Since I’ve been flying a lot lately I’ve become even more fond of Southwest. Have you flown with them? I know many people give them a bad rap because it’s a ‘no-frills’ airline, but I’ll take that any day since they let me change flights all the time and consistently have the cheapest fares. Plus they have great direct flights out of Birmingham.
I don’t know for sure, but I think they were the first airline to not use the traditional ‘hub-and-spoke’ system like the other airlines. Does anyone know if this is for sure true? I’m not going to research it, so we can just go with this. Several other airlines have adopted a hybrid hub-and-spoke system in the past decade or two.
I did not like their new boarding system when I first experienced it back in December, but since then I’ve come to really like it. It keeps people from standing in line well before the plane is ready to be boarded.
I asked a flight attendant (in the old days she would be called a Stewardess) on Sunday how many days in a row she works. She said, “I’m probably not the best person to ask that because I only work six days a month.” She’s been with the company for 20 years and she said seniority is everything with them. She flies when she wants. I like that kind of job. Of course, I don’t know how much she’s getting paid, but obviously she can afford it. This is one reason why all their employees are much happier than the other airlines.
I read a great book last year called “Lessons in Loyalty” about how Southwest Airlines operates and what type of people they employ. It’s like one big party. I’d love to work for them. Too bad they don’t have planning or logistics positions in my area.
They are a great company. I accidentally came across a blog type thing of theirs. It was supporting employees of theirs that are active duty right now over seas. Ah ha! i was able to find it again. http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/supporting-our-southwest-troops
Enjoy! =]
Thanks for the link Kira.
I have to say my experiences with Southwest Airlines have always been positive,—and glad to ready you also are positive on them. Course I’m an old dude now, don’t travel all that much, (hey can’t afford todays’s fares). Course to, when I enjoyed flying,we didn’t have the intense security screening and other delays you younguns now have—also, when I travelled, people dressed for it–no jeans and halters, —one dressed for the occassion, we weren’t cattle—which is what most airlines treat their customers like now—–someday The railroads will wake up and promote themselves and travel stylishly will be back—hey remember the original Pan AM flying clippers??—now THAT was flying at its best.
I agree we don’t use the railroads enough. We should use them more for travel and for moving freight (vs. tractor-trailers).
The railroads won’t come back because they are a monopoly and couldn’t keep a schedule to save their lives. Even for freight they stink because the split trains and cars etc. to be “efficient” and you freight ends up all over the country. The Pan Am clippers would be good if everyone lived near a massive body of water…and didn’t mind travelling at about 200MPH…
You are now free to move about the cabin… sorry ’bout your experiece Thad.
Arlo