11-08-2007
06:25 AM
1 Love
The first time I put in the time and effort to check in online 24 hours in advance as I normally do and end up in a middle seat, I'm gone. These "enhancements" smell an awful lot like the enhancement when you eliminated blackout dates on Rapid Reward tickets only to impose capacity controls and then as a practical matter still have the same blackout dates as before. You should not be suprised at the skepticism expressed herein.
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11-25-2006
05:49 PM
2 Loves
Bill, Glad to see the new DAL-BHM flights that continue on to BNA. Is there enough traffic for a nonstop flight to JAN with one plane service to one of your Florida destinations?
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11-04-2006
04:44 AM
2 Loves
In expanding from DAL to points east, why not create flights through JAN or BHM and kill two birds with one stone? How can there be enough traffic to warrant flights from BHM to Louisville but not Dallas or from JAN to HOU but not DAL?
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10-17-2006
08:47 PM
7 Loves
Bill,
Are you taking a look at adding non-stops to BHM and JAN now that you can offer one-stops through there to Florida, IAD, BWI etc.?
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10-13-2006
07:21 PM
6 Loves
Were the comments of the passengers who actually went through the boarding process positive or negative?
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10-04-2006
03:22 AM
1 Love
I wonder if now it will make sense for WN to fly direct from Love Field to JAN and BHM with the plane continuing on to Florida, IAD, BWI etc? I never did understand why they did not start a few nonstops to JAN and BHM when the Shelby Amendment was passed.
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Gillian Durham has a great idea about A-B-C seating at the gate area with more definite lines. SWA could do a much better job of making it clear where the back of the line is located. You also know roughly how many properly sized roller bags will fit on your planes. How about a system of checking in at the gate to get a luggage pass for your ONE carryon bag (after the gate agent sees that it is a proper size) and when you run out you start gate checking (before boarding begins). There is more room under middle seats than aisle or window seats so an exception could be made for a bag that will fit under the middle seat in front of the passengers middle seat. This would give some incentive to sit in a middle seat.
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Please, Please, Please - Do not listen to these people who think you have to stand in line for an hour with an "A" boarding pass to get a good seat. If they invested the amount of time that it took them to read this blog into checking out the different ways to get an "A" and what seats are available to the very last "A" boarder, they would know better. I fly 15-20 RT's per year on Southwest and have never seen the problems they describe with the boarding process. If you decide that you just have to try this, the best idea I have heard is to allow assigned window and aisle seats at the rear of the plane only and even allow them to preboard, as long as they do not have any overhead bin carryon luggage. This way, the passengers who are stuck with a "C" pass will at least have a good shot at having overhead bin space even if they are sitting in a middle seat at the back of the plane.
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NO, NO, NO to assigned seating. This is is one of the few perks you give your best customers (other than my companion pass). As others have stated, we know the system, know how to get a A pass, know that unless we have to sit near the front to make a connection, we can wait until the end of the A line and still get an exit row seat most of the time and an aisle or window all of the time. If you decide to make this cahnge, I cannot stress enough the need to make some accomodations for your best customers (ie- full fare, companion pass etc). If you want to speed up the boarding process, then all preboarders other than wheel chair passengers should sit in the back of the plane, not the front. Pre-board should also mean post-depart.
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