biztraveler2007

Ok I know to much about air travel. Yes, I am mainly a business traveler so tourist may not find my comments of interest. I love Southwest. I love the business model of 'fast turns' and small airports (ie Love vs DFW, Midway vc OHair, etc.) . I love 'choose your own seat,' since passengers get on and get a seat vs. blocking the isle as they settle into their uncontested seat. But most of all I love the very low stress level compared to American Airlines particularly. As bad as it sounds AA has hardened me over 15 years of seeing their ugly side. However, during the same 15 years, i rarely 'could ' fly Southwest due to the Wright Amendment at Love field, but when I did fly Southwest, I always had a pleasant experience. Note, Southwest is not without flaws, but let me compare. In KC I was going thru security when a Southwest FA cut in front of me, obviously she was in a hurry. When I went to the checkin desk for Southwest, the agent said, ' I noticed the FA cut in front of you.' I said 'no big deal, she has to get on the plane before me .' The southwest agent gave me a ' $50 discount coupon for my next flight and said 'she should not have cut in front of you, we apolgize.' On the other hand, I have NEVER seen AA do anything of that nature. Unfortunately, I have seen AA agents use the cart to 'knock your knee caps off' and go on smiling. After 15 years, that one I can't figure out? And to this day I envision how awful and mean an AA agent at LGA was to a passenger. The passenger literally broke out in tears, that was an awful memory that has hardened me to 'AA life.' AA also has a 'suck on your knee caps' approach for seating, while with Southwest you get a nice wide leather seat. A businessman or business woman can actually use their laptop and get work done.

Note, since the Wright Amendment was lifted, I have given up my AA E Platinum status and only flown Southwest Airlines. And when my Uber driver says, ' Is you flight today business or pleasure? ' I can answer, 'with southwest, its always a pleasure.'

oysterhead43

I agree SWA is a great company. I was A-List Preferred for several years. SWA just makes you feel like they're "on your side" while AA is a system designed to milk you.

I had a recent experience with IRROPS in Dallas, and ended up cancelling both AA and SWA tickets trying to get home. The difference in customer service between the two airlines was huge: AA tried to refuse my refund even though there were 3+ hour hold times on phone, while SWA refunded my money gladly even though I was a no show.

But, I'm guessing your flight are generally 3 hrs or less? My flights are regularly 4+ hours, and there is a big difference with F. Long flights also make Lounge access more valuable. The biggest perk on SWA = Companion Pass doesn't do me any good while in the battlefield. Finally, being able to redeem miles for international awards has really raised vacations to the next level.

So, while I'd vote for SWA in a presidential race, the perks with AAdvantage tip the scales too much.

neo_781

Its nice that there are multiple airlines with various service standard and route maps and you've found one that caters best to your needs.

LucWise

Sounds like you could get a job in the Southwest marketing department.

dickinson

biztraveler2007, reading your post makes me feel kind of stupid for continuing to fly on AA, and not moving all of my flying to Southwest, where "flying is always a pleasure."

Austin787

Every time I fly Southwest, their seats have the same width as AA. And Southwest also has 'suck on your knee caps' seats too. At least AA has extra legroom seats. But, as we all know here: never let facts get in the way of perceptions

Oakshadow

Every time I've flown on WN, it's been fine. They're quick, the seats aren't any more uncomfortable than the legacy carriers, no regionals and the staff all have a casual attitude trying to make the best of their day. It reminds me of the old PSA when I was a kid.

But I just can't escape the handcuffs of elite status. I have about $500 in WN gift cards and have been tempted to use them on many occasions, but I always think, "I don't earn EQMs with those flights" and then opt for AA.

Someday I'll see the light and do what's more logical.

On another note, I always found it ironic that WN was one of the carriers in the 70's that demonstrated to Washington deregulation can work great and then when deregulation happened, they were the main carrier artificially singled out by the Wright Amendment from fully taking advantage of it. AA through their lobbyists and patsy in Congress (Wright) temporarily won out. Now that it's been lifted, flyers like the OP did what AA was afraid they would do.

Herb687

For Dallas-based flyers, it's even more of a pleasure flying Virgin America!

I cannot fathom why anyone would pay for AA F over VX F in the markets where both fly nonstop.

No amount of EQMs/RDMs will get me to fly AA if I can fly VX for the same fare or a slight premium.

WN out of DAL doesn't work for me since I like F on flights over a couple hours but on short hops to former Wright Amendment markets I similarly don't understand why someone would subject themselves to AA.

MrMan

Yep same here. Ever since dropping to PLAT from EXPLAT after 20 AA years and 4 MM, I have gone WN as the coach experience, boarding, DAL-HOU-MDW experience, frequency and employees are just so much better. I got tired of paying full fare tickets only to end up in a middle coach seat on AA for next day flights. Add 20 minutes from Home to gate at Love in the morning you just can't beat that.

Truely, AA Eagle/Mesa and banked hub mess has driven me away from AA as well. I have yet to have to wait 30 minutes for a gate at Love.

zarkov505

If I *COULD* fly WN out of HSV, I would, in a New York minute, with 58 New York seconds to spare.

arlflyer

If you read the OP's post history, this is like the least surprising thread EVER.

That said, everybody's gotta do what works for them.

harold

Compare sitting in an AA 737 exit row to a SW 737 exit row. SW was wise enough not to put the tray table in the armrest. AA seat width in that row is miserable.

krlcomm

OP has found an airline that works for them... wonderful.

AAnerd

I have flown AA since 2002, been at least gold since 2009, in my experience its always a pleasure with AA 99% of the time.. The 1% when i get inconvenience, like IRROPS or snag like delays or cancellation, AA always took care of me unlike my 1 and only experience with Southwest.. the first time i flown Southwest in 2013, it was the worst experience ever.. We got diverted (my first ever to get diverted anywhere), we got stuck in tarmac for at least 1 hour coz they told us to wait for refueling bla bla bla, deboarded us after all that wait, make us wait another 2hours, cancelled our flight and did not book us till the next day... No apologies, not even a goodwill gesture (AA never fail to give me a 5000miles gesture throw my way for this kind of inconvenience)... 5000miles might be nothing, but its better than nothing given by Southwest.. Plus i am 100% upgraded this year, ~93% last year, if i fly with Southwest i would be in the back every time i fly, no thanks, i'd take my chances with the upgrades even if it gets harder to get... my point is, to each their own, personally I am glad i have not fly Southwest again, hopefully ever..

JBauer

Southwest is a third world airline. Plenty of bad products have nice people selling them. It's called marketing.