Originally Posted by
flymeswa
The original poster couldn't have been more correct. Additionally the quote above rarely happens anymore. They print you a boarding category and don't let you board with the flight deck authorization sheet that much anymore. If you ask them to board with the flight deck form, half of them don't understand that jumpseating doesn't actually mean the jumpseat and they say "no there are seats in the back".
First let me say that as a passenger I didn't like SWA. I'm OCD enough to want to know where I'm sitting when I buy the ticket. That said...
I've only js'ed with them twice so very small sample size. Everyone (agents, pilots, FA's, SWA Capt js'ing who helped me out) was great. Maybe I was just lucky, but it was a very nice experience both times.
To the OPs question. My in-laws are pretty well off and frequent travelers. Domestic they prefer SWA. Direct flights, they get the seats they want, they appreciate not feeling nickel and dime'ed (free bags) and they like being able to change their tickets without getting violated. They seem to enjoy the service.
My wife had to be somewhere this week, a series of cascading appts meant that missing a flight would have been painful. Our loads were pretty high (go profit sharing!). Decided we needed to guarantee she got there, looked around.....and bought on SWA.
I feel a little embarrassed/guilty. But the pricing wasn't even close and, uh, first year pay.