Southwest Airlines

Do not use southwest any more! My brother was told to be at the airport 3 hours prior to his flight to Boston. He got there exactly as directed and has been waiting over 6 hours after his flight was delayed twice, and now cancelled. Southwest refuses to do anything about this major inconvenience and it’s even their fault. Customer service rep on the phone said it was because that one particular plane was flying in from Houston (which has nothing to do with the east coast) cannot fly out. So the moron, do nothing, overpaid execs at southwest can’t allocate another plane at this time (11:30pm) when you know they’re not all in use. They then tell you to call and there’s a process for a refund. He’s now stuck in The Tampa airport in this commuter hell. My gf and I have taken the off work as did my brother and now he may not be able to come up at all. Thanks southwest, you tin can of an operation. I hope all of the decision makers for this airline bare this same sequence of events themselves, or their families. I’ll pay the extra $ 40 and make sure I’m actually getting off the ground and to my destination sometime this week.

My favorite airline. They just seem nicer than the others, and they are almost always on time. The good prices are just a bonus. I wish I could pick my seat, but that is not a deal breaker.

I have flown southwest with my ESA support dogs a lot of times. A supervisor by the name of Judy at the ticket counter harassed me about my dogs. #1 she told me my dogs were not service dogs because they barked at another dog. Then she LIED and said they attacked and went after someone, which was another LIE. As a matter of fact, I am sitting right next to the lady that has the dog, that my dog barked at when she saw them. #2 I handed her my letter from my dr in California. I have a dual residence which is not of Judy’s business where my dr is located … only that I have the supporting documents that are needed for my dogs to board. She kept telling me my dogs weren’t support dogs. Which if she understood that ESA dogs don’t go through typical support training, and do not have to be crated. She really hassled me for 0 reason and shocked she is in customer service because she was trying to antagonize me and made faces when reading my letter from my dr. This doesn’t say much for southwest whom I was picking to fly with because of their awesome attitude and knowledge on policies. This lady was out of control rude and her harassment is very unappreciated.

They are clean neat and organized. I do not like the seating situation. They have no assigned seating and they charge you extra to get an assigned seat. They do not charge you to check a bag, which is good. Playing musical chairs is annoying when traveling.

Watched my brand nsw suitcases come off the plane to go to baggage. it looked fine, when it came to the baggage claim it was wrapped in packing tape and my close falling out. Dragged it to the southwest help desk and asked what happened? They said the zipper broke and the don’t cover that. I asked how can check to see if my stuff is in it. Some lady walks over cuts the tape off my luggage and walks away. I checked my stuff and it was all there but stuffed in and not folded. They were gracious enough to give me some tape so I could get it to my car. (They told me how lucky I was that they had tape). Southwest THANK YOU FOR LETTING MY BAGS RIDE FREE. I WOULD GLADLY PAY TO HAVE MY BAG HANDLED WITH CARE! GREAT SERRVICE!

I love this airline! I wish they actually served meals on long flights. But I do like the rewards, the few tv on most flights, the friendly staff, and the easy boarding system. I also like the free checked bags. Why can’t every airline follow suit?

The very BEST airline with the great and cheery customer service! They are very accommodating to us when my bf’s mom decided at the very last minute not to fly back home with us; the customer service allowed us a credit in her name (bummer) even after we checked in.
At the ticket counter, they were the only airline carrier to be festive (it was Valentine’s Day) and they give out free alcohol on V-​Day and New Years Day (one per person).
I am a SouthWest Customer for life with their great prices and customer service, who can beat that??!

Ok I use Southwest about 85% of the time and yes they are always crowded but I do appreciate the fact the flight attendants and people at the counter tend to have a good sense of humor about everything. That sure goes a long way in my book. I try to live my life by a very simple premise-​when something that slows me down or makes things unpleasant I simply say «if that’s the worst thing that happens to me today I’d call it a pretty good day» then simmer down and move along.
Ok all this being said, I’m taking Mousie to the airport tonight. She is heading back home-​Louisville. However the Ville is under tornado watches and a big storm is headed there as she is supposed to land tonight. This woman is not good about flying to begin with. The woman at check in senses this and makes me a pass to get to the airside and keep her simmered down until she can get on the plane at least. Well received by both of us.
Well Dorita at Southwest check in this Bud’s for you!
I was so grateful I offered her my box at the horse track. Some great prowl out there in this world folks!

A very good airline to travel with you pick your own seat and almost be late, but it treat our customers correct ly

Nice enough employees. Run like other Southwest as far is check in and bag check. Lots of check in stations with 2 auto check kiosks at each ticket counter and bag check area. Kiosk away from ticket area too. Baggage claim is across the concourse from check in area.

I often fly on Southwest from Tampa to Raleigh. Southwest flights are rarely delayed, board on time and arrive on time or early. Again, this is in most cases. I travel often and my favorite airline to travel on is Southwest. Boarding and carrying on is made simple by small practices they have put in place. You line up based on the time you checked in and this is how you board the plane. There are no confusing zones or membership statuses that you board by. There are no assigned seats making sitting next to friends and family easy without paying extra seating fees. My only complaint is that they do not fly to more destinations from Tampa.

Great Airline. Great Airport here in Tampa, and getting better as I write this. I still think Southwest is the best airline in the country, and I fly with them nearly every time.
Gate and ticket counter personnel are second to none, and they are always friendly… some of them even remember my name!
We had a comfortable flight to LAX, and we were happy to get there about 20 minutes early.
Thanks Southwest, I appreciate you.

Terrible terrible customer service at the Tampa Airport!!! Mean!!! This one guy at the gate today flight to San Antonio what an arshole!!! He was so mean to me and my boyfriend!!! I’ll make a complain!!! Never ever again!!! He discriminate me and my boyfriend!!! What kind of customer service is that!!! LOSER!!!

Delayed both ways. Departing and returning. For absolutely no reason. Weather is spotless throughout the county– no reason for it.

I don’t know who rates Southwest at TPA anything less than four stars. Maybe they’re bazillionaires whose planes are in the shop. Here, you get the normally-​good Southwest service paired with an actually good airport. It makes for a good experience; plus there’s a brewery in the Southwest terminal.

My mother is 75 years old. These people charged her double for a flight to visit me and it was a standby flight.
Seriously?
She didn’t know better.
I gotta flight to Seattle and back 150 dollars cheaper than her flight to Florida and back to Boston.
Way to take advantage of the elderly you parasites.
She’s on a standby flight for 500 bucks?
I have a serious dislike for you people and airline.
Shame on you.
Seriously. Shame on you.

I wouldn’t normally write a review of an airline. I was just going to leave a tip, but I decided to write a review.
We always fly Southwest. The crew is really friendly, not having to pay for bags is great, the planes are clean and comfortable, and I like to be able to sit where I want. The snacks and drinks are appreciated too – while basic, they hold you over until you can get to a restaurant in an airport. Usually, its pretzels and peanuts, however it seems like they added in some cookies as well.
The tips I originally came here to write about were these:
1. If you have an early morning flight (our scheduled boarding time was 5:30), DO NOT get to the ticket counter before 4:30. The was NO ONE there. Other airlines were operating, but not Southwest. Approximately 100 people were waiting for them to open. However, once the agents arrived, we got through the line and checked our bags in ten minutes.
2. THE BEST way to check in for your flight (besides early bird) is through the app. On the website, if you click too early, it takes you to a new page and you have to reenter the info again. On the app, type in your info about three minutes before the scheduled time. Then, at one minute, start clicking on the check in button. A dialog will pop up, but hit «OK» to close it. I kept one finger on the check in and one over where OK pops up. Eventually, you will be checked in. I got A both ways.

For the most part, Southwest is a decent enough airline. I dislike the practice of un-​assigned seats. Where you have to check-​in at 24 hours –on the dot– to get somewhere in a decent spot, and even then you might end up at mid B or even C row, and that guarantees you’ll be sandwiched between people in the middle seats.
There’s a little disclaimer on the website that spots A1−15 might still be available, if you check at the desk… FOR A PRICE. $ 40.00 upgrade to get those first 15 positions, but in honesty, it’s worth it if you’re not stuck wedged between people.
I will say this: My last flight with SWA was on Sunday (3:45 from Las Vegas — delayed due to weather from an inbound flight) One of the flight attendants acted as though she were the Queen of the air. She snapped at at people, she acted as though it were her right to be out right RUDE, when no offense had been committed. My offense? I didn’t see her there, and she gave my coffee to someone else, when I noticed her «Well you weren’t paying attention so I gave it to someone who –WAS– paying attention.» in the rudest tone I think I’ve ever heard. She made no attempt to get my attention at all, no «Excuse me» nothing. Just an imperious attitude and a look down her nose.
The others on the flight were awesome, only this Jamiacan woman (as per her accent) was obviously having a bad day and we were all her whipping boys & girls. It’s sad really, because if it weren’t for her, this might have been a higher review.

In May 2013, I went to see my beloved Cincinnati Reds play the Mets at Citi Field and got stuck at one of New York’s lousy, outdated excuses for a 21^st century airport trying to get home that evening.
(Seriously, New Yorkers… until you spend some serious money to upgrade these shitholes, stop those claims of being «The Greatest City in the World.»)
I was on a Southwest flight to Nashville, connecting with another flight to Tampa to get me home and the weather delay to leave LGA made it simply common sense that I would miss that connection.
Multiple calls to Southwest operators from LGA pleading my case fell on deaf ears, because they claimed I had not yet missed my connection… so they couldn’t offer me another option.
Honestly, that’s like standing on train tracks with a train hurling towards you at high speed and telling someone trying to pull you to safety, «Nope. I’m not dead yet… so leave me alone until the train actually arrives and hits me.»
After a lousy few hours in a Nashville hotel room and not getting home to Tampa until 3pm the next day, I Emailed Southwest Airlines and told them they how they screwed up.
Within 48 hours, a very nice woman from the company called me personally and simply said I was right.
Her exact words, «We really looked into this. You were 100% correct about everything. And since you’ve been in our Rapid Rewards program for 20 years and never complained about a thing… we know we owe you an apology and want to make it up to you.»
She offered me enough future airline credit to cover my next trip, my out of pocket cost of the hotel and cab in Nashville and a little something extra just for my inconvenience. I remember her even saying, «Is that enough? Or do we need to do more to make you happy?»
Now THAT is customer service. (In an unrelated story, when I fly United and have an issue, they usually take about 6 – 8 weeks to respond. And it is not a personal phone call either.)
If no change fees, no baggage fees, no in-​flight snack fees, free TV on phones, tables and laptops, a great frequent flier program, and flight attendants that are super friendly and accomodating 95% of the time (Hey, we all have bad days) isn’t good enough for you, well you enjoy booking that reserved coach seat in advance on another domestic carrier that offers you none of this.
Southwest has always been my first choice in air travel and I «LUV» to see a company like this grow into a big success.

I’ve avoided Southwest Airlines for years because I hate the idea of not having assigned seats (still do). With the way things are for me right now I needed a lot of flexibility with the airline tickets I was going to purchase. There was a chance that I would have to reschedule or cancel the trip altogether. Most airlines are ruthless about making changes to your reservations. The last time I tried to do it the change fees were MORE than the value of the second leg of my trip I was trying change, so that was a total bust. When I found out that Southwest’s change policy I was pretty surprised. Want to cancel a flight and use that credit later? Go ahead! Want to change a flight to a different time? Go ahead! What’s the penalty fee? There isn’t one! If you later pick a flight that is more expensive you’ll have to pay the difference, which makes sense.
When I showed up for my (October) flight I was surprised to see the gate decked out as a pirate cove, complete with skeletons, doubloons, and jewels. One of the Southwest employees saw me taking pictures and made sure that I knew about the gate that they had made into a pirate ship at the other end of the concourse. It was great seeing employees in such a good mood and going the extra mile to do something interesting for customers to look at.
Since there are no assigned seats you are put into groups based on (among other things) what time you checked in for your flight. You can check in 24 hours in advance. I was sitting at my computer and checked in the second it was 24 hours until my flight. Even so I ended up at the very end of the second large group of people, which was depressing.
The biggest thing that shocked me about Southwest flights was that there is only one lavatory in the back of the plane. There is another lavatory at the front of the plane, but you’re not allowed to stand in line for that. Since I was guaranteed to be in the back of the plane it seemed unlikely that I would get to the front of the plane without someone beating me there. It was quite awkward and uncomfortable when people leaving the lavatory needed to squeeze past the people in line.
I did like that when they passed out snacks they had a box of items to pick from and they did not limit you to one. It wasn’t gourmet snacks by any means (Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies, cheese crackers, etc), but it kept my stomach full. On some airlines you don’t get anything.
The combination of low prices and flexibility with changes will most likely keep me flying with Southwest. I just wish you could reserve seats!