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re: The Downfall of Southwest
Posted on 6/1/25 at 8:22 am to Lsut81
Posted on 6/1/25 at 8:22 am to Lsut81
quote:
it was miserable how tight the seats are as of now
That's exactly my thought on United's standard legroom for us poors
But in any case, Southwest is going to spend a boatload of money to undergo all of these plane modifications to add in these extra legroom seats and remove legroom for standard seats for what? The random business traveler that wouldn't previously book SWA because they couldn't pick a seat? Elliott seems to have a lot of faith in that market and that business travelers will book SWA post-modifications. I don't think SWA is even an option in Concur at my company let alone a 'Preferred Airline' for booking
1
Posted on 6/1/25 at 8:33 am to CuseTiger
Also the fact that if lower than preferred, you have to pay to check your bags
They are basically forcing out their bread and butter customers.
They are basically forcing out their bread and butter customers.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 8:36 am to Lsut81
We haven't even discussed pricing yet... People have been noticing that the Wanna Get Away fares are now the same price as pre 5/28 with no checked bags, no same day standby, 6 month flight credit expiration, etc. They killed WGA and turned it into basic economy that's almost worse than UA, DL, AA, etc
And just saw this article about 'Why I won't buy early bird check-in again'. LINK Apparently early bird check-in doesn't actually check you in. The person ended up as B10 despite paying the $30 for early check in meaning all 60 A group, pre-boarders, and families would board before them. I'm with them, I wouldn't pay for that 'benefit' any longer
And just saw this article about 'Why I won't buy early bird check-in again'. LINK Apparently early bird check-in doesn't actually check you in. The person ended up as B10 despite paying the $30 for early check in meaning all 60 A group, pre-boarders, and families would board before them. I'm with them, I wouldn't pay for that 'benefit' any longer
This post was edited on 6/1/25 at 8:41 am
Posted on 6/1/25 at 8:58 am to CuseTiger
I strongly dislike the new changes.
2nd, we're going to continue to fly SW often for the next 1.5 years at least, have companion pass, RR points, and the cards so won't have to pay for a checked bag.
3rd, the changes aren't great for families but will be good for people who travel solo or coupled, and/or for business. And for better or worse it will solve the pre-boarding mess, but while annoying I never let that bother me.
Last, all airlines have been sucky to their core, non-super elite status customers lately. I will fly SW, but I will also fly whatever gets me there direct and cheaper from MSY. I'm flying to both STL and KC later this year, I'm not passing up a direct fly just because I'm pissed with SW. And I might keep the SW biz card (assuming fee stays under $200), but will see. One positive, at least the new planes are nice.
2nd, we're going to continue to fly SW often for the next 1.5 years at least, have companion pass, RR points, and the cards so won't have to pay for a checked bag.
3rd, the changes aren't great for families but will be good for people who travel solo or coupled, and/or for business. And for better or worse it will solve the pre-boarding mess, but while annoying I never let that bother me.
Last, all airlines have been sucky to their core, non-super elite status customers lately. I will fly SW, but I will also fly whatever gets me there direct and cheaper from MSY. I'm flying to both STL and KC later this year, I'm not passing up a direct fly just because I'm pissed with SW. And I might keep the SW biz card (assuming fee stays under $200), but will see. One positive, at least the new planes are nice.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 9:15 am to NOLALGD
quote:
we're going to continue to fly SW often for the next 1.5 years at least, have companion pass, RR points, and the cards so won't have to pay for a checked bag
And this makes perfect sense if you have the credit card and companion pass as you still get one free bag for everyone on the reservation
quote:
And for better or worse it will solve the pre-boarding mess, but while annoying I never let that bother me
What I'll be curious about is the actual boarding times on southwest planes in a few months. They typically have 40 minute turns on a 738 but with everyone now going to be bringing a carry-on instead of a checked bag, how much slower is boarding going to be? I'm expecting a lot of last minute gate checked bags that will cause some delays in departure times by an extra 10-15 minutes. If this happens early in the day, those delays are just going to cascade throughout the day and the late afternoon/evening flights will suffer the worst
quote:
I will fly SW, but I will also fly whatever gets me there direct and cheaper from MSY. I'm flying to both STL and KC later this year, I'm not passing up a direct fly just because I'm pissed with SW
It'll be interesting if those direct flights they jack the prices up because they realize they are the only ones with a non-stop option. Is flying direct or flying cheaper more important for you?
Posted on 6/1/25 at 9:33 am to CuseTiger
quote:
What's the most pre-boarders you've seen on a flight? Good general question for everyone here. I think I'm at 12 including some obese woman
I’ll be A25 and about the 70th person on the plane it feels like
Posted on 6/1/25 at 10:10 am to CuseTiger
quote:
I'm expecting a lot of last minute gate checked bags that will cause some delays in departure times by an extra 10-15 minutes. If this happens early in the day, those delays are just going to cascade throughout the day and the late afternoon/evening flights will suffer the worst
This is a good question. I hope this will partially be mitigated by the large bins on the newer planes. But yes, would be a problem.
quote:
t'll be interesting if those direct flights they jack the prices up because they realize they are the only ones with a non-stop option. Is flying direct or flying cheaper more important for you?
Also good question. For business travel: non-stop, time of flight, cost, airline in that order. Personal, or business with personal tacked on: non-stop, cost, airline, time (might a fun idea for its own thread!). In the past calendar year I've flown 5 different domestic airlines out of MSY, if you go back 3 years i've flown 9 out of MSY. Sure if I lived in another city my flight profile would be different, but more and more air travel is just the means of getting me where I have to go quickly. I know its a dream scenario, but if we have the train system of Western/Central Europe 1/2 of my 2 hour or less flights would be replaced by overnight trains. If only...
Posted on 6/1/25 at 10:33 am to NOLALGD
I just got the promotional companion pass that lasts through March of next year, so I'm exclusively doing SW until then. Have 3 more flights booked after one today, so I'll get to see the changes in real time over the summer and fall.
Got the card for the free bag and my family has mostly flown SW out of MSY the past 3-4 years. I used to fly Delta all the time, no problems, but moved and now it doesn't go where I go.
I do think after the companion pass expires, I'll shop around airlines more and maybe get a United card. However, SW always seems to have the best and most options to where I'm going.
Got the card for the free bag and my family has mostly flown SW out of MSY the past 3-4 years. I used to fly Delta all the time, no problems, but moved and now it doesn't go where I go.
I do think after the companion pass expires, I'll shop around airlines more and maybe get a United card. However, SW always seems to have the best and most options to where I'm going.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 10:52 am to metallica81788
Another subtle F you to their best customers during this skid was the elimination of the executive resolution team for Preferred customers.
You used to be able to go to them for issues and have it handled promptly. Somewhere 2020/2021ish they did away with it and sent those customers to the normal customer line.
You used to be able to go to them for issues and have it handled promptly. Somewhere 2020/2021ish they did away with it and sent those customers to the normal customer line.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 11:47 am to NOLALGD
quote:non stop is always my first choice. The parade of airports and connections is never worth the discount if any
Personal, or business with personal tacked on: non-stop, cost, airline, time (might a fun idea for its own thread!)
Posted on 6/1/25 at 12:22 pm to cgrand
The problematic issue with ALL the wheel-chair 'pre-boarders' would be easily 'solved' by requiring all the invalid pre-boarders to also have to WAIT on a wheelchair AFTER all the able bodied deplaned on arrival...would be interesting to see just how many of them would 'wait' !
Posted on 6/1/25 at 12:44 pm to tickfawtiger
I agree. I also think if the preboards had a small reserved section in the back part of the plane that would work too.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 12:50 pm to tickfawtiger
quote:
would be easily 'solved' by requiring all the invalid pre-boarders to also have to WAIT on a wheelchair AFTER
Even simpler, require a doctors note
Posted on 6/1/25 at 1:24 pm to CuseTiger
Saw 40 to 50 on flight out of Chicago to MSY last year. All "it's always them Boo Boo".
They all sat in window and aisle seats, spread out and refused to let anyone in center seats. All over 250 except one normal sized couple.
We almost got bumped, some did. Complained to SW and got vouchers.
Will never book SW again.
They all sat in window and aisle seats, spread out and refused to let anyone in center seats. All over 250 except one normal sized couple.
We almost got bumped, some did. Complained to SW and got vouchers.
Will never book SW again.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 3:13 pm to dietcoke7
I noticed on our last Southwest flight the gate agents were refusing to board passengers who were B and C group trying to board with A group. It’s very frustrating to pay up to get A group seats and B, C group passengers are allowed to board with A group. That happened a lot in the last 4 years. I was happy to see some enforcement recently.
Posted on 6/1/25 at 4:10 pm to deltafarmer
quote:
I noticed on our last Southwest flight the gate agents were refusing to board passengers who were B and C group trying to board with A group. It’s very frustrating to pay up to get A group seats and B, C group passengers are allowed to board with A group. That happened a lot in the last 4 years. I was happy to see some enforcement recently.
Bingo, this was bigger problem than the pre-boarding. I once remember having A35, near the front of the 2nd line. They had to have at least 30 people go after they announced A15-30, definitely pissed me off.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 7:47 pm to CuseTiger
SWA is in deep trouble. My home airport is SEA, so I fly Alaska for direct flights, but for connecting flights, United, American, and Delta are all cheaper for the flights I have been looking at than SWA, and this is before bag fees. I have zero reason to ever fly them again. Sell short on SWA.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 8:12 pm to CuseTiger
On our Dallas-San Antonio round trip SW flight this weekend they didn't go full drink service & no food snacks. They brought out water in a cup for everyone who wanted it. Looks like they are now doing this on flights that are less than an hour.
Posted on 6/2/25 at 11:49 pm to CuseTiger
Southwest always sucked. I never understood why they had such a strong following
Posted on 6/3/25 at 7:06 am to Pelican fan99
quote:
Southwest always sucked.
Aside from the boarding process (some like, some don't) its customer service, rewards programs, wifi service, free live tv, large planes, and free checked bags were great.
SW lost its way during Covid and has continued the downward spiral over the past 4yrs. The only thing that has remained is the wifi, tv, and planes, everything else has gone to shite.
Its funny SW is taking away all these other things when airlines like United are upgrading and giving away Starlink internet on their planes.
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