Hotel California...and Nevada and Alabama and...

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Hotel California...and Nevada and Alabama and...

Tue, 02/26/2008 - 10:10 — David Evans Jr.

I ran across an interesting statistic the other day that I want to share with you. I have mentioned in past posts that I have spent as many as 211 nights in hotel rooms in a single year. Since I am now based in the city where I live, I average about 13 nights a month in someone else's bed (probably should have rephrased that). Anyway, in a recent month, Southwest Airlines purchased an astounding 97,648 hotel rooms for our Flight Crews (Pilots and Flight Attendants).

In some cities we have too many Crew Members for any one hotel to handle. We use hotels close to the airport for Crews on a very short overnight and hotels near shopping or entertainment for those with a longer overnight. In the 64 cities that Southwest serves, we utilize 94 different hotels.

And, in true Southwest fashion (save money whenever you can), the majority of the procurement and coordination for this massive undertaking is handled by volunteers, 17 Southwest Pilots and Flight Attendants to be exact, with assistance from Staff at our corporate office. Just think: one million, one hundred seventy-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six (1,171,776) hotel rooms a year...that's a lot of bed pillow chocolates!!!

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Comments

Thanks for another great post! What is your favorite hotel? Have you stayed in TUL?

Thought for the day: Why is there not a combination of dinner & breakfast?

SWA LUV! :)

Leah — Wed, 02/27/2008 - 01:47

While waiting for my flight to arrive to take me to Sand Diego, Ca. from Reno,Nv. I looked out the window adjacent to gate 7 and saw a couple of guys playing "a once favorite game of mine"; "grab ass".......Many variations are included in this game description.......Today 2-21-08 it entailed two guys throwing the bright florescent pink ,yellow and black direction batons at one another.
While the game progressed I saw "my plane" approaching and one more throw that broke a baton into (3) pieces.....(I counted them.). One of the players picked up the pieces that I imagine if sucked into either of the two jet engines wouldn't have done any good????What's up with this kind of behavior??? I know it goes on with a lot of jobs; but come on; in plain sight??? and How much did I pay for the last baton??? I'd like to know if someone does read this and if so......just drop me a note....Maybe one of these fellas was the cause of my luggage not showing up when I got to San Diego?? and yet another reason I'm writhing this note.........."Batter Up"

mark W. barrett — Wed, 02/27/2008 - 02:30

Mark,
I shared your observations with our Ground Operations Leadership and they will certainly followup on this.
Brian

Brian Lusk — Wed, 02/27/2008 - 15:11

Leah,
Better clean up your house, next week the ron crews from TUL are staying with you! ;-)

Press 5 for more options
Ding!
boy
joe!

Joe Friedmann — Thu, 02/28/2008 - 14:39

Have you ever stayed in Ft. Lauderdale, New Orleans or Reno? If you did, how was the service at the hotels?

Countess V. Robertson — Thu, 02/28/2008 - 16:46

I have a huge in Atlanta and the crew is always welcome to stay! (As long as they're cute male pilots)

Peaches Nesbitt — Thu, 02/28/2008 - 19:10

Okay, Ding! Boy! It better be before next Thursday, though, because that's when I go to STL. In fact, this time next Thursday, I'll be on the plane! :)

Thought for the day: Why is it called Sheperd's Pie?

SWA LUV! :)

Leah — Thu, 02/28/2008 - 23:33

Thought for the day: Why is it called macaroni and cheese?

Jenny Tull — Fri, 02/29/2008 - 00:29

David,
As a former Road (and Air) Warrior myself, I am familiar with the joys of hotel stays. My own list of preferred hotels in the seven states I traveled took a while to create and define, and was occasionally tweaked, but for folks who "sleep in someone else's bed" a lot, you can't underestimate the value of being in a place that has predictable quality and where, like that bar in Boston, "everyone knows your name."

However, your biggest problem probably isn't getting used to your own bed back home after a trip, it is where to keep all of those 211 tiny bottles of shampoo that you frugally brought home... LOL

Happy Trails,
Kim
External Blog Boy and Hotel-Stayer Extraordinaire :)

Kim Seale — Fri, 02/29/2008 - 00:43

On a LeAAh AAirlines plane? ;-o
They will be there wednesday.

We can finance anyone!
Ding!
boy
joe!

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 02/29/2008 - 01:43

Kim,
It was only 210. One spilled.

No more evidence is necessary. You are guilty!
ding!
boy
joe!

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 02/29/2008 - 02:24

Oh, okay! Just so long as it's on SWA & not LeAAh AAirlines! :) They can only stay one night, though, & check out time is 10:00. Maybe next time they can stay longer.

"Don't leave home without it!"

SWA LUV! :)

Leah — Fri, 02/29/2008 - 05:19

Leah,
Is that check out time AM or PM?

Mr. Woodcockpit — Mon, 03/03/2008 - 20:43

My reply to Countess V. Robertson...First, I think this is the first time I have ever had the opportunity to address a Countess, pretty cool. You have asked about some of my favorite cities in the SWA system. Typically our overnights are too short to get "out and about" much, but in RNO and FLL I have had time to get out and get a taste of the local flavor and have enjoyed myself.

TO Kim...Interesting that you ask about the shampoos, if you add in a pen and soap from each overnight and then if they fall on a weekday a USA Today, that is a lot of stuff to carry around...

DEJr.

David Evans, Jr.-Dallas Captain — Mon, 03/03/2008 - 22:49

Oops, I forgot! It's 10:00 am. check-out. Thanks! :)

Thought for the day: Why are they called French fries?

SWA LUV! :)

Leah — Tue, 03/04/2008 - 00:09

Peaches has a huge what in Atlanta.

Scott near SMF — Wed, 03/05/2008 - 05:37

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