Southwest Airlines Community

I have a scheduling comment regarding the cancellation of direct service from BNA to SEA. The new schedules that replaced a 4 to 5 hour flight were 8+ hour connections through MDW and LAS or a 3 stop that I'm not brave enough to take. The MDW connection has a 2.5-hour lay over. These long flights are an indication that SWA has abandoned this route; especially given that Frontier has a simple 6-hour connection through Denver with favorable departure times. I can understand cuts in service if the route isn't profitable, but surely it could have been combined with another leg to such as MCI to create a simpler schedule. I make this commute several times a year and this change forces me to spend an extra day in Seattle if I take SWA. ... View more

Since I have never used an airline that imposed a miniumum stay requirement, what happens if someone books a plan that does NOT have a miniumum required stay length. Another reason to fly Southwest, since each trip is handled on a one-way basis, NO Miniumum stay requirement needed or charged. ... View more

Bill, Thank your son for his service. Ray ... View more

Gabriella Val Dorian Laurice Janine Willena Waylon Rayna Faustino Florida Kendal Nana Lenny Johnnie Darby Wilhemina Aracely Eloy Loida Ozell Cristopher Ezequiel Mariko Rubi Lanette Jena Otis Dario Jonathan Micah Keiko Regan Enoch Laurice Dorian Josef Adena Francesco Maryjane Val Chieko Samuel Linwood Marlon Aron Casey Lorenzo Kiesha Carola Jess ... View more

Bill! I'm a little late to the party here, but I have to say I really enjoyed the article. I was a huge fan of "Press Your Luck" reruns growing up. If you have a second, check out an online game show I exec. produced: http://redcarpetrun.tv -- would love the opinion of a bona fide addict! Michael ... View more

Hi Bill. I found it. And I laughed so hard I nearly choked on coffee. So there! You've already made my day. lol. I know about those mice. I remember helping to get rid of old termite infested lumber from a barn we tore down. I was just a kid. We all were hauling wood to the big roaring fire we had kindled. I tossed mine on, and a mouse immediately, to escape the flames, ran up my pants legs, and up inside my shirt, and hid behind my neck. I did like you did. A stange primordial dance, sceaming like a little girl, to the bemusement of my brothers and dad, till the mouse was dislodged. Guess my Cherokee ancestry seemed to had taken over at that time, as I danced the mouse dance. lol hope you the best. luv TJ ... View more

Please please please please please start service to/from Greenville, S.C. (GSP?). Charlotte (CLT) is a distant 2d choice for my family and I. U.S. Air is poorly run and feels dangerous. Thanks! ... View more

It's so troubling to lose someone you love. However I wish you great happiness these holidays. She sounds like she was an amazing woman, and it's great that you are able to share the story of her life with us. I've loved my few trips with Southwest, the friendly gate agents, Pilots, and other staff. But I don't think I had felt that "Southwest Family" feeling until I read this. I'd love to be apart of the Southwest Family, as more than just a customer. Keep your heads up! ... View more

The southwest rewards certificates are TOTALLY useless. After selecting a flight that had many seats available - I went to book the flight with the certificate, only to find out southwest had BLACKED OUT certificate use on every flight for two weeks before and for two weeks after ! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! So, seats are available on the flight and southwest will not permit me to use my certificate. This was not over any holiday ! its August and its Saturday travel, attempting to book more than a month in advance! These points were painfully earned 1 credit for 3000 miles , and now southwest is going rip me off !!! They are are worse than united and american! ... View more

Bud, I'm not sure where you got your facts, but you're wrong. Southwest's rate of denied boarding is certainly not out of line--in fact, we're in the lower half of the industry in terms of our denied boarding rates, with a significantly lower rate than carriers like Continental, Alaska, Airtran, Delta, United, USAirways, and Northwest. Don't believe me? Check it out on the DOT's website--or click on the link below: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2008/feburary/200802atcr.pdf And, of course, besides having a relatively low DB rate, we carry more Customers than any other airline in the world. With, by far, the lowest complaint ratio of any US air carrier. So I think we're probably doing pretty well, bud. Bill ... View more

Another vote for SWA service at the new Panama City Int'l Airport! My sister lives in Lynn Haven and I have to take two planes, one camel and a tractor to get to her house from Phoenix. Just kidding about that...but, wow, SW's presence in PC would make both of our lives soooo much easier. I'd actually be able to visit her much more often! ... View more

Southwest, can you start flying from Buffalo to Philadelphia soon please? I'm tired of waiting for US Air eSavers. I need a discount carrier that will service this route! HELPPPPP! ... View more

That's what I get for playing with freetranslator.com Vuelva por favor el directo a Phoenix Heat advisory alert! Everyone back inside and buy tickets @ southwest.com for someplace cool. Ding! boy on regular candycorn. Joe ... View more

pick one Mobile or Pensacola...both huge growth markets and NW,Delta and Continental are abusing their customer .....hurry! im in for 30 round trips now ... View more

I just had someone tell me that LUV may be coming to Macon Ga. as a replacement airline since Delta is pulling out? Anyone know anything? I will book a month in advance, I hate Delta but have no other choice for a direct flight. Come on east LUV and show how a good airline works. ... View more

Maybe I missed it here, but I'm frustrated that I can't ever seem to catch the "day" of the reservation window expands and I miss out on utilizing my rapid rewards for our annual spring break trip. Can the day the reservation window is expanded be sent as an update on your Ding at say 8am central time? I sometimes see a small mention of the "now accepting reservations through." Make it bigger and bolder so it's not missed. In fact I'd ask that it be a special message sent alone so it's not over looked. Just a thought from a stock holder and life long SWA passenger. BTW, will the AirTran purchase add Hawaii and if not when will you guys add that destination to the SWA map? m ... View more

interesting ... View more

How about one way from Birmingham, AL to Palm Springs, CA, with out the cost be so high. ... View more

Hi Kathy, I have a suggestion. You can also receive intineraries via e-mail. They will be waiting for you whenever you have power to login to the computer. Our Travel Agency Administration folks can change your shell to show an e-mail address instead of the fax number. If by chance you are booking on SWABiz, the e-mail address can be entered at the time of booking. Brian ... View more

When will you open up tickets for Winter Break 6 months from now approx. Feb 13 - 20th? The hotels (even the ones that only books 6 months ahead of time are already). Hardrock opened today, other airlines are booking that don't do too far in advance IE: Jetblue. I have a huge credit with you guys do to an error on your website - I want to try and book my Feb. trip through you (if your not more then the major airlines and I find you are many times). The advantage is you fly out of Islip. ... View more

On January 18th, I left my jacket in a restaurant at Love Field in Dallas. My flight had already taken off before I realized what had happened. I asked the flight attendant, Desi Pearce ( please forgive any misspelling), if there was anything that could be done. She called back and had somebody find the jacket and put it on the next flight to St. Louis. I would like to time to thank Desi and any unnamed individuals that were involved in rescuing my jacket and taking care of me in my absentminded moment. Not only did she save my jacket, but she called me at home on Superbowl Sunday to make sure I had received it, which added a bright spot to a rather dismal day (I'm a Bears fan!!). This kind of extra effort and caring by Desi Pierce,and all the others involved in returning my jacket, helps to make Southwest the great airline that it is. Many thanks to all involved, Brad Derham ... View more

Bill, We have decided when you come to Eugene to visit us, you are cooking! Especially the Scalloped Shrimp and Scallops, and leave the recipe!!!!!!! Dan ... View more

Hello Everyone! First off, let me start by saying I luv Southwest. I fly SWA whenever I am able. I wish I could fly them more than I do. I would like to propose SWA look again at the Omaha market. As you know, there are SEVERAL cities that are in the top 20 destinations out of Omaha and are not served. Southwest has a way of finding its niche and I would LUV to see service to BWI, Philly, and Long Island. Heck Boston would be amazing. I do understand they reasons why those flights do not exist at this moment, but the numbers are growing. The east coast is underserved from Omaha. I like MDW, but would much rather fly directly. I just ask you to look at the numbers again and see what you can do.As you have stated SWA is the number one airline out of OMA, this year I believe they will be carrying close to a  ... View more

Thanks for giving us the scoop on the new services from DAL. As great as it is, we need to keep looking at Macon/ Atlanta, Columbia/Charlotte, Minneapolis/Rochester, and go after the juglar of the others. Those airports draw from many mid market cities that many of us have to use other airlines for. Get in there and get the revenue. Many in SW Georgia have nothing but the 3 hr drive to JAX or ATL - and the military bases down that way would be an awesome draw - and of course, those of us tired of flying into crowded Atlanta - with all the delays !!!!! GET IN THERE !!! ... View more

Quick shout out to the STL crews. Did the dejected Tigers pass through terminal where Southwest is to catch their Minneapolis-based charter back to Detroit? ... View more

Ditto on resuming SAN-MSY. I do this trip at least once a month and I always have others on the flight that are making all the connections. ... View more

Oh wow--someone who totally understands! I've been a single parent for the past 12 years. My daughter and her baby girl, who was rebounding with us for a few months after a failed relationship, moved out in July and three weeks ago my son has moved out, preparing for a life in the military. Friends ask me how I'm doing, what am I doing with all my spare time, and act as though I must be in deep grief. They're shocked when I tell them I've waited years for this! I love my kids (and my granddaughter) but it is time for their lives to begin. I had the day of introspection,too, and I came away from it full of joy. I can choose to do things that have been on hold for years or decide they are no longer important to me. This isn't a time for grief--it's a time for celebration of the kids being grown and independent and making their own lives. It's a time to celebrate that we made it--divorce was devastating to us. It's also a time for me to reevaluate and move forward, possibly in new directions. I didn't say "whew--it's over" with sadness, but with a smile of satisfaction and one happy/sad tear trickling down my cheek as one l-o-n-g phase of life drew to an end and a door to an unknown adventure popped open just around the corner! Congratulations, Bill! It was so great to read someone who really understood what I was feeling! ... View more

Bill, your garage-o-mixer turned into true schedule optimizer this year is fascinating. I understand you want to keep it proprietary, as would I. We met with Northwest and they too put out a marketing schedule. I'm not sure how they do that either. What I'm very curious about is how Southwest applies tail numbers to the marketing plan. And how you get maintenance activies completed. Who or where might I talk to about that? Steven ... View more

Steven, Even though we're not hub-and-spoke, we, too put the majority of our Maintenance resources in what we call our "mega Stations" (i.e., the biggest ones). We do our heavy maintenance--and have hangars--in Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and now Chicago Midway. However, we also have Southwest Maintenance Employees in a number of other large and medium size cities to do the overnight checks and just be there to fix minor mechanical issues. Those are located in Baltimore, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, and Tampa. Overnight checks are pretty easy to route aicraft into, because (1) we don't do any overnight flying, (2) the cities listed above combined have about 50% of our aircraft overnighting there (260 total out of a total flying fleet of 500 aircraft), and the overnight "A" checks only have to be done once each 7 days. The more involved "B/C" checks take longer, and we have to build special routings into the schedule to allow Maintenance Control to easily get aircraft into those checks as needed, which is about once every 3 to 4 months. Thanks for the question! ... View more