Southwest Airlines

[Hallelujah]

free bags? Absolutely. But their fares our higher than most other airlines even with the baggage charges.

People still think they are the low cost airline AND no baggage fees. Check out other airlines before you get suckered into their marketing.

[DU Ute]

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[Moliere]

Southwest is having a bad holiday travel season. I’m seeing reports of people being jumped to flights four days out and sounds like their online systems are failing so people can’t even rebook online. Makes me glad I live in the north side of town (SWA flies out of Hobby airport on the south side) so flying SWA has never been an option.

[RC Vikings]

Southwest is having a bad holiday travel season. I’m seeing reports of people being jumped to flights four days out and sounds like their online systems are failing so people can’t even rebook online. Makes me glad I live in the north side of town (SWA flies out of Hobby airport on the south side) so flying SWA has never been an option.

I've got a buddy that works for SW in SLC, he says he would stay away from them for awhile and things most likely won't get figured out until after the first.

[Pelado]

My sister and her family were supposed to fly from Phoenix to Boise on SWA yesterday. Flight was canceled.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Our SWA flight home last evening was cancelled but as soon as I saw the cancellation announcement I immediately booked the last two slots on a Delta flight this morning. Ubering home from the airport now, so no biggie. An epic fail by Southwest.

[Northwestcoug]

I saw stats today, that out of 2900 flights cancelled in the US, Southwest was responsible for 2400. Worldwide, responsible for half(!!!) of cancellations. That is insane, and obviously speaks to issues other than just bad weather.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I generally avoid SWA.

[Clark Addison]

As was his custom, Hallelujah started the thread with a prescient truth-bomb. RIP

[Bo Diddley]

I've had good luck and tons of free flights with them over the years (credit card offers FTW!) Certainly an epic fail this weekend for Southwest, but overall they do a pretty good job WRT cancellations.

Here's a snapshot from the first half of the year that ranked them as one of the best for cancellations in that time:

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-airlines-canceled-delayed-most-flights-list-travel-chaos-republic-2022-8

Delta and Southwest are both convenient to SLC. Lately I've flown more Delta. Companion certificates and better service!

[Northwestcoug]

I've had good luck and tons of free flights with them over the years (credit card offers FTW!) Certainly an epic fail this weekend for Southwest, but overall they do a pretty good job WRT cancellations.

Here's a snapshot from the first half of the year that ranked them as one of the best for cancellations in that time:

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-airlines-canceled-delayed-most-flights-list-travel-chaos-republic-2022-8

Delta and Southwest are both convenient to SLC. Lately I've flown more Delta. Companion certificates and better service!

SWA apologist!

I also read that SWA has a policy of not offering rebooking with other airlines. Not sure what other airlines' policies are with cancellations though.

[BigFatMeanie]

I'll join in the SWA apologism: Yes, SWA is having a crappy time of it right now but they are historically a very well-run airline and are perennially atop the satisfaction rankings and are historically in the top 5 for on-time arrival rankings although this season will put a dent in that.

[Moliere]

I'll join in the SWA apologism: Yes, SWA is having a crappy time of it right now but they are historically a very well-run airline and are perennially atop the satisfaction rankings and are historically in the top 5 for on-time arrival rankings although this season will put a dent in that.

This is true. They are consistently well run and get high marks for intime and customer service. I did plenty of business cases that focused on SWA’s business model and finances and those cases all were complimentary of SWA.

This current incident is going to hurt them. It would be different if other airlines were having the same level of cancellations, but they aren’t. This seems to be a SWA issue and I’m not sure anyone knows why yet. I do wonder if it has to do with their avoidance of the spike and hub flight routes but so far I can frigide it out and it seems no one else knows yet either.

[Donuthole]

I love SWA. For a few years pre-pandemic I was flying business select for work 2-3 times per month and capturing the points on my personal SW account. I don’t think I’ve paid cash for a non-work flight since 2016, because I’ve had so many points. I was A-list preferred for a few years and it was great. I haven’t flown for work but a time or two since 2020, but I still have about 100k points.

Rough week for them, but they’ll be fine. Also, if you book SWA far enough in advance, they are definitely cheaper than other airlines. More expensive last minute, sure, but not if you buy flights a couple months in advance.

[Pelado]

I've had good luck and tons of free flights with them over the years (credit card offers FTW!) Certainly an epic fail this weekend for Southwest, but overall they do a pretty good job WRT cancellations.

Here's a snapshot from the first half of the year that ranked them as one of the best for cancellations in that time:

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-airlines-canceled-delayed-most-flights-list-travel-chaos-republic-2022-8

Delta and Southwest are both convenient to SLC. Lately I've flown more Delta. Companion certificates and better service!

Not much is convenient to Boise.