"Airline" is a hit
 

I didn't know how much cr*p gate agents and others have to take from passengers. I think the award for biggest jerk goes to the gun nut who couldn't get his goofy gun on the plane and tried to guilt trip the S.W. staff for not being as gun savvy as he was. He would not have gotten an inch with me. [-X

The gun nut surely should have "known" better. After all, he worked for a congressman and served in the Air Force. He of all people should understand what his government is trying to do to protect him Post-911. No excuse for his behavior and Southwest or any other airline will be better off without him!

We are NOT reality show watchers, but had heard this was great and it is.. For S.W. to have the guts to allow this I applaud them. Have watched both Sunday nights and I can hardly wait for next Sunday.. There is no way that I would ever work behind the desk or let myself be abused as their people were.. GREAT SHOW.....Thanks Southwest

Damb! I missed it last PM. Gawd knows there wasn't anything else on last nite. Guess I'll have to see if they re-run last night's episode.

I'm hooked on that show! Those irrational people drive me nuts, but I can't tear my eyes away. I just couldn't believe the lady who kept saying that "Southwest screwed me over" when she showed up to the airport late!!! Ugh...people. I think I let the show get in my head too much, though, because last night I was dreaming that I worked for Southwest!

My heart bled for sons of that stupid biatch who arrived at the Chicago airport 20 mins before their flight to San Diego departed and missed their flight but blamed the airline. She then said Southwest "screwed her" and that she should sue. Sheesh! It was her own damn fault but still blamed everyone else. Man was she ugly too. The Iranian guy who got upset over TSA going through his luggage should be deported.

Couldn't believe the woman who blamed Southwest for her showing up to the gate with her two sons 20 minutes before boarding and saying it was Southwest's fault that she missed the flight. And its really a sad state when those 40 kids caused such a ruckus on the flight from Vegas that the cops had to be called.

You can catch this week's episode on Sunday from 3-4:00 pm.

My husband actually made me watch it last night and it was great. We travel frequently in & out of Midway and god bless those gate agents, people can be ignorant! That guy with the gun was such a fool, I was just glad he was from LA, not chicago!

"biatch"?

A&E deserves a kick in the ass for that insanely stupid 'Dream House' that is one before 'Airline'.

Are we the consumer that stupid that we have been reduced to this?

I love 'Airline'.

Classic line: "I'm going to rip up every picture of my nephew in the cockpit" I'm sure Southwest CEO is trembling in fear.

Another "child under 2" problem. I think Southwest needs to make their policy more clear to the customer. Can't it be printed on the ticket?

I also felt sorry for the two boys of the angry woman. They must have been really embarrassed.

That other child that was under two, in what universe did the mother think it is safe to be a lap child? She put her child's life in order to save a couple of bucks.

Wasn't it amazing how the mother of the "under two", after making a huge fuss, gets to the gate so late that everyone else has boarded and there are only single seats left? Airlines could and should, IMO, avoid that whole age thing by simply requiring that everyone has to buy a seat - and use it.

I also felt sorry for the angry woman's sons.

Oh, and did you see the look on the face of the elderly woman who was seated in the middle of the three seats when the woman with the "under" two-year-old child was seated next to her--it told the whole story. And if it were up to me, that whole group of 40 would not have been allowed to board. And I ask, how can an adult chaperone of a the kids bike group be permitted to be under the influence! If he were involved with a public entity such as a school, this would be considered a scandal.

This show sounds funny/intresting, but I've never heard of it. What network and night is it on?

About the "under 2" kid, the parents did have proof of age at one time, it was in a yellow folder but dumb dad said he threw it away because he didn't think it was important. Does anyone remember the look on the moms face when he told her he tossed it in the trash?

It's on A&E on Monday nights at 9:00 & 9:30 CST (probably 10:00 & 10:30 Eastern/Pacific). It's a reality show--sort of a documentary that follows Southwest Airlines employees at Chicago Midway Airport & LAX. It shows all kinds of situations with customers being upset, too drunk to fly, etc. It's really funny and VERY interesting and makes you never want to work for an airline. :)

Hee_hee_hee, Yes, I specificaly did see the look on the wife's face when he told her he tossed it in the trash. She looked like she was faking it, and knew there never were any papers.

BTW folks, travelisfun is the only person I have seen on this board who has specified time zones when giving the time of day for a national telecast. Telling someone that a show starts at 10:00 without specifiing EST could cause many people to miss the show. \:D/

jor...Yeah, I live in the Central Time Zone and have missed many programs due to non-specified time zones. I'm glad if I could save others from the same fate. :)

No one has commented too much on the second episode about the blackouts. I really felt for those poor people who were stranded and had to take buses to their destinations, but I REALLY hope I would have had the presence of mind not to yell at Southwest for something that was obviously out of their control. I was impressed that they even offered buses.

This show has really made me want to never get upset at an airline employee again. (Not that I have that often, but I've had a few moments with lost baggage or missed flights...)

I'd just like to mention that if those passengers who by their own fault missed their flight (i.e. drunk guy at LAX bar and angry mom) were flying AA, UA, CO, DL, NW or US, they probably would not have been graciously put on standby for the next available flight. They would have been charged out the wazoo for a new one way ticket at that day's fare. Depending on the destination, we're talking $500-$1000+ A traveler flying on an nr fare who missed a flight and MUST get to their destination is jackpot for the so called major airlines. Same deal with the unticketed kid, a same day child's fare would probably cost $500+ versus a one way WN fare of under $200. Southwest is the most consumer friendly of all the airlines. One more example, no change/penalty fees on nr fares, you can use the full face value of an unused nonrefundable ticket towards a new one. With the blackout situation, the airlines are in no way obligated to provide overnight accomodations if a flight is cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control. Southwest did provide hotel rooms, albeit reluctantly.

Finally finished watching my taped version. What wasn't clear: Did the Detroit gate agents tell those people there would be flights for them to catch? Too many people were giving the same story. Even though the "assistant gate agent" in Detroit said she told everyone, I have a feeling that particular unknown and unnamed person wasn't telling the truth. Colleen, the sup in Chicago, did a great job handling that one.

The nut with the gun...

The vulgar heifer trying to get back to San Diego (showed up 10 minutes prior). The people with the baby...I think there was a slip, but the husband did throw it out. THe kid was big for 16 months. My kids weren't that big.
The Bmx'ers..now there was one! Colleen was overruled by HER supervisor. I think Colleen was going to deny boarding to all of them. The drunk BMX dad was a total jerk. I wonder who those people behaved on their flight to Louisville?

I love this show.

Tomorrow night? The Apprentice!

How about the nutty lady who was yelling at the ticket agent when SHE showed up 20 min. before her flight. Also, I hated the way she acted
a. in front of her kids
b. to the agent
Love the show!

Just came across this site, gives bio's for the SW personnel we are seeing every week:

http://www.southwestairlines.com/swa...wa_people.html

Another great episode. I love this show!! Cudos to Southwest. I couldn't believe the way that woman was acting showing up 20 minutes before departure. (HELLO!!) Her poor sons, being dragged across the airport.

I felt bad for those passengers who had to put up with the bad kids terrorizing the aircraft during that flight. Shame on the parents or adults in charge!! I don't blame Southwest thinking twice about letting them board there connector flight!

Also the guy with the gun. Come on. He should've known better. Plus supposely worked for a congressman. Where's his head.

One thing I've learned about this show, is all the trouble the ticketing agents/supervisors go through with irrate passengers. I couldn't handle the stress.

Does anyone know how the rating are for this show? I hope good! I enjoy it....

That guy in the baggage claim office who was complaining was a complete ass. The flaw in his checked baggage was a joke and he tried to guilt trip the person behind the desk. Its called wear and tear. I would have loved to tell him to shut up and get a life. \:D/

LMAO

What about the couple who kept going on and on about their "very expensive bag". It sounded as if they needed to stress that in order to argue how much they should be compensated.

Even better was the guy trying to scam his way on the flight with an expired boarding pass. The look on his face when he was caught in a lie was classic!

I felt bad for the guy in the wheelchair with alzheimer's and his wife. I think the guy in charge handled it so that they could keep their dignity.

Last night brought tears to my eyes to see the supervisor help clean up the gentleman in the wheelchair with Alzheimers.. How many other people would do this? This is a great series and Southwest has much to be proud of. Can hardly wait until next week... does anybody know how long this series will last.

I really love the show too!
I liked how the man with the "odor" was handled. She tried to handle it tactfully.
I really felt for the man to see him scrubbing his body with napkins. It made me really wonder where this poor man was flying to. He seemed like someone really down on his luck and had kind of given up on life.

Great show.

I LOVED it when the voice over said, "With the world's most expensive bag apparantly missing..." You just don't get that kind of subtle humor in a lot of shows. I also thought it was hilarious when they made the agent feel the leather on the "very expensive bag" after it was found just to prove that "they don't buy cheap stuff." Classic. This show is so entertaining--I love it! My other favorite story line was the retiring Captain. Such a neat tradition.

I keep forgetting to watch this on Monday nights. Is it ever rebroadcast at another time?

How many times was that lady going to say "very expensive green bag!". Let ie go lady! I don't think any old SW agent would have changed a grown man's pants. No way. This was was just sympathetic. Or the lawyer couple'going to sue' if they didn't get on. What am I missing here...a couple buys an $5000 vacation package and flies SW?! FOr a few dollars more they could have flown a big carrier and had confirmed seats. The logic of some people.

"Airline" is rebroadcast on Sunday afternoon, check your local listings as to what time or go to A&E's website.

The attorneys cracked me up. If they were such hotshot litigation lawyers they would be sitting in first class or on a private plane.

I agree. All these high-powered folks and expensive luggage. What are they doing on Southwest???

Kudos to the employee who helped the Alzheimers couple keep their dignity.

jmv, you can also find it at 3 Central on sundays or very late rebroadcasts on Mondays.

What about the guy with the "missing" ticket. He was already on board the plane. How could SW let him get that far?

It's amazing to me the day after this show that most people seem to agree with our take on it when we were watching, such as
1) Lady with very expensive bag and who doesn't buy cheap clothing--why are you flying on SW?
2) The first half hour I cried just about the whole show--the retiring pilot was touching and felt tremendously sorry for the Altzheimer's couple--truly this lady is not capable of dealing with this alone as she is..which made it even sadder.
3) The guy with the little tear in his bag--give me a break!
A lot of these people just try to see what they can extort from the airline--like the lady who wouldn't give up her seat for less than $1000. What planet has she been flying to??
LOL

As far as the lawyer threatening to sue, it would never make it to court.

Whenever you purchase an airline ticket, it DOES NOT guarentee you a seat. The airline can refuse boarding to anyone for any reason they see fit.

Just caught a few episodes and this is a fun and surprisingly moving show. YOu generate such sympathy for the SW employees. But I don't fully get the hostility or lack of understanding for the passengers on this posting. If you have money, you shouldn't fly SW? Why shouldn't you be able to use a convenient airline and expect to make your flight connections in the next city? And why shouldn't a lawyer fly SW? Missing the point on that one.

But the episode with the Alzheimer's patient and the incredibly sympathetic treatment of him and his wife by the gate agent was really quite special and moving. I find it incredible that special people like that are around us all the time and we might never notice it!

SW has long been know for inexpensive flights. I realize some cities don't have a choice but to fly SW. But to brag about how much money you have (expensive bag! . . . $5000 trip out of SEA)... is ironic. The lawyer couple--where were they from LA? They could have flown United and Alaskan Air. Many bigger airlines match SW's fare in the same market anyway. They could have had confirmed seats and would not have had to worry about the possibility of being bumped. In other words..these people with the 'expensive bag' ..and '$5000 trip out of Sea"..should put their money where their mouth is. Besides..people with the most money never speak of it : )