02-15-2010
06:58 PM
1 Love
I flew Southwest from STL to LAX for the first time last October. SWA got a mark against them for luggage problems because they overbooked a flight. I tried to put my carry-on, which is under the limitations allowed, in an overhead compartment and there was no room above my seat. I asked the stewardess if there was any room anywhere else and she stated that I need to check it in without even looking elsewhere. I asked her again if there really wasn't any room for the bag and she stated that I needed to check it in and take my seat immediately. I wasn't even in the back of the line either. I reluctantly gave it to her to check in and took my seat. Then a guy across from me, LITERALLY ACROSS FROM ME, looked in the overhead compartment and saw a box. He asked if they could get rid of the box to put his carry-on in the overhead, guess what....NO PROBLEM. The girl was nice to him. Took the box out and he was accommodated for. That irked me.
To add to that, a flight attendant came through and asked if anyone checked in a bag to raise our hand. She asked the customers ahead of me and gave out tickets and asked me if I was going to connecting flight to Oakland. I stated no & that LAX was my final destination but I had to check in my luggage due to no room. She then stated that I didn't have to take a ticket. Guess what? I arrived at LAX and sure enough...no luggage.
5 days later (thank god I had a long vacation), they found the luggage and sent it back to LAX so I could collect it. I received a $100 voucher for the inconvenience.
Does my experience compare to Kevin Smith's issue, not sure. As far as the embarrassment, hell no. Inconvenience wise, yeah.
One thing I will say to all the people are complaining about "fatties" sitting next to them. COMPLAIN ABOUT SOUTHWEST MAKING THE SEATS TOO SMALL! Seriously, I have flown American Airlines, United, Continental and SOUTHWEST makes the smallest damn seats that sit next to each other.
The majority of Americans are overweight. If you are uncomfortable, unless you are a mute, ask your neighbors to try to suck it in or let them know to move their arm. Ridiculous.
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