Southwest Airlines Community

The lack of a coast to coast non-stop from SFO is not surprising when you think about it. Remember, Southwest has built up OAK as a significant focus city (if they'll let us call it that - the term might be too closely associated with a hub-and-spoke system for their comfort). Anywho, the point is that SFO is supposed to compliment, not cannibalize, the airline's existing (and plentiful) offerings at OAK. ... View more

Pittsburgh, without a doubt. It gets rave reviews in lots of travel surveys and the presence of the three largest LCCs doesn't hurt! Also, let me just state for the record that I get double the pleasure when traveling to and from Pittsburgh Int'l because I get to pass through a terminal that was paid for on USAirways' dime despite the fact that I avoid that airline at any and all costs! ... View more

Even better, I have just come across information from Southwest's "Facts Sheet" section of its web site that claims, as of 11/06, the airline's average flight duration is one hour and 37 minutes and covers a distance of 625 miles. ... View more

Ray, Raphael corroborates my argument that short- and medium-haul flights result in higher emissions than other forms of transportation. While this may not hold true for a 6 hour cross-country flight, I say look no further than to the Southwest's average flight duration: one hour and 46 minutes. I rest my case. ... View more

Mr. Stark, your "calculation" that flying is more fuel efficient than driving is not correct. One reason is that when considering all domestics commercial flights in this country, few are cross-country flights. Shorter trips consume more fuel per mile because the high fuel consumption of take-off remains, yet with less high-altitude cruising time to make up for all that fuel consumed at take-off. With all the talk of global warming in recent months, many (not just environmentalists) have stepped forward to explain the concept of the "carbon footprint" that each of us leaves behind on earth. There seems to be a general consensus that traveling by jet increases one's carbon footprint substantially versus any other conventional means of travel. Although your post is interesting, if you had properly acknowledged the facts on this subject (instead of your own loose calculations) you would have likely come to a much different conclusion. As far as the penultimate sentence of your post goes: "Speed and efficiency," let me just say the former is the only one of the two attributes you list that is true. Sincerely, Reid Rosenberg Frequent SWA Traveler ... View more