bettyo70

Hi Everyone,

I found a really inexpensive flight on Southwest Air and wanted to know how they are as an airline. I have never flown with them before.

How do they compare to discount airlines like Jet Blue, Spirit Air, etc?

I really dislike U.S. Airways and won't fly them.

THANKS!

bebalm

i have flown southwest several times, and am travelling with them next month. They are fine. You can get a good deal with them lots of times. In these days of no-frill airline service, they aren't any worse than the big carriers. My only dislike is they don't assign seats...so it ends up being a mad dash to get a good seat.

Suzie

Print your boarding pass as soon as they allow and you can be in the A group, get on teh plane in th first group an dpick the seat you like.

Southwest is fine. The staff is pretty easy going. Supress your urge to moo though!

bettyo70

bebalm:

Thanks so much for your quick response! Their "internet fare" was so low... I automatically assumed their must be some weird catch: like maybe you have to stand the whole flight or something like that.

How early would you suggest I get there before departure? Just want to make sure I get an AISLE SEAT. I'll be flying out of Burbank, California into New York (LaGuardia).

Cheers,
Betty

bettyo70

Suzie,

If you purchase tix online, does that mean you can print the boarding pass from home? Or only once you get to the airport?

Thanks!

DebitNM

You can print your boarding passes online 24 hours in advance of your flight leaving.

I fly them all the time and it is fine. If you get a group A boarding pass, you will should have no problem getting an aisle seat.

FYI - That flight stops in Chicago Midway and then the flight is on ATA airlines, not Southwest. Not sure if you knew that. Not sure how that effects your seating.

Debi

Andrew

Southwest is my favorite airline. I don't consider their service "no frills" at all, because what counts to me is how the airline employees treat their passengers, not what kind of so-called "meal" they might offer me. Southwest treats their passengers extremely well. Their employees actually seem to ENJOY their jobs.

Yes, you can print out a Southwest boarding pass at home, up to 24 hours before your flight departs.

The downsides of Southwest aren't so bad as long as you understand them: no reserved seats, and they board by groups, and people tend to line up early to get a good seat. But if you are in the A group, you should have no problem getting a great seat. Also, Southwest unlike other airlines doesn't allow same-day standby. If you miss the early flight, you can't just standby on the next flight for no penalty. They'll charge you the FULL FARE (often $300 plus one way) to upgrade from whatever you paid originally. So DON'T miss your flight!!!

One huge upside though is that Southwest charges NO change fees! If you book your ticket today and realize you'd like to go a week later, you can go on their site and if you find the same fare a week later, you can just change it for no change fee. (If the price went up, you pay the difference in fare.) Try that on any other airline and you're paying at least $100 a ticket to change.

And I personally love the "no reserved seats" policy. I love getting on the plane and being able to sit anywhere. My parents have flown AA first class many times but they love Southwest, too. They always get the A group and manage to get an exit row together.

bettyo70

Thanks, Debi. As long as I don't have to spend the whole trip in the dreaded Middle Seat, I'll be happy.

xanthippe

Has anyone heard the SW cabin attendants sing? Twice, both times 6 or 8 years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing a group of them sing to the passengers, a little welcome song right after take off. Once it was a common tune with funny words about SWA. Haven't heard them sing in a while!

I've flown with them often. They never served meals, as far as I know. They used to pass out bags of peanuts or something labeled "Frills" and below it said, "Don't call us a no-frills airline!"

diann24

Bettyyo70,

Another Southwest Air happy traveler here. I love them. I fly to see my granddaughter in Florida for $100 rd trip at times. They have great specials. I can go often with this airlines and I have gotten better seats with the no reserved seat plan then any other airlines. I am always stuck way n the back with US Airways. I hate US airways. As everyone has said the trick is to go on line 24 hours from when your flight leaves and print your boarding pass. Then just walk in and go the gate your plane leaves from. You more than likely will get an A tickets. Yes don't you hate the dreaded "middle."? I Got stuck all the way to Hawaii with a middle seat. My husband and I had to take turns one was middle one was aisle. Never again. I fly to Florida the end of July with SW. Happy travels.

Andrew

And let's remember that Southwest has managed to stay PROFITABLE for the last 25 years, despite 9/11 and the travel slowdown during that period. They offer you great fares, great service, and they make money still. What's not to like?

azzure

I flew Southwest twice last week, and both times got a bulkhead aisle seat in the front of the plane. I had an "A" boarding pass, of course, and was traveling alone...couples always grab the window and middle seats, so there are lots of aisle seats available.

diann24

They also run a high % of being on time. This is the only air lines I have seen that can land a plane, unload passengers and load new passangers in about 20 minutes.

bettyo70

Thanks to all of you! I feel much better flying them now.

Cheers!

SusanCS

If I hadn't had a couple of glasses of wine I wouldn't be posting, but I'm imboldened. I hate Southwest. I love their personnel, but I can't stand waiting in line for a good seat.

I'm claustrophic and don't want to fly unless I have an aisle seat. Other airlines allow me to book an aisle seat without having to stand in a dumb line for up to 45 minutes before boarding. Anytime I can book another airline I will.

Don

I always put a little reminder in my Microsoft Outlook calendar for 24 hours before the flight. Once the reminder pops up, I go to Southwest.com and do my online check-in. I've never gotten anything but the A group in doing that.

Once I get to the airport, I just sit in a chair at my gate until they announce it's time for the A group to start boarding. I go to the end of the A group line, and I always have a choice of either window or aisle seat. It might be further toward the back of the plane than the other A group people who are willing to stand in line for 45-60 minutes before boarding, but a choice of window or aisle seats has always been there for me. So if you don't want to stand in line, you don't have to--you can still get a window or aisle seat.

xanthippe

Azzure, where are you traveling that you can get the bulkhead seats? I travel on SW a couple of times a year, BWI to SLC or Las Vegas or Portland, OR, and the front 4-6 rows are always full of families with babies or toddlers. They are allowed to board first, sometimes along with parents AND grandparents, and though my husband and I are almost always in the A group, we usually have to sit behind the wing if we want to see out the window. BTW, we grab window and aisle seat and hope nobody sits between us. We used to have the row to ourselves most of the time, but not the past few years. It's mostly my husband who likes to look our the window. I like to have good (day)light to read by.

Andrew

SusanCS, obviously Southwest isn't for you if you need an assigned seat. I can see how someone might not like Southwest's approach. We all have our preferences. As I said, I happen to love the open seating, and I've never had anything but a window or an asile on Southwest the last few years. But I'm always been in the "A" group, too, by checking in early.

Austin

I've flown SW about 20 times in the past 2 years. I'm a fan. I've always printed my ticket and gotten an A most of the time. Even when a "B", I've gotten an aisle seat. Last trip I changed my connection at the airport, got a "C" and managed an Exit Row.

Flights have rarely been late, but if they are and you have a connection, they will hold a flight for you. (Within reason)

However, I do hope SW changes to assigned seating. Supposedly they are going to try it in a few markets.

The day before your return, if you can't print your ticket, anyone can print it for you. All you do is get to the airport, check in and ask them for a copy of your boarding pass.

LoveItaly

Hi bettyo, I am another fan of Southwest. Twice these last years I have had to cancel a flight. S/W credits you with what you paid without any additional fees and you have one year to use the credit. Also, when there has been a delay with the plane taking off my experience has been that S/W tells you why and it is the truth unlike other airlines I have dealt with. Employees are pleasant and have a good attitude.