Anyone Leaving WN (or reducing flights) because of Evolve?
Sep 29, 2013, 8:30 pm
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: MR LT Titanium, SPG LT Plat & Plat 100, SWA A+ & CP
Posts: 1,093
Well... Since I started this thread (I'm the OP), I have started giving business to JetBlue strictly because of the horribly uncomfortable seats in devolve planes. The straw that broke the camel's back was a delay in which I purchased a BS fare and ended up the last one on the plane. Needless to say I was sandwiched between two linebackers with my knees literally jammed into the seat infront of me. If I was under 5'10", I may have been ok, but at close to 6'3", if you don't get an exit row, you're toast. Pre evolve was fine.
After 6 straight years of flying WN 100% of the time, I am now giving business to Jet Blue. The seats are that bad on WN.
After 6 straight years of flying WN 100% of the time, I am now giving business to Jet Blue. The seats are that bad on WN.
Sep 30, 2013, 5:22 am
#47
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
Yet, it seems to have not done so.
That says it all.
Sep 30, 2013, 11:30 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: AA, DL Gold Med , UA, AS, WN, HHonors Silver, Marriott, IHG Rewards Club, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 323
Remove the Evolve seats? Not going to happen.
The only corrective action they can realistic take is to remove the extra rows to to have the seat pitch set back to what it was in the pre-Evolve seats.
But the Evolve seats themselves won't be going away anytime soon.
Sep 30, 2013, 11:34 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: HH Diamond, EX-AA Explat, WN Loyalist
Posts: 366
I must be in the minority, but I think the seating since the Evolve change has actually improved for me at least. the seats are lower allowing me more leg room. And I am a big guy (6'4). I have thought about leaving for greener pastures, but have not as WN always has more + than - in my evaluations.
Sep 30, 2013, 11:43 am
#51
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,502
I must be in the minority, but I think the seating since the Evolve change has actually improved for me at least. the seats are lower allowing me more leg room. And I am a big guy (6'4). I have thought about leaving for greener pastures, but have not as WN always has more + than - in my evaluations.
Sep 30, 2013, 7:24 pm
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: MR LT Titanium, SPG LT Plat & Plat 100, SWA A+ & CP
Posts: 1,093
Personally, my issue is legroom. Yes, evolve seats are not as comfortable as pre-evolve but I could live with that if my knees were not lodged in the seat in-front of me. I'm 6'2", which is really not that tall.
I researched JetBlue, talked to others who have flown both and take my first JB flight next week. As I mentioned, I've been 100% WN for years, A+ For past many years, and am currently A+ and CP thru 2014. To add to this, I'm even driving 45 minutes longer to another airport that has JB. If it works out, I will be moving business there. The seats are that horrible in my opinion.
I researched JetBlue, talked to others who have flown both and take my first JB flight next week. As I mentioned, I've been 100% WN for years, A+ For past many years, and am currently A+ and CP thru 2014. To add to this, I'm even driving 45 minutes longer to another airport that has JB. If it works out, I will be moving business there. The seats are that horrible in my opinion.
Oct 1, 2013, 9:08 am
#53
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: HH Diamond, EX-AA Explat, WN Loyalist
Posts: 366
Oct 1, 2013, 9:59 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
Oh, ok... I understand. That hadn't occurred to me, but I can see how that works for the taller person.
Oct 2, 2013, 12:59 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: RDU
Programs: AA LT Gold, DL SM, HY Disc, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 12,503
So far this year, I've moved the following flights away from Southwest due to Evolve
CHI-MCO
BOI-(LAX/SNA) (I flew DL into LGB instead)
SLC-CHI
CHI-AUS-CHI
CHI-DEN-CHI
CHI-RDU-CHI
CHI-PHX
SAT-CHI
CHI-MCO
BOI-(LAX/SNA) (I flew DL into LGB instead)
SLC-CHI
CHI-AUS-CHI
CHI-DEN-CHI
CHI-RDU-CHI
CHI-PHX
SAT-CHI
Oct 2, 2013, 4:02 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,187
By now I think the only non-evolve -300's are the leased planes or ones near the end of their service life.
Continued comments to WN won't result in the -700 or -300 series being reconfigured, but maybe they can help keep the -800's and FUTURE aircraft deliveries of -737NG coming in with the more favorable pitch.
The -800 series could have yielded 187 seats with evolve's "even more seats" pitch. I wonder if WN management regrets not doing this when the 800's went into service.
Continued comments to WN won't result in the -700 or -300 series being reconfigured, but maybe they can help keep the -800's and FUTURE aircraft deliveries of -737NG coming in with the more favorable pitch.
The -800 series could have yielded 187 seats with evolve's "even more seats" pitch. I wonder if WN management regrets not doing this when the 800's went into service.
Oct 2, 2013, 4:17 pm
#59
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,617
Oct 2, 2013, 4:29 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,502
Must have misinterpreted your earlier atta-boy to Ink. You still declare yourself as your own companion to keep the seat next to you open?
Becoming a COS: Guaranteed Method for Best Seat Selection
Becoming a COS: Guaranteed Method for Best Seat Selection
I do the same exact thing. It is the only thing keeping me as a customer at WN vs going for first class on a legacy. I am a big guy too and you get a few dirty looks from time to time, but it is worth the taxes for me to do it all the time. Do I feel guilty??? No, I give them tons of business. They didn't feel guilty going from 137 to 140+ seats did they??
