Southwest Airlines Community

I am going to go seek that book! The more I learn about SWA, the more I "luv" it! I have told both my nephews (finishing college) they need to get onboard with SWA! I wish I had when I was younger. And... let me add this. As you all may be aware I operate a Fear of Flying website, which for my own reasons promotes SWA. I feel the folks at SWA are caring and go above and beyond the call of duty for our members. Here is just one example from a recent flight a member took: "Hi all, I just got back from my all too brief trip up to Portland (flew from Oakland, CA) and I had to share my experiences with you all. I myself think it's rather inspiring Just to preface, I had been working on my fear of flying pretty diligently over the past few weeks in preparation for these flights, so my anticipatory anxiety was very in control until I actually got to the airport on Thursday and Sunday. I made sure that I gave myself plenty of time to check in and get to the gate so that I didn't feel rushed. In fact, PDX has a neat perk if you are a member of any of the carriers' frequent flyers programs - a separate security line So I was able to whiz through there on Sunday in about five minutes. Anyway, Thursday I flew out of OAK at 4:25, so I made sure that I got there by 2:30. I purchased some fun magazines (In Touch, People, and Life & Style) and a couple snacks because I hadn't had much time to eat that day. So I moseyed down to my gate - located on the OTHER side of the airport, of course - and checked in with my mom. There weren't many people at the gate when I got there, so I parked myself in the A line and read for awhile. At this point, I was feeling pretty calm so I was thinking I wouldn't need to meet the pilots. Fast forward to about an hour before we were scheduled to leave, though, and it was a completely different story. I was starting to get really nervous. I was in fact sweating bullets. So I got on the phone with my mom again and was airing out some of my feelings when I saw a few official-looking people in Southwest uniforms standing over near pre-board. After saying good-bye to my mom, I went over to the pre-board area where they were standing and hovered for a minute before spotting the gate agent. I was trying to be as grown up and calm as possible. Here's an approximate retelling of my conversation: Gate agent: Do you need some help? Me, shakily: Um, I'm a nervous flyer and I have a letter that says...(sob) At this point, one of the Southwest people has seen me burst into tears and she comes over and gives me a big hug. Turns out she's an off-duty FA commuting home and she offers to sit next to me during the flight. One of the men standing with her also happens to be the captain for my flight, so he talks to me for a few minutes about what the flight will be like (smooth) and about how long it will take to get there (an hour and twenty minutes). By this time, our plane has arrived and Leslie, the previously mentioned off-duty FA, walks with me to the plane. We grab a seat toward the back of the plane and we talk about my fear of flying while other people are boarding. Our flight isn't completly full, so thankfully we get the aisle all to ourselves. She reassures me as we're taxiing out to the runway that flying is totally safe and she wouldn't be doing what she's doing if it weren't so, as she has a younger son waiting for her in Portland. Take-off is uneventful and for the first time since I've become a fearful flyer, I don't feel a sense of dread as we climb into the perfectly blue sky. We pass the time by completing three crossword puzzles - celebrity-related ones, since they're the only kind I can do! - and before I know it we're starting our descent into Portland. The on-duty FA's have been walking by to check on me and one of them, Marie (I think), comes over to me about 10 minutes before we land and hands me a certificate that says "Southwest Airlines Welcomes" with my name written in and the date - she had all the FA's sign it and then written out the sweetest note on the back, congratulating me on facing my fear of flying and ending with "the sky is NOT the limit!" After we land, I'm de-planing with Leslie and the captain (Steve Hannah) comes out and says, "I was thinking of you when I landed the plane - I wanted to make it a really smooth one for you but I must have been concentrating too hard because it was a little too hard." Then he invites me into the cockpit where I get to look at all the instruments and doo-dads (that's the technical term, right?) and even get my picture taken in there. It was, quite simply, the ride of my life. What's more, when Leslie and I parted ways, she gave me her phone number and said that if I ever needed someone to fly with to give her a call. She was such a cheerleader for me and everyone on that flight was an amazing example of the quality people Southwest employs. Needless to say, my flight back was much easier (though I did meet the captain) and I arrived home last night with a huge smile on my face. My certificate is currently hanging on my fridge. Please excuse the novel-length post, but I thought it was important for me to tell everyone about this. By no means am I over my fear of flying, but all the encouragement I received has really helped me along. Needless to say, I'll be writing Southwest about my experience with their airline this weekend." Great job Leslie, Steve, and the rest of your crew and the folks at OAK! Mark Tate Taking Flight - Fear of Flying Support www.takingflight.us ... View more

Gordon, From a frequent traveler on SWA, let me say thank you to you and your colleagues for your hard work! I will keep May 24, 2007 in mind! Mark Tate Taking Flight - Fear of Flying Support www.takingflight.us ... View more

Hello: And thank you for the opportunity to post my thoughts about Assigned Seating on Southwest. First... ARE YOU NUTS! ha ha... had to throw that in there! Seriously... Why mess with such a great system? I am convinced that your seating process is one of the reasons that SWA is as successful as it is! I operate a Fear of Flying website www.takingflight.us You will see that SWA is promoted there. I invite you to take a look at the site, and go to the forum section. Look under Captain Ray's section, and there is actually a poll about SWA's consideration of assigned seating. Again... thanks for listening! Mark Tate Taking Flight - Fear of Flying Support www.takingflight.us ... View more