Just flew SWA Oakland to SLC, no problems. Will fly San Jose to Ontario (for Palm Springs, easy in and out) next week and then SJC to Phoenix in April. Both Bay area airports have curbside check in. Have flown SWA all the way to Chicago Midway which is a bit of a trek with several stops, but hey, it was a freebie ticket. I still think BWI might have been a large part of the problem. I've heard not good things about it in connection with other airlines too. And, I think SWA even advertises "peanuts only" on some of their TV commercials, said with a play on words to the effect of "flying for peanuts." You can either eat before the flight, bring a sandwich on board, or God forbid, could you stand to go for 5 hours without pigging out?

I've been flying Southwest since they were flying only between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio way back when. They've always been fighting to keep prices low.<BR><BR>Food? I bring my own--it's better than what the airlines have been serving over the last 20 years, and I can choose to bring what I want to eat.<BR><BR>Lines? Why are there long lines at the Southwest ticket counter and short lines at all the others? Maybe it's because everybody's interested in saving money instead of shelling out the big bucks for the other airlines.<BR><BR>More lines? Why does Southwest make you stand in line to get boarding passes? Because it saves them money over having to buy hardware/software to process assigned seating, savings which Southwest passes on to the customer by offering lower fares.<BR><BR>Southwest is probably the best thing that ever happened to the flying public. They're not for everybody, but I'll fly them whenever I have the chance. JMHO.

I agree with you, Barry -- Southwest should be renamed White Trash Airlines!!

Yes, "Still Waiting," you are "mad" as well as an idiot to boot! Don't you ever INQUIRE as to the size of the plane you're flying on -- especially across the country?!? And a 737 no less? Next time, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

The people who support SW Airlines are fighting the wrong battle. The first poster said the people who worked for the airline were nice, the flight left on time and the flight crew tryed to make it fun.<BR><BR>What he/she did not like was having to wait in two lines to check in (each an hour long) and still ending up in a middle seat. Other no frills airlines have assigned seats and low fares.<BR><BR>If SW Airlines would have assigned seats and elimate the second line to wait in, I would fly them.

Barry and Tom<BR>You are both arrogant snobs. I bet you are the guys who carry on steamer trunks and put them in the first two overhead compartments so you can drag them out before the plane is finished coming to the gate. Push your way to the door and clock everyone who gets in your way with your "carry-on". Sounding like you are carrying on. Get a grip and join the human race!

Still Waiting, Barry and Tom AKA Vance, the disgruntled ex-Southwest Employee. <BR><BR>Vance-Take your lunatic ravings and alter egos somewhere else.

It is silly to think that anyone who complains about the lines at SW Airlines is an ex employee with a bone to pick. Who is Vance?

Nancy-Get your facts straight before you start making comments honey. Vance has frequented this site in the past making flaming, libelous comments about SW. Turns out he was indeed a disgruntled ex-employee with an axe to grind. Still Waiting is definitely Vance, same writing style, syntax, grammar and comments...

There are four non stop flights on Southwest from BWI to Phoenix per day. One for example leaves at 8:55 am and arrives at 12:15 pm. Allowing for the change of time, that flight is about four hours long. On their website Southwest clearly states that they serve peanuts and pretzels for flights of two hours or less. For non stop flights of longer than 2 hours they serve a snack. They also advise that you are free to bring your own food onboard and that complimentary drinks will be served and beer/wine/alcohol will be available for purchase. At any rate, as someone above says, you're hardly going to starve in four hours. As a "regular traveler", Still waiting, why didn't you check this out beforehand? You left on time and arrived on time with cheerful service and an affordable ticket. You didn't pay for anything more than what you received. If you were number 89 and the plane takes more than 120 folks, are you really sure there were only middle seats, next to the john between two fat ladies?? I don't think so. Enjoy your salisbury steak on American next time and know that you're paying dear for it. I'll fly Southwest, thank you.

I'm fairly certain I've been on Southwest planes with 3 lavatories, not two. SW flies (not FLYS) different models of 737 so this may vary by model, of course. The newer planes don't have the lounge seating (facing each other) either. Of course, I'm amused that anyone would whine about this since less than 15% of the aircraft's seats are in these areas. They tend to fill first so it's unlikely anyone is forced to sit there! I personally like them.

Jerry,<BR><BR>Other no frills airlines might have assigned seats and low fares, but they're all losing money. How many no frills airlines have gone out of business over the last 30 years while Southwest continues operating profitably, year after year?<BR><BR>When the other no frills airlines you're talking about are out of business, Southwest will still be flying and profitable. And I'll still happily wait in two lines each time I fly them.

You'll know it's Vance if he uses the phrase "can you say Greyhound"? That's one of his faves.

This is a troll from America West corporate offices.

Jet Blue, Frontier and ATA all are making money and have assigned seats, have low fares and you only have to wait in one line.<BR><BR>Also service is good.

For those of you that say you travel on American and United because they often match Southwest's fares, don't you realize that if Southwest was to go out of business fares would go sky high again. It's cheaper to fly in this country than it was 25 years ago, Southwest plays a big role in that.

Is SW the plane that is bright yellow and brown?

<BR>Quick one<BR>And your point is?<BR><BR>That was hilarious, I'm still laughing.<BR><BR>Haa haa haa SW has ugly colors, ohhh good one, I'm rolling!<BR><BR>Keep em comin' quick one

I book 99% of my trips 3+ weeks in advance, and I've never saved a penny with Southworst. Hence, I've never flown it and don't plan to. Even if a ticket cost $50-100 more, I'd much rather fly American, USAir, Delta, etc. and avoid not only the no-reserved seat garbage but the, how do I say, marginal fliers that I see waiting in line for SWA flights. To each his own, I guess.

Southwest Airlines is like KMart (without the finacial troubles)<BR>America West Airlines is like Ames<BR>Jet Blue is like Target Stores