I am now a bit suspicious of this blog and its reviewers. For my previous blog time stamped "Posted by: Edward Klipphahn | March 12, 2008 at 4:04 pm", directly after that post, there was one from another blogger time stamped "Posted by: Ed | March 12, 2008 at 4:18 pm" (no relation to me). His comments were posted directly after mine. HOWEVER, there is now a blog, which was NOT there -- and is now there, time stamped as if it were directly after mine. Fruad! I smell something quite fishy around here.
Look, if you need to get defensive and attack people such as myself, with incredibly legitimate concerns, go for it. It doesn't change the fact that Southwest is being fined $10,000,000.00 and being dragged through the mud it created.
Yes K.W., feel free to hurl insults - "Mr. Dramatic". Your comment "that does not mean that every one of the jets had cracks in them". The idea of having inspections is to ENSURE there are no cracks! Because, apparently there are some and that means there's a possibility of them getting worse.
If there's drama K.W., it is clearly Southwest's.
You just simply can't argue with Southwest employees like K.W. They have the Warrior Spirit!
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ANON,
You've missed the point. The mountain of paperwork is par for the course. If they don't like paperwork, perhaps they are in the wrong business (I don't mean that literally, but that is the essence of what your comment represents). Scandal is not relegated merely to money, my friend. Scandal comes in all shapes and sizes. I haven't forgotten the 37 year safety record, which is reason for patronage. From your point of view, it would seem some complacency is ok, because they have so much paperwork and they've done such a good job.
Quite frankly ANON, you're speculating on whether those aircraft were safe or not. There were actually incidents of structural integrity -- this is one of the main reasons for required inspection of 737-300s.
Just so you're aware, I flew yesterday and the day before on Southwest. If I thought I was going to die, I probably wouldn't have flown. The issue isn't about feeling safe, it's about being safe!
I know for a fact there are great people working for Southwest, the vast majority of people.
Again, I give credit to the many dedicated, intelligent, customer-dedicated and safety minded employees of Southwest. I know they will do the right thing.
Ed
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Della,
I guess you don't wear seatbelts either? Probably don't carry life insurance; don't look both ways before crossing the street, etc. We're all entitled to our opinions, no matter our IQ. This is the USA.
Ed
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This is in response to the post created by "ANON". Airplanes are not cars. You can't simply pull over to the side of the road if you have an issue at 35,000 feet. The stakes are much, much higher than driving on a highway. Why do you think the FAA intensely investigates air-related incidents. Southwest may in fact have their own inspection policy. However, there is a deliberate purpose for not having corporations, especially those with heightened responsibility for customer safety, self-policing. ANON, perhaps you're alouf to corporate America and its endless scandals. Why should we trust Southwest? Perhaps Southwest should have given passengers an opportunity to decide whether or not to fly on their planes by offering transparecny of their agregious failure to inspect according to Federal Government LAWS & REGULATIONS.
ANON, perhaps you should get back to work at Jiffy Lube.
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I have been fuming for the past week, realizing the airline I so valued and dedicated my patronage to has grossly failed to protect my personal well being. I live in Northern California and fly almost weekly to Southern California. I dislike flying. It makes me nervous, but is necessary in my job. One level of reassurance, albeit one I find to now be false, was Southwest's appearance of strong adherence to safety standards. Southwest should be ashamed of themselves for risking my life, the lives of other passengers and their own personnel. SHAME ON YOU!
I am hard pressed as to whether or not to continue using them as a carrier. Hopefully Southwest plans to demonstrate to their customers, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this matter will be addressed thoroughly, and that no expense will be spared in creating a program that guarantees safety -- not just lip service and luck.
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