Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, SW CP, GP 1M, HH Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 3,916
One last observation at this point, before @#203 (too few Southwest stations) fades: Though my aim was just to add a disadvantage, I thought my comment ironically would lead both sides to agree at one level: On the one hand, obviously critics would say, "Yeah!" But then, your Team might have said, "Yeah, it is a weakness that Southwest doesn't spread all the qualities we're selling to more places". But I should have gauged the response by how the Team always digs in with reasons why not, everytime someone suggests more places.
Like, oh..... say, Boston. Why not Boston?
Quote:
Originally Posted by FCfree
I think of this as both a strength and a weakness. If, like gmax58 above, you need to go to Pensacola, FL and the closest WN cities are 4 hours away, its a weakness. Fortunately, there are alternatives (Delta in this case). Southwest just isn't one of them.
But, Southwest also keeps its focus and therefore stays profitable by serving the cities where there is enough demand. They are not bleeding the US Gov't by serving cities that the gov't subsidizes. These subsidies are what are keeping some of the regional carriers in business.
Pardon my ignorance, but what is the "flat tire" rule?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nsx
I did. That's the flip side of no change fees. Although I make liberal use of the flat tire rule (free standby for 2 hours AFTER the flight you booked) to cut it very close when going to the airport.
Programs: HH Silver, US/UA/DL basic, Marriott Silver, ZE Gold, ZT BC, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 261
Grateful for WN,too
A few years ago, I would not have dreamed I would be part of the choir singing for WN. God's faithfulness changes not, but I have changed to be grateful for WN. I will be able to use credits from the past for a last minute WN ticket Monday and I will be able to check TWO bags!!!
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 8,145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Droneklax
...Compares apples to oranges....
Isn't that what you're doing by comparing your experience as a 1K on United with the perks that are available to anyone who flies SW? And FWIW, your experience of always being upgraded is not typical of even 1Ks, if the United forum is any indication.
Doesn't BOS also have a reputation for slow turnarounds and delays?
I have heard that, not sure how true it is. All of the delays I've experienced out of BOS (granted I haven't flown out of there often) have been the airline's fault.
Programs: UA 1P, WN A-List, AA GLD/MM, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, National EExecElite
Posts: 8,599
Having had elite status on one or more carriers at a time for the last 17 years (mostly UA/AA out of Chicago), I've usually only flown Southwest 3-4 times per year, usually for a golf or baseball watching weekend when I've wanted to avoid change fees in case the weather did not cooperate. But recent events both in my life and in both UA/WN policies have got me moving more and more 200-600 mile nonstop business to WN, and even a little bit of my 600-800 mile business.
But it is a highly personal decision. Here's why I have moved:
1. Even with open seating, an A45-A60 boarding pass on a WN 737 is still going to yield a more comfortable seat (usually 17-19 C to maximize the chance of keeping the middle seat open) than anything I'm going to get on a UA/AA CRJ-200 or ERJ-145, or an AA CRJ-700. That immediately puts AA at a disadvantage on most cities within 600 miles, and UA on a few. Moving enough business (1 RT every 3 weeks) to Southwest to get A-List solidifies that.
2. The lack of change fees means that I can plan business trips out 4-8 weeks in advance but clients can still wait to commit until the last minute. By agressively watching fare sales and Ding! fares, mixing in the occasional walk-up fare when something changes, and not worrying about change fees, I can save 25-30% off of what I could get buying 8 days out on UA/AA.
3. I don't particularly need more redeemable miles for international travel, as I have a big stash to burn over the next 2-3 years.
4. UA getting rid of the 500-mile EQM minimum doesn't help their cause, it equates to me needing about 8000 more EQM per year to make Premier Executive, based on my overall travel patterns for the last several years.
5. I like getting to the airport reasonably early anyway, I like walking into the terminal 50-60 minutes before my flight. With the new boarding scheme, I have to be at the gate 20-30 minutes before my flight, depending on the city. But on UA/AA, I almost always board at 30 minutes out anyway to claim my overhead bin space. But the new queue system for boarding is a huge benefit, as I used to have to dread life and stand in the B line forever if I just missed an A pass on the old system (what's now A45-60).
There's still very little way I'm going to fly Southwest for anything more than two hours - I still want my confirmed at ticketing exit row aisle if at all possible and for longer flights the chance at an upgrade. And I wish somebody would sell a membership club type room at Midway.
But giving Southwest 12-14 business trips and 3-4 weekend getaways a year, out of a total of 30 and 8 respectively... it's now a pretty easy call for me.
__________________
What would happen if Imagineers from Disney designed the security line? Why not let them try? - Seth Godin
The lack of change fees, as a number of folks have already mentioned, is enough to LUV WN in and of itself.
I've got business trips, travel to visit a sick relative and vacations this summer and many of the trips have/or will have to be changed multiple times.
I got sucked in a long time ago because WN had the only non stop for a frequent trip we have to make (PDX-MCI).
These days I view flying on one of the legacies like having root canal.
The other thing not mentioned enough is the extra leg room. I'm 6-2, and believe me, that extra inch or two makes a huge difference on a 3 hour flight.
I never had a problem with WN. I hope our upcoming trip to LAS in August will be fun. I plan to print out a boarding pass at the 24th hour before the flight. I spoke to a woman in customer service and she answered all my questions. Dummy me, misspelled my daughters name wrong and she corrected it for me at no charge.
I tried to get the same flt on CO, but their prices were extremely high.
If my brother, the big shot executive can fly WN, so can I.
One more person chiming in...repititively...no change fees.
BTW, this is not just a benefit for business travel. Twice in the past several months, we've had to cancel family trip last minute due to sick children unable to fly. On any other carrier, this decision would have equated to hundreds of dollars in change fees. On SWA, we were able to cancel without worrying about the financial impact...except for our non-refundable lodge reservation in Yosemite National Park this past weekend...
Programs: Amex PLAT, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, SWA RR, NationalCar.com Executive, Elvis Costello fan
Posts: 520
That stinks, Bruce G. I know it does you no good now, but next time consider travel insurance...I like CSATravelProtection.com myself.
My only real complaint about SWA lately is the switch to premium reward redemption, i.e. their requiring TWO RR vouchers for certain routes. That just seems excessive to me...especially given that other airlines (Virgin Atlantic, for example) offer Mileage + Money options, so you're not looking at double the cost....
One more person chiming in...repititively...no change fees.
BTW, this is not just a benefit for business travel. Twice in the past several months, we've had to cancel family trip last minute due to sick children unable to fly. On any other carrier, this decision would have equated to hundreds of dollars in change fees. On SWA, we were able to cancel without worrying about the financial impact...except for our non-refundable lodge reservation in Yosemite National Park this past weekend...
Sorry to hear about your non-refundable reservation. I would assume that is in the park and/or it was a very special hotel?
Southwest has me trained that before I book a room now, I ask "what is your cancellation policy?" If it is a special place, then yes, I will risk it. Otherwise, I expect the same service from my hotel as I do from my airline (no change fees). Actually, I expect more from my hotel simply because hotels typically don't charge you if you cancel 24-72 hours before the reservation.
Last edited by FCfree; May 27, 08 at 8:22 pm.
Reason: Typo
Grateful for WN,too
