Southwest Airlines Community

Bill: I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I understand completely how you feel. I lost my mom to a brain tumor a short six months after she was diagnosed. She was such a witty and personable woman, it was a blessing that she went before her brain did. There were so many people at her funeral, that by the time the family arrived at the cemetary, cars were still leaving the church. But, the best part of your post was the Mustgo night. We had that at least once a month. All the leftovers came out and my mom said, "everything Must GO!. Thanks for bringing back a great memory. Also, know this, your mom still lives. Not in our lives, but in you, and your family. Love you Bill! Nona/MSY ... View more

Rob: I read your post and being a Southwest Employee in New Orleans, please know that I feel you pain. Considering the fact that I live and work here, I'd like to address some of the comments made by other bloggers. Matt D, Jeramy and Francisco, the demand for flights is here. For the year ending 2006, our load factor (percentage of filled seats) out of New Orleans was 79.34%. That's pretty high. For the month of January 2007, a notoriously slow month for the airline business, our load factor was 77.35%. That was the second highest in the system. Micah, even though we did have connecting Customers out of MSY, we were mainly a destination city. Our local Customers far outnumbered our connecting Customers. A lot of our business was not only tourists coming to the French Quarter, but Customer's coming to catch cruise ships and to attend conventions. The French Quarter was not damaged during the storm, three of the cruise ships have returned, and now that the convention center has been repaired, we are seeing the convention business returning. Unfortunately, many conventions are cancelling simply because the air service is not here. Furthermore, the majority of our Birmingham Customers pre-Katrina were in fact, traveling to the ATL area, not BHM, so even though your numbers are interesting, they're not a true reading. Brandon, please don't believe everything you read. The mis-reporting by the various news medias has been terrible. Our residents are frustrated, angry, and exasperated at the slow response of our government to make good on the aid they were promised, but it's only a small percentage who are giving up hope. What most of the rest of the country doesn't realize is the mind set of people from this area. They just don't leave, and if they do, they eventually come home. So, I hope I cleared up some misconceptions. And Rob, please don't give up on us. Hopefully, this will be the year. Nona/CSS Southwest Airlines ... View more

Bill: Hey guy! I have a great pay it forward story. As you know, I live in New Orleans and am living in Katrina's aftermath and all that it implies. I was standing in line at one of the food places on Concourse B to buy my daily ice tea early one morning. A couple were in front of me talking about what to order. I suggested they get the omelet poboy. We struck up a conversation and I found out that they had been in town gutting houses. I told them that my sister and my husband's sister, husband and daughter had come down a couple of months after Katrina and had gutted houses for a week. I also thanked them for coming down and helping out. When it came time for me to order my drink, the guy behind me said..."let me pay for that". I can only guess that he was a "local" too, had listened in on the converstation between me and the visitors, and wanted to do a little something to thank me for "thanking" them. Anyway, it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day...something that we really need down here. And just a side note to all you bloggers...New Orleans is open for business. Please, please, please, come visit us. You'll love it! Nona ... View more

Every time I hear about another pilot retiring because of the mandatory age requirement I am saddened. Last year, my husband and I took his 90 year old mom to the DMV in Michigan to get her drivers liscense renewed. She was terrified but tried not to show it. It turned out that all they asked her was for a doctors note saying she was fit to drive. She didn't have to take a test, she didn't have to drive. It took all of 15 minutes. I'm not saying she can't drive, because she can. And she lives in a very small town, and doesn't drive at night...but folks, she's 90 YEARS OLD! (A good thing for my husband because his family's longetivy is much better than mine meaning he's going to be a rich a man if I go before him... my profit sharing...LOL.) My point is, if my mother-in-law can still drive a car at 90 years old, pilots shoud be able to fly as long as they are able to pass their tests..which are much more strigent then driving test. So, what do yoa'll think? Nona ... View more

James: Always remember to invite the airport fire department to the barbeque . . . just in case you set off the sprinkler system. Learned that from experience! LOL Nona/MSY ... View more

I was on a medical leave of absence from Southwest on 9/11. My husband called me and told me to turn on the TV. I watched the second plane fly into the World Trade Center. I immediately called my brother, a flight attendant for American AA. No answer. Then I called my sister, who also worked for American AA, she had not heard from my brother yet. Later in the day, my brother made contact and told us he was ok. I live very close to the airport in New Orleans. I waited and waited for the first plane to take off. When I heard the first jet flying overhead, days later, I hobbled out on my deck, and it was a Southwest 737. I stared at it, and prayed it wouldn't blow up before my eyes. I will never forget my helplessness at not being able to help my co-workers in their time of need. They spent hours and hours at hotels and the airport with our stranded Customers. Just tonight, my husband watched the TV movie Flt.93. When it was over, he came in and told me..."I almost cried"...and that if I watched it, I would. You see, he makes fun of me for crying when I watch "Emergency Vets", but he never gets emotional...until tonight. I have lived through, and am still living through Hurricane Katrina. Our loss was profound. But, we had warnings. Those who lost their lives as a result of the terroism of September 11 didn't. Let us never forget! Nona ... View more

Hey all! I am not yet retired, but I am on long term disability due to the consequences of Katrina in New Orleans and some job change requirements. Therefore, I am on the email list for the LUVers group. Brian is absolutely correct, it's very hard to "let go" after 29 years and an absolutely unforgetable career. I've got a memory that I'd like to share. Back in the days, we used a phone system caled the "PLF" to contact other departments. You simply picked up the phone, called out the name of the department you wanted and identified your department. For instance, if I wanted to contact DRC, Dallas Reservations Center, I'd say "DRC this is El Paso", and someone would answer. Everyone in every other department could hear the conversation as it was all on speaker phone. I believe that is how we all stayed connected and knew each other, even though we didn't work in the same city. I made some great and long lasting friendships with people I never met in person...sort of like an antiquated email system. Then, when you finally met, it was fun putting the faces with the voices, right Terry M? Of course, you had to be careful what you said, and during hectic times, like when the reservation system went down, or there was bad weather, it could be a challange squeezing in your call when everyone else was trying too. Fun! Fun! Fun! Just a fond memory from an old dinasour. Nona Roges/CSS MSY ... View more

Leah: You need to check-in at the Ticket Counter and get a gate pass. Then you need to go to the gate and get your name on the "stand-by" list. The gates open one hour prior to departure and it's first come first served. Because you will be flying "non-rev", you will be cleared after revenue paying Customers. Once you get your name on the list, have a seat in the gate area and wait for your name to be called. When you hear your name, go to the gate and get your boarding pass. If they don't clear you, your name will stay on the list for the next flight. Good luck. Nona ... View more

James: Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this quarters Dinasour Party. I just recently got on Joy's list and already had other plans. But...I do plan to attend one of them, asap. Can't wait to see all the "old" faces. It seems like we all grew up with each other! "Seems like"....heck, we did! Nona ... View more

Dear Employees and Valued Customers: I am in the group that is fondly known as "The Dinasours". That means that there are Employees out there who have Employee #'s that are higher than mine, 1511, multiplied by 10. On June 6, I celebrated my 29th anniversary with Southwest Airlines. Those of you who know Colleen also know that she shuns the computer. She doesn't even have an email address. She prefers personal communicaton. So, for her to post a blog on this website is certainly a milestone for her! You go girl! Colleen, I have been proud to have walked and worked with YOU! From "Spreading LUV All Over Texas" to "Ding, You Are Now Free to Move About the Country", you have been there for all of us. You have always been generous with your knowledge, your support, and your LUV! So Happy Birthday to YOU! And here's to many, many more! Luv, Noner ... View more

Gosh, we've been doing T-Shirts since I started in 1977. I remember back then, when Southwest was selling sex (hot pants, knee high boots, "LUV" bites,) I had a T-shirt that said, "I had a Nooner on Southwest Airlines". Wish I still had it, it would fetch a small fortune on EBay. Nona Rogers, CSS ... View more

I second Kevin's suggestion for a Louisiana One. What a huge morale booster for the Employees as well as our loyal Customers. We are still a city, and a people, on the mend and every little bit helps. I would personally like to thank all of our Customers who returned to fly our LUV jets when we reopened the New Orleans Station. We shared tears and laughter, hugs and yes, even anger those first few months after the "thing". Your support made very difficult and trying times managable. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Nona Rogers - Customer Service Supervisor/MSY ... View more