Inconsistency of SWA flight attendants
Jul 21, 2012, 10:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Osaka
Programs: United Mileage Plus Premier Executive
Posts: 581
Inconsistency of SWA flight attendants
I flew SWA for my first time because of the credit card promotion I got in Denver last year when I was on United and went to the C concourse to get it.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
Jul 21, 2012, 10:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
I flew SWA for my first time because of the credit card promotion I got in Denver last year when I was on United and went to the C concourse to get it.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
HUH? You kept saying the FA was inconsistent and unprofessional and yet, you didn't even mentioned what they did or didn't do. Could you please elaborate?
I see inconsistency FAs on ALL airline i flew with. Flew from Barcelona back to EWR on UA and i had some of the worse flight crew throwing attitude to passengers. Even my traveling companion on the flight noticed that also.
Jul 22, 2012, 4:46 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I find it hard to believe that someone that has never paid for a ticket has enough data points to determine consistency. At 100+ flights a year, I can say they are very consistent. There are outliers, but for the most part they are very predictable. One may not like their style or the particular processes, but that does not make them inconsistent.
Two flights and a judgement is made about the consistency of the FA's on the entire airline. I can understand though. If I got stressed by something as inconsequential as open seating, I would probably be hypersensitive to FA variability as well.
Two flights and a judgement is made about the consistency of the FA's on the entire airline. I can understand though. If I got stressed by something as inconsequential as open seating, I would probably be hypersensitive to FA variability as well.
Jul 22, 2012, 5:58 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SMF
Posts: 92
I find it hard to believe that someone that has never paid for a ticket has enough data points to determine consistency. At 100+ flights a year, I can say they are very consistent. There are outliers, but for the most part they are very predictable. One may not like their style or the particular processes, but that does not make them inconsistent.
Two flights and a judgement is made about the consistency of the FA's on the entire airline. I can understand though. If I got stressed by something as inconsequential as open seating, I would probably be hypersensitive to FA variability as well.
Two flights and a judgement is made about the consistency of the FA's on the entire airline. I can understand though. If I got stressed by something as inconsequential as open seating, I would probably be hypersensitive to FA variability as well.
Jul 22, 2012, 7:18 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
I love FA, in FC the ones with the most seniority do nothing...
I have even seen them bring up the help from the back to cover their duties.
Must have been Union Break Time.
Everyone has their days. For the most part Southwest has some great FA.
I have even seen them bring up the help from the back to cover their duties.
Must have been Union Break Time.
Everyone has their days. For the most part Southwest has some great FA.
Jul 22, 2012, 9:41 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Seriously people? You're going to jump all over the OP?
I think he has a point, and I've flown hundreds of WN flights.
WN FA's are some of the best in the industry, but they *are* inconsistent; we've discussed several examples of it on here before -- with regards to COS enforcement, keeping an item in the seat back pocket, use of noise-cancelling headphones during take-off, drink coupon acceptance, singing/non-singing, etc.
I've received radically different levels of service on different flights ranging from inattentive to professionally polite to way over the top. I think this is most likely a result of WN's "relaxed" attitude, which allows for a greater range of "performance" from an FA. Personally, I prefer quick, quiet, professional service over things like sliding peanuts down the aisle, stupid jokes or singing the safety speech, but I realize that's what I sometimes may get on WN.
The larger issue may be that the OP reminds us that many flyers are simply not used to the WN travel experience, and that it can be jarring and off-putting to the uninitiated.
I don't think it helps anyone or further's the discussion at all to rudely dismiss this point of view.
I think he has a point, and I've flown hundreds of WN flights.
WN FA's are some of the best in the industry, but they *are* inconsistent; we've discussed several examples of it on here before -- with regards to COS enforcement, keeping an item in the seat back pocket, use of noise-cancelling headphones during take-off, drink coupon acceptance, singing/non-singing, etc.
I've received radically different levels of service on different flights ranging from inattentive to professionally polite to way over the top. I think this is most likely a result of WN's "relaxed" attitude, which allows for a greater range of "performance" from an FA. Personally, I prefer quick, quiet, professional service over things like sliding peanuts down the aisle, stupid jokes or singing the safety speech, but I realize that's what I sometimes may get on WN.
The larger issue may be that the OP reminds us that many flyers are simply not used to the WN travel experience, and that it can be jarring and off-putting to the uninitiated.
I don't think it helps anyone or further's the discussion at all to rudely dismiss this point of view.
Jul 22, 2012, 10:20 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
Suite101: Southwest Airlines Open Seating and Boarding Tips and Tricks
Jul 22, 2012, 10:23 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Seriously people? You're going to jump all over the OP?
I think he has a point, and I've flown hundreds of WN flights.
WN FA's are some of the best in the industry, but they *are* inconsistent; we've discussed several examples of it on here before -- with regards to COS enforcement, keeping an item in the seat back pocket, use of noise-cancelling headphones during take-off, drink coupon acceptance, singing/non-singing, etc.
I've received radically different levels of service on different flights ranging from inattentive to professionally polite to way over the top. I think this is most likely a result of WN's "relaxed" attitude, which allows for a greater range of "performance" from an FA. Personally, I prefer quick, quiet, professional service over things like sliding peanuts down the aisle, stupid jokes or singing the safety speech, but I realize that's what I sometimes may get on WN.
The larger issue may be that the OP reminds us that many flyers are simply not used to the WN travel experience, and that it can be jarring and off-putting to the uninitiated.
I don't think it helps anyone or further's the discussion at all to rudely dismiss this point of view.
I think he has a point, and I've flown hundreds of WN flights.
WN FA's are some of the best in the industry, but they *are* inconsistent; we've discussed several examples of it on here before -- with regards to COS enforcement, keeping an item in the seat back pocket, use of noise-cancelling headphones during take-off, drink coupon acceptance, singing/non-singing, etc.
I've received radically different levels of service on different flights ranging from inattentive to professionally polite to way over the top. I think this is most likely a result of WN's "relaxed" attitude, which allows for a greater range of "performance" from an FA. Personally, I prefer quick, quiet, professional service over things like sliding peanuts down the aisle, stupid jokes or singing the safety speech, but I realize that's what I sometimes may get on WN.
The larger issue may be that the OP reminds us that many flyers are simply not used to the WN travel experience, and that it can be jarring and off-putting to the uninitiated.
I don't think it helps anyone or further's the discussion at all to rudely dismiss this point of view.
My point is that the OP said the FA are inconsistent on WN but did not mention anything about what they did or didn't do to make it inconsistent.
Could it be the FAA's or company's policy has changed in between the time the OP took the flights and the FA did something differently.
Jul 22, 2012, 10:27 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Ways to avoid the stress of SWA seating:
Suite101: Southwest Airlines Open Seating and Boarding Tips and Tricks
Suite101: Southwest Airlines Open Seating and Boarding Tips and Tricks
Jul 22, 2012, 11:00 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 39
I flew SWA for my first time because of the credit card promotion I got in Denver last year when I was on United and went to the C concourse to get it.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
I went to SEA via SMF. The DEN flight attendants reminded me of a legacy. Service oriented and professional which I liked.
The second flight was SMF sea and I had the SWA flight attendant of the year. The flight attendants were over the top, bordering on unprofessional. I did not like the attitudes and lack of professionalism. maybe I am not used to this style. However, I was not impressed by the inconsistency. I see so much inconsistency now on united with co which is why I choose AA more, but the SWA flights were exact opposites. I thought I was on two different airlines, not to mention the stress of not having an assigned seat.
Why does SWA not have consistent service with its flight crews? I flew LAN on 5 flights and the service was consistent. It was nice to know what to expect. I will use up the last of my free credit card miles and see if my flights are more professional before I ever actually pay for a ticket on SWA.
Jul 22, 2012, 11:01 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
I think there's enough to go on.
Jul 22, 2012, 11:09 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
The OP found FA's over-the-top and unprofessional on one flight and not the other. Another poster sympathized, noting that sliding peanuts down the aisle, stupid jokes or singing the safety speech are "what I sometimes may get on WN."
I think there's enough to go on.
I think there's enough to go on.