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MARCH SCHEDULE NOW BOOKABLE.....SO GO SOMEWHERE!

Bill
Employee
Employee

Today we started accepting bookings from March 14 through May 7, 2010.  Party on, Spring Break!  Hippity-hop, Easter!  Hello, Passover!  Time to plan a trip and book something.  LET'S GO SOMEWHERE!

We're adding over a hundred weekday flights to our network.   Some airports will see noticeable increases--Chicago gets 21 more daily flights, Baltimore gets 18, Orlando and Tampa each get 9 more flights.  To be clear--we are NOT back into growth mode.  We're able to add all these flights not by adding to our fleet, but by taking advantage of the seasonal decrease in flying time going from Winter into Spring.  You'd be surprised how much extra time an average decrease of five minutes per flight, spread across 3,200 flights a day, can create!

Another interesting fact about our new March-May Schedule is how much more flying we're packing into the Saturday schedule.  Saturday is the air travel equivalent of "Leisure Day," and we're really loading extra leisure-oriented flights into the Saturday schedule.  For example--we're upping Orlando's daily departures from 104 to 129 on Saturdays.  We're going to keep that Disney Express hopping on "Leisure Saturdays!" In fact, we're adding quite a number of Saturday flights to and from our Florida cities, as well as to/from Las Vegas.

As a nod to all of the "schedule geeks" out there--and I say that lovingly, because I am one!--we are publishing not one, but two of the market-based schedule frequency .PDF files on this.  One is for weekday service, the other for Saturday service.  Lots of changes--so enjoy!!!

Happy booking, everyone!

Bill

58 Comments
H_X
Explorer C
AA is dropping RDU to BDL, CMH, and STL. Over the past 2 years, AA and other airlines have dropped RDU to other destinations such as AUS, MCI, MKE, and MSY. I wish WN would pick up some of the slack! I remember WN once had nonstops from RDU to AUS and MCI.
Anonymous2081
Explorer C
I love Southwest, I live in Atlanta and have to drive to Birmingham regularly. Being an Ontario, Ca Native, there are no flights to Chicago, New York, Florida or DC from the most convenient and less congested LA Airport. If you want a non-stop flight to these major cities you have the hassle of the drive and heavy traffic to LAX, and that's only the half of it.
s_f_
Explorer C
please, please ,pleae fly to fresno, its a big city but overlooked because it sits between lax and sfo, its a nightmare and expensive to fly in and out of there. a fresno chicago, fresno san diego ,and fresno baltimore would do well plus vegas and lax and oakland and houston all would be good.
Robert__Bobbo__
Explorer C
Woo Hoo, just what we need here at Southwest Airlines Vacations, more flights into Orlando and Las Vegas! Got to keep those SWA planes full along with those hotel rooms! Call us, we're ready to book that dream vacation package for you and your family! Don't forget to add your park passes and sight seeing tours too! Happy Travels America! Luv, Team SWA Vacations
Brenda2
Explorer C
-- Today we started accepting bookings from March 14 through May 7, 2010.-- I'm trying to book at flight from Detroit to Seattle, March 24-March 29, 2010, but when I go to make the reservation it tells me only taking them until March 12. When can I book for later in March 2010?
Frequent_Flyer6
Explorer C
What happened to the non-stop service between SLC and STL?
Brenda2
Explorer C
Today we started accepting bookings from March 14 through May 7, 2010. I'm trying to book a flight from Detroit to Seattle March 24- March 29, 2010 but keeping being alerted that reservations are being taken only to March 12. When can I book late-March flights? Thanks
A_Customer_of_B
Adventurer C
You guys are no better than American Airlines in Nashville. You've been cutting back since 2001 at rate that you haven't at all made up for BS'ing us all along way about how you're not really doing anything negative in Nashville. And now here you go making more frequency cuts, not bringing back the west coast service you've already axed, killing another city, not picking up the St. Louis slack which Nashville has supported consistently since before you even existed, and turning a blind eye to any and all other viable expansion at BNA or within the southeast. We've grown tremendously since you've first started serving us, have new headquarters, an O&D count that is now as high as what American had generated with connecting passengers, and all you've done for the last 9 years is cut and let your ticket agents talk about how we are only a real airport when we have sporting events or fan fair. What a load of crap. You don't even update all your gates with the new seating and the last time I flew the cheap basic seating rocked back and forth because you didn't bolt it down to floor. If you just want to wear the glory badge in the big cities and be their airline then please just go ahead and get out of here already so we can bring back in people like AirTran and Jetblue who have better planes and more perks anyway and maybe regain mainline with CO and UA. You guys don't know Nashville any better than the new DL management knows CVG. I'll do everything from here on out to avoid you and gain status with someone else which thankfully shouldn't be that hard. I don't like companies who are insincere or status quo in their commitments to my community.
Anonymous801
Explorer C
RDU routes have not been terribly profitable for the airlines as of late with the declines in business travel. I'm sure that WN is looking carefully at these routes, but remember that they couldn't make them work in a solid economy.
Anonymous994
Explorer C
I wish Southwest would fly into Charlotte, North Carolina. Most of us in the banking industry are so tired of taking US Airways. Please come to Charlotte!
epopik
Explorer C
I would like to know if there are any plans for IAD to DEN service. I'm think DEN nonstops would do tremendous out of IAD. United currently is the only airline that provides DEN service from IAD with 8 nonstops, 3 on A319, 2 on 757's, 2 on 767's and 1 on 777. I think Southwest could easily do DEN nonstops out of IAD. While I know BWI already has DEN, IAD is just not the same market. Here in DC and especially northern Virginia, most costomers will ay $200 more a ticket willingly and fly out of IAD rather than fight the DC traffic over to BWI. I think that DEN would do very very well out of IAD. Currently the only western market served by nonstops in LAS and we are constantly getting complaints from customers that are unwillingly to go and transfer in MDW.
Tim_Sharp
Explorer C
We could sure use some WN in Columbia, SC!!!
Bill
Employee
Employee
H_X, the actions of our competitor's never go un-noticed! Once...years ago, after AA's hub at BNA was eliminated, Southwest ran an advertisement in the paper that said "Nashville is familiar with American Airlines' service. After all, they've seen it cut back 87% since 1992." So while I can't promise RDU expansion, we'll add service where we can fill airplanes. We almost always do!
Anonymous4239
Explorer C
I am sure glad YOU ARE NOT IN GROWTH MODE. Thanks for clearing that up. Maybe you can codeshare out some growth.
Express43
Explorer C
I can't believe WN is dropping non-stop service from AUS to PHL. You are the only airline offering a non-stop. I flew in May and the flight was full. So now we will have to change or stop in MDW, BNA, HOU, DAL, TPA?, FLL? or MCO? So much for convenient travel to Philly from Austin. There is even one flight option through Denver, and it takes all day. Why even show this? I am guessing that I will not fly WN to PHL again!
A_Customer_of_B
Adventurer C
Thanks for the cheap shot example. We're familiar with your service too. After, all you bailed on making us a major city in your network when AA announced their hub before Herb could get to Mayor Fulton's office in the 80's and then when it finally closed you only stepped in to provide service to 28 of their 88 cities of their 87 of their 234 flights a day and proceeded to turn right back around and start cutting so that you haven't had a year over flight increase in Nashville in 9 years, have cut 6 cities, and in May will be back down to 72 flights a day. Not to mention all the other stuff I already mentioned above about your ground presence. You may not be doing what AA did to us here exactly but you're most definitely doing to us in the same slow fashion what they've been doing in St. Louis before finally doing the big whammy a few weeks ago. And that's basically the same thing they did to us, just slower. It also doesn't make it OK that you never got as big as the AA hub before you started cutting because it still has the same impact and you've given us no signs through adding to other places while you cut the six to show us that you aren't doing just exactly the kind of downsizing that I think you are. Prove me wrong. Show me that we're still an important market that you see as a growth opportunity and not just one that you're slowly priming for less nonstops. I think you're mistaken if you think we keep flying you on routes where you lose the nonstop advantage and others can assign seats, etc. That's all I'm going to say about this. You guys get the message whether you acknowledge it or not and I know I'm not the only one who feels this way because I've seen and heard it here and elsewhere. I'll be winging my way to Ontario on American from now on.
Bill
Employee
Employee
Happy WET afternoon, everyone! (Only two dry days so far in October in Dallas. Our feet are webbing...) A few more responses: New city requests in general--we're looking at everywhere, guys, to make sure we're making the right moves. But we're not in growth mode, in that we're not growing the size of the fleet--so any added cities or frequencies come at the cost of reducing others. Anonymous — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:17--look again! This schedule adds nonstops from Ontario to Chicago/Midway! Brenda — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:33--Brenda, not sure why you were getting that. We should have been open at 10:00 CDT--but I just checked and it's open now, so have at it! Frequent Flyer — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:35--Our nonstop STL-SLC-STL service is cancelled effective November 1st this year. David — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 11:47--David, I could spend most of the rest of this afternoon discussing your comment point by point, but I don't have the time; however, let me point out that our schedule moves (whether they're additions or deletions) are in response to either forecasted results or actual, historical ones. We never discontinue markets that are profitable; in the case of ones that we've eliminated from Nashville, they were cancelled because they were not contributors, however much you claim they were "supported." May I also respectfully point out that the reason Nashville O&D's have remained as high as they are is specifically because of the large presence the world's largest low-fare carrier--Southwest--has at the airport. And finally, Anonymous — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 13:19--I'm VERY sad that we're NOT codesharing right now. Codesharing LEADS to growth. Opens up new markets to our brand of fare stimulation and gets us in places we'd never have gone otherwise. Like LGA. and BOS. And MSP. Oh, well....the end of 2011 can't come fast enough for me! Thanks, everyone....keep the posts coming! Bill
DougOH
Explorer C
Charlotte and Columbia: As much as you guys deserve Southwest service, who knows where they will go next! If you look strictly at U.S.Census data ranking the populations of metro areas of this country, there are only a few in the top 50 where Southwest does not fly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_metropolitan_statistical_areas_by_population) and here's a short list of the ones not served: Atlanta (population rank #8) Cincinnati (rank #24) Charlotte (rank #34) Memphis (rank #41) Richmond (rank #43) Rochester (rank #51) Fresno (rank #54) Dayton (rank #61) Greensboro (rank #71) Southwest treads very carefully in large cities where the competition has a large hub, which means they may stay away from the first 4 cities on this list for awhile! Which leads me to believe that some of the next cities to get Southwest service may be Richmond, Rochester, Fresno, or Dayton. Dayton and Cincinnati are rapidly becoming one large metropolis much like Dallas/Ft. Worth, and of course those of us in "Southwest" Ohio would love to see them arrive here soon! If you combine the populations of Dayton and Cincinnati together then you have a large metro area of over 3 million people, ranking the area in size larger than St. Louis and slightly smaller than San Diego, and larger even than Baltimore which is so big for Southwest. If Delta dismantles their Cincinnati hub then I believe Southwest will arrive there quickly. However Delta has a lock on all the airport gates until 2015 as long as they maintain high service levels. My vote would be for Southwest to go to Dayton! After all, without the Wright Brothers we wouldn't have air travel to begin with! Dayton is already a low-cost airport and is easily accessible from northern Cincinnati, and would be a great way to serve SOUTHWEST Ohio!
Anonymous3465
Explorer C
So Cool that you answer these questions.......... Would like to see service from Dayton Ohio - this is a growing and expanding airport and southwest would do well there or either Cincinnati Thanks
A_Customer_of_B
Adventurer C
If a flight was unprofitable then why would you hold on to it for 8 or 10 years? Why not cut it sooner? Most airlines will cut a flight in a year or two if it isn't working out. This begs the question as to whether they are really unprofitable or if you're just in need of the plane to operate a more prestigious route elsewhere from one of your top ten cities. Several routes like that in your network have been axed recently after seemingly long profitable stints. See why some people might be confused? Maybe you could shed some light on that for everybody at some point.
Robert_S
Explorer B
Bill, thank you for providing the PDFs with the detailed frequency changes with your post. I'm still impressed that you generally end up with such well spaced departures compared to the old school years ago schedules. Here's a question on the seasonal winter to spring flying time transition. I would think that for all the increased (mostly westbound) typical headwinds that impact schedules, you'd have about as many typical tailwinds so that it would more or less even out. So is the real winter impact because winds are both stronger and more unpredictable so you have to put a bit more cushion into the winter block times all around? One more question to go with this... Is the new March weekday flying increase due strictly to seasonal flying time changes, or does some of the increase come from slightly lengthening the day on some lines? After all, I assume that early/late flights in some markets will perform better in April than in January.
Mitch3
Explorer C
I don't work for any airline, but I do believe in the free market system. As a stockholder, I want Southwest to fly whatever schedule to whatever cities they need to in order to maximize my investment. They are not a nonprofit organization, so every decision they make on my behalf as an investor must be to make me the most money they can with the assets they have. It's called Return on Investment, or ROI. So honestly, if you love Bill's blog like I do -- buy a piece of the company for the price of a dinner. You don't have to be rich to own a piece of Southwest. Then sit back and read his blog -- you'll get a whole new perspective about what he and his team do at Southwest. And any complaints will quickly fade away into your wallet 🙂
John_Walker1
Explorer C
i would be willing to pay 5.00 dollars for a current Southwest schedule book!
alex-trude
Explorer C
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!" I would have LUV'd to see more new markets at STL added but I am pleased with the announcement of MSP/BOS in the last expansion. The 5 daily to MCO and 4 daily to LAS as well as the Saturday additions to TPA, FLL are nice to see also out of STL. Good Job on SWA for being so efficient in tweaking the schedules so they can add more flights without adding a single aircraft too. Cannot wait to see what the summer schedule brings and hopefully more markets and flights to STL! I did the flight schedule and STL with this has 73 daily flights to 25 destinations, that is the most SWA has offered destination wise! Alex
Kevin8
Explorer C
When discussing growing metro areas, does Southwest take into account the "Southwest Effect" such as by flying into TYS they would dominate their 2MM pax per year plus drawing new pax from TRI, CHA and AVL. all 100 miles away. Just curious.
JJ_OMA
Explorer C
Bill-I also think it's REALLY cool that you comment back and I will make more of an effort to fly your airline. I know you just started service to MSP not long ago but just wanted to make sure you have all the facts going forward....for service from OMA-MSP that is. As you already know about the short distance, the extremely high fares of NW/DL and the amount of O/D between the cities. What you may not know is that it's a 5 1/2 to 6 hour drive because there are no direct roads, you have to drive through Des Moines. This makes the extremely short flight: drive ratio extremely attractive for an airline. The amount of people that drive between these two cities for leisure is tremendous. Right now I would guess that the O/D is 95% business and only 5% leisure. There is a HUGE untapped leisure market between these two cities that 3 flights a day would 100% support with your fare structure. At only 282 miles, it looks to be a no brainer to me, it's just a matter of when. You would also have the same response on MSP-MCI, it's just the fact that it's a little further flight so the prices would have to be higher but the market is a little bigger than OMA-MSP so that would make up for it. Both just look to be very little risk with the very short flights that they are and potential 3 fold increase in O/D with your arrival. Good luck to Southwest and hope to fly you VERY soon on OMA-MSP!
AK
Explorer C
I would love to see service at ACY. C'mon Southwest, make ACY a southwest destination
tucsondave
Explorer C
DougOH - Just my $.02 here. As for Richmond, Herb promised the good folks there 8 years ago Southwest would one day enter the market. I believe he volunteered this comment at the time LUV entered ORF. Unfortunately, he didn't specify a date at the time he made his promise. As for Rochester, they're only 50 miles and change from Buffalo. Plus they already have Jet Blue and Air Tran. I would suggest Syracuse instead. SYR is equidistant between Albany and Buffalo. There are a number of large educational institutions in the area as well as a rapidly growing military installation. Syracuse's economy is far from the worst what with an ever-growing high tech/defense contractor presence. the catchment area would include all of Central and much of Northern New York as well as parts of NY's Southern Tier and Southeatern Ontario. The airport will soon be taken out of strictly municipal hands with the anticipated creation of an aiport authority.
Craig1111
Explorer C
We would LUV to see ya'll in ROC! You would just own the skies above Rochester, NY. See ya real soon!!
Becky7
Explorer C
To David: Enjoy AA; no whiners allowed on Southwest anyway!
carl-david-pfla
Explorer C
SYR would be a GREAT market: SYR to BWI (badly needed), PHL, MCO, MDW, LAS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, and PRETTY PLEASE COME TO SYR!!!!!!!
carl-david-pfla
Explorer C
There's another airport with plenty of gate spaces: Daytona Beach, FL (NOW THERE'S AN IDEA).
Bill
Employee
Employee
Good morning all! A few additional responses to your comments: Anonymous — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 16:59--two answers to your question. One, all new markets (and even new flights, meaning increased frequencies) have a development time in which they build towards profitability. In the past we've been willing to wait longer for new service to turn that corner--in some cases, a LOT longer. However, in today's economic environment and with today's costs, we can't wait as long as we used to. And two, we're taking a rather different eye towards these things nowadays. It's not just about individual flights or markets; it's about the network as a whole. We're being neither as draconian nor as idiotic about this as those "other guys" out there, but with new and well-calibrated tools at the Company's disposal we have a much better view to the way things hang together....or don't. Hope that helps and doesn't confuse the issue! Robert S — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 17:29--GREAT comment, and all of your points are spot-on. Thanks for noticing the spacing in our schedule--our schedule optimizer was designed specifically to space flights as evenly as possible. As to winds--the difference in winter between the eastbound and westbound winds tends to be significantly more than at other times of the year, so we don't get as much benefit from the tailwinds as we take hits from the headwinds. However, you're also correct in that the variability is so much higher in winter that we have to schedule heavier--meaning block times are set at higher percentiles than we normally would at other times of the year. And yes, there is a little (very little) increase in very early and very late flights, but the majority of the added flying really is due to the decrease in needed block time in the Spring! Mitch — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 17:56--thanks so much for the support. And let's hope that our stock price soon will go from "dinner at McDonalds" to "dinner at The Mansion"!!!! Alex Trude — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 19:16--stay tuned! Kevin — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 19:21--Kevin, we absolutely pay attention to the size and to the demographics of catchment areas for airports we're evaluating. The "Southwest Effect" is alive and well, thank you very much! JJ OMA — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 19:37--JJ, to say we're thrilled with our reception of our new service to/from the Twin Cities is a huge understatement. We'd love to add service to MANY new cities from MSP; it's just finding the airplane time to do it. We're working on it! And finally to Becky — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 00:59--be nice, now.... Later, guys! Bill
Anonymous3542
Explorer C
As a PHL flyer def dissapointed to see SAT and AUS gone, understand that WN is trying to allocate planes to where they can fill, however PHL is a market in which they can grow with sizeable O/D. I just hope the trend of WN cuts does not conitnue and reverse trend starts with additional of some new markets in the near future. If the argument that WN is cutting underperforming routes and allocating aircraft to markets where is demand, then please explain Denver. It seems that WN is reallly expanding into developing the market there however they are certainly not getting loads/ margins to justify in some cases.
southwestfreak
Explorer A
my family and i have a problem..... you guys can take us to FLL from MHT but cant take us back on wanna get a way fares!!!!! also are there discounts for youth(12-21)? and when is the best time to book the cheapest fares....our cruise and hotel are booked already....its up to you southwest!
Anonymous3295
Explorer C
When will flights for the full month of May be posted?
Anonymous2087
Explorer C
Please, please, please reconsider Aus-Phl. At least add 1 stop no plane changes in BNA or HOU.
Anonymous3123
Explorer C
*******And finally, Anonymous — Tue, 10/13/2009 - 13:19--I'm VERY sad that we're NOT codesharing right now. Codesharing LEADS to growth. Opens up new markets to our brand of fare stimulation and gets us in places we'd never have gone otherwise. Like LGA. and BOS. And MSP. Oh, well....the end of 2011 can't come fast enough for me!******* Ahh, yet another comment made by a GO employee who thinks the airline business is all about deck parties and beach volleyball games. I would bet the THOUSANDS of airline employees' whose jobs have been lost as a direct result of codeshare would care to differ. Don't worry though, we'll always need a blog when the airplanes are gone.
strz
Explorer C
Reward Travel Booking: As a AMEX Membership Rewards member, I find it frustrating that I cannot view Reward Travel flight availability on your website; each time I look for a rewards flight, I get "bounced" out, telling me I don't have enough points! Well I already know that, but will transfer them if I know a flight is available! I would suggest that you make this modification to the website- as it does not seem to be an issue with your competition. Thanks!
scottnearsmf
Adventurer B
Thanks for reinstating the SMF-ORF flight plan in March 7th. Saturday direct one-stop and weekday connections through Phoenix for this plan as well.
carroll3
Adventurer C
David in Nashville, if SWA could fill planes in and out of Nashville they would be. In the 80's who knew 911, fuel prices and the stinking economy would wipe out Customer demand? SWA flies where the Customer demand is. Times have changed and just ask yourself what would airfares be if SOUTHWEST never flew. Nashville is not the only city who feels underserved and cheated but the bottem line is the bottem line. I am sorry you feel so rejected.
Anonymous1952
Explorer C
I see SW has cut two flights from SMF...PDX and ONT. I would like to see additional flights added to Midway and Denver. The current flights - 1 daily to Midway 2 daily to DEN are full the many times I have flown from SMF. AS SMF continues it's Big Build - http://www.bigbuild.org/ - hopefully more flights will be added by the airlines serving SMF, serving over 10 million passengers in 2008!!
Bill
Employee
Employee
Good morning, all! A few more replies to your comments. Anonymous — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 10:05--I understand your disappointment, but you're comparing apples and oranges. We've been in PHL quite a lot longer than we've been in DEN; this is a case of trimming unpopular service in an established market vs. adding new service that is forecasted to be successful in a new market. Plus, one thing DEN has going for it that PHL can't is the ability to supplement local traffic with connecting and through traffic. SouthwestFreak — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 13:50--while I don't pretend to know much about our fares, you might use the "Southwest Shortcut" to show you alternate days of travel that might help lower your airfare. Have a great trip, and take a dramamine for me! Anonymous — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 14:18--we'll open the rest of May on December 17th. You can always find the date the next schedule "chunk" will open at southwest.com on the "Travel Tools" tab. Anonymous — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 18:16--we do have onestop, direct service in the March schedule--flight 606 leaves AUS at 5:30 pm and arrives PHL at 11:05 p.m.; returning, flight 420 leaves PHL at 10:55 a.m. and arrives AUS at 4:05 p.m.. Plus, we have many, many other connecting itineraries available for you. strz — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 22:53--way, way out of my field of knowledge here! But I'll pass your comment along to my friends across the hall at .com. scottnearsmf — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 23:10--thanks! And finally, to mf — Wed, 10/14/2009 - 21:25--listen, bubba, I haven't been to a deck party in ages, and if I even attempted to play volleyball it would register on the Richter scale. Clearly, what you don't know about what codesharing can do for an airline would fill a space the size of Guam. I have neither the interest nor the strength in trying to change your mind. I'll just say, clearly, and unequivocally: you're wrong. Completely, 100% wrong. And I state that based on (1) over 30 years in the industry, (2) being involved tons of analysis both pre- and post-operation of our ATA codeshare, and (3) because I'm on the SWA International Codeshare Committee--just got out of our weekly meeting, in fact. Not sure what crawled up your gullet and died, nor do I know what your angle is--but I'll say it again--you're wrong. Lunchtime here in Big D. Later!! Bill
Charles_Nash
Explorer C
We love SW, but, we need a direct flight from Columbus, OH to Fort Myers, FL. We fly to Fort Myers once or twice a month, sometimes into Tampa to get a direct flight, as there are no direct SW flights into Fort Myers.
Anonymous3656
Explorer C
I live in Salt Lake. Me and a number of people I know as well are always trying to get flights from SLC to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami (even though you don't fly to Miami alone). There are NO nonstop SLC-FLL flights from here. If Southwest was to have a nonstop SLC-FLL flight I believe it would be VERY popular and would make Southwest a unique choice for Florida travel from Salt Lake or vice versa. Thanks.
vanlakecentral
Explorer B
As schedule geek, your posts are the best. Your schedule changes which put you under some fire, are wonderfully informative.
Anonymous1914
Explorer C
i believe Southwest is a very poor airline, it may be profitable, but it is very rudimentary in its customer service approach and because they are profitable the believe the are superior. Jet Blue and Airtran have much better product and more professional dedicated customer care. Simply because they don't charge bags fees does not make them a natural choice for air travel.
Anonymous2194
Adventurer C
Easy Bill. No need to feed the trolls. Not 100% of the world will always agree with you. Friday baby. By the way, right now I've got 16 seats booked into or out of MKE between now and 4/1 for myself and immediate family. (That means I paid for it on my SWA credit card!) Another 4 booked out of our "home" airport MDW that is still marginally closer. Driving behind the cheddar curtain from N. ILL. to welcome you. Been a long time since I've been to Mitchell Field. (I know they call it Mitchell International... yeah, right.) Hope you have a great opening up there in 2 short weeks. Thanks for making my hometown a little better place to live. 30 or 40 jobs for folks up there. Come visit next summer.
Bill
Employee
Employee
Happy FRIDAY everyone (my birthday weekend, no less)! Here are replies for the last four of you. Charles Nash — Thu, 10/15/2009 - 12:11--Charles, we know you Midwesterners love the West Coast of Florida. Unfortunately, more service to Tampa, as well as connecting service to Ft. Myers, is all we can offer. CMH-RSW is a very small market in its own right--however, for next winter (meaning winter/Spring Break 2011), it might be an excellent Saturday service candidate! Anonymous — Thu, 10/15/2009 - 14:21--As in the response to Charles--SLC-FLL is a very, very small market. For the time being, I hope our connecting service (not to mention the smiles and friendly faces you get on Southwest!) will be enough! Julian — Thu, 10/15/2009 - 22:01--Julian, "Schedule Geek" is a term of endearment around here, and is one that I wear proudly!!! Thanks! And finally, Anonymous — Fri, 10/16/2009 - 08:51--As my mother would say (and did say, MANY times!), "that's the reason they make Fords and Chevrolets." Meaning--there is no single product or service that everyone, everywhere likes. So, you're free to have your opinion, and you are welcome to it. I personally and wholeheartedly disagree with you, however--I am *not* a fan of either of those two airlines' service, comfort, or people. I'll take the friendliness, camaraderie, and occasional flashes of humor of my Southwest Family over any other airline, anywhere, anytime. Thanks, guys....have a good weekend! Bill
alex-trude
Explorer C
Bill-- You have peaked my curiosity now! Looking forward to the next expansion of flights and hopefully as you seem to be hinting more incoming at STL! We have eight working gates (I think), been awhile since I did CSA at STL, so we'd LUV to fill them up with great Customers and Blue Planes! I am hoping the STL Incentive program will make SWA consider more STL expansion as well. Good Luck and keep doing the great things you're doing! Have a great weekend everyone! Wish I was at the Deck Party with ya'll this evening at HDQ! Alex