Southwest expands service to San Juan.
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
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Southwest expands service to San Juan.
Southwest Expands Footprint Beyond the 48 Contiguous States Southwest Airlines announces service ...
Nov 01, 2012 DALLAS, Texas - Southwest Airlines now offers for sale nonstop service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Orlando and Tampa Bay, for travel beginning on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Beginning in April, Southwest will operate three daily nonstop flights between Orlando and San Juan and one daily nonstop flight between Tampa Bay and San Juan, as the carrier transitions these routes from AirTran-operated city pairs.
AirTran will continue to offer service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, and Atlanta. Southwest soon will determine the best time to convert the remaining AirTran flying to Southwest as part of the ongoing integration to eventually become one airline flying under the Southwest brand. AirTran Customers who booked flights between San Juan and Tampa Bay or San Juan and Orlando for travel beginning April 14, 2013, or later will be contacted by the airline and rebooked on Southwest flights. As Southwest continues to integrate AirTran's People, places, and planes into Southwest Airlines, Customers of both carriers may exchange earned loyalty points between both AirTran's A+ Rewards® and Southwest's Rapid Rewards® frequent flyer programs for reward travel on either airline.
"Southwest celebrates San Juan, Puerto Rico, as our first venture beyond the continental United States," said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President, Bob Jordan. "AirTran has done a wonderful job establishing a presence in this market, and Southwest is proud to continue that legacy and extend our vast network of destinations, exceptional Customer Service, and convenient low fares to the San Juan community."
"We are excited about Southwest's arrival into Puerto Rico to offer its legendary Customer Service. It is an honor to be Southwest's first destination outside the continental United States. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company and all Puerto Rican travelers welcome this new carrier to our Island and know that this new service will provide great opportunities for growth into the airline's robust network, and great connectivity to the west coast markets in the U.S.," said Luis G. Rivera Marin, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
AirTran began service at San Juan in March 2008 with service to Orlando and Atlanta. In February 2009, the carrier added service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington. AirTran added San Juan service to Tampa Bay in April 2011 and to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood in May 2012. Today, AirTran still offers a total of five daily nonstop flights to three markets from San Juan: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
Nov 01, 2012 DALLAS, Texas - Southwest Airlines now offers for sale nonstop service from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Orlando and Tampa Bay, for travel beginning on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Beginning in April, Southwest will operate three daily nonstop flights between Orlando and San Juan and one daily nonstop flight between Tampa Bay and San Juan, as the carrier transitions these routes from AirTran-operated city pairs.
AirTran will continue to offer service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, and Atlanta. Southwest soon will determine the best time to convert the remaining AirTran flying to Southwest as part of the ongoing integration to eventually become one airline flying under the Southwest brand. AirTran Customers who booked flights between San Juan and Tampa Bay or San Juan and Orlando for travel beginning April 14, 2013, or later will be contacted by the airline and rebooked on Southwest flights. As Southwest continues to integrate AirTran's People, places, and planes into Southwest Airlines, Customers of both carriers may exchange earned loyalty points between both AirTran's A+ Rewards® and Southwest's Rapid Rewards® frequent flyer programs for reward travel on either airline.
"Southwest celebrates San Juan, Puerto Rico, as our first venture beyond the continental United States," said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President, Bob Jordan. "AirTran has done a wonderful job establishing a presence in this market, and Southwest is proud to continue that legacy and extend our vast network of destinations, exceptional Customer Service, and convenient low fares to the San Juan community."
"We are excited about Southwest's arrival into Puerto Rico to offer its legendary Customer Service. It is an honor to be Southwest's first destination outside the continental United States. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company and all Puerto Rican travelers welcome this new carrier to our Island and know that this new service will provide great opportunities for growth into the airline's robust network, and great connectivity to the west coast markets in the U.S.," said Luis G. Rivera Marin, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
AirTran began service at San Juan in March 2008 with service to Orlando and Atlanta. In February 2009, the carrier added service between San Juan and Baltimore/Washington. AirTran added San Juan service to Tampa Bay in April 2011 and to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood in May 2012. Today, AirTran still offers a total of five daily nonstop flights to three markets from San Juan: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.
#3
Wait a minute,
they're announcing service to San Juan? San Juan Texas?
It's really just Harlingen, which is already being serviced.
Now, if the service is Atlanta to San Juan Texas, then yes that's international because Texas is like a whole nuther country. I get it.
they're announcing service to San Juan? San Juan Texas?
It's really just Harlingen, which is already being serviced.
Now, if the service is Atlanta to San Juan Texas, then yes that's international because Texas is like a whole nuther country. I get it.
#4
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
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Well, yeah, at least that is what Gary has been saying the plan is.
"We are committed to preparing Southwest for service beyond the 48 states, namely, near-international, Hawaii, and Alaska."
Was that question rhetorical?
"We are committed to preparing Southwest for service beyond the 48 states, namely, near-international, Hawaii, and Alaska."
Was that question rhetorical?
#5
SWA is going to LOVE flying there. Fun place to go and I think the passengers will welcome SWA with open arms. The whole "quick turn" philosophy will change for SJU flights after a while.....mark my words. Even with 40 pax, you still need 1+hr to get pax to stop partying, sit down and turn the plane.
#6
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Posts: 12,522
SWA is going to LOVE flying there. Fun place to go and I think the passengers will welcome SWA with open arms. The whole "quick turn" philosophy will change for SJU flights after a while.....mark my words. Even with 40 pax, you still need 1+hr to get pax to stop partying, sit down and turn the plane.
They offer great customer service but the customer must also hold up their end of reality and if they don't they are put in their place VERY quickly. That is one of their biggest and least understood operational advantages that is every bit as effective as the "crew hustle" mentality. Customer service does not mean rolling over for everything and taking constant delays so people can get their passive-agressive on. They also hire, for the most part, exceptional people for the jobs they have.
As for SJU pax, I don't think SWA will have any problem whatsoever. Those pax in my experience are great. Some of the best anywhere TBH. They will roll with the tone you set for your operation as long as you treat them with respect and don't run out of coffee, sugar or Coke-a-Cola.
#7
I actually think they will do VERY well in that regard. SWA empowers their FA's and gate agents to "get it done" and they don't live in perpetual fear of an "onion letter" like their counterparts at pretty much every other airline that practices fear based employee retention for entry level employees.
They offer great customer service but the customer must also hold up their end of reality and if they don't they are put in their place VERY quickly. That is one of their biggest and least understood operational advantages that is every bit as effective as the "crew hustle" mentality. Customer service does not mean rolling over for everything and taking constant delays so people can get their passive-agressive on. They also hire, for the most part, exceptional people for the jobs they have.
As for SJU pax, I don't think SWA will have any problem whatsoever. Those pax in my experience are great. Some of the best anywhere TBH. They will roll with the tone you set for your operation as long as you treat them with respect and don't run out of coffee, sugar or Coke-a-Cola.
They offer great customer service but the customer must also hold up their end of reality and if they don't they are put in their place VERY quickly. That is one of their biggest and least understood operational advantages that is every bit as effective as the "crew hustle" mentality. Customer service does not mean rolling over for everything and taking constant delays so people can get their passive-agressive on. They also hire, for the most part, exceptional people for the jobs they have.
As for SJU pax, I don't think SWA will have any problem whatsoever. Those pax in my experience are great. Some of the best anywhere TBH. They will roll with the tone you set for your operation as long as you treat them with respect and don't run out of coffee, sugar or Coke-a-Cola.
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