I recently flew Southwest for the very first time. My friends have loved it for years. It’s just that I’m usually a Delta girl. Occasionally however it does not go nonstop (which I also prefer) where I am going.
This recent trip happened to be one between Florida and Michigan and the original flight was on Spirit (which I despise but offers nonstop flights between my destinations). Spirit is a tricky budget airline. So after having chosen the flight for its specific civilized departure and arrival times, also important to me at my age, they then changed the departure and arrival times dramatically to something I would never have chosen. This left us arriving at 11 p.m. to face an astronomical line to pick up a rental car (which had been reserved priority but there was no one to process the priority people, only a line a mile long). The departure time, however, 6:00 a.m., was not going to work for me. So I was “forced” to purchase a one way flight at a more decent hour. It happened to be on Southwest. It was not a nonstop but it was remarkably smooth. Here is my raving review:
The first thing I noticed is how professional the airport gate staff were. They spoke with none of the snarkiness that the Allegiant (another budget carrier) staff use when talking to their passengers like a bunch of toddlers. I find this super disrespectful. Southwest was factual and efficient.
The choose your own seat was something I was curious about seeing how it would work. They have you line up by group number (broken down by 10’s) so for example, 60-70 stand here, 70-80 the next place. There are signs and you stand next to the group within which your specific number fits. So each passenger has one number. It was all very logical and everyone cooperated. Group A boards first, then B, then C, and each has its number grouping within. Once on the plane I was rather surprised that so many up front seats were empty. I guess because most people prefer aisle or window and many of these were middle. Personally I’d rather be up front for easy deplaning and I’m small enough that the middle does not bother me. On one leg the middle seat was empty and my fellow row passenger had plenty of room to spread out.
The next great thing I noticed is that they serve drinks much more sensibly by taking your order and bringing you your drink on a tray, like in a restaurant. No big huge cart creating a blocked pathway. Also while a lot of other airlines cancel their beverage service due to “turbulence” (aka laziness) the Southwest staff served as we bounced along merrily in the sky toward our destination. No excuses. That was refreshing. I’m also pretty sure wine is free, or at least mine was. Oh and they have these tasty little pretzels.
So my first Southwest experience was quite a joy compared to other budget travel. I’m looking forward to my next Southwest flight!
Notes From Real Life 