Well, ORD was shut down for an extended period this evening, which put a slight (very slight) dent in my travel program.

I was scheduled to depart BWI at 5:34pm for ORD. While in the lounge, the agent remarked that the flight was delayed to 6:00pm, and would most likely board about 5:30. Approaching 5:30, which was also the lounge closing time, the agent informed me that they weren't quite going to make 6:00, so she gave me a $15 meal voucher. I was suitably impressed.

Until I got to the gate area, where the gate agent told me 9:00pm. Huh?!?! But I was told 6:00pm. No it was always 9:00pm. Hmmm...

I asked what the cause was and was told weather. A short while later I overheard the same agent tell the captain (also waiting around) that it was an ATC delay. Hmmm...

Well, I thought I'd put that meal voucher to use, and inferred as much to one of the gate agents. But she insisted that no one leave the boarding area, as the plane might be allowed to depart at any time. So here's a meal voucher, but no, you can't use it. Three strikes. That's it, I'm outta here.

I asked them to pull my bags, and went looking for a way to ORD, or MKE, or GRB, even. I accidentally asked a United agent, thinking I was at the (gasp!) NW counter. Then to NW, but was relieved to find that they could not accomodate me. Then to... hey, what's this? Southwest?!?! Well, I know they go to Midway, so why not?

A few minutes and $134 later, my two bags are checked and I have a ticket for the 6:55pm flight. Gee, was that easy, or what?

Let me tell you -- I was super impressed, right up until the last minute. This is one efficient operation. The staff is so energetic and enthusiastic you move through the entire process was amazing gusto. Yet everyone is so sincere, friendly, and helpful you don't feel like you're on an assembly line (even though you are.) They even had a baggage handler there to expedite my bags to the plane as I checked in only 15 minutes or so before the scheduled departure.

All along the way, staff kept informing everyone that the incoming plane was delayed 5 minutes, and that Midway was under a weather advisory so flights may be delayed, diverted or cancelled. But no one seemed to mind.

Boarding was interesting. You take your ticket to the gate, where they give you a coloured plastic tag with a number on it. When the boarding announcement is made, everyone lines up in the appropriate line -- #'s 1-30, 31-60,61-90, etc. (I got 47, so the second line for me.)

Even the boarding annoucements were a source of amusement. The guy running the show at this point announced that 'there are 137 seats on this plane, and only 50 of you passengers, so unless you know someone, don't sit next to them.' He did a great job of marshalling the passengers on to the plane in short order.

I was surprised on board as well. I had heard that there was no inflight service, but we got a beverage (and the whole can, without asking for it), snacks, and peanuts. Seat pitch was quite generous, certainly more than the regular economy seats on United and almost as good as Economy Plus. I got seat 2D, an aisle, with an empty middle seat.

For unassigned seating, boarding was remarkably quick. Seems Southwest passengers know the drill, and everyone sticks to it. Throughout the flight, passengers everywhere seemed to be accomodating crew or other passengers -- for example, no one got up during the inflight service, and no one lined up to use the lav until it was vacated. After we descended through some amazing turbulence (to an everyday landing) the FA got on the PA to anounce "We made it!" The audience (I mean passengers) immediately responded with laughter and applause.

All in all, I was impressed. Until I got to the baggage carousel. Twenty five minutes after arriving in the baggage area, bags had yet to appear. But a security guard took it upon herself to find out why. Moments later, the bags appeared. I was surprised by the self-motivation shown by the guard, a species not often known for such qualities. Finally, you had to show your claim checks to the guards before leaving.

I never did get to use the $15 voucher, and I lost out on 621 Q-miles, but I certainly learned a thing or two. As for United, and them BSing me throughout the afternoon -- "that'll learn ya." Gimme back my (refundable) $309.

[This message has been edited by Ken hAAmer (edited 02-25-2001).]