What is it about SWA that people rave about?
04-22-2015 | 08:12 PM
#13
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: A320/321 CA
What "gives" is your use of the words "recently" and "lately". To answer your question and understand it, you should understand a few things.
Their core customer base has been flying them longer than a decade. For ex, I started flying SWA out of DAL as a boy when one stood a very good chance of running into Herb Kelleher on a flight serving drinks and peanuts.
Decades later, 9/11 came along and SWA, alone among airlines, didn't lay off a single pilot, bag handler, or gate agent. The exec. suite even made a scheduled $179 million payment into a co. retirement plan during those uncertain times. In addition to all that, it has never sniffed bankruptcy and made a profit in every year of it's existence. Out of literally thousands of trips on SWA with innumerable connecting flights, they've never lost one of my checked bags and I usually arrive at my destination on time.
If I had to chose one word to describe SWA, in an industry fraught with risk, that word would be "reliable".
One can "rave" about SWA in any number of different ways. It has historically been a reliable company that gives the greatest value for your traveling dollar. It has been a reliable and safe investment for your stock portfolio. It's safety record is impeccable. It flies Boeing aircraft. I can go on and on.
Disclosure: never worked there, been a customer since the '70s, and I own the stock. Yes, I drank the kool-aid a long time ago, but the company and it's performance justified it and continues to do so.
Their core customer base has been flying them longer than a decade. For ex, I started flying SWA out of DAL as a boy when one stood a very good chance of running into Herb Kelleher on a flight serving drinks and peanuts.
Decades later, 9/11 came along and SWA, alone among airlines, didn't lay off a single pilot, bag handler, or gate agent. The exec. suite even made a scheduled $179 million payment into a co. retirement plan during those uncertain times. In addition to all that, it has never sniffed bankruptcy and made a profit in every year of it's existence. Out of literally thousands of trips on SWA with innumerable connecting flights, they've never lost one of my checked bags and I usually arrive at my destination on time.
If I had to chose one word to describe SWA, in an industry fraught with risk, that word would be "reliable".
One can "rave" about SWA in any number of different ways. It has historically been a reliable company that gives the greatest value for your traveling dollar. It has been a reliable and safe investment for your stock portfolio. It's safety record is impeccable. It flies Boeing aircraft. I can go on and on.
Disclosure: never worked there, been a customer since the '70s, and I own the stock. Yes, I drank the kool-aid a long time ago, but the company and it's performance justified it and continues to do so.
With all do respect I don't care about your portfolio, profitability or running into Herb.
All I know that my past experiences LATELY, have not been good in my opinion as a full revenue passenger. Believe me that I am not in the least a demanding customer.
I run into rude FA's, supervisors that don't know proper protocols and then tell me that they are trying to help me when in fact they are doing just the opposite.
I was merely asking that if there has been internal issues with labor so people are irked or am I just getting the bad apples as one said.
That's it. No analysis, history, Boeing airplanes, stocks, drinks with Herb.
Last edited by Captain Nemo; 04-22-2015 at 08:24 PM.
04-22-2015 | 08:42 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,207
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From: CA
So I have to be a customer since the 70's to get respect from some old hag giving me her version of LUV?
With all do respect I don't care about your portfolio, profitability or running into Herb.
All I know that my past experiences LATELY, have not been good in my opinion as a full revenue passenger. Believe me that I am not in the least a demanding customer.
I run into rude FA's, supervisors that don't know proper protocols and then tell me that they are trying to help me when in fact they are doing just the opposite.
I was merely asking that if there has been internal issues with labor so people are irked or am I just getting the bad apples as one said.
That's it. No analysis, history, Boeing airplanes, stocks, drinks with Herb.
With all do respect I don't care about your portfolio, profitability or running into Herb.
All I know that my past experiences LATELY, have not been good in my opinion as a full revenue passenger. Believe me that I am not in the least a demanding customer.
I run into rude FA's, supervisors that don't know proper protocols and then tell me that they are trying to help me when in fact they are doing just the opposite.
I was merely asking that if there has been internal issues with labor so people are irked or am I just getting the bad apples as one said.
That's it. No analysis, history, Boeing airplanes, stocks, drinks with Herb.
04-22-2015 | 09:19 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Downward-Facing Dog Pose
So I have to be a customer since the 70's to get respect from some old hag giving me her version of LUV?
I was merely asking that if there has been internal issues with labor so people are irked or am I just getting the bad apples as one said.
That's it. No analysis, history, Boeing airplanes, stocks, drinks with Herb.
I was merely asking that if there has been internal issues with labor so people are irked or am I just getting the bad apples as one said.
That's it. No analysis, history, Boeing airplanes, stocks, drinks with Herb.
You DID read the question you asked in the title of your thread, didn't you? You never said you didn't want the full monte. No worries. No one likes surly FAs.
Anyway, I told ya I drank the kool-aid. Way back when Herb gave a certain chicken wing franchise the bottom end of it's business model.
04-23-2015 | 03:05 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
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Same here. Virtually every ticket I have purchased over the past 10 years has been on SWA. The reason being, when my plans changed, I could get full credit back to be used on a future flight. SWA is the only airline that does that, although I have heard that policy has changed recently? If it has, my reason for flying SWA is gone.
04-23-2015 | 03:25 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2011
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Same here. Virtually every ticket I have purchased over the past 10 years has been on SWA. The reason being, when my plans changed, I could get full credit back to be used on a future flight. SWA is the only airline that does that, although I have heard that policy has changed recently? If it has, my reason for flying SWA is gone.
Now you have to cancel atleast 10 mins before departure. If you just simply no show, then you loose your money. But if you are late reaching the airport, and reach the airport within 2 hours of the scheduled departure, then they put you on the next one out or reroute you to get get you where you are going & that is not considered a no show....
Still, you have your money which can be applied to future travel up to one year with no change penalty....
Not like UAL, where you can't use your travel funds online for a web fare but have t o call to make a booking & You are better off buying a new ticket than using old one...
Still one of the best travel experience, no nickel & dime for small things, simple philosophy first come first served, best rewards program, the list is long.....
You have to look past the age of the FA's & actually see how they are willing to help you....
If all one wants is cute looking girls, then fly Emirates or other Middle East or Asian carriers.....
For domestic travel, SWA is prolly the best value for money...
04-23-2015 | 03:25 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,213
Likes: 14
From: guppy CA
Same here. Virtually every ticket I have purchased over the past 10 years has been on SWA. The reason being, when my plans changed, I could get full credit back to be used on a future flight. SWA is the only airline that does that, although I have heard that policy has changed recently? If it has, my reason for flying SWA is gone.
The policy is as follows:
Reusable Funds1
If you cancel your flight, 100% of your ticket value can be applied to future travel for up to 12 months.
- No Show Policy: If you are not planning to travel on any portion of this itinerary, please cancel your reservation at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure of the flight. For tickets purchased on or after May 10, 2013, for travel beginning September 13, 2013, Customers who fail to cancel or change a Wanna Get Away or DING! Fare segment at least 10 minutes prior to travel and who do not board the flight, will be considered a no show, and all remaining funds on this reservation will be forfeited, including Business Select and Anytime funds. On cancellations, 100% of the ticket value may be applied to future travel to be completed for up to 12 months or by your ticket’s expiration date, whichever comes first.
Canceling your reservations without penalty: If you call or cancel online at Southwest.com within 24 hours of booking, Southwest will offer you the option of refunding the airfare back to the original form of payment, or retaining the credit to be used toward future travel.
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