It’s very easy in these fast-paced technological times to take a customer service beef and basically broadcast it live over the Internet. But one Southwest passenger’s Twitter gripe over her four-year-old daughter getting assigned to a later boarding group has resulted in a lawsuit from the worker she complained about, alleging that the woman’s tweets and Facebook posts were defamatory and put the worker in a false light. [More]
southwest airlines
Change To Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Program Makes Scoring Some Free Flights Harder
By 9.24.13
Members of Southwest Airlines’ Rapid Rewards Program might want to read the recent email announcement closely, because it means travelers will have to rack up more points than before in order to score free flights in the airline’s cheapest pricing tier. Basically, the rewards won’t be reaped quite as rapidly. [More]
Which Airlines Offer The Most Legroom For Free (Gasp!) On Domestic Flights?
By 9.3.13
Unless you cherish the feeling of your knees shoved up against the seat in front of you, more legroom on a flight is a creature comfort that many fliers cherish but few receive — except for an extra fee. But hold your gasps and shocked faces of disbelief, folks: You can actually get extra legroom in coach… for free. Okay go ahead, gasp now. [More]
DOT Fines Southwest For Promoting Deals But Not Actually Making Seats Available At Sale Prices
By 8.2.13
Is a sale a sale when only a few people can actually take advantage of the deal, or if no one at all can get a piece of the advertised deal action? Nope, said the Department of Transportation, which has fined Southwest Airlines $200,000 for touting a sale that didn’t provide enough actual seats — or in one case, any at all — at the bargain price it advertised. [More]
Even Astrophysicists Can’t Figure Out How To Make Flight Boarding Process Less Nightmarish
By 7.31.13
There are some people out there who are just so freaking smart it’s almost shocking when even they can’t begin to understand the most frustrating things in life. Like the process of herding passengers onto an airplane, an operation that at its most basic includes putting one foot in front of the other and stowing bags. But it’s so dang complicated, even an astrophysicist says he can’t figure out how to make the boarding line a less awful experience. [More]
LaGuardia Delays Easing After Southwest Flight’s Landing Incident Closed A Runway Monday
By 7.23.13
Flight delays at LaGuardia Airport in New York City are finally easing up this morning, after a Southwest Airlines flight had an issue with its nose landing gear collapsing on the runway last night. At least 10 people suffered minor injuries and the airport had to close down temporarily while officials dealt with the incident, snarling traffic for hours. [More]
Dish Network Teams Up With Southwest To Offer Free Live TV On Flights With Wi-Fi
By 7.3.13
Soaring up in the wild blue yonder in a plane can be a heady experience, but some travelers just can’t bear to not be connected to what’s happening on the ground. Keeping in mind that some fliers don’t want to fork over money to buy Wi-Fi access despite that urge to stay in touch, Southwest Airlines and Dish Network are teaming up to offer free access to live TV while in flight. [More]
No Explosives Found On Diverted Southwest Airlines Flight After Phoned-In Bomb Threat
By 6.11.13
Passengers likely had a bit of a scare yesterday, after their Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles was diverted to Phoenix instead of its Austin destination. The FBI said Monday that the flight had to change course after a “telephonic bomb threat was made.” That’s official speak for “someone called and said a bomb was on the plane.” However, no bombs or explosives have been found on the plane, authorities say. So, whew. [More]
Southwest Passenger Learns The Hard Way That Not All Checked Bags Are Treated Equally
By 5.16.13
In spite of all the technological developments in logistics and air travel, passengers’ bags still get lost, damaged, or stolen. Luckily there are remedies in place for such instances, allowing the passenger to be reimbursed for his or her loss. But many travelers may not know that these protections don’t apply to all checked bags. [More]
Man Claims Southwest Humiliated Him By Pulling Him Off Flight Because He’s Overweight
By 4.25.13
When we hear the words “too fat to fly,” the airline that immediately pops up is Southwest. Of course there was the famous incident with Clerks director Kevin Smith back in 2010, as well as another woman who said the airline allegedly booted her from a flight for being overweight and sued Southwest to clarify its somewhat fickle “customers of size” policy. Now another man is claiming that he was pulled off a flight for being overweight, even though he says he used to be even heavier and never had a problem with the airline before. [More]
Virgin America Soars Above The Rest In Annual Airline Survey While United Sinks To The Bottom
By 4.8.13
Every day, airlines shuttle passengers from here to there, through friendly (and not so friendly) skies, ferrying bags and losing luggage and touching down at airports all around the country. Some of those airlines are consistently a cut above the rest, while others just can’t seem to do anything right. According to this year’s Airline Quality Rating Survey, Virgin America is the cream of the crop while United Airlines is a long, long way from the top. [More]
And Now: “Flying The Friendly Skies Fridays” Because Traveling Can Actually Be Fun
By 3.22.13
Around these parts, we hear our share of the frustrating, the woeful and the all-out angry. But when we catch hold of an idea that brings out the happy and rewarding stories of customers, we like to celebrate it. Herewith, then, the first of a few “Flying The Friendly Skies Fridays.” Or FTFSF, if you will. [More]
Southwest And AirTran Now Holding Hands: Flights Can Finally Be Booked Together
By 3.20.13
Even though Southwest and AirTran got hitched back during their 2011 merger, the two have barely seemed like they were going steady, much less married. But now it appears they’re ready to let the whole world know they’re moving on to holding hands: all flights on either airline can now be booked together as one itinerary. [More]
Study: Southwest Is Often Only The Least-Expensive Option If You’re Checking Bags
By 3.15.13
In spite of the fact that Southwest Airlines is now one of the largest airlines in the country, it still has a reputation among some consumers of being a plucky upstart that always offers cheaper fares than its old-school competitors, especially for business travelers. But a new study claims that Southwest passengers’ savings often depends on whether or not they check their bags. [More]
Southwest Airlines Mails Lost Phone, Provides Outstanding Service And Terrible Poetry
By 3.6.13
Jane’s husband left his mobile phone behind on a Southwest Airlines plane. Oh, no! How sad! He had every reason to expect not to see it again, but someone turned it in to Lost and Found. The kind souls at Southwest mailed it back to him, enclosing a poem. We’re not saying that it was a good poem, but it’s certainly a thoughtful one. [More]
Southwest Airlines Duped The Entire Plane And We Loved It: Send Us Your Happy Travel Tales
By 3.1.13
This morning, before the sun had fully risen over the eastern seaboard, I was groggily fighting sleep and crankily wishing ill upon my seatmate’s blaring iPod as we sat on a 6 a.m. flight to Chicago on Southwest Airlines. Usually I am not in the mood for jokes at such an hour, but with one well-timed prank, the airline known for its particular brand of crew member humor turned everyone’s frowns upside down. [More]
Southwest’s CEO On Perhaps Charging For Bags In The Future: “Never Say Never”
By 1.24.13
For those who love flying Southwest Airlines because it doesn’t charge for passengers to check a bag, well, your love might be tested at some point in the maybe kinda distant future, perhaps. It’s a bit vague, but what we do know is that in a recent interview, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly isn’t promising that fee-free fun for all eternity. [More]
Southwest Helps Out Longtime Customer Even Though It Didn’t Have To
By 1.8.13
For more than 20 years, Consumerist reader Carl has been flying on Southwest Airlines, and he’s been a frequent customer of the carrier for around 15 years. [More]
