Southwest Airlines Community

Thank you for the great posts! Brian, I just wanted to tell you, I think these posts, flashback fridays, are some of the most interesting blog posts. It's always to so interesting to see how operations or processes occurred in the past. Thank you for taking the time to write them! Rich ... View more

Brian, If I can add my point of view on this new frequent flyer program, I do agree with many other posters that this will turn into “New Coke”. I use my Chase Southwest credit card for all of my purchases, as it has offered great rewards on Southwest Airlines. Also, in probably the last 12 years, I have not even shopped around with any other carriers; whatever Southwest charges for a ticket was what I paid. There were many reasons why I just went to Southwest only to purchase my airfare, and probably the best way to sum it up it is because they never acted like a legacy carrier even when they became the largest domestic carrier in terms of passengers carried. I do not fly once a week, but a few times a year and with your old program, I was able to earn a couple free tickets a year, thankfully mostly to my chase card. With other carriers, before I switched to Southwest, I was never able to come close to a free ticket. It’s well known that Southwest offered the highest percentage of reward seats of any carrier, and even though all seats are now potentially “reward” seats it seems as though it will be much more difficult to obtain the same amount of free travel as I did with the old program. Now, it seems as Southwest as narrowed the gap between themselves and the legacy carriers dramatically. Please do not continue down this path of turning Southwest into a legacy carrier; there were many reasons why Southwest was successful when all the airlines have struggled significantly and the rapid reward program was a big part of Southwest’s success. Brian, thank you for taking the time to read my comments. Rich ... View more

Hi, I miss the blog postings by Ray Stark; those were very interesting and informative. Hopefully, captain Stark will continue to blog! Rich ... View more

Hi, I think these are great additions to the service that Southwest offers. However, this does beg the question, is Southwest now planning to charge a change or cancellation fee? Please say that Southwest isn't going to add any of those ridiculous fees! The no change fees and no baggage fees are some of the best reasons to fly with Southwest please don't change anything! Thank you, Rich ... View more

Brian, Thanks for posting the information about Southwest, please keep up the great posts! Personally, I think the posts about the company's history and operational posts that Ray Stark posts are the best. Also, since others have brought up the topics of Southwest service to new cities, do you know of any plans to begin service to DCA? Thanks, Rich ... View more

This is one of the best ideas that Southwest has come up with! It's not always possible to be by a computer exactly 24 hours before. Southwest is still great when it comes to not charging fees, as other airlines do, such as checking 2 bags or changing a reservation. Thank you Southwest not charging for bags or to change a ticket! ... View more

Hi Bill, Is Southwest also acquiring ATA's slots into DCA? Hopefully once you gain some great experience with slots in New York that would be great if Southwest began to offer service into DCA from Chicago. Thank you, Rich ... View more

Captain Stark, When reading your blog posting, I just have a question regarding landing at an “off-line alternate”, how would you be able to provide services for the aircraft? Would there be use of a Jetway, would you be able to load fuel or provide any aircraft services? I understand that MKE is very close to MDW, but assuming that you could not depart for several hours, how would services be provided? Thank you, Rich ... View more

Brian, I would also wonder the same question, about changing the baggage policy. If this policy will affect so few passengers, why would it even be changed? Even though, I have not checked three bags; it was also good to know that, unlike many other carriers, SWA would allow me to check three bags without an extra charge. Thank you. ... View more

Just a quick addition to my comments above: I am not doubting that Southwest needs to raise additional revenue and the airline business is extremely competitive, but it should not be done by prioritizing one group of Customers over the other. Thanks ... View more

I just wanted to add to several comments on here, which I completely agree with. For about 10 years I have only bought SWA tickets, not because they are always the least expensive, but because of Southwest's policy's of not treating high paying customers to extras. Everyone was treated the same, regardless of the fare purchased. Now, it seems to be that it will be nearly impossible to get an "A" boarding card and to get the exit row seats unless one purchases a business select fare. The equal treatment of all Customers was one of the main reasons that I have ALWAYS chosen SWA; I did not even consider other airlines before. With Southwest making these changes, they are much more like all of the legacy carriers. There is no reason now to choose SWA over other carriers any longer, as they have chosen to become just another commodity in the business. I hope that Southwest's management decides quickly to change this policy, before they loose many extremely loyal customers to other carriers. This policy will only drive away the customers that made the airline what it is. If these policies are not revised with boarding process; I for one can not be as loyal to SWA when it is viewed as a commodity, which is what these policies have done. Please fix these policies before you loose your best customers, it is not too late!! ... View more