Southwest
 

I like Southwest because:

1. They are cheap
2. You can sit where you want to sit
3. The crew has a sense of humor
4. Do not have to wait for ever for your drink
5. Did i mention they were cheap

good for you. I hate Southwest because
1. the passengers are absolute trash
2. seating is a cattle drive
3. the crew are annoying as hell (I didn't pay to hear the flight attendant sing)

I like SW because
1. they are cheap
2. you can buy their flight coupons on ebay for last minute flights
3. they have a good safety record

I like Southwest cuz

1. They're cheap to some major markets (but not cheap to others) from LAX
2. The flight attendant show can be a hoot (singing upon landing to entertain first-time fliers)

I dislike Southwest cuz
1. The cattle call for seating is just icky
2. The older 737s in smaller markets unnerve me (in their defense, they're well-maintained)-- the newer ones out of LAX are just dandy

However, now that JetBlue flies LGB-LAS, I don't think I'll ever need to fly Southwest again...!

I only use Southwest for short trips (an hour or less).
I don't mind the cattle call style of seating-I just remember to get to the airport early so I can get to board and get a choice of good seats.

I would use JetBlue if they flew out of LAX which is about 20 minutes away from where I live.

Understood-- I can consider JetBlue cuz LGB is 10 minutes from me! That also makes it handy for American flights, as long as you're willing to go through DFW (and they fly to JFK too!).

I like Southwest for short flights, like from the Bay Area to Southern California, Las Vegas, or Arizona. It's cheap, it's easy, and I've never found the "cattle call" form of boarding to be any worse than boarding a plane with assigned seating. Either way everyone still tries to rush on and takes forever to put their stuff in the overhead bin.

Correa, I agree that Southwest works better on short, dircet flights.

Changing planes is another story.

Keith

I only use Southwest for short flights too: (San Jose to Reno), mainly because American no longer flies into Reno from California. Other than that, I am a loyal American Airlines flier. I much prefer having an assigned seat, and avoiding the cattle call boarding. I guess that I have been spoiled with the extra legroom with American, at least for now. Also, I have experienced Southwest planes to be somewhat dirty.

I agree, I would only use them for short flights. I have not used them for anything over 1.5-2 hour flights. I fly out of BWI (Baltimore) and go to BDL (Hartford). I do not think I would take them accross country.

I hate SW because:

1) The aforementioned cattle-car atmosphere. A SW plane truly is like a bus with wings.

2) You're always guaranteed a plethora of screaming children on every flight. And since seating is anarchy and the flight attendants are too busy singing into the microphones to seat all of the families with small children in one area, you'll probably be guaranteed to be seated very close to one of these "little angels."

3) The crew won't leave you alone - even after you've made it abundantly clear that you'd prefer to be left alone.

4) They started this crappy "ticketless travel" trend which has spread like a bad rash to the major carriers.

5) Generally dirty planes, due to their quick turnaruond time on the ground.

6) Flight attendants who think the PA system is their opportunity to try out for "American Idol" - if you've had a long day, you don't want to have to endure the "amateur hour (or, God forbid, hours)"

The positives?

1) Cheap fares - although, lately, I have been finding cheaper fares on NW, CO, etc., thank God!!!!!

2) No punitive "use it or lose it" ticketing rules.

3) The only decent nonstop service from BWI to many cities at night (seems like most of the airlines that service the DC area want to quit at 7pm-NOT convenient for those of us who have to work for a living).

Hey rjw! Hope you're enjoying the SoCal sun! It's crappy & cold here on the east coast!

I haven't taken Southwest in a while. When I used to travel more I liked southwest because:

1) Cheapest/easiest way to get back and forth St. Louis to Chicago.

2) There was a flight every hour. Missing a plane was a non-issue.

3) Singing attendants and comedian pilots. It was nice to see <b>someone</b> was having a good time. After all, I was stuck in the gum on the seat of my SW flight with a piercing scream puncturing my left eardrum. Many times I really needed that ray of sunshine. Or earplugs.

Despite this, I don't miss SW. With American taking over TWA, St. Louis, my point of origin, is much better served.

Number one thing I don't miss about Southwest?

1) Ladies and Gentlemen - you may now stampede the plane...

I love SW! $179 rt Seattle to Chicago, taxes included! Legroom. Oxygen. No problem!

Hi LT-- We're in the June Glooms now, and it seems like the skies should be opening up-- but the worst we get is a few droplets on the windshield. Sun MAY be out here in Santa Monica at around 2 PM. Meanwhile, back home in Long Beach, the sun will be out by 11 (gotta love south-facing beaches!).

I'm actually kinda fond of Southwest-- the singing to congratulate first-time flyers always cracks me up! And the bus ride to LAS out of LAX is never really unpleasant (as long as the cattle line mooooves quickly to board, I'm fine).

&quot;I love SW! $179 rt Seattle to Chicago, taxes included! Legroom. Oxygen. No problem!&quot;

Response: What legroom? Don't they fly thos cramped 737's? Did they buy new planes w/more legroom? Or...are you being sarcastic? :-)

&quot;! And the bus ride to LAS out of LAX is never really unpleasant (as long as the cattle line mooooves quickly to board, I'm fine).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LAS...is that LB airport? Is there bus service from LAX to Long Beach Airport?

MT. There is plenty of legroom on SW airlines, at least in comparison to United. I chose to fly SW over using free frequent flier tickets on United, after a wretched United flight with the toilets smelling throughout the plane, the plane stuffy and the legroom nonexistent. I was wiped out after the four plus hour flight. I also prefer flying into Midway (SW) as opposed to O'Hare (United), as it is closer to my destination in Chicago. SW is fine with me.

mt_xx: I meant the &quot;bus&quot; ride on Southwest from LAX to Las Vegas (LAS). LT called their planes &quot;bus[es] with wings&quot;.

No bus service between LGB and LAX-- shuttles, yes.

LT: &quot;They started this crappy &quot;ticketless travel&quot; trend which has spread like a bad rash to the major carriers.&quot;

What's wrong with ticketless in yr opinion?

love
roxy

The &quot;standard&quot; airline ticket was created in 1964.Having tickets generated electronically has been on the minds of the powers that be in the airline industry since then.It is estimated by 2010, 80% of all airline tickets issued worldwide will be electronic.Thats the way the airlines want it, for the most part.Its cheaper for them, and I personally find it much easier.You cannot lose an electronic ticket!!Its a hassle and a half when you lose a paper ticket.You have to buy a new one at the going rate--maybe twice as much as you paid in the first place.Then you have to wait 6 to 9 months to get your money back.IMHO

&quot;MT. There is plenty of legroom on SW airlines, at least in comparison to United. I chose to fly SW over using free frequent flier tickets on United, after a wretched United flight with the toilets smelling throughout the plane, the plane stuffy and the legroom nonexistent&quot;

Well I can relate to that about United. I flew home from NYC 2 weeks ago, on a 747 and the space was extremely tight. The plane was overbooked and I was sitting behind someone in an exit row seat who decided to recline all the way back...very uncomfortable for a tall person w/long legs like myself.
&quot;mt_xx: I meant the &quot;bus&quot; ride on Southwest from LAX to Las Vegas (LAS). LT called their planes &quot;bus[es] with wings&quot;.&quot;
Yikes...I realized LAS was Las Vegas after I posted the message. I wish there was some type of bus service b/t LAX and LB Airport...that's the main reason I don't and won't fly JetBlue unless they land at LAX (eventually they will).

Message: LT: &quot;They started this crappy &quot;ticketless travel&quot; trend which has spread like a bad rash to the major carriers.&quot;

&quot;What's wrong with ticketless in yr opinion?&quot;

Roxy:

Call me old-fashioned, but I like having a good, old paper ticket in my hands. I know that the airlines claim that they have worked out the bugs w/ticketless travel (like dealing with canceled flights, etc.), but when I hear this, I'm reminded of that line from &quot;Planes, Trains &amp; Automobiles&quot;:

&quot; . . . and if they (the airlines) told you that wolverines would make good house pets, whould you believe them?!?&quot;

We still live in a society where paper trumps anything electronic. And IMO, if you are halfway responsible, losing something as important as a plane ticket should be a non-issue.

I also resent the airlines' arrogant attitude of not giving consumers a choice between the two options. I know you can pay $25 - 50 to get a paper ticket, but how about charging the TRUE cost of printing out a paper ticket, instead?!?

Cheers!