call them; they answer the phone (usually); and they don’t charge you $25.
#8 – You really don’t feel that they are trying to scam you, unlike most of the others.
4 is also true on AA (I can get good seats without paying fees as a status holder)
5 is irrelevant to me as I travel alone >90% of the time
6 I also get as a status holder on UA/AA (admittedly, on UA, only one on domestic.)
7-AA EXP line is generally very fast (unfortunately, many of my calls recently have been with BA/CX which have wait times just as bad, and for BA, an 0844 number if you are non status in the UK, though I do use Skype as a workaround.)
8-their tickets are often more expensive
Don't forget about no lounges.
Apr 22, 2015, 12:58 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
2-but, you can't use those miles to go to Asia in CX/JL F
4 is also true on AA (I can get good seats without paying fees as a status holder)
5 is irrelevant to me as I travel alone >90% of the time
6 I also get as a status holder on UA/AA (admittedly, on UA, only one on domestic.)
7-AA EXP line is generally very fast (unfortunately, many of my calls recently have been with BA/CX which have wait times just as bad, and for BA, an 0844 number if you are non status in the UK, though I do use Skype as a workaround.)
8-their tickets are often more expensive
Don't forget about no lounges.
4 is also true on AA (I can get good seats without paying fees as a status holder)
5 is irrelevant to me as I travel alone >90% of the time
6 I also get as a status holder on UA/AA (admittedly, on UA, only one on domestic.)
7-AA EXP line is generally very fast (unfortunately, many of my calls recently have been with BA/CX which have wait times just as bad, and for BA, an 0844 number if you are non status in the UK, though I do use Skype as a workaround.)
8-their tickets are often more expensive
Don't forget about no lounges.
4/6. Most people flying on AA, UA don't have enough status to get those privileges.
As for lounges, yes some are very nice (AF lounge at CDG is awesome) and some are, meh. And on domestic itineraries, access to lounges are restricted to the very most elite FF customers. F-class with no status? No admission.
Last edited by texashoser; Apr 23, 2015 at 10:54 am
Apr 24, 2015, 9:33 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
Posts: 13,748
I think that is true with ALL airlines. Fly one long enough, screw-ups will happen. And there is some truth to the cliche, "familiarity breeds contempt."
Apr 24, 2015, 1:37 pm
#27
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: IHG Plat, AA GLD, DL FO, Natl Elite
Posts: 259
Their staff are friendly, DAL smokes DFW in terms of design and traveler comfort for the common man, and they seem to do a better job at moving people from A to B in a timely manner than AA. I'll definitely be price shopping AA against WN from now on.
Apr 26, 2015, 1:10 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
In item #7 Landsel (the author) quips:
"There seems to be a dearth of casual travelers stumbling onto the planes trying to figure out what the hell they've gotten themselves into. "
I disagree. The type of traveler you see on Southwest flights depends heavily on the route, time of week, and time of day.
"There seems to be a dearth of casual travelers stumbling onto the planes trying to figure out what the hell they've gotten themselves into. "
I disagree. The type of traveler you see on Southwest flights depends heavily on the route, time of week, and time of day.
Apr 27, 2015, 7:30 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: DEN
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, National Exec, UA Gold
Posts: 23
Was a UA exclusive for 10 years with Gold status until recently. Just took 5 flights on WN in the past 7 days. Pleasantly surprised. Someone on the UA forum challenged me to explain my switch to another carrier...cross-posted from the UA forum here because it is my personal WN pro/con list.
1 - had to cancel a personal segment valued at $86 BUR-DEN after work travel sked changed and required me to continue on to next dest from LA area. On WN I keep the $86 for future itin, would've flat out lost it on UA ($200 change fee + fare diff). Advantage: WN
2 - no status, checked bag, no fee. Had free bags on UA: Tie.
3 - open seating. Got exit row on 2 of 5 segments. Even with UA Silver I could've confirmed that at check in or gotten E+. "Regular" WN seats (all were the Evolve series) were adequately comfy. Still hate open seating and lining up is a circus. Advantage: UA
4 - Called Cust Service 3 times; no wait time, pleasant and helpful staff. Less of a wait than Premier Desk. Advantage: WN
5 - Weather-related IRROPS, would've missed connection at MDW on Friday. Changed itin to new routing on Saturday. Wouldve been the same on UA (no fee change w/in 24hr departure for Premiers). Tie.
6 - Landside staff. Only interacted with staff at Bag Drop kiosks. They appeared to be actual WN staff and not Airserv contractors and probably could've helped if I needed more than to drop a bag. To me, subbing out staff positions at the counter looks cheap. but we know Jeff is cheap. Advantage: WN (barely)
7 - Airside staff. A few used the mic at the gate like it was a stand up comedy show. I kinda just want to board and fly. Advantage: UA
8 - Inflight. DANG these FAs are happy and nice! Snacks on every segment. Short haul: peanuts only. Medium haul: peanuts and pretzels. Long haul: peanuts, pretzels, choice of chips/crackers bag. The crew genuinely seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Nice people. Advantage: WN.
9 - Ramp. Bags up at carousels within 5 minutes of arriving at baggage claim. Given the recent ramp circus at DEN on UA...Advantage: WN.
10 - IFE. Free basic cable! Advantage: WN.
For how I travel - exclusively domestic, out of DEN (longest flight 4 hrs), with cost restrictions placed by my employer (no more than $150 over lowest fare available) WN may work nicely for me.
Maybe I will change my mind. But the gift in losing my Gold status was opening up OALs for my consideration. What I found was that WN wasn't nearly as bad as I'd envisioned (Wal-Mart in the sky, a bus with wings), and, in some aspects (specifically cust service and inflight) outpaced UA substantially.
1 - had to cancel a personal segment valued at $86 BUR-DEN after work travel sked changed and required me to continue on to next dest from LA area. On WN I keep the $86 for future itin, would've flat out lost it on UA ($200 change fee + fare diff). Advantage: WN
2 - no status, checked bag, no fee. Had free bags on UA: Tie.
3 - open seating. Got exit row on 2 of 5 segments. Even with UA Silver I could've confirmed that at check in or gotten E+. "Regular" WN seats (all were the Evolve series) were adequately comfy. Still hate open seating and lining up is a circus. Advantage: UA
4 - Called Cust Service 3 times; no wait time, pleasant and helpful staff. Less of a wait than Premier Desk. Advantage: WN
5 - Weather-related IRROPS, would've missed connection at MDW on Friday. Changed itin to new routing on Saturday. Wouldve been the same on UA (no fee change w/in 24hr departure for Premiers). Tie.
6 - Landside staff. Only interacted with staff at Bag Drop kiosks. They appeared to be actual WN staff and not Airserv contractors and probably could've helped if I needed more than to drop a bag. To me, subbing out staff positions at the counter looks cheap. but we know Jeff is cheap. Advantage: WN (barely)
7 - Airside staff. A few used the mic at the gate like it was a stand up comedy show. I kinda just want to board and fly. Advantage: UA
8 - Inflight. DANG these FAs are happy and nice! Snacks on every segment. Short haul: peanuts only. Medium haul: peanuts and pretzels. Long haul: peanuts, pretzels, choice of chips/crackers bag. The crew genuinely seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Nice people. Advantage: WN.
9 - Ramp. Bags up at carousels within 5 minutes of arriving at baggage claim. Given the recent ramp circus at DEN on UA...Advantage: WN.
10 - IFE. Free basic cable! Advantage: WN.
For how I travel - exclusively domestic, out of DEN (longest flight 4 hrs), with cost restrictions placed by my employer (no more than $150 over lowest fare available) WN may work nicely for me.
Maybe I will change my mind. But the gift in losing my Gold status was opening up OALs for my consideration. What I found was that WN wasn't nearly as bad as I'd envisioned (Wal-Mart in the sky, a bus with wings), and, in some aspects (specifically cust service and inflight) outpaced UA substantially.
Apr 27, 2015, 8:08 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043