[Dems_R_Losers]

Southwest Airlines is the single most successful American business in the last 25 years. Yet the airline industry is considerd one of the least profitable and most difficult in which to operate. Southwest is a case study in good business. I always fly Southwest when I can. Flights are rarely canceled and rarely late. Seats are comfortable. The flight attendants are hilarious, usually cracking jokes throughout the flight. I like the seating procedures too. They save time boarding, you can sit far away from the screaming babies if you want, and if you have a group traveling together you can always get seats together if you get there early enough.

Southwest was a godsend to me on a recent vacation when I dislocated my knee on the way to the airport and missed my scheduled flight. They happily put me on a later flight at no extra charge, had an attendant there to meet me when I arrived at the airport, expedited our check-in, took me right on the plane in a wheelchair and gave me the whole front row so I could elevate my leg. I know I would never have gotten such good treatment from any other airline.

[HardStarboard]

I've got a story, too long to relate here, about the time I missed a Southwest connection and the Southwest ticket agent that got me on the next flight...U.S.Air, and then came back and argued with the U.S. Air agent that she should give me the bargain special fare I would have had, had I made my Southwest flight. She won!

Amazing folks on Southwest - and they are all having fun at work!

[sauropod]

"You put your employees first and if you take care of them, then they will take good care of you," Herb Kelleher, the airline's chairman, said.

Wow! What a business model!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Don’t forget the hot pants!

[DaveTesla]

Flying Southwest is a trip into the past.
What a fine airline.
I fly them whenever I can.
Last time I flew them I got a bag of peanuts with my drink.
Haven’t seen that in 15 years on the other carriers.
The personnel are actually friendly.
My heart be still.

[Lokibob]

SWA Pilot:” I used a $10 billion GPS system to arrive here, and now we are waiting for a guy with a 49 cent flashlight to tell me where to park”

... I cracked up

....Bob

[RayChuang88]

I've flown Southwest several times and they not only have great service, but their employees are always totally fun to deal with. Small wonder why I've enjoyed their flights to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Diego.

In fact, Southwest single-handedly saved low-cost intra-California flights by essentially taking over the role that PSA used to have in the state. I also think Las Vegas casinos should band together to give Southwest a big thank you celebration--Southwest Airlines is probably the biggest reason why Las Vegas has become arguably the #1 tourist destination in the USA.

[19th LA Inf]

in the beginning, when it had only four airplanes, it had to sell one of them just to stay in business

I still remember one morning back then when I had my little portable V HF tuned to Dallas approach control during some shaky weather conditions. Two Southwest flights were holding, and a good old Texas captain's voice came on: "Wow, two-thirds of the fleet in holding patterns!"

[Vision]

I find it a little unnerving for flight staff to always be joking around.

And is it that expensive or troublesome to have seat reservations? You have to wait in lines like cattle.

[kittymyrib]

I was standing in a long line of passengers waiting to board for Austin. There were several passengers in wheelchairs being preboarded by skycaps, and they were one skycap short. When a SWA pilot who was deplaning saw the lady in the wheelchair waiting, he greeted her with a big smile and promptly took her through the gate to the plane.
A businessman who’d been making deals on his cell phone while we waited, turned to me and said, “That’s why I fly Southwest.”

[skyman]

I fly Southwest a lot.

I still don’t like standing in line since you don’t have assigned seats.

I also don’t like their short turnarounds. You are definately herded in like cattle.

I’ve noticed over the years that the employees are more business like than they used to be. It used to be almost every flight they the employees seemed to be having fun. Now it’s more the exception than the rule. But at least at least they aren’t grumpy like some of the other airlines.

As much as I fly SW (frequent flyer) I still look for similar pricing on other airlines. Recently flew Alaska for less money, got an assigned seat, relaxed boarding, staff was friendly...kind of like the old days of flying.

[Turbopilot]

Southwest is definitely a love ‘em or hate ‘em company. There are a lot of good things about the company and a lot of bad things, and whether the good outweighs the bad depends on your personal preferences and travel needs.

One thing the article fails to mention in discussing Southwest’s success is that unlike the major airlines, Southwest never had the government dictating their business model. That’s a pretty big historical advantage.

[Gay State Conservative]

I recall having read some time ago a piece in,IIRC,the Wall Street Journal about the exceptionally good labor relations that existed at Delta Airlines.Don’t know if that’s still the case and,if not,what happened to ruin it.

[Young Werther]

I worked at US Telephone, (now Sprint), in the early 80s. One of our Admin Assistants was a young man who won a major lawsuit against Southwest Airlines.

He was quite gay and had a wedding picture of he and his soul mate on his desk. He was wearing the wedding dress and was quite charming.

He was sued Southwest Airlines because he applied for a Stewardess Position and was denied the position due to discriminatory hiring practices, ( women only). He believed that he would look swell in the miniskirt but they wouldn't have it!

He won but he didn't know whether he could benefit from the award since he had "caught" a virus, to wit HIV!