sarahbellum

I fly Southwest all the time, and am obsessive about checking in 24 hours ahead of time so I can get my A pass and Aisle seat.

I just heard about this site... haven't tried it yet but thought I would pass it along:
https://www.boardfirst.com/welcome.html

mlgb

I actually sort of like it when all the passengers just start mooing. Cute. I like Jet Blue better, but I will definitely fly Southwest if it's the cheapest option, especially on a short haul flight. I have heard some not so great stories about people who have flown multi-leg trips cross country with just a few bags of peanuts to eat. So bring food.

azzure

Xanthippe, I use SW for short hops, as I live near Seattle and have family in Spokane and Boise.

By the way, even though I'm usually lucky about scoring an aisle seat, I would prefer it if Southwest had an assigned seating system. I don't like the competitiveness and jockeying for position with the queueing up policy...seems to bring out the worst in some people!

rkkwan

How does the fare compare to Jetblue's non-stop BUR-JFK, or UA/AA/DL's LAX-JFK or CO's LAX-EWR?

Some of those flights have food (free on CO, or paid on others); or have inflight entertainment - especially the nice ones on Jetblue.

Southwest/ATA has nothing. And it's an extremely long flight with one stop and one connection! Total travel time of about 10 hours from what I can find on southwest.com.

Southwest BUR-MDW flight has a stop in Phoenix. Then you wait almost 3 hours to get on the ATA flight to Laguadia.

The non-stops take about 5:30. Just over half the travel time on Southwest/ATA. That's probably why it's cheap.

10 hours of traveling won't be comfortable regardless of how nice Southwest is.

LoveItaly

I should stress that I have only used Southwest up and down the westcoast..not west to east. So for a long flight, change of planes etc., that might be a complete different experience.

Andrew

I'm well aware that Southwest doesn't provide food, so I prepare for it. They have a direct (one stop, Chicago Mideway) flight from PDX to PHL that I sometimes take. It's pretty fast and efficient, and you don't have to worry about missing a connection. I do wish they could stop in Chicago long enough for us to get food at the airport, but on the outbound leg there's not even time to get off the plane. Still, I don't mind bringing extra food to compensate. And when you compare it to flying long routes overseas, it's no big deal.

I think one of the secrets to Southwest's success is their open seating system. That's what allows them to board the planes so quickly. I'm always amazed when I fly some other airline how long it takes them to seat everyone, because of assigned seating. Southwest does it in a jiffy.

GBC

I'm another fan of SW. We've saved some serious money on SW and I like the internet boarding passes. On the flights that we use, their ontime performance is much better than the other options.

I hope that they stick to the 'open seating'. It has worked well for us.

gail

I found out that if you are someplace where it is impossible to print a boarding pass, you can still check in on-line. When you get to kiosk, select option of "print duplicatge boarding pass". The SWA guy told me the computer will process you as if you lost boarding pass and you will still be in an earlier boarding group.

Flew SWA 2 weeks ago. I dislike the herds of people lining up early for a good seat, especailly since our flight had a 1 hour weather delay. After that was announced no one left line. We were in Group B and opted for remaining in our gate seats and still got 2 aisle seats on a full flight.

OO

Another Southwest fan here. Love the FA's attitude--they are the friendliest I believe. and do seem to really enjoy their jobs.

Have flown them long haul, Tampa->Vegas and back and it seems to me that we even had food on that flight...or more than the crackers, cookies, and fruit roll thingee they normally serve, anyway.

Even boarding in B group, I've never been stuck in the middle seat and getting in line to board isn't that big a hassle.

Don...that was a great idea to put it in Outlook's calender for a reminder.

LOL...as I typed that last sentence, I just got "dinged" with a ding fare. San Antonio to either Orlando or Lauderdale, $84 one way. hmmmmmmmmmmm What is not to like about Southwest!!

diann24

Someone is comlaining about the lack of food on SW but I spoke with a man who went from the East Coast to Hawaii on US Airways and no food was offered. They had to purchase it. He had changed his mind at some point and they told him the time had "expired" and it was to late for him to eat. We flew Delta to Hawaii and although it wasn't wonderful food was served and snacks. I love SW and I also again love the open seating. It is the ONLY time I have ever gotten a good seat. US Air always sticks me in the back even when I choose to sit up close and pick my own seats.

mclaurie

Hi betty. I use Southwest too and they're fine, but I agree with rkkwan, I would NOT consider using them cross country with a stop and a connection. That's the catch!! Jetblue.com is a much better option-frankly anything that's nonstop is a better option. I also think you have to remember the flight into LGA is on ATA (a partner) not Southwest.

LLindaC

true mclaurie. I flew to LGA with my girls, and though I printed our SW boarding passes SDF to MDW, the ATA connection was different. We sat apart, which was fine with me cause they are teenagers, but it might matter for other travelers. Be sure to check ATA site for passes! I'm a huge SW fan; we got the Visa card and have earned a slew of free tickets.The friendliest and easiest FF program out there, I think.

easytraveler

Another SW fan here.

Fewer hassles on SW and I'd trade this any day for having an assigned seat on some other airline.

Just returned today on a SW flight from Seattle. Got a bag of Ritz Chips and a bag of peanuts. The guy in the middle seat asked for two more bags of peanuts and got it. He also refilled his drink and got it. All done cheerfully by the FA.

Agree that you don't have to print out your boarding pass at the same time that you check in. You just have to remember to check in 24 hours in advance. Later you can print out the pass at the airport or go to the SW desk and ask for a boarding pass.

If you plan to arrive an hour/an hour 15 minutes before flight time, you can be up near the beginning of the A line. I really don't have a problem with waiting in line for an hour. After all, we have to be at the airport at least an hour before flight time because of the security lines.

Better to arrive an hour and a half or even two hours ahead of time, depending on the airport. It's such a hassle - I've got the security check-in down to a science and it's still such a hassle. In the web sidepocket of my backpack is a baggie with all the 3 oz bottles, no groping around the inside of my backpack trying to find the darned baggie. My driver's license and boarding pass are in one pocket, ready to be whipped out and shown to the security person. No belts, no shoes with shoelaces, nothing with hidden wires. My cell phone is in my backpack.

Everything is ready for a fast pass through at security. So what happened today? My wrist brace that I'm wearing for my tendonitis sets the buzzer off. Argghhhh!

After the security lines, getting to the SW lines to wait for the plane is a relief and flying on SW is a breeze. It's a great airline with great personnel.

follow_your_bliss

Just in case you don't get in the A boarding group, here is a tip from me. In the event that when you board the plane there are only middle seats, look for 2 "bookends" that appear to be together but trying to get a whole row to themselves (a al xanthippe). Chances are if you ask to sit in the middle, the aisle sitter will move over. It always works for me!

rkkwan

follow_your_bliss: Just make sure you don't sit between my parents. They will sit separate. [But they also don't fly WN, so you're safe.]

traveler24

The MOST important issue to assure you an "A " catagory boarding pass is--23 hours and 59 minute before the 24 hr. rule---get online to have it printed out. Most hotels wil do this for you. Last week I was staying with friends in Ocean Shores WA.--no computer.
I walked down the street to a Best Western hotel the day before and made sure they would let me use there computer and printer, It all worked out..The only time this did not work was when I flew out of Oakland CA..I was told a Southwest Vacations group (obviously conducted by Southwest) had priority for the first 25 "A" passes..Even then I got an "B" pass and still got a isle seat.
I have used SWA for 12 years( 2-3 times each year) and have never been disappointed.. Been from West coaast to East many times. However, have not used the ATA connection yet.
P.S. I always take a sandwich...

tsd

After being crammed into horrible seats on Qantas for 15 hours give me SWA any time with much better leg room. Amazing. Being 5'10 leg room is much more important than a meal. Bring one with you.

MagicGOE

Betty. Southwest is GREAT! I am a business traveler and frankly I have always enjoyed my SW flights. I've taken them for short trips to SF and Las Vegas and Phoenix as well as cross country to Philly. Absolutely print your boarding pass as soon as possible. If you are in the A group you can be the last person to board in that group and will get an aisle seat.

BayouGal

We love Southwest for the great bargains and they have a lot of direct flights that we frequent. If you print your boarding pass as soon as you can (24 hours prior) then you'll get "A" boarding. This will ensure great seats.

follow_your_bliss

rkkwan, it actually wouldn't matter that much to me, but I know for some people (like my 6'3" husband) it is a big issue. The only time I'm not in A group is last minute business travel and then it's a short trip, just a briefcase. I just look over my work and next thing I know, I'm there!

I didn't really say in my original post, but I love Southwest and choose them whenever possible. My concern about assigned seating is that it might slow things down.