I Hate Southwest Airlines

[Dennis Miller]

Here is an interesting perspectve. And I thought Heavy Set refered to his airplane, not that enormous ass.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/business/grossman.htm

 

[Swass]

What a buttnut, how pompous of an a$$ is this guy?

 

[B190Captain]

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

 

[pilotyip]

Positive?

Actually sounded pretty positive if you read the whole thing, he says he doesn't like it, but then shows why lots of people like it and admitts he might be wrong. He makes a living writing columns, the more they are read the more he makes, i.e more papers purchase his column, so he had to write things that get peoples attention. kinda like "moive stars against anything to do with republicans"

 

[fr8doggydog]

What a d1ckdork. Obviously out for attention.

 

[moneyshooter]

I think he pretty much nailed it. By the way, as much as I've avoided flying SWA due to my own preferences, I still own stock. It's hard not to respect success. Then again, the Jerry Springer show is successful.....

 

[flyingitalian]

The title was negative but the article was positive. Ive said it before SWA is not for everyone. There are plently of shirts with the words "Freedom Fighter" on them, and that is what SWA is doing and will continue to do. It gives people the freedom to fly that never could afford it before. That is how it was started and that is the current mantra. Keep costs low and keep fares low period.

 

[rtseatrich]

SWA is like WALMART!

he masses shop at WALMART.
The masses fly on SWA.

SWA folks are the friendliest folks in the airline business bar none!
WALMART employees are folksy and friendly too.

Thank god some can afford and prefer to shop at Neiman Marcus and fly full service airlines with 1st class!

Funny how we see lots of SWA employees when they're on vacation headed to Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and especially Hawaii.

 

[Semore Butts]

Get in sit down shut up hang on!

The thing I like about SWA is the math. I don't have to do any. I get so many trips and they mail me a free ticket. Duh, I guess I got enuf points for a free ride????
At first I hated flying on them because they canned me a couple years ago back in IOE. I guess they forgot about it because they always treat me very well, and don't make fun of me for being a loser.
Armed with the training they gave me, I got another job that makes me fly on SWA on occasion, and after I fly a few times they send me a ticket.... DUUUUhhhhhhh, I guess I got enuf points for another free ride! Alright!!!!!
It's a matter of being one of the "have's" (money), or the "have nots" (me). Even if I "had" (money), I"m still to cheap to go out and waste it on airline tickets.
Herb also taught me to "plan in the good times for the bad times to come" (not an exact quote). Another valuable thing I walked away from the deal with.
I've almost saved up enough for a stamp to send in my application again.

 

[Skank]

The old Springer analogy, while amusing, is not always so accurate. Remember that the dignified looking businessman in the three piece suit is still fully capable of dropping his pants and defecating on your service cart when he feels the urge.

 

[sfomarc]

he masses shop at WALMART.

This is exactly right and this is why it works.

How many Walmarts are there compared to Neimans? How about Saxs 5th Ave? Lets face it the masses cant afford to shop at those ritzy stores.

How many people who "rely" on places like Walmart to shop can afford to shop at Sax's or Neimans? Not many right? So they shop where they can afford. Now how many people who shop at Neimans and Saxs "on occasion" go to Walmart, Target, ect. ? why? because even though they can afford it, they too like a bargain.

We are talking about air travel, not name brands and fashion. Point A to Point B as quickly, effeciently, safely, and cost effeciently as possible. Each one of these items plays differently with each individual. Some value comfort over cost while others don't have that luxury and cost is everything.

At Southwest our goal is to offer the lowest possible cost for travel while atttempting to make it as comfortable and painless as possible. We all know that a center seat is not comfortable, so we try to provide exceptional service to offset the discomfort.

My mom can travel for free on SWA but she is a neurotic. I knew that non reving with connnections without an assigned seat would make her nuts which in turn would make my life miserable. So I bought her a full fare ticket on United. Assigned seat, non stop flight, and a meal. SWA is not for all people. But, as cost begins to outway comfort, and as the meals go away at other airlines we will begin to look more attractive to the nay sayers.

Marc

 

[bottomfeeder]

They made me buy 2 tickets because I am too fat

 

[RightBettor]

Headlines...

Once again, most people don't look past the headlines. The reader must do just that in order to understand the writer's message. "Pilotyip" made the point earlier.

I used to fly for one of those "full service, legacy" airlines until shortly after 9/11/01. (My old company trains pilots in Denver and you listen to Gershwin when you get put on hold... you figure it out.) Anyway, plenty of customers hated THAT airline just as plenty of people loved that airline. The reasons are usually as diverse as the people voicing the opinions.

People who love assigned seats usually complain anyway when they the only thing left is the center seat in the back of a 767. People who love meals on airplanes usually complain about the quality of the meal when it arrives on their tray table or that they didn't get the "special" meal they ordered. People who love inflight entertainment end up complaining when they couldn't hear the movie because the headsets don't work right, or the movie choices stink... you name it... they'll complain.

I've also had plenty of chances to observe, first-hand, how some of those "first-class" upper-crust passengers wearing $2500 suits in the first class cabin can quickly resort to temper tantrums and child like behavior over the dumbest issue!! Believe me, the "Jerry Springer" crowd exists on EVERY airline... the amount of money one pays or assigned seating is not an indication of how one will behave in public.

Plenty of folks out there do indeed love SWA, and plenty of others hate SWA. The same goes for UAL, AA, jetBlue, et. al. That' s one of the great things about this country. Freedom and choice. If you hate a particular airline, fine, spend your money elsewhere. Customers have the ability to vote with their wallets. Now that I work for SWA, I will do my part to see that you have a great experience on my airline and hopefully you'll come back. If your experience was less than you expected, might I suggest you direct your efforts and energy writing the COMPANY. You probably will not get too far on this website/forum.

Now can we put this one to rest???

 

[av8instyle]

SWA folks are the friendliest folks in the airline business bar none!

That's debatable.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Are you saying you would rather be that model "I LUV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES SOOOO MUCH" employee rather than have the dough to blow 75K on a drunken weekend in Vegas???

c'mon now....

Craps and Hookers are better than Walmart.