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When the bean counters mogul corporates took over Southwest Airlines they ruined its original quirky but fun approach. Herb Kelleher the beloved former CEO (RIP) would be rolling in his grave to see these current corporate schmucks in charge. Now they will charge for bag fees just like all the other rotten airlines do.
1 posted on 03/14/2025 5:40:02 PM PDT by tflabo
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To: tflabo

What’s a good airline these days.

I used to like JetBlue.


2 posted on 03/14/2025 5:42:41 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: tflabo

Yes, the difference was Herb Kelleher.


3 posted on 03/14/2025 5:42:49 PM PDT by EastTexasTraveler
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To: tflabo

Yep, they basically went “Big Airline” on their customers thanks to the Hedge Fund that took them over. If Spirit is smart, now, they’d simply transform themselves into the same model that Southwest used for decades (free bags, open seating, free changes)...and have that market to themselves.

But Spirit is too Third World to figure that out.


4 posted on 03/14/2025 5:44:21 PM PDT by BobL (The people who hate Trump demand that you hate Russia)
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To: tflabo

Elliot is going to try to drive up quarterly numbers and try to drive the stock price, then exit. They don’t care that they’ll leave a smoking ruin in their wake, they’ll have their money and move on to the next company to destroy.


5 posted on 03/14/2025 5:47:35 PM PDT by absalom01 (You should do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, and you should never wish to do less.)
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To: tflabo

I used to love them. Now, I avoid them like the plague. They are SO messed up. In Baltimore, within the past year…
I had THREE gate changes on one flight…. One side of the airport to the other. In the 2 1/2 hours I was there, I counted 17 gate changes on other flights. That, is nothing but sheer incompetence.

LO, how the mighty have fallen. They once sold dog shit, but convinced us all it was Belgian chocolate, just with their attitude, and on-time record.

Today? I wouldn’t accept a free ticket on SW.


6 posted on 03/14/2025 5:47:59 PM PDT by SomeCallMeTim
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To: tflabo

They lost some funding from the US military in the past month and a half.

That, coupled with other issues, has made them do some belt tightening.

I know someone who was laid off that did some of that military-related contract work.


7 posted on 03/14/2025 5:48:21 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: tflabo

I’d rather drive a couple thousand miles than fly. I don’t fly unless there is no alternative.


8 posted on 03/14/2025 5:48:29 PM PDT by Combat_Liberalism
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To: tflabo

Is my memory making it up or did they have an advertising slogan at the beginning about flying for peanuts and serving peanuts on board?


10 posted on 03/14/2025 5:52:16 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats do not object to government corruption as long as they get a cut of the loot.)
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To: tflabo

As an aside, prior to the deregulation of the airline industry, the Civil Aeronautics Board regulated fares, routes, and entry of new companies etc. for airlines traveling between states. Deregulation occurred in 1978.

Southwest, formed in 1967 only flew to three Texas cities, known as the Texas triangle, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The CAB rules and regulations only applied to airlines engaged in interstate travel. Any airline that flew only within a state was not subject to CAB rules and regulations.


13 posted on 03/14/2025 5:56:28 PM PDT by Maine Mariner
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To: tflabo

I don’t know. What? Columo.


16 posted on 03/14/2025 6:00:37 PM PDT by MotorCityBuck (Keep the change, you are filthy animal! )
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To: tflabo

Used to be the favorite of the military to ride privately and to work for. It was all former military pilots No union. One airplane regular domestic routes

No drama

Too bad


17 posted on 03/14/2025 6:03:01 PM PDT by stanne (Because they were mesmerized by Obama, the man for whom this was named, whose name they left out of )
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To: tflabo
The stewardesses' uniforms certainly looked cool back then:
19 posted on 03/14/2025 6:04:21 PM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: tflabo

Honestly, what airline doesn’t suck anymore? Whacking someone in the knees is usually a crime, but not when done with the back of airplane seat. Flying has become very uncomfortable unless one is willing to pay a premium for better seats.


20 posted on 03/14/2025 6:04:48 PM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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To: tflabo

Herb Kelleher died and the worms ate his corpse.


21 posted on 03/14/2025 6:04:49 PM PDT by silent majority rising (When it is dark enough, men see the stars. Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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To: tflabo

Pretty soon this will be Southwest.

A man walks up to the airline ticket counter with two pieces of luggage to check. He politely requests that one suitcase go to Cleveland, and the other suitcase to Orlando. When the airline ticket agent states that they cannot do that, the customer states “why not, you did it last month!”


22 posted on 03/14/2025 6:05:49 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try)
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To: tflabo

bean counters destroy everything


24 posted on 03/14/2025 6:07:48 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: tflabo
The message of the 1954 movie Executive Suite was that handing a business to the bean counters is a formula for failure. The movie is 70 yo, and numerous businesses didn't learn the message.
26 posted on 03/14/2025 6:10:16 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: tflabo

Let me jump in and I’m ready to be attacked!

1. I hated their original seating model. The worst. I avoided them for many years for business travel because of it.

2. Their fares have been inflated by the bags fly free. Now there will be better deals for business travelers with a small carry-on

3. I found their old quirky flight attendant announcements very off putting for business traveling. Was fine for the occasional rubes flying, but I didn’t like it.


27 posted on 03/14/2025 6:11:05 PM PDT by Codeflier (Don't worry....be happy. )
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To: tflabo

I’ve flown SW exclusively dozens ( or more ) times in the last 20 years.
Now after this ‘strategic takeover’ or whatever, and the loss of choice of seating, they’re going to be no better than any other crap airline.


28 posted on 03/14/2025 6:11:17 PM PDT by sonova (No money? You're free to go.)
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To: tflabo

DEI. Watched it happen.


29 posted on 03/14/2025 6:12:35 PM PDT by CodeToad ( )
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