Southwest Airlines Community

I whole heartedly agree with original poster. What makes us travel Southwest, almost exclusively, are the things Southwest is planning to change. Once Southwest becomes like all the other airlines there will be no reason to always look to Southwest 1st. Currently we are aware that Southwests baggage policy makes it worth paying a little more. I hope management will reconsider giving into a whinny stockholder only interested in quick profits and with no interest in the satisfaction of long-term customers. ... View more

Duff - you are spot on. I liked the way it was dont' like the changes. I am not a frequent complainer or poster to blogs. I have never posted a compalint about Southwest before this Early-Bird nonsense. I absolutely hate the idea. You have not idea what you are getting for the FEE you are voluntarily paying. Southwest please roll back this plan just charge $10 more per ticket. ... View more

Dear --- I find it hard to understand (and borderline comical) to see why so many people are "up in arms" over WN's decision to offer an additional perk for a nominal charge. The Early Bird fee is completely optional for those who choose to exercise it and this creative way of generating additional revenue is what will allow WN to continue to offer competitive fares without having to raise them across the board. Furthermore, WN (like all carriers) is a FOR-PROFIT business. The Board of Directors and Stockholders understand the necessity in this troubling and competitive environment for WN to find new and innovative ways to raise revenue (for those who choose that option) to avoid having to raise prices universally. No one is holding a gun to anyone's head or forcing anyone to pay more money...it is TOTALLY OPTIONAL if you want to exercise it. No one is criticizing other carriers for charging extra for window, aisle, or emergency row seating, or for their baggage checkin fees, but as a LCC, the ability to raise additional revenue is essential since WN does not have the luxury of charging exhorbitant walkup fares wherever there is no low-cost alternative. Planes cannot continue to fly half-empty or at $49 a ticket and generate a profit. If additional revenue is not raised by some creative methods, the air carrier loses money until it goes bankrupt or out of business entirely. It's simple mathematics. If you wish to enjoy a better seat selection, please exercise that option. If not, then please take the seat you get and stop whining and lamenting over the fact that you are not happy with it. Life is all about choices, and EVERYONE has equal opportunity to exercise that choice. --- Why don't you get it that people don't want to pay extra for an unknown lottery chance at a better seat. Not to mention people are complaining and criticizing other airlines for all the fees that's why they were flying Southwest in the 1st place NO FEES. Next all the southwest flights I have been on lately were full or almost full. Next I would much rather pay an extra $10 for my ticket then this rediculous boarding scheme. I don't want airlines to lose money. I always tell people I would much rather fly an airlines making money than one losing money (one of the many reasons we have favored Southwest in the past). ... View more

SWA Flight Attendant - I appreaciate that there are people who prefer an option to the 24-hour ahead check in. But, I how happy are they going to be when they pay the $10 extra and still get "C" boarding. My biggest issue with this whole program is not the $10 it is that you have no idea what you are getting for paying the $10. I don't like the program at all but if SWA is goig to keep it they should limit the Early Check-in to just the number of "A" boarding spots. That would give everyone else a chance at a "B" boarding spot and assure that you don't pay $10 still get a so so or lousy boarding spot. Also mark my words, letting people hold seats, especially with this program in place is going to cause huge issues, Used to like SWA the best! ... View more

I agree what happened to all the negative comments? Decided to start over and see if today brings more positive feedback? Don't hold your breath it is still at BAD idea! ... View more

I think this $10 fee is a really bad idea. And yes it does make SWA seem more like all the other airlines. My biggest complaint is you are paying for something and you don't exactly know what that something is. If nearly everyone pays the $10 then you may still get "B" or "C" boarding despite paying extra. And if by some chance everyone paid the $10 you would be getting nothing except a random boarding order. I liked knowing if I checked-in 23:59:59 ahead I would get a decend boarding order usually middle of the "A"s. I really think this is of very little benefit to the customers. And that what SWA really hopes is enough people will feel the need to assure they still get a decent spot in boarding order and pay the $10. Then once that happens more and more people will start paying the fee and eventually the majority of people will pay the $10 just to have a chance at not being last to board the plane. So where is the benefit in that to the customers? SWA gets an extra $10 per flight for most customers that is the benefit. So why not just charge the extra $10 per flight and leave check-in and boarding the plane as is. Our family members have been big fans of SWA for quite a while, flying them whenever possible. I always tell people to checkout SWA not so sure I can make that recommendation any more. ... View more