Comments on: MY REVIEW: Southwest Airlines Flight from Seattle to Tampa http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/ Blogging about the airline industry & travel Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:51:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heading to Oshkosh 2010! | Around the World Flights http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-9137 Heading to Oshkosh 2010! | Around the World Flights Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:50:13 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-9137 [...] Last time I flew Southwest, I slacked and ended up in the B-group. However this time I was vigilant and got in to the much coveted A-group. Window seat, here I come! [...] [...] Last time I flew Southwest, I slacked and ended up in the B-group. However this time I was vigilant and got in to the much coveted A-group. Window seat, here I come! [...]

]]> By: Heading to Oshkosh 2010! | Airline Reporter | An airline blog on the airline industry http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-9028 Heading to Oshkosh 2010! | Airline Reporter | An airline blog on the airline industry Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:27:03 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-9028 [...] Last time I flew Southwest, I slacked and ended up in the B-group. However this time I was vigilant and got in to the much coveted A-group. Window seat, here I come! Share: [...] [...] Last time I flew Southwest, I slacked and ended up in the B-group. However this time I was vigilant and got in to the much coveted A-group. Window seat, here I come! Share: [...]

]]> By: David Parker Brown http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7295 David Parker Brown Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:25:30 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7295 Hey Greg! Thank you so much for your comments. Getting people boarded quickly was something I noticed too. Since it doesn't cost anything to check your bag, most people do it and have no carry-ons to slow things down. It was weird I only saw the confusion in Seattle about boarding process. Talking to other people, seems like most people getting the boarding process and I was just an "above average" group of passengers :). David Hey Greg!

Thank you so much for your comments. Getting people boarded quickly was something I noticed too. Since it doesn’t cost anything to check your bag, most people do it and have no carry-ons to slow things down.

It was weird I only saw the confusion in Seattle about boarding process. Talking to other people, seems like most people getting the boarding process and I was just an “above average” group of passengers :) .

David

]]> By: Greg http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7257 Greg Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:07:16 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7257 David, I just flew today MDW-SMF and flew outbound last Thursday SMF-MDW. (Southwest operates one very conveniently timed nonstop flight each direction in the SMF-MDW market.) I think it was my first trip on Southwest in nearly 10 years. My opinion has changed dramatically since then as I've seen them become in many ways the "full-service" airline. Yes, in general I would prefer an assigned seat but the system they have now works well and I saw no confusion among passengers. After shelling out $50 to United a month ago to fly my bags to and from Las Vegas it was welcome respite from bag fees. Two anecdotal observations. - the woman seated next to me told me she chose Southwest specifically because she wouldn't have to pay for bags - on both flights (100% full outbound and maybe 92% full on the return) there wasn't ANY of the nonsense you see now on other airlines with the poor flight attendants having to play overhead bin police. There was lots of room in the bins both ways. Happy business travelers who don't like to check bags and happy leisure passengers who have no problem with it. Bags in both MDW and SMF were delivered in a reasonable period of time. Check-in both at SMF and MDW was fast and confusion-free, despite there being plenty of passengers. Why? Because Southwest had adequate staff at every step of the way. Great flight attendants on both flights. Friendly and efficient. The one thing that was much different from your experience is that the pilots on the SMF-MDW flight did not utter one word over the PA system the entire flight. And on the return MDW-SMF today there were one or two sentences prior to the take-off and a rather terse warning to pass your trash to the flight attendants close to the end of the flight. The pilots did a great job at what they do best (and that's obviously the most important thing) but they were zeroes as far as representing Southwest to the public. While my first pick will remain Alaska/Horizon, and United a grudging second for the convenience it offers out of the small northern California city where I live, I won't ever hesitate to use Southwest out of SMF if their schedule is best. David, I just flew today MDW-SMF and flew outbound last Thursday SMF-MDW. (Southwest operates one very conveniently timed nonstop flight each direction in the SMF-MDW market.) I think it was my first trip on Southwest in nearly 10 years. My opinion has changed dramatically since then as I’ve seen them become in many ways the “full-service” airline. Yes, in general I would prefer an assigned seat but the system they have now works well and I saw no confusion among passengers.

After shelling out $50 to United a month ago to fly my bags to and from Las Vegas it was welcome respite from bag fees.

Two anecdotal observations.
- the woman seated next to me told me she chose Southwest specifically because she wouldn’t have to pay for bags
- on both flights (100% full outbound and maybe 92% full on the return) there wasn’t ANY of the nonsense you see now on other airlines with the poor flight attendants having to play overhead bin police. There was lots of room in the bins both ways. Happy business travelers who don’t like to check bags and happy leisure passengers who have no problem with it. Bags in both MDW and SMF were delivered in a reasonable period of time.

Check-in both at SMF and MDW was fast and confusion-free, despite there being plenty of passengers. Why? Because Southwest had adequate staff at every step of the way.

Great flight attendants on both flights. Friendly and efficient. The one thing that was much different from your experience is that the pilots on the SMF-MDW flight did not utter one word over the PA system the entire flight. And on the return MDW-SMF today there were one or two sentences prior to the take-off and a rather terse warning to pass your trash to the flight attendants close to the end of the flight. The pilots did a great job at what they do best (and that’s obviously the most important thing) but they were zeroes as far as representing Southwest to the public.

While my first pick will remain Alaska/Horizon, and United a grudging second for the convenience it offers out of the small northern California city where I live, I won’t ever hesitate to use Southwest out of SMF if their schedule is best.

]]> By: Heading to San Francisco then Toronto on Virgin America | Airline Reporter | An airline blog on the airline industry http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7221 Heading to San Francisco then Toronto on Virgin America | Airline Reporter | An airline blog on the airline industry Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:55:17 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7221 [...] Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for another adventure (I love their free Wi-Fi). Last weekend I was able to fly on a personal trip, but today’s trip is for the blog. Virgin America has recently announced new flights from [...] [...] Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for another adventure (I love their free Wi-Fi). Last weekend I was able to fly on a personal trip, but today’s trip is for the blog. Virgin America has recently announced new flights from [...]

]]> By: jennywa http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7145 jennywa Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:49:02 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7145 One advantage of SW is that if you're in the middle of the pack, you can pick who you sit next to-no screaming kids... One advantage of SW is that if you’re in the middle of the pack, you can pick who you sit next to-no screaming kids…

]]> By: Ben http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7096 Ben Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:55:43 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7096 I never got the appeal of this airline. Sure it may be a little less expensive. But to have any chance of a decent seat you have to get to the airport way ahead of time or at least check in ahead of time. Then instead of sitting around comfortably and getting in line when you feel like it, cause you have an assigned seat, you have line up like a heard of cattle. No thanks. I never got the appeal of this airline. Sure it may be a little less expensive. But to have any chance of a decent seat you have to get to the airport way ahead of time or at least check in ahead of time. Then instead of sitting around comfortably and getting in line when you feel like it, cause you have an assigned seat, you have line up like a heard of cattle.

No thanks.

]]> By: David Parker Brown http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7095 David Parker Brown Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:41:51 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7095 Yea...the fine folks at Denver International Airport told me they use both back and forth. However the IATA code is DEN and they even said they normally use DEN for official stuff. I just preferred using DIA, I don't know why. However, I am going to change them all to DEN. Thanks for pointing it out! David Yea…the fine folks at Denver International Airport told me they use both back and forth. However the IATA code is DEN and they even said they normally use DEN for official stuff.

I just preferred using DIA, I don’t know why. However, I am going to change them all to DEN.

Thanks for pointing it out!

David

]]> By: Denver Dan http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7093 Denver Dan Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:21:44 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7093 FYI - The code for DENVER is "DEN" not "DIA" which at one point in time was for Dulles International Airport... FYI – The code for DENVER is “DEN” not “DIA” which at one point in time was for Dulles International Airport…

]]> By: Mike http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7090 Mike Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:58:07 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7090 Had to fly from OAK to PHX earlier this year and had a choice of US Airways/Mesa where I could have the privilege of picking my seat or Southwest. Having spent a couple hours on a Mesa CRJ last year, it was an easy decision to take a Southwest 737 (-700 out, -300 back) even though I ended up in the "dreaded" B group both ways. No matter, got window seats around mid-plane and all was fine. Had to fly from OAK to PHX earlier this year and had a choice of US Airways/Mesa where I could have the privilege of picking my seat or Southwest. Having spent a couple hours on a Mesa CRJ last year, it was an easy decision to take a Southwest 737 (-700 out, -300 back) even though I ended up in the “dreaded” B group both ways. No matter, got window seats around mid-plane and all was fine.

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7086 Tiffany Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:38:20 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7086 It's been a few years since I've flown Southwest, but I'll admit that they're still one of the first websites I check for ticket pricing. Their customer service hasn't ever been an issue for me; I have only pleasant memories of their in-flight staff. It's been long enough that I don't recall the way the seating worked, but I'm the customer in the corner waiting for everyone else to board so I can spend the absolute least amount of time possible on the plane before take off. Besides, I enjoy the several off-the-wall conversations I've had with strangers on airplanes :) (A woman on a SW flight once told me about a time in the 70's when she snuck a rabbit onto the plane under her fur coat). No complaints here! It’s been a few years since I’ve flown Southwest, but I’ll admit that they’re still one of the first websites I check for ticket pricing. Their customer service hasn’t ever been an issue for me; I have only pleasant memories of their in-flight staff. It’s been long enough that I don’t recall the way the seating worked, but I’m the customer in the corner waiting for everyone else to board so I can spend the absolute least amount of time possible on the plane before take off. Besides, I enjoy the several off-the-wall conversations I’ve had with strangers on airplanes :) (A woman on a SW flight once told me about a time in the 70′s when she snuck a rabbit onto the plane under her fur coat). No complaints here!

]]> By: Josh http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7084 Josh Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:31:37 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7084 Well it is about more than just money. If I am going to get a terrible flight in terms of service/seating/etc then I think most are willing to pay a little bit more. You are correct though, the different ways of boarding are not so different that they play a factor in my decision. Well it is about more than just money. If I am going to get a terrible flight in terms of service/seating/etc then I think most are willing to pay a little bit more. You are correct though, the different ways of boarding are not so different that they play a factor in my decision.

]]> By: David Parker Brown http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7082 David Parker Brown Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:24:00 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7082 Well when SWA only gave people an A, B or C card that anxiety used to be through the roof and I couldn't stand it. I preferred just to have a A card and stand in the back of A's and not care about the fighting and the stress. Much better with the poles now though. Virgin does have some pretty awesome lighting and in-flight entertainment. Check out: http://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/11/testing-out-virgin-americas-in-flight-entertainment-system/ David Well when SWA only gave people an A, B or C card that anxiety used to be through the roof and I couldn’t stand it. I preferred just to have a A card and stand in the back of A’s and not care about the fighting and the stress. Much better with the poles now though.

Virgin does have some pretty awesome lighting and in-flight entertainment. Check out: http://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/11/testing-out-virgin-americas-in-flight-entertainment-system/

David

]]> By: David Parker Brown http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7081 David Parker Brown Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:22:16 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7081 Hello Josh! That seems to be what most passengers care about -- get me the cheapest fare possible. If I can save $50 on a 2hr flight, I don't care how we board, just as long as I get there. David Hello Josh!

That seems to be what most passengers care about — get me the cheapest fare possible. If I can save $50 on a 2hr flight, I don’t care how we board, just as long as I get there.

David

]]> By: Jessica http://www.airlinereporter.com/2010/06/my-review-southwest-airlines-flight-from-seattle-to-tampa/comment-page-1/#comment-7080 Jessica Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:13:41 +0000 http://www.airlinereporter.com/?p=5281#comment-7080 I don't mind the concept SWA uses to board, I just want a seat that allows enough room for my long legs and hope I'm not behind, next to or in front of some asshole. However, I hate the mentality it gives the anticipating riders... most everyone is on edge vying for their perfect seat. Maybe they could do it better, maybe not. I do have to say I've flown several different airlines the past year or so and Virgin is by far my favorite. I don’t mind the concept SWA uses to board, I just want a seat that allows enough room for my long legs and hope I’m not behind, next to or in front of some asshole. However, I hate the mentality it gives the anticipating riders… most everyone is on edge vying for their perfect seat. Maybe they could do it better, maybe not. I do have to say I’ve flown several different airlines the past year or so and Virgin is by far my favorite.

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