Southwest Airlines Community

Like a bumpy flight, the recent events with Frontier have caused me some queasiness. I fly a lot out of Denver, mostly for business. My first choice has been Frontier for years--great product, great service, direct flights. I am a Summit level Early Returns member and loyally attached to a great airline. Second choice has been United. Primarily due to FF program (I am Premier Exec with them). Third choice has been Southwest the last couple years (I am also a Rapid Rewards member), almost entirely due to lack of seating selection and in-flight entertainment. Flight back from Philly last week, even though it got in half an hour early, was just painful with no entertainment. (But at least it beat US Airways on the outbound--no entertainment, no snack, no fun.) I was happy to hear about the Republic bid and the "survival' of Frontier. I was, frankly, saddened to hear about the Southwest bid as I watched the demise of Muse Air many years ago in Dallas when SWA took over (another small, but quality airline with a nice niche--I flew them for non-smoking policy and great blue leather seats). While I have flown SWA (and will again tomorrow MCO to FLL), I cannot honestly see them becoming my "everyday" airline. As a very frequent business traveler I detest jostling in the queue trying to figure out where my number fits in (I liked the old plastic cards better!), having to find a terminal to check in as quickly as possible to try and get a decent boarding priority, even having to watch a young family board at the end of the line in Philly last week and having to look morosely through the plane trying to find two pairs of seats so their little kids didn't have to sit alone with strangers. (I gave mine up so the mom and son could sit down together.) At the end of the day, Southwest provides an inexpensive, consistent, and compelling product for a value oriented consumer, but as a near-weekly travel option to both coasts I won't do it if I can avoid it. Sorry SWA. I love the singing flight attendants, the esprit de corps, and the cheap fares, but until you can assign seats like everybody else my heart (and wallet) is going to remain elsewhere the vast majority of the time. You will likely win the auction, but I am going to keep rooting for Republic... Best of luck! ... View more