Nuts About Southwest

I feel the issue of safety w/SW Airlines is best put by the Blog from Suzie D on March 7th. This is yet another example of the inaccuracy of the Media coverage in today's world.

I am a tremendously nervous flyer and have always felt that my best bet was with SW Airlines due to their flawless track record in terms of safety.

More than that I will say they always have the most consciencious crews and flight attendants.

In speaking of their great crew members I need to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful flight attendants yesterday who took me 'under their wing'.

After having a few exhausting days of dealing with the details of my Stepfathers untimely death I was finally on my way from Oregon to Arkansas to attend his funeral.

My apprehension about flying along with the emotion of my loss hit me just after I boarded the exchange flight in Chicago.. I was in tears having one of those 'grieving waves' that happen when you loose a loved one. Michelle Crossman (#32729) and the other attendants Jeannie Shaffer (#32729) and Kevin Dunbar (#33621) were incredible. Their skill in comforting me (and continually checking to see if I needed anything ) without drawing undo attention was yet another great example of SW Airlines and the Professionalism that so many other Airlines do not have these days.

Hopefully the Media will be forced to report the more accurate details of their story. I will continue to fly and reccommend SW as one of the safest and best 'customer' service airlines.

Living where I do affords me the opportunity to fly out of Jax, Mco, or Tpa. I have flown on Southwest from all three. I appreciate the low fares and will continue to fly Southwest when ever possible. This Democratic congress has had more than 300 investigations and hearings since the last election and have come up with nothing but a bag of HOT AIR. It appears that Mr. Oberstar wishes to share the stage with Henry Waxman..These people have so much hot air they could fill up an onion sack. I will continue to support you and be a customer.

SWA Safety Violations and a Huge Fine by the FAA? Unbelievable!!

Just to let you (SWA Mgt) know, I do strongly sympathize with and support SWA on the recent very unwarranted and unbelieveable FAA safety violation charges and large FAA fine, for what purpose I can't understand or believe! Damage control by the FAA?

SWA is the proven safest and most accident free airline I have known, yet the FAA finds it necessary to flex its muscles and authority to impose a fine of over $10 million, for something so long ago and insignificant based on what I have read?? Maybe just a very technical fine and charges, I don't think so!

This is obviously a very political act that smears and defames SWA before the public and its Passengers, as the FAA is currently being critized by Congress for not being tough enough on airlines for safety and other bad performance! So, the FAA goes after the airline with the deepest pockets and imposes an unfair and unjustified fine, based on mostly nothing, it appears! Perhaps it is the FAA that should be heavily fined or sued for false charges and defamation? SWA may be afraid to do this,in order to try to stay in FAA's good graces as the regulators?

SWA should fight this unjustified fine tooth and nail in the Courts and public opinion, if it has the hard and clear facts to refute the charges and fine! The FAA is apparently trying to save face or re-direct blame from itself to an airline or someone else that has deep pockets, and can pay, and that won't be hurt by such a large fine! I support SWA all the way in defending these defaming, ruthless and political business damaging charges and the fine!!

However, I don't support your current very weird Boarding System and almost as weird Boarding Pass Row assignment System, with Blog comment details listed below!!

Note: I was forced to include these critical and negative Blog comments in this Blog Posting (which is OK and applicable for a Blog comment/reply to the CEO's CNN interview about safety,
as the Boarding Pass Blog could be considered a Safety issue also!)! This was necessary, because the Original Blog contents (Titled: New Boarding Process-After the Holidays) was archived under Airports and Flying and the archived Blog will not now
accept new postings past those for Feb 08 ??? This Blog should have been continued in order to allow new postings, as its the biggest and most important problem/issue with SWA
(outranking even the FAA charges, in my opinion!)!!

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New Boarding Process-After the Holidays (Title from Archived Blog ending Feb 08)

This Blog space is too small (I think) to list all my negative comments about the new boarding system (even much worst then the hated old one), so I plan to follow-up with a formal USPS letter (SWA still does not accept email letters, due to bone-headed tradition and plain poor and slow Customer Service feedback options!!) to the SWA's Leaders (its CEO &
President) on this same subject and the recent FAA Safety fine (unless SWA considers this Blog comments an email letter feedback system?)!

A short Summary of my negative comments on this topic follow, by number:

1) I've read all previous comments (now archived and not open to new comments) and agree with all the mostly negative ones and some of their suggestions on how to finally fix the goofy
SWA Boarding system problems!

2) I've read the few postive comments and don't agree with any of them, as most are laughable as they were posted by SWA employees, are out of touch with reality, don't have a clue, don't
fly often on SWA or any of all the other Airlines that have a compatible reserved seat system that all work better!, or who are just kidding themselves or trying to impress SWA into
giving them a free ticket!

3) SWA!, get over trying to maintain this so-called SWA tradition of having or being a small time low-volume Airline that does not need to reserve seats, in order to keep original customers happy because they think SWA is so unique to be different! Wakeup, they don't think this anymore, if they ever did (if they do, they haven't experienced the new SWA Boarding system!)!

4) SWA!, break tradition (finally), and adopt the normal and proven reserved seating system used by every other airline in the World except for SWA (for your sake, families with kids,
and anyone else who still might want to fly on SWA, not to mention the negitive effects on the bottom line at SWA)!

Yes, even other Airlines have changed their reserved seating system to load by Section or Group Number/Letter, in order to speed boarding, improve efficiency, and load the aircraft
from rear to front or front to back if they choose! The assignment of which section you are in for other airlines is determined by how soon you get your boarding pass before flight, which is the only thing similiar to what SWA does in its old or new boarding system! However, it is definitely not the same, as passengers on other airlines already have an
assigned reserved seat, even if they are the last person to board in any such grouping, and even if they are late boarding! So, it is not at all important for other airline passengers to stand or get in line or fight for a place in the section boarding! However,for SWA Passengers it is now very important to be at the assigned row and place number in one of the overcrowded A,B,C lines, in order to get favorable seats together or window seats or exit
seats, etc. (except for Business Class Passengers, who don't know what they are paying so much extra for, as far as Boarding goes??)!

They (other airline passengers) have reserved assigned seats and can board at leisure, by section called, or when they want to or last if they choose and still get the seats they want and reserved in advance, all without having to wait in yet another line after the long TSA line! How simple and efficient and fair is this with no enforcement needed, not to mention modern and stress free! Maybe that is why all other airlines use this proven system (does anyone at SWA get it yet, or will they ever get it?)!

SWA!, please try to get over your ownership or pride for this system (very inefficient and full of stressed out anxious passengers) or so-called tradition of boarding Passengers like
cattle, or queuing them up like unbehaved undisciplined school kids waiting for the lunch bell to ring! Your stubbornness is killing SWA, and any Passenger loyalty left!

The System is outdated and frankly you've outgrown it (if you haven't noticed?)!! Your very lame attempt to overhaul the old system with a hybrid system, in order to keep the main and
worst part of the old sytem that does not include reserved seats, is not working and is actually a total failure! Admit it, and Get over it sooner, rather than later!

The new system is driving more people away (see the Blog posts!), is confusing, still requires you to get in lines and now in your numbered place, has to be enforced by SWA employees to work or there will be fights, and is just plain dumb! I, and I believe most other Passengers after any objective direct observation, would characterize the old and new SWA Boarding Systems as Dumb and Dumber!

I am, or was a frequent SWA flyer, or used to be and won't be, if SWA doesn't get its act together and finally go to the proven reserved seating system! Quit patting yourselves on the back (SWA Mgt) for coming up with or adopting a new and more pathetic seating system than the old one, as such self adulation will get SWA nowhere!

5) About the SWA Boarding Pass System (also broken and in need of replacement)! What is wrong with how the Row (A,B,C) and row numbers are assigned to Passenger's Boarding Passes, who are ticketed together or purchased together and then have Boarding passes printed or issued at the same time??? Twice, I have printed advance Boarding Passes online, with two legs of travel for my wife and I on both flights. We both have been assigned different rows (A & B or C) with place numbers, even though I printed the Passes at the same time both times?? There is no way this should be allowed or permitted by your Boarding Pass system, if it has any computer logic at all!!

6) I do have other issues with SWA that were touched on in the Blog comments! I'm disappointed in the cutbacks for baggage allowance, and the continuing and expanding devaluing of RR credits and awards by limiting seats available for RR use and when they can be used!! I don't understand the feable attempt to attract (for more profit I suppose) more Business Travelers (at the expense of your Core Travelers, who mostly enjoy the low priced seats, when they are available which is less and less)! This is a pitiful attempt at revenue growth that in-turn slows the growth of its Core Passenger base and their use of SWA!! I hope you make up your mind on who SWA is going to primarily serve! Finally, the neglect in not fixing the severe problems with Boarding and waiting in yet another new unreserved seating SWA created line(s) system!

The other Blog comments show this has been happening to many others, with no explanation given and no fix given by SWA? The comments above say that this happens because one party has more flight credits or has flown more often?? If true, this in no way justifies separating Husband and Wife or Families into separate waiting Rows, and in fact nothing
should justify this separation action or process! This needs to be fixed ASAP, as I had to hide my Wife's Boarding Pass with a C row, as my Pass was in the A row! Otherwize, we would
have had to fight with the SWA employees who sometimes try to enforce the new numbered lineups (hard as that is to do in the crowded area at the Boarding Gate!)!

We did nothing wrong in correcting the weird row and position assignments ourselves, as SWA doesn't even acknowledge this is a problem and has refused to fix it! I don't question assignment of different rows, if Boarding Passes are printed at different times or locations. However, this is not the case with ticket pairs that are purchased at the same time and Boarding Passes printed at the same time! SWA, please fix this problem or at least acknowledge it is a problem or part of the overall problem with your Boarding System (if we Had reserved seats, we would have no problem with being in separate rows)!

PS: Other airlines also have this weird Boarding Pass problem, with different boarding sections being printed on the Passes for boarding two people traveling on the same ticket? However, its
less of a problem with them, as you have reserved seats and can board separately with no problem!

Maybe I want have to write that formal USPS mail letter, as stated at the beginning, after this online blog message is posted, received, or reviewed by SWA Mgt?? Any bets?

The CNN Article is blow way out of propotion... ALL Airlines have had that kind or worse problems... CNN has made it sound much worse than it really is. Of course that is there JOB! SWA has a good and active maintenance plan, and they continue to expand their maintenance programs as needed. The planes that flew with out the inspection(s)... A crack or 2 was found... This does not necessarily mean the aircraft is unsafe.. Sure it needs to be fixed before further flight... But it does not mean that it is DOOMED.

CNN Should stick to what they do best... I would tell them what that is... But I do not think anyone knows what that should be.

The Boeing 737 (which SWA Exclusively utilzies), is 1 the most popular airplane flying in the world. There is 1 takeoff or landinging averaging around the world, 24 hours a day every 15 seconds... That is alot of Airplanes. It is a stable plane that has been out since the 60's and has been receiving improvements ever since. It is solid built, takes a liking and keeps on ticking.

IF SWA AIRPLANES WERE UNSAFE, THE FAA WOULD IMMEDIATELY PULL THERE FLIGHT CERTIFICIATE AND ALL THEIR PLANES WOUND BE GROUNDED IMMEDIATELY NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE AT.

Under CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) part 121, Air Carrier Certification, the airline has to present a plan of operations. In the case of the maintenance department, in many complanies is termed the GMM (General Maintenance Manual). Before the 1st plane can fly, the FAA Must approve this document. It instructs the Maintenance department on how to maintain the a/c that they are working on for standard practices and more. If they change this manual, it must be approved by the FAA.

It is very hard for an Airline to get away with anything. In the case of SWA, all of the findings were what is known as "Self Disclosures" (Oops.. We screwed up). The FAA did not find this, the company did and then reported this. How about looking at other airlines. USAir, Delta, United... Geez.. All of them have this kind of problems, and it is NOT a big deal. It happens every day. The only difference is... CNN is using scare tactics. Maybe they should look for some real problems... Maybe they should take there cameras under cover into a maintenance facility and see how things are done. They do not want to do this, because is what they will find is By The Book work and no news. They would rather throw a "Self Disclosure" Way out of propotion and show it as BAD news.. Because BAD NEWS SELLS! and that is what makes them money...

Just for the record.. I am not a SWA Employee... But I do work as a mechanic for another major airline to remain nameless. I would also further like to say that I envy to work for SWA because they are doing what is right to make it all work. They have not show 33 to 36 years of profit by doing shotty maintenance and throwing 10+ Mil to the government in fines... Come to think of it.. How many times has this happened here... Not sure.. I think this is the first major fine they have ever gotten... How many other airlines can say that!

Enough said...

MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA.....seems once again the media didn't catch the whole story .SWA did everything by hte book and I think Gary Kelly will prove that. SWA fully disclosed the cracks to the FAA in 3/07 and repaired what needed to be repaired per BOEING. The FAA signed off on the corrections/repairs in 4/07...what is the problem??? seems someone is out for SWA.! I will continue to fly the WORLD'S SAFEST AIRLINE and #1 customer service :-)

SWA LUVER

Shame on SWA! Loyal, unsuspecting passengers deserve better than this. My cousin flew on a SWA flight recently, and said that his flight was prolonged because the landing gear would not deploy. The captain had to circle around for about an hour until the landing gear opened up. Customers beware! Your life is worth more than this. Pay a little extra, but don't sacrifice your life for some cheap fare!!

For thirty years I have gone out of my way to fly SWA. And I hope I can continue for another 30 years with them. Over the previous thirty , SWA has had the youngest fleet of aircraft, the newest models.Always on top of the cutting edge of air transportation technology. As a pilot of a general type aircraft, I am well aware of the superb professionalism of the two fellows up front that I have seen from SWA over and over again. The airline is an efficient airline, pionerring the quick 'turn around', so I can have a very low air fare.I know that Rep. James Oderstar has had a few aviation committee assighnments, but I am sure that his expertise in aviation is a lot less than the FAA or SWA, which have been around for a long long time. Maybe he is more interested in Minnasota based Northwest Airlines, than SWA. I find it hard to believe he would come down on Northwest. Really irks me to see someone like this come down on a superb organization such as SWA.--- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU SWA GUYS!!!!

I have been a loyal customer of Southwest for over 20 years. I am shocked and dismayed at the business practices of Southwest to maximize profits. The hypocrisy is beyond the paleÃ

I'm wondering what other safety checks you guys have missed?
The ones that come to light are often the tip of the iceberg.
You say you notified the FAA .... WHEN you discovered the missed checks! But of course you have to do that because things will look far worse if the FAA actually finds out themselves, however unlikely that is!

As I understand it, these were checks related to causes of prior 737 crashes.

I will not, repeat not, be flying your airline again any time soon.

The first page of Google results about Southwest Airlines flack Paula Berg tells us this:

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/2007/06/15/behind-the-scenes-blog-queen/

Now, never mind "wacky", and "off-the-wall" - "behind-the-scenes Blog Queen" and "Nuts about Southwest" say it all for me.

So, to Paula Berg of Southwest Airlines, the airline companyÃ