Well, for those of you that like what WN has to offer, thanks for your business! I like my job!
Those of your who don't like us, OR are determined to not like us. That's fine, we can't be everything to everyone. If you're not going to be happy on WN then you have every right to choose another carrier! That's the beauty of having a choice I suppose.
What I don't like is this categorization of our pax as if they're somehow different. This is not my first rodeo and having worked First, Business, Main Cabin/Coach. It's all the same circus, just a different tent.
Programs: UA1P on my way to 1K this year,DL GOLD,HH GOLD,*WOOD, segment king of cos
Posts: 18
you know what i luv about WN???? sitting at the gate and finding out thru another passenger that my flight to denver has been cancelled, no announcements....and the best part about this is....ding ding ding......we can not(i knew it actually)endrose your ticket over to united or frontier......ding ding ding.....$475 later i'm flying ual to get back to denver......as long as i keep my schedule i can deal with all the fee's at frontier and even united as i know that if ual or frontier cancels a flight i have had pretty good luck at getting on the next flight out regardless of the carrier back to denver....also i know we all like a smart a$$ flight attd's doing the "schtick" once in a while going out of vegas but.....after a while the "schtick" gets old.....just my 2 cents................
No standing by the door greeting passengers, no pre-departure drink, no meals to serve, no duty-free, no 300 passengers to take care of.
Yet, I had to request pillows twice.
300 pax.......what's the point? So WN only holds 137 pax and has 3 F/A's, for 300 pax on UA they must have 6 F/A's. I'm betting that the 3 WN F/A's taking care of 137 pax are certainly more attentive than 6 F/A's on UA for 300 pax.
And just curious, why don't you just grab the pillows when you board? That way you're always certain to get the number you need and won't have to complain about how you have to "request pillows twice."
__________________
2009 WAS supposed to be our year! Now waiting until 2010 GO CUBS!
That's a security line, not a check-in line. Those are up to 20 minutes at peak hours, but I now have a Clear card for OAK.
I don't want to get in a p***ing match with you, but it was most definitely the line to check in. I'm just trying to share my experiences on southwest. If they don't match up with yours, thats your problem.
Programs: SPG Plat, MR Gold, HGP Plat, IC Gold/Ambassador, AA Plat, UA 2P, WN CP/A-list
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nsx
That's a security line, not a check-in line. Those are up to 20 minutes at peak hours, but I now have a Clear card for OAK.
Quote:
Originally Posted by captaink
I don't want to get in a p***ing match with you, but it was most definitely the line to check in. I'm just trying to share my experiences on southwest. If they don't match up with yours, thats your problem.
I've seen the 20 minute check-in line at LAX, but only on a Friday night of a holiday weekend. Otherwise, just the TSA check line usually goes outside.
No chance of Clear at LAX? They could use that other screening area...
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captaink
I don't want to get in a p***ing match with you, but it was most definitely the line to check in.
My mistake. I have indeed seen that long a baggage counter line once. Almost every time I see a line that long at LAX it's for security, but sometimes it's for the counter. The counter lines at OAK can also be horrible on holiday travel days.
My mistake. I have indeed seen that long a baggage counter line once. Almost every time I see a line that long at LAX it's for security, but sometimes it's for the counter. The counter lines at OAK can also be horrible on holiday travel days.
I've seen a lot of horrific check in lines at LAX. My record is 45 minutes to check a bag inside. My experience is Sunday and Monday mornings are the worst. That TSA line moves fairly fast, actually, despite its daunting size. That being said, I've suffered through long lines on UA and DL as well, even when I was flying in first.
You get the ma and pa kettles on every airline, though. They aren't limited to WN anymore.
Lines are bad because people are dumb... and don't go up to an open kiosk. Also, if the party has finished using the kiosk, but is waiting for the bag tag, they don't go up because they fear they are invading their space... If WN had a volunteer network where people could direct people to open kiosks, I'd signup in a heartbeat - though here at PHL the check in area is small so people can get a good view of all kiosks while in line...
When it comes to the WN things that people don't like, such as no interlining with other carriers, RRs expiring - lets keep in mind that cost saving measures like that keep them profitable and at the same time, don't cause a huge overall burden on their passengers...
I don't want to get in a p***ing match with you, but it was most definitely the line to check in. I'm just trying to share my experiences on southwest. If they don't match up with yours, thats your problem.
nsx is right. what you saw was not a checkin line because WN does not have checkin lines. the vast majority of customers (even those who don't fly much) are smart enough to checkin on the internet or to use the kiosks.
yes, earlier this month i saw a line for baggage check, counter ticketing and even for the kiosks. i also saw a number of kiosks that were available for walkup checkin without any line.
i saw no line at the curbside baggage check (where you can also checkin for the flight) and there was no line at the TSA security checkpoint (though no doubt that depends on the time of day). why you would wait inside to check a bag when you can do so without waiting outside is beyond me.
finally there was no line at any of the gates.
so i must respectfully disagree with your conclusion. you may have seen a line, but it most definitely was not a "checkin line"
And just curious, why don't you just grab the pillows when you board? That way you're always certain to get the number you need and won't have to complain about how you have to "request pillows twice."
They're stored in row 15 and he chose to sit in row 6 perhaps?
so i must respectfully disagree with your conclusion. you may have seen a line, but it most definitely was not a "checkin line"
Not everyone is up-to-speed with how WN cutely labels/parses things. Your comment is unecessarily tangential. Whatever they want to call the area with machines and/or people designed to aid customers obtain boarding passes, the generally understood term is "check-in counters" and are labeled as such in many airports.
For example, from a recent incident in LAX:
Quote:
At the Southwest Airlines check-in counter, computers were covered in plastic.
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Posts: 2,061
I had the following past status on airlines. (mid tier & above)
Mid Tier:
UA Premier Exec
AA Plat
US Gold (pre merger)
TWA Red Card (40K miles/year)
Top Tier:
UA 1K
AA Exec Plat
US Chairman's (pre merger)
For the mid tiers, if one flys a fair amount of long haul (especially intl), the legacies have some nice benefits. Free lounge access for intl itineraries on same day of travel. I enjoyed that benefit. Also double miles.
For short hauls domestic, it depends on what benefit one likes the best. SWA works for some & legacies work for others.
For top tiers, usually legacies wins hands down. The upgrades are nice especially if one flies on intl itineraries. I think AA Exec Plat is very good. 8 one way upgrades anywhere AA flies (including very longhaul intl places) plus unlimited domestic upgrades (if available). I was Exec Plat for one year. Nice! UA 1K is good too. SWU's and CR-1. (intl upgrades & domestic upgrades).
Due to various reasons, I dropped down to no status. (marriage, rental properties, health, & many other reasons). Last year, I flew SWA on 3 flights with my spouse. All were very inexpensive DING fares. As a bonus, we each got 1 extra ticket with the promo of booking 2 long hauls RT in Sept. We booked tickets for our upcoming Alaska cruise in late August. (to/from Seattle).
What was nice was what was mentioned in the previous posts. No ICC call center, was able to book online one way segments. Reasonable availability for 2 people. First choice of departure airport. (SNA).
The bottom line: who wins IMHO:
Top tier status: Legacies--most of the time.
Mid tier status: Legacies if long haul & pax likes business/First.
Short haul travel: Either SWA or legacies. Depending on what
the pax desires.
Low tier status: Either legacy or SWA. Depends on what benefit pax likes. A
coworker was Premier on UA and over a few years, built up
enough miles to book Business to Phillipines. SWA would not
be of benefit to her.
No status: SWA if one earns enough for a free ticket before it expires. NO ICC as with UA & a couple others.
For me, the Companion Pass may be of benefit. Just accumulate 100 credits from car rentals, flying, etc. Spouse can come w/me for nearly free after Companion Pass is earned. SWA is better than I'd thought.
Well, for those of you that like what WN has to offer, thanks for your business! I like my job!
Those of your who don't like us, OR are determined to not like us. That's fine, we can't be everything to everyone. If you're not going to be happy on WN then you have every right to choose another carrier! That's the beauty of having a choice I suppose.
What I don't like is this categorization of our pax as if they're somehow different. This is not my first rodeo and having worked First, Business, Main Cabin/Coach. It's all the same circus, just a different tent.
Happy Flying!
'
I take exception to the "my way or the highway' approach here.
Let's summarize the thread. The Op contained a ranting, dythirambic mostly inaccurate tirade on how everything is fantastic at LUV but going to hell in a hardcart over at United Airlines.
I posted a rectifying shot saying, in a nutshell, that WN was essentially no better that others, and the low level of complaints was due to the low levels of expectation and the high levels of emplanements. Not totally gushing over or giving accolades to WN but not dismissive either.
And now we get this semi-closure gem of the "if you don't like us, that's just too damn bad, go fly a kite or a legacy" variety. Cult members usually don't bother with nuance, I take it...
Well, the point of the argument that is that WN offers some advantages over legacies but that better service is a canard as it is no better that on other airlines, and that it is difficult to compare carriers because thy have different markets.
Oh, I am forgot one biggie in the "our life is rosier here at WN" department. Try asking them to endorse a WN ticket to their competitor when their last flight out has cancelled but UA has one that could take you hom, and then dump the rose-colored glasses..
And good luck being on time leaving on a flight leaving PHX or LAS after 6 pm. NTSB report is pretty dismal on end-of-day scenarios when an aircraft has spent its day puddle jumping from PHL to OAK, stopping in six different cities on the way. No one leaves on time after 6 pm.
ButWN gets you from Lubbock to Albuquerque on time, reliably before 420pm. If you find yourself waxing poetic about the rest, go check your allegiances and how much Kool-Aid is left in that can.
I take exception to the "my way or the highway' approach here.
I never said that, nor was that my intention. I was simply saying that we could go back and forth all day but in the end people who are WN fans will never convince those who aren't that WN is any better than it is. Same goes for any other airline. Some people like us, some don't but that's very much okay. That's when you make a choice to fly another carrier and in the end if that works for you then you've made the right decision!
The ONLY counter-point I was making was that in regards to onboard service I do a lot more than deliver a low expectation and I will stand by that. I work too hard delivering top notch customer service to allow someone who simply doesn't prefer WN to say that the reason our complaints are so low is because we basically set people up to expect nothing. I simply don't believe that, and I think because the success of my company is VERY much tied to how we treat customers then yes, I take pride in knowing we DO a very VERY good job.
In the end I'll say it again. We're not everything to everyone nor will we ever be. Some people like First Class (legroom, workspace, meals, etc) and that's something we'll likely never have. Some people like the ability to interline as a backup, also not something we're likely to ever have (every additional cost IS traditionally passed to the customer and in order to be a true LCC we keep things simple). So, you make the choice that's right for you! If you choose to fly WN I'll be happy to do my best to serve you, if not then I'm happy to know you've made the right choice for yourself but nobody will ever win the argument of who is better.
Well, the point of the argument that is that WN offers some advantages over legacies but that better service is a canard as it is no better that on other airlines...
Spoken like a man who does not travel from the DC area to ORD.
The last 8 UA flights my wife tried to take on that route were screwed up in some way (Can you say "mechanical"? I knew you could.); UA then compounded the insults by lying repeatedly, and so blatantly that a child would have figured it out. She will never again set foot on their planes, even with a free ticket, and would sooner take Amtrak to DC if she had to.
As a CP holder, I have had spectacular service from WN for many years including all kinds of rules/fees waived and have never had anything bad happen except for delayed luggage once. Never once a rude FA or any other employee. I can't even imagine such an event. Wonder what the difference between us is?
Does this reveal part of the reason for your sour mood?:
"As a single man, I have NO USE FOR THE COMPANION PASS."
You don't have any friends or family members?
And like the poster above me, I don't take kindly to being called a cult member, either.
Last edited by toomanybooks; May 11, 08 at 9:05 am.
GO CUBS!
