First-time poster, but long-time traveler (4-8 ways/month over 10 of the past 15 years)

It still brings into question the sheer number of cycles WN is putting on its aging 300 models, at a rate that is usually far more than other carriers, and in less time. They've had maintenance, surface and even greater hull issues over the last 5+ years.

I'm sure the FAA hasn't pushed them, or any other carrier with similar cycle rates, to ground more 300s merely because Boeing can't make 737s fast enough. Plus WN is waiting on the 8-MAX too. But still, I hate it when I look up the registration number before boarding, and confirm it's a 737-3H4.

Coming from AirTran, who had the 2nd newest 737 fleet (2nd to Continental, now United), I originally avoided WN. This was because, out of MCO, WN runs mostly those 300 models on the shorter routes, instead of the 700 models. But with Delta still running older 757s out of MCO that have APU and other issues, their departure rate is far, far worse (sub-60% at times).

DL's non-sense finally pushed me back to WN, especially when I started to miss connections, while WN has more directs. I was hoping that since Southwest got all those new 700 models in the acquisition, I'd be seeing them more, but I'm not. NW's departure rate is also still nothing like AirTran's, especially with those 717s. If Delta ever starts using those 717s out of MCO, I might go Delta again.

In either case, it only took a few months, but I've now achieved WN's first level. I just don't like boarding any WN registry that is a 3H4.