SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 3 July 2008 : by W Mackee

Customer Rating : 4/5

OAK-ABQ return. If you can understand the intricate, but rather hilarious, boarding agenda to get an "A" position, then the rest of the flight experience generally falls into line. On these flights (both delayed - no explanations offered), Southwest still managed to provide a pretty good experience. The gate and flight attendants almost always exhibited calm and good humor. Onboard, they still serve peanuts and a snack! On a two-hour flight! Leg room isn't bad, either, and the seats are comfortable. No IFE. And drinks are only four dollars, as opposed to five on the other domestic carriers. Still this is the preferred airline of families with small children and people flying for the very first time, so bring your noise cancelling headphones and your patience.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 30 June 2008 : by S Srinivasan

Customer Rating : 3/5

HOU-DEN, DEN-STL, and STL-HOU. First time on Southwest since they implemented the new "staggered" boarding system. I managed to get the A group online each time, and the boarding process seemed to go as fast as it did before. Timekeeping appears to have become a major problem on this airline - delays of 10 minutes, 1 hour 40 minutes, and 1 hour 25 minutes on each sector, respectively. I was also annoyed at the apparent lack of honesty regarding delays - for example, on my last flight, it originated in Midway via Detroit, and left Midway more than an hour and a half late, yet Southwest still showed it only 20 minutes late leaving St. Louis! Crews are still friendly and helpful; on the HOU-DEN sector, they went out of their way to try and seat a couple of mothers with children together who had arrived at the gate too late to use family boarding. And of course, no annoying added fees was nice. Seat pitch also seemed to better than it used to be. A satisfactory experience overall, though timekeeping seems to be becoming an issue.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 28 June 2008 : by K Ackerman

Customer Rating : 4/5

FLL-ISP. Fly this route often, and Southwest delivered a very good flight. For all the complaints about lack of seat assignment, I say who cares. As long as you get your self in at least group B you can get a pretty good seat. Want an assigned seat? Fly the others, pay more.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 24 June 2008 : by M Saunders

Customer Rating : 3/5

Austin TX to Ft Lauderdale. Boarding orderly, but flight was overbooked and they called for 2 volunteers to give up seats for $200 compo and free flight, I think. Also asked for volunteers to switch seats so parent and child could sit together. Very cattle-car sort of experience, tempered by folksy approach from staff, including the pilot. Drinks service was very good (small snacks also provided), but staff not sufficiently attentive to bloody-minded passengers who did not turn off electronic devices when asked to do so and who turned them on again as soon as the plane touched down. Still, I got there safely and pilot managed to avoid the predicted thunderstorm activity en route.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 17 June 2008 : by T Clark

Customer Rating : 2/5

If you are flying with children and you can't get to a computer 23-24 hours before departure, forget it because you may end up in boarding group C. This means you may not be able to sit next to your 7 year old. While on my departure I checked in with no problem, on my return I found myself hiking up a mountain in Montana trying to get a signal on my laptop so I could check in and still have a lower number so I could sit next to my son. I won't fly Southwest again.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 17 June 2008 : by M Holland

Customer Rating : 5/5

MHT-SEA. Very helpful staff from reservations to operations. Easy, very fast boarding. Efficient, personalized and prompt assistance when needed. Excellent baggage handling and even handled mixup in baggage created by another connecting airline. Continual attention to passenger service during flight.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 13 June 2008 : by D Damrau

Customer Rating : 4/5

PIT-PHL. Solid and no-nonsense in contrast to the other carrier on this route which experiences frequent delays (as much a Philadelphia thing as anything else). Service basic, but at least enthusiastic compared with most US airline staff. Actually early into Philadelphia, allowing plenty of time to transfer to international flight. New boarding process is a bit bewildering, but being polite Pittsburgh, people generally adhered to the funny numbered boarding procedure.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 28 May 2008 : by D Kohner

Customer Rating : 4/5

BWI-JAX-BWI. The boarding process for Southwest is poor as gate agents do not check tickets to see which boarding section you should be in. This makes it very easy for people to cut the line and people know this. Aircraft was clean. Flight attendants friendly and fun. Beverage service was what you expect on Southwest, nothing great. On the return to BWI the crew kept us updated on why we were circleing the airport, this was due to a ground emergency, so you could not fault the crew.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 16 May 2008 : by D Smith

Customer Rating : 4/5

OAK-BUR. This was my old commute and recently took the flight again. Southwest is like riding the bus or train with open seating. The new boarding process is generally ignored by those who jump the line. That is not SW's fault though. Cheap efficient, website works, peanuts.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES review : 28 April 2008 : by Roy Smith

Customer Rating : 3/5

LAX to PHX - first time using this airline, a good experience. Kerbside check in got us A1 and A2 boarding numbers and bags taken very efficiently to TSA by sky cap. Airport itself is mediocre but the Southwest ground staff were excellent. It is very nice to be told what the procedures for boarding are and to be guided through them clearly and with humour. As the fleet is all 737's I knew which seats I needed and got them (I am disabled). The cabin crew were great and we had a very enjoyable flight, which left on time and landed on time.

Southwest Airlines review - by T Wills

15 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

SLC-SFO via LAS. Check-in was efficient (I got my boarding pass online the night before - a must on Southwest if you want to get a window or aisle seat). Ground staff were courteous. Departure out of SLC was about 20 minutes late - no big deal for me unless it made me miss my connection, which it didn't as my onward flight was on the same aircraft. And we arrived at SFO on time through a combination of quick turnaround at LAS and the pilots making up some lost time in the air. Flight attendants were courteous and friendly. So ... Southwest is just fine. I don't like their boarding process. I like to have an assigned seat. I realize this practice helps them turn the aircraft around faster on the ground, but it still annoys me having to stand in line before boarding. There are no airline partners in the frequent flyer program. Since Southwest is a US domestic-only airline, awards can only be for domestic trips. When I get an award, I want to travel internationally, so this part just doesn't work for me. Apart from these two gripes, Southwest is a good airline overall and I would recommend them to anyone who doesn't mind standing in line and don't travel internationally.

Southwest Airlines review - by D Raynor

2 April 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

MSY-LAS. We chose SW Air mainly because it was a nonstop Flight. Flight took off on time and arrived on time. Cabin Crew was friendly. The crew provided a selection of complementary juices, soft drinks and water as well as the usual peanuts. We each got two of the rather small bags of nuts. I require oxygen and take a portable oxygen concentrator on board. Each airline has its own rules. SW Air requires that I bring a letter from my physician that I require the machine and am able to use it. My paperwork was never checked by SW. Actually, that was fine with me. (Delta Charged me $25 extra for giving me an OK to fly and the next time, I will need to repeat the whole procedure.) I can keep it for my next SW Flight. My only complaint was about a wheelchair. And was that the fault of SW or the Las Vegas Airport. I am what the airlines refers to as a "Special Needs" Passenger. That's a new name for what we once called Handicapped. I had ordered a wheelchair for both airports. Everything went fine in New Orleans. In Las Vegas I was met at the deplaning area and was taken into the main part - a distance of about 20 feet. At that point, I was informed that was as far as she was taking me. I could keep the wheelchair and if I needed more assistance, she would call for someone and it might take 30 minutes for someone to show up - if at all. Another option was to take a shuttle to the baggage area. We decided on the later, but when we arrived at the shuttle departure point, we found that it was closed for an overhaul. I would still give them 5 stars despite the wheelchair mishap.

Southwest Airlines review - by A Cohen

25 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Los Angeles-Las Vegas. Booking was simple, efficient. Changing booking to later flight for small additional charge was also simple and efficient. Check-in easy and quick. Flight was delayed by around 1 hour which was mildly annoying but not uncommon in this day and age. Boarding was in groups. No priority given to families with small children/infants which is probably a mistake; upon being refused pre-boarding a mother with infant was told to "go fly someone else" if she didn't approve. Not a professional attitude. Onboard service generally good. Prior to landing, a passenger opposite was allowed to continue lying horizontally across 3 seats. It wasn't clear whether his seatbelt was fitted, however in the UK this would not be permitted. Flightcrew switched off seatbelt signs whilst aircraft was still taxiing at considerable speed toward its gate in Las Vegas. This seemed a little premature and would be a breach of safety regulations in the UK. Experience overall was average, but I have concerns regarding Southwest crews' attitude to safety procedures after this flight.

Southwest Airlines review - by L Edwards

2 March 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

Open seating policy has to go. You don't get to pick your own seat, particularly if you're not first on board. Even though you are numbered, many people stand ahead of their actual place in line, and it is up to the passenger to find out if they are truly getting the benefit of having the lower number of people ahead of them. This policy brings out the worst in travelers, who are just anxious to get on the plane and get a seat - courtesy is out the window. We booked this recent trip using Southwest Vacations, and couldn't check in online because it was "ticketed travel." Translate to - airport check-in, last to board, separated and stuck in middle seats. Otherwise, this airline is usually on time, they are friendly and give you decent snacks. But the "every man for himself" mentality that the policy engenders really cheapens the experience.

Southwest Airlines review - by R Pym

28 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

LAS-SAN. First time user of Southwest and impressed. Boarding organised and the flight left on time. Leather seats were comfortable and leg room was much better than I expected. Even received a comp beverage. Highly recommended.

Southwest Airlines review - by K Malone

15 February 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

SEA-ABQ-LAS-SEA. Traveling on standby tickets, first time flying SWA. All flights to LAS were oversold. Gate staff in SEA not very helpful as far as looking up seat availability for other flights. However another SW agent was kind enough to suggest another city and even gave us boarding passes right there! Boarding process was confusing, probably because it was new to me. Chose a seat few rows in the back and my seat belt and tray table had dried vomit on it! Very gross! I asked flight attendent for something to clean it with but they didn't have anything so their suggestion was to wrap a blanket around it. That helped, but that was the most unclean, disgusting aircraft I have ever flown! Flt to LAS was much better and the aircraft was much cleaner. Return flight to SEA was fine, crew was nice. With me being an airline employee, the service was good, but airplanes need better cleaning.

Southwest Airlines review - by Brad Castleman

15 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

BWI-MSY via BHM. I'm 6'2" 270lbs and found seats comfortable. I think we were A45 and A46 on new SWA check-in priority numbering system. Much to my surprise we had great seats row 6. HOU-MSY was delayed and we would have missed our connection MDW-BWI but gate agent was great and routed us to BWI via TPA, RDU, then BWI. Less than 25 min at each airport, not too shabby. Seven hours on a plane, and I can't complain. I was also happy to see our luggage that was checked in at MSY, was switched to the correct plane, and on the belt within 7 minutes. I'm getting used to the friendly, quirky service. For the price you can't beat it!

Southwest Airlines review - by J Donaldson

2 January 2008  Customer Trip Rating :

First experience with SWA on a Christmas holiday vacation covering four flights (BUF-LAS-MCI-MDW- BUF). First three aircraft were -700 series aircraft while final flight was an older -300/-500 series aircraft. Did the on-line check-in roughly 24 hours in advance for all flights and got into Group A for three of them (with resulting reasonable choice of seating on boarding the aircraft). Was surprised that the final two (connecting flights) still gave quite high queue check-in numbers even though I checked in right at 24 hours in advance (the connecting flight was 27 hours in advance but the boarding pass was still given as a connection). SWA has you check your luggage with self- service kiosks at the check-in counters and provide an initial photo id check at that time. Checking luggage at BUF was a breeze; LAS had you confirm information at the self-serve kiosk and then wait for an agent to call your name; MCI had a very long single queue to move through to get to an agent and then you had to cart your tagged luggage over to the TSA screening machine (where they had *NO* concern as to the safety/security of your luggage after you placed it under the rope barricade -- anyone could have very easily lifted a yet-to-be-screened checked bag when the lone TSA agent's back was turned). The boarding policy created confusion at some airports (BUF/LAS) while it seemed to work well at others (MCI/MDW). Leather seats were comfortable on all flights with great legroom available (the most I've ever experienced in economy). Storage space was good on first three aircraft but my (correctly-sized) wheeled carry-on bag had to be placed sideways in the overhead luggage compartment on the older aircraft (taking up more space than it should have -- the bin was about one inch too short to accommodate it to fit parallel with the seat rows as it could be on the previous flights). On-board service (while limited) was good although the first flight was long without any audio/video options (I'm not a reader and clouds obscured terrain viewing for most of the flight). All four flights departed late (with increasing delays as the scheduled departure time progressed throughout the day). Overall, a good value for the discount fares paid. Would consider flying SWA again on short-haul flights within continental USA (would earn frequent flier points while watching a movie on other carriers for trans-continental flights).

Southwest Airlines review - by Rick Nadeau

30 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

SMF-SNA Coach. Good fares, great schedules and roundtrip choices. Great legroom for tall people. This is an outstanding value airline. I like the new seating A-B-C policy procedures. No more kids and large families taking over the whole aircraft before the A group! Families with kids were taking advantage of the situation.

Southwest Airlines review - by Joyce Perron

11 December 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

My husband and I got the SW credit card to get up our frequent flier points since we will be relocating out west and want to get our 5 kids and their families out to visit. However, after flying with them and experiencing their seating policy, that is not going to happen. It is misleading to say "you can choose your own seat" since you can't unless you are the first 20-30 people boarded. Otherwise you are separated from your family, and stuck in between two strangers that aren't wild about you taking up their "extra space" (in fact, they needed to make announcements that window and aisle seat people HAD to let you sit there). Everything else was great, "Southwest , change the seating policy!"

Southwest Airlines review - by P Woods

26 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

MDW to PHX return. In both cases the airport security people friendly. The airline personnel were helpful and friendly. Both flights left on time and early arriving. I've flown on a competing airline and have found that Southwest's prices, seating policies and attendants are superior to their competition.

Southwest Airlines review - by Fred Fisher

7 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

My wife and I both fly Southwest often. We live within 30 mins. of BWI so BNA flights are plentiful and go to (or reasonably close to) most places we are going. Flights are usually on time (save for weather). Aircraft clean and in good shape. Employees efficient and generally friendly. FA's are usually in good spirits and work hard. I really don't have a problem with the A B C boarding but, I agree with some previous posts that the pre-board guidelines are a bit generous. I kind of agree with George Carlin about airport wheelchairs. Last trip was to BNA and getting to a PC w/ printer was not easy so I asked the hotel desk to print our boarding passes for us and they were happy to oblige.

Southwest Airlines review - by S Koenig

1 November 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Albuquerque-Orlando-Ft Lauderdale. Pros: comfortable seats, more snacks than you get on most airlines, low price. We managed to get two seats in the one emergency row that has just two seats, so extra room. Cons: the seating system makes it imperative to check-in online exactly 24 hours before your flight time (not a minute before or after), so you get in Group A. You will also see a number on your boarding pass showing how many checked-in before you, but the number is basically worthless. Once you get to the airport, boarding is based on your position in line (ie. need to stand or sit in the line for your boarding group A, B or C), not the number on your boarding pass, though you just have to know this (or ask fellow passengers). Families with children 4 or under (and that means the entire group with the children, not just one or two parents to help the child get seated) are boarded after Group A.

Southwest Airlines review - by Jon Ren

19 October 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Chicago to Buffalo. Didn't like the "sit anywhere" idea, leads to pushing, shoving and early line ups, if you remember to go on the internet 24 hours before you fly you may get a ticket that says A or B seating line. Which means A is the first line-up and goes first and you have a better chance of your preferred seat, B line-up goes second and you have less choice, however if you get C ( the passengers call it the middle seat line-up) well you can guess where your going to sit. If you are the type that likes line-ups, pushing and shoving then this is your airline - for me I'll find a better airline.

Southwest Airlines review - by R Novak

20 September 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

BWI-LAS via BUF, return LAS-BWI via DEN. Clean planes, on time departures. Print your boarding passes the night before, and you almost always get Group A (first to board) and your choice of seating. Got to the airport about an hour before departure, straight to security line and was at the gate in 15 minutes. If you have a continuing flight, the 30 minute turnaround at the gate is as close to reality as you can expect. I've flown for years on business with United and USAir, but SWA is a pleasant surprise. I expected budget-level service, and got a competent airline with conscientious personnel - overall, they exceeded my expectations.

Southwest Airlines review - by S Srinivasan

23 July 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

MCI-STL. Flight delayed about 30 minutes due to weather in KC. My primary complaint was that for the second time in the last 3 months, this became a no service flight due to alleged turbulence enroute. I say alleged, because in both cases, there was in fact no turbulence. The B737 was clean and leather seats are comfortable. I can't complain too much considering that I paid $149 for a last minute purchase.

Southwest Airlines review - by K Steiger

23 July 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Southwest has upgraded their planes, with better seating all leather. The online check in a vast improvement over the old system. At least you know if you're in the A, B or C group so you don't stand in line for hours. I think their in flight service is pretty good if bare bones. Just bring your own drinks and food.

Southwest Airlines review - by K Penney

19 May 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

I've been flying Southwest domestically almost exclusively for at least 7 years. I've probably flown the BWI-PHX route 30 times. The BWI-PHX flight tends to be pretty businesslike for Southwest, but this weekend I flew SJC to LAS and back and was pleasantly reminded of how fun flying Southwest can be (especially for short hops out West, where the flight crew seems more in touch with Southwest's fun-loving, unconventional roots). The crew was in high spirits as we took off for Vegas, clearly wanting to contribute to the party atmosphere of a Friday evening flight to Sin City. Drink service was prompt and friendly. The flight was on- time and comfortable. Online ticket purchasing is easy on Southwest, and I always feel more comfortable buying tickets on this airline knowing that I can change plans if need be. It's almost at the point where if I have to fly another US airline and deal with all the expense, hassle, and delays, I'd rather not go at all.

Southwest Airlines review - by J Knack

13 May 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

BWI to ALB and return. Both flights were standard Southwest experiences. The planes were clean, FAs were friendly and efficient and the flights took off and landed on time. And all at a very low fare. The boarding ritual is odd, but to those who complain about there is a solution. You can fly on a dirty plane, argue with rude FAs, take off and arrive late, and pay more on another airline. There are many to choose from!

Southwest Airlines review - by M Clark

27 April 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

IAD to TPA. First time flying Southwest and impressed. Being a usually big carrier business traveller I was wary of this airline. Planes arrived and left on time, very efficient. FA missed a few items in the pockets from previous flights. Also did not appreciate the FA jokes for takeoff, I am on a flight for travel not to hear an amateur comedy hour. Surprised by complimentary beverages and crackers. There are very few Southwest flights from TPA so checking in bags took no time. Overall a good value, but I wouldn't take for flights longer than 2.5 hours.

Southwest Airlines review - by D Choy

24 April 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

LAX to Oakland. Online check-in at home and got group A boarding no prob! On-time departure and arrival. Very smooth and pleasant flight, minimum announcement by flight crew but enough to keep one up to date of progress. Depsite the short flight they manage to serve drinks and nuts - love the way beverage order are taken before take-off to maximise use of time.

Southwest Airlines review - by Bill Christopher

15 April 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

My favorite airline, despite the cattle-call boarding procedures. I always check in online and get to the airport at least an hour before my flight. Helpful agents at the ticket counter and friendly flight attendants. I fly from the Los Angeles area (SNA, LAX, ONT) to Phoenix frequently, and have gotten two free roundtrips in the last two years thanks to their Rapid Rewards program. The more entertaining flight attendants are usually reserved for longer flights. The cheap fares and overall quality keep bringing me back to these guys. Trying to get out of Phoenix on time can be a hassle, though (PHX is one of WN's largest hubs, leading to frequent delays) and longer flights can get boring because of the lack of in-flight entertainment, but if you bring your book or laptop or iPod, its not really much of a problem.

Southwest Airlines review - by Andrew Braham

1 April 2007  Customer Trip Rating :

Ontario - Oakland Return. ONT-OAK almost full - but took off 15 minutes early. Small snack served with juice/coffee. OAK-ONT flight almost full, with only two FA's, but everyone got unlimited refills and snacks.

Southwest Airlines review - by J Sjoberg

26 March 2007   Customer Trip Rating : n/a

I fly Southwest 1-2 times a month usually LAS-RNO-LAS with occasional longer routes. This most recent flight was a 6AM LAS-RNO with only about 25 pax so anyone who wanted got a full row and service only juice/coffee but frequent offers of refills. Pushback was on time at LAS but then we sat on the tarmac for 20 min., however, crew informed us immediately of the cause (indicator light malfunction) and gave several updates before takeoff, arrived in RNO only 10 minutes late. Return RNO-LAS the next day was an early evening flight and completely full; again on-time pushback but then a delay of about 10 minutes because of "ATC ground hold for Las Vegas". Beverage/snack service was quick despite the full flight and we actually arrived a few minutes early in LAS. Overall service met my expectations which for WA are fairly high; crew efficient and much more cheerful than I would be at 6AM or at the end of a long day, decent comfort for an LCC and good on-time performance. Given that air time for this short flight is less than an hour they did an excellent job of making up for delays.

Southwest Airlines review - by M Karas

26 February 2007   Customer Trip Rating : n/a

I fly Southwest at least 3-4 times a month from and to BDL (Hartford). Their online reservation system better than any other airline I've used, once you're set up it takes less than 2 minutes to book a flight. Online checkin is a breeze. Rarely more than a few people in line to check baggage, and the few airports that there are lines the lines move fast. Their boarding system is adequate. On the plane the seats are comfortable and have enough room (even for a big guy like me). Most flights are not packed, so often the middle seats are empty. Alcohol is reasonably priced for an airline, but I wish they took credit cards. They lost my baggage once, but they brought it to my hotel (2 hours away) in the middle of the night so I had my tools for the morning. In the last year I was delayed a few hours three times (all weather related), but they sent me $100-$150 in gift certificates each time. Frequent Flyer program is the easiest that I've used. 16 flights = free flight + $10 free drink coupons. No miles or complicated rules. The main reasons I use Southwest are their prices and their policy for changing flight plans. Their prices are usually the cheapest, and there is no penalty for changing or cancelling a flight. Even with restricted fares (lower priced specials), you get Southwest credit that is good for 1 year, with no penalties.Oonly wish they would fly to more cities. They fly to 90% of the places I go, but I cringe when I have to fly another airline to somewhere Southwest doesn't serve.

Southwest Airlines review - by Alex Capousis
29 January 2007

One-way flight Hartford Conn to Baltimore (BDL-BWI). Flight left on time. Aircraft new 737-700. Flight had at most 20 people. Service very friendly, yet laid-back and efficient. Received peanuts and soft-drinks; alcohol cost 3-4$ depending on what you wanted. Seat pitch and legroom were fine for a 55 minute or so flight, however people had entire rows to themselves so this wasn't a problem. I checked in the day before and had an 'A' boarding pass however boarding didn't matter because of the low pax numbers. Great value for 49$ flight! Well recommended.

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