Anyone taking advantage of SouthWests cheap airfare?

[DavidPT40]

SouthWest airlines offers some pretty good deals to diving spots in the south east. Think its $59 to $79 (each way) to places like North Carolina and Florida.

Has anyone here ever flown on SouthWest? I think I will probably take a short trip to Florida in late september or october.

 

[Bill Schindler]

SouthWest airlines offers some pretty good deals to diving spots in the south east. Think its $59 to $79 (each way) to places like North Carolina and Florida.

Has anyone here ever flown on SouthWest? I think I will probably take a short trip to Florida in late september or october.

I've flown on SWA many, many times. I've taken them to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) at least 1/2 dozen times. Their fares are great and the flights are almost always on time. You just need to be prepared for the cattle-car approach (no assigned seating).

 

[Mo2vation]

SouthWest airlines offers some pretty good deals to diving spots in the south east. Think its $59 to $79 (each way) to places like North Carolina and Florida.

Has anyone here ever flown on SouthWest? I think I will probably take a short trip to Florida in late september or october.

Join their Frequent Flyer program. you get free flights very quickly.

Check in online the night before.

Get there early.

Prepare for funky seatbelts in wack leather sided seats. :11ztongue

They rock. That's why they're profitable, and like 99.999% of the other airlines aren't.

Now the bad news: No matter how hot the flight attendants are, hotties don't look good in Khaki shorts and polo shirts. Its like flying with summer camp counselors. :10:

---
Ken

 

[MichaelBaranows]

I have flown SWA for years and they might not be the nicest planes for they are great people and prices. I joined there frequent flier club last year and also got a SWA credit cards so free flight add up quickly plus you get several drink tickets.

Best plan is to sit in the back hopefully in the lounge if the plane has one and get an adult beverage.

 

[scubagal28]

SouthWest airlines offers some pretty good deals to diving spots in the south east. Think its $59 to $79 (each way) to places like North Carolina and Florida.

Has anyone here ever flown on SouthWest? I think I will probably take a short trip to Florida in late september or october.

I am actually flying from Nashville to Jacksonville Florida in September for $39 each way. I would rather fly Southwest then any other airline.
The people are friendly and the planes are usually always on time.

 

[mike_s]

Southwest is "great" (for the price) when it works...... when they get backed up for some reason though, since you don't have a reserved seat, you have all kinds of problems on your connecting flight, or arranging another one.

I could handle them much better if they had reserved seats. I don't like having
to stand in line a 2nd time to get their little "plastic number" boarding pass when they could have issued me a reserved seat at the ticket counter when I checked in. Having to stand in line twice typically means you have to be at the airport 1.5 hours before the flight instead of arriving about 45 minutes early (when not having to check bags).

They are like the "Dollar move" of airlines. Since it's cheaper, it seems that everyone brings their kids. And like the "dollar movie", the kids are all full of energy and running up and down the walkways, etc...

Like I said, I don't mind Southwest when it works, but when I can fly a different airline with reserved seating for $25 bucks more, I'll do it every time.


Btw... their $79 dollar fares, while seem great, don't typically include round trip,
911 fees, security fees, airport fees, tax, etc. Do it round trip and add the fee's,
and sometimes you're over $200, which you can get get a reserved seat on other
airlines.

However.... Southwest Employees seem to have MUCH better "attitudes" than
the average "distgruntled" Delta employee.

 

[Vtdiver2]

I've flown on SWA many, many times. I've taken them to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) at least 1/2 dozen times. Their fares are great and the flights are almost always on time. You just need to be prepared for the cattle-car approach (no assigned seating).

I've flown SWA a few times, as they do have great fares. One thing to note, you can't reserve seats. You want to get there early, or else you get stuck with whatever is left. It isn't an issue if it's direct flight that you can get to the airport early, but I had a flight get delayed, that got me into the airport 10 min before my next flight. When I got to the plane, my party all had seats, but they were scattered around the plane and we had trouble finding places for our carry on as the bins were full.
Otherwise, great airline and I'll use them again if Jet Blue can't get me there. Jet Blue RULES!!! and no, I don't own stock.
Chris

 

[mike_s]

I've flown SWA a few times, as they do have great fares. One thing to note, you can't reserve seats. You want to get there early, or else you get stuck with whatever is left. It isn't an issue if it's direct flight that you can get to the airport early, but I had a flight get delayed, that got me into the airport 10 min before my next flight. When I got to the plane, my party all had seats, but they were scattered around the plane and we had trouble finding places for our carry on as the bins were full.
Otherwise, great airline and I'll use them again if Jet Blue can't get me there. Jet Blue RULES!!! and no, I don't own stock.
Chris

You're lucky you got seats. I've seen people on Southwest who's plane
got delayed and they got there 10 minutes before the flight and they
had already given away their seats. Boy those people were pissed.
I can't blame them.

I try not to use them unless it's a direct flight for this reason.

 

[MichaelBaranows]

Doesn't everyone arrive early. Maybe I am the only person that does this but I check my bags cause I don't want to mess with them. I normally I have a back pack that I carry on with my important stuff (including tooth brush and change of cloths). As fas as having to stand in line, that is in the past cause to can print your boarding pass off your computer. Which will means that you are sure to have a seat on the next flight. And when they call for the first group wait until that group is about finished and then just get up and walk straight onto the plane.

PS. Kind of a pet peeve "Why does everyone from the front to the back of the plane stand up as soon as the plane stops at the gate?"

 

[Vtdiver2]

Doesn't everyone arrive early. Maybe I am the only person that does this but I check my bags cause I don't want to mess with them. I normally I have a back pack that I carry on with my important stuff (including tooth brush and change of cloths). As fas as having to stand in line, that is in the past cause to can print your boarding pass off your computer. Which will means that you are sure to have a seat on the next flight. And when they call for the first group wait until that group is about finished and then just get up and walk straight onto the plane.

PS. Kind of a pet peeve "Why does everyone from the front to the back of the plane stand up as soon as the plane stops at the gate?"

When I travel, I check my bag too, but I do have a carry on that has my reg, computer and mask in it. I also try to get there early, but when it's a connecting flight, you aren't in control of when you get there.
Another pet peeve with SWA is because there are no reserved seats, all the elderly get on first, take up the front 5 or so rows, and hold everyone up when it's time to get off.
Try making your connection when it takes an extra 20 minutes to disembark due to all the elderly needing help. I'm all for helping the elderly, but it should be required that if you need help, use a cane or a wheelchair, you wait til the rest of the plane had emptied to allow the rest of the passengers the chance to make their connections.
Just my opinion,
Chris