06-04-2014, 04:15 PM
Bimwad,
I wouldn't be so quick to claim the "operational" problems were bogus. I can definitely see the issue you've described happening though twice would be _very_ uncommon to say the least. Not out of the realm of plausibility, though. Don't think I'm defending Southwest because I like them as a carrier. Far from. Southwest is on my garbage list. I'll _never_ fly with them again, even if it means paying more with a different carrier for the same flight.
I've flown with Southwest twice. The first time was mediocre at best and the only reason I went with them was due to cost and flight availability. The best I can say is that they got me from California to Arizona safe and sound. That was in college, more than two decades ago. More recently - just a handful years ago to be exact - the experience was far far worse.
I traveled with Southwest from San Francisco to San Diego. Passengers were herded onto the plane like cattle. Definitely everyone for him/herself situation. The staff did nothing about problem passengers creating disturbances and severe "traffic" jams during the boarding process.
Two separate people blocked the aisle for no reason at all - not even to stuff a bag into a compartment or help someone else with a bag. They were just standing in the aisle instead of taking their seats. While the airline staff stood around with blank looks on their faces, me and a few other passengers finally decided to take matters into our own hands and yelled at them to clear the aisle. That got the point across.
I contacted Southwest about it and they apologized in a very cavalier manner. It was immediately apparent they didn't care at all about my experience and, worse, they didn't care at all that they'd losing a customer for life. As a result, I will not fly with them again. Ever.
Robert
I wouldn't be so quick to claim the "operational" problems were bogus. I can definitely see the issue you've described happening though twice would be _very_ uncommon to say the least. Not out of the realm of plausibility, though. Don't think I'm defending Southwest because I like them as a carrier. Far from. Southwest is on my garbage list. I'll _never_ fly with them again, even if it means paying more with a different carrier for the same flight.
I've flown with Southwest twice. The first time was mediocre at best and the only reason I went with them was due to cost and flight availability. The best I can say is that they got me from California to Arizona safe and sound. That was in college, more than two decades ago. More recently - just a handful years ago to be exact - the experience was far far worse.
I traveled with Southwest from San Francisco to San Diego. Passengers were herded onto the plane like cattle. Definitely everyone for him/herself situation. The staff did nothing about problem passengers creating disturbances and severe "traffic" jams during the boarding process.
Two separate people blocked the aisle for no reason at all - not even to stuff a bag into a compartment or help someone else with a bag. They were just standing in the aisle instead of taking their seats. While the airline staff stood around with blank looks on their faces, me and a few other passengers finally decided to take matters into our own hands and yelled at them to clear the aisle. That got the point across.
I contacted Southwest about it and they apologized in a very cavalier manner. It was immediately apparent they didn't care at all about my experience and, worse, they didn't care at all that they'd losing a customer for life. As a result, I will not fly with them again. Ever.
Robert