Southwest Airlines Community

In addition to the BWI Marshall observation deck that Rachel mentioned (and I remember the old outdoor deck when it was still Friendship), there's a great viewing area just off Rt 176 where folks can watch planes land on Runway 33L just on the other side of the road. That's also the terminus for the BWI Bike Trail which encircles the airport and ties into the popular Bantimore and Annapolis Bike Trail. ... View more

Then Christine, why does "The Race" still have that divisive name? I sincerely hope you don't apologize away the name of the Ku Klux Klan in similar fashion. What, will Southwest next have a "Reconquista One" plane painted in the "Aztlan" map that MEChA (a component group of "The Race") seeks? Might want to read about MEChA first. And the fact that both Obama and McCain pandered, er, spoke before "The Race" is utterly irrelevant. Sorry, Southwest, but you're going to regret alienating more Customers via this latest PR goof. Surely you can find much better ways to celebrate Latino cultures. ... View more

Bridget, One question: How do you know what condition the pre-boarders did or did not have? I'm sorry their needs weren't more obvious to you; maybe they should limp next time? ... View more

Oh, miss? Will there be turbulence on this flight? Can you tell me when? (No fair asking Captain Ray!) ... View more

We like you! We really like you! *sob* ... View more

I don't chew my cabbage twice, Bob. Have a day. ... View more

Baba O'Riley said: Note to Paul T who said à ... View more

It used to be called the Red River SHOOTOUT, and there was nothing wrong with that. I realize SWA had nothing to do with that name change, but I don't have to like the ongoing political correctness pervading everything these days. Makes as much sense as changing the name of the Washington Bullets. *sigh* ... View more

Andrew, I guess my religion must bother you more than your atheism bothers me. Debopam, your analogy falls flat. In this country, you're asked to change your shirt. In a Muslim theocracy, your hand is chopped off. *If* you're lucky. Which would you prefer? Sidney, well said. ... View more

Kathleen, I cannot believe you have the gall to say what you did. One cannot change one's skin color. One is not obliged to wear a disgusting T-shirt or a skirt that reveals London, France, and other geographic entities; something else can be worn. End of story. ... View more

And for those who continue to say à ... View more

Hey, on Dick Branson's airlines, ridiculously short skirts and offensive T-shirts aren't objectionable; they're MANDATORY! Go be offensive on his planes, but leave us on SWA alone. ... View more

P.S. I'm not a Southwest employee, just a happy customer. ... View more

Natalie, How many establishments/businesses/airlines have you been to that SAY they put the customer first . . . but don't? It's as much a cliche as "our friendly, knowledgeable staff." If you'd read the book Nuts! by Kevin Freiberg, you would already have known that Southwest puts its employees first and customers second. I like that. Happy employees will naturally treat the customers better. Are there incidents when this isn't so? Certainly, but I bet not nearly as much as on the Dinosaur Airlines that allegedly put customers first! The shame of this whole skirt episode is that both Colleen Barrett and Gary Kelly forgot their own philosophy when they reversed course and left their flight attendant high and dry, and I hope they've finished cleaning those eggs off their faces. And I hope "Keith" has found meaningful employment elsewhere, because "Employees First" obviously doesn't apply to him. ... View more

Frankly, I don't understand the hullaballoo about the families with small children not being able to preboard. I think there is evidence that that policy was being abused. With such families still being able to board between the A and B groups, there will still be plenty of seats available. Then again, I have never understood the need to "camp out" at the front of the line in each group either. The entire plane will get to its destination at. the. same. time. Disclaimer: I'm married, but have no kids. ... View more

You Kyla apologists (whose business SWA neither wants nor needs, thank you very much) are forgetting one thing that was explained perfectly well in the original post: the Today show producers had to censor where her underwear was exposed on the set. Poor Kyla, she was soooo ashamed of what was done to her that she was forced to proffer herself again before Matt Lauer. I've been at parties where young ladies have worn similarly short skirts so that they can let others see London, France, and her other geographic entities. They want the attention, modesty be damned. Is THAT what Susan B. Anthony et al. crusaded for? Are you "unrepressed" women posting here so selfish to think that you can dress any way you want and that it has no effect on anyone, or no one has the right to notice? I guess you don't want to wear burqas; you just want everyone else to wear blindfolds. (The same does go for the guys with the pants around the kneecaps, BTW.) BTW, Kyla's Myspace page is perfectly relevant because it shows her complete lack of character, much less clothing. She's desperate for attention, and I still say SWA needs to back Keith. Shame on Gary Kelly and Colleen Barrett for not doing so. ... View more

Kim: No, Colleen and company should have STOOD UP for their employee who did nothing wrong, rather than putting their fingers in the wind and deciding to reverse course based on public opinion. What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular. I'll still fly Southwest, but I'm bitterly disappointed by Collen's LACK of leadership here. ... View more

I gotta side with those who are criticizing Colleen for backing down; it now seems that Southwest is violating its policy of Employees coming first, Customers second. If I were "Keith," I'd be updating my resume. Shame on Colleen and everyone on down for letting this man hang out to dry. There was nothing -- NOTHING -- for SWA to apologize to this skank for. Leah, be ye forewarned. This may happen to you. ... View more

Ah, seminar posters. Welcome, one and all. I applaud Southwest for being a bastion of modesty in these decadent times, and have no problem at all with what they did. An admitted SWA apologist, Paul T. ... View more

Catherine, did you still get on the plane? Did the B and C groups get put into a "trailer" that arrived 30 minutes later? Blog Boy is right: the whole plane gets to the destination at the same time. If you value assigned seating, by all means fly an airline that features it. I will happily keep flying Southwest because we know what we're getting and what to expect. Isn't the free market wonderful? ... View more

Jessica, Read Leah's posts, and go and do as she does. ... View more

I LUV the Maryland One plane! Now all I need to do is see it in person. ... View more

Was the Rangers' 30-3 victory over the Orioles the other night actually an impromptu second night of the party? ... View more

Aw, Joe, you should have TOLD me before I booked my BWI-BUF flight next month! Please be more prompt next time. ... View more

Yes, Greg, you are. Now go away. ... View more

Brian, Rest up and get well! I just had my third elbow surgery of the year. Thanks for the great job you do running this blog. ... View more

While I don't work for SWA and didn't know Charles, it's been touching to see the outpouring of grief and support for him from his fellow employees. It's so easy to let any of our servicemen or -women become just a statistic and not a person. Through these posts, Charles has become a person to me, and I'm amazed by how many lives he affected. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. ... View more

Link for the above: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-delays0810,0,1500246.story?track=rss ... View more

Looks like there were some folks at BWI who needed to read this and other Captain Ray postings: Storm delays flights for some at BWI - Canceled Southwest flight to Las Vegas irks passengers P.S. A tech request: Can there be a PREVIEW button for our posts? ... View more

Peter, You say you're a manager of a professional training department. But with a post like yours which is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, you'll have to do a much better job of convincing me or anyone else on this blog that the alleged event you're referring to ever occurred. Put it this way; I'd sooner fly SWA than take a course from you or one of your trainers. Because SWA employees can't, but this SWA customer can, Paul ... View more