Southwest Airlines
 

How do you like this airline? Flying from Chicago to Oklahoma City, thanks for your replies.

Old planes. <BR>Relatively messy passenger spaces. <BR>Very cramped. <BR>Uncomfortable seats. <BR>Convenient flight schedules. <BR>Sometimes the cheapest way from A to B. <BR>Nicest staff among the cheap carriers. <BR>No illusions. What they advertise is what you get. <BR>Bottom line: it's the Greyhound of the skies.

Its just okay. Its gets you there cheaply, in some instances ($30.00) one way on special. The flight attendants are very entertaining, but there are no reserved or seat assignments, you're just herded on. No meals and the snacks are pretty scimpy. But they win awards all the time, for what I don't know. You should as least check around the other airlines unless you got one of those $30.00 deals.

Chris&gt; have flown with SW many times and have never had a problem. Sure its one step up from taking the dog,,first come first serve seating, Etc. but they get you there on time I have found. <BR> Just get to the gate about a hour and a half before your flight to get in line for your "boarding" number. They go in groups of 30.

We have flown SW for years. I hate to fly so it makes no difference to me how comfortable, clean, old, new etc. etc. All I care about is safety and they are one of the best in the industry. We've rarely had a flight be late. If you're lucky enough to get the rows where the seats face each other, it's great--esp. with kids. The down side is that you often have to change flights twice.

Chgo to Oklahoma City isn't bad for SW. Heed the advice about the boarding procedure and get there early enough to be in the first two boarding "gaggles", 30 in each. Only food is "snacks" so I always bring food with me. Actually I always bring food with me no matter who I fly but that's another story. This is a basic , no frills , incredibly efficient{on their part} , cheap way to go. Plan accordingly. {On a buisness note , they have one of the most satisified employee situations of major corporations , and it shows in how you are treated by their people at all levels.}

Have used SWA many time, long and short hauls. Never been diasappointed.You do have to be at check in desk AT LEAST hour before departure time--as they hand out boarding pass numbers one hour before scheduled departure. <BR>My main reason for using this airline is their free flight plan...Book 4 flights on their internet site and you get a free flight anywhere they go and it is good for a year and it IS transferable.Also I use a Southwest Visa and for every 1,000 $ I charge I get one flight credit. This helps speed the accumulation of credits. <BR>In last few years I have gone West coast to east coast 5 times using my free ticket. I know it is "no frills"- so I take a sandwich & snack. <BR>You sometimes do have to go round about route <BR>i.e. To Salt Lake City from Sacto via Las Vegas!! Good Luck

I think Southwest is great. Do you know why flying in the US is so cheap? Because of Soutwest. I used to fly from Chicago to Albany rt on United, before southwest serviced albany. The rt fare <BR>was around $300. It's now around $180. <BR>Also if I wait, Southwest will have a $128 special every few months. If Southwest ever went out of business, the airfares in this country would skyrocket

Another awesome thing about Southwest Airlines is that they let you bring more checked baggage than any other airline: 3 pieces plus your 2 carry-ons! I have never had a misdirected or lost bag with them, either. <BR> <BR>Also, they are very rarely late and are quite often early on their flights.

I fly them every chance I get. Sometimes I have to fly somewhere else to get there...(Like flying to PVD for Boston or BWI for DC).....As other posts have said...GET THERE AN HOUR BEFORE.....also try to get in line an hour before as well.....the seasoned SWA flyer is an idiot who will bump and push to get a 1-30. <BR> <BR>The airline is great....but no ffod no frills it just gets you there..CHEAP. <BR> <BR> <BR>Chris is in KY

I love SWA! I bring a sandwich and snacks and appreciate the humor and efficiency and real concern of their employees. You will notice that the flight attendants are encouraged to add to the parting greating and some do quite humorously. They don't pretend to be anything more than they are: a safe, quick, cheap way of getting from one city to another with luggage intact. It's also one of the only airlines to offer one way tickets. They only fly in/out of airports without major delays--just pulled out of SFO for instance. I will fly tomorrow SJC to Las Vegas to Chicago (Midway) on a freebie I earned going up and down to Calfornia coast. No surprises--bring a bottle of water and a sandwich. If you have to connect go immediately to your next gate, get your boarding number and then look for food etc. They only start giving numbers one hour before flight time so getting to the gate any earlier doesn't gain you much.

Have never had a problem with SW. <BR>Good rates! Good Service! but no food and general seating.

You know what you get with SWA. It is cheap, dependable and on time. Also, ONLY U.S. CARRIER NEVER TO HAVE CRASHED. That's enough for me.

Don't you realize if SW went out of business American and United would raise airfares dramatically. Its cheaper to fly now than anytime in US history!

Really, what does it matter? You're only going to be on the airline for a couple of hours at the longest, flying from Chicago to Oklahoma City. <BR>It really shouldn't matter as long as the plane takes off and lands successfully. That's all I ever look for in a flight. It seems senseless to me to worry about things you can't control anyway on such a short flight. <BR>This was not meant to be a slam, but it's really not that important. <BR>Best wishes and don't worry.

As a white-knucke flier, I appreciate the humor of the attendants. <BR> <BR>Our last pre-flight set of instructions was the best: "When the oxygen masks come down, and after you stop screaming hysterically, choose your favorite child a place the mask over his or her face before putting yours on." <BR> <BR>What's your favorite?

SWA is NOT the only US carrier to have a clean crash record (just FYI).

&lt;SWA is NOT the only US carrier to have a clean crash record (just FYI)&gt; <BR> <BR>Please specify.

Considering how short this flight is the idea that you show up super early so you can be in the first group of 30 or so doesn't seem necessary to me. You'll spend more time standing in line to get that "good" seat than you'll actually spend sitting in the seat. So you end up with a middle seat for a couple of hours. Big deal. Relaz , you'll be fine. Don't sweat this small stuff. On a short trip it's all small stuff.

I don't think SW still has a clean crash record. Didn't they have a plane leave the runway a few years ago with at least one injury? It is true that they've never had one of those awful crash and burn things -- yet.

For flights less than 3-4 hours, I won't fly anything but SWA. The staff sense of humor is great, I understand also that they have one of the safest records. No fatalities in over 20 years. As stated in other messages, get there early and get in line early. Personally, my husband and I try and get seats at the emergency exit...2 seats and plenty of leg room. Good luck, happy flying. Plus their ffm add up quickly to free flights.....

Just flew SWA again on Friday. Clean, completely on time. And the best landing I've ever had in 35 years of flying. Flight attendants were friendly and competent. For the price, couldn't have asked for better.

We love southwest. For anyone that ever has to fly a child unaccompanied Southwest is the very very best. They take the child on first and place them with other unaccompanied and treat them wonderfully. I am a single mom who has to fly my daughter a very short distance to visit her dad and if not for southwest it would not be possible. other options - American West, etc. charge extra and loose the kids. My daugher has flown unaccompanied on Southwest at least 50 times and never ever a problem. plus she gets a free round trip every 5th flight.

Amy, that's great to hear. <BR> <BR>Only thing I didn't like was: when you get on the plane, the first several rows have people stretched across and feigning sleep, so they can get the best row all to themselves. Yuck!

Gee Amy ever think about moving closer to your kid's dad so your kid can spend more time with him??? You single/divorced mothers are all alike depriving a kid of his father just so you can have your damn career or boyfriend!!!!!

Deb, thanks for the tip about the Emergency Exit, have flown SWA several years ago but did not notice that. my hubby needs leg room and i need hip room, are the seats still 18" across? are the arms between seats moveable? (meanies, no comments about lose weight, i will just skip them so hold your breath. friendlies, please reply).

If you like to be on time and want to make sure you get there safely, SWA is the airline to take. However, be sure and get to the gate (not the ticket counter) 1 hr. before so you get a low number and can pick your seat (pun intended). I travel quite a bit and while not thrilled w/ the cattle call boarding, I always try and fly them first.

Can anyone give more information on SWA seat width, set up of seating, how to deal with that?

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Gee, x, why can't Amy's child's father move closer to her? Those single/divorced fathers are all alike, depriving a kid of his [or her] mother just so you can have your damn career or girlfriend [or boyfriend]. <BR> <BR>Besides, what really is wrong with having a child who is old enough fly to see his/her father? <BR> <BR>Something tells me mummy never loved you...

For those of you complaining about SWA, don't ever take Ryanair in Europe

On longer flights (i.e. Baltimore to Las Vegas) do they show any movies or is it recommended to bring a book or discman. Sounds like they get you there cheap and on time and that's about it.

It does not always help to get to the gate an hour early for first group of boarding. Why? Because so many family's with children show up late, get second or even third group boarding passes, BUT, since they have children, they still get to board first. I don't know why they can't get to the airport in time for the first boarding group...but I bet they just don't care! They KNOW they're going to board in the first group anyway, and they take advantage of that! That's just WRONG! <BR>

Margot, <BR> <BR>We're one of those families that fly with children on SW. We do get there on time, and frankly, we're grateful to have the opportunity to board first in order to get the kids settled and get them out of the way of passengers hustling to get a good seat. We are a family of five and we like to be lucky enough to get the salon-style seating. Believe me, that's what SW had in mind when they started letting families board first. That way I don't have to worry about my 8-year old kicking the seat of the person in front of him and I can keep my eyes and ears on all of them at the same time. Thank goodness for a family-friendly airline. If children bother you (in the collective sense) SW is not the airline to take!

Sal, <BR>Please don't misunderstand me. Family's don't bother me at all. And with a family of five, I understand why you'd all want to sit close together, and that does not bother me either. What DOES bother me are the family's that arrive late, get a boarding pass of 50 or higher and still get on the plane before I do with my boarding pass of 23.

My 18 years old son just flew back on Southwest from New York to Houston. he told me it was a like a bus in the sky. He called it a flying bus.

I am a HUGE Southwest fan!!! <BR>I was in the travel business for 20 years <BR>and flew a lot. I fly Southwest from <BR>the Bay Area to Southern California about every 6 weeks. Flights are always on time. Luggage never gets lost. Frequent <BR>flyer program is THE BEST. I have earned countless free tickets for my family. Have flown several times across the country. They advertise "no food" but they actually give you a decent little "snack" package. They also provide lots of beverage service throughout the flights. They send free drink coupons to <BR>frequent flyers and even birthday cards. <BR>Yes, get in the first 30 to board. <BR>Flight attendants as a whole are nice and have a sense of humor. These days I cannot expect more from the airlines.

Just flew SWA round trip SJC to Chicago Midway last week. All takeoffs were on time--leaving Chicago last Saturday was 10 minutes early. Since Chicago to Las Vegas is 4 hours, they serve little snack boxes and two drink runs. All flight attendants were very courteous and maintained a sense of humor. All four legs of the trip were fully booked, requiring lap children to be on laps. It went exactly as advertised and I read a good book! Now, let me tell you what a mess Midway airport is.......