How do you like flying Southwest Airlines?

I found the flights OK but hate the no reservations system. We got all three seats all together flying out by showing up early by four hours. Flying out, we all got "C" boarding passes and were stuck with varying aisle seats.

you're not yet on the evil empire's "no-fly" list. Congratulations!

that we've never seen before. "Big Brother" watching us?

Just curious. I haven't had to fly since 9-11, and wonder what intrigue awaits me when I try it.

that says cleared by the TSA, Homeland Security. First time it's shown up and we've flown about a dozen times since 9/11. We've all been wanded once or twice on the flights.

They'll have historical value one of these days.

fuckers

The last two times I flew Southwest, they left my bags in Houston. The second time I didn't get them back until two days later.

Won't fly w/ them again.

I love southwest. and I love the non-assigned seating. It keeps costs down. Yes, I feel like cattle and have to fight for my bulkhead or exit row seat, but it's worth it to be able to fly so cheap. And the rapid rewards program rocks. free ticket already, less than a year as a member!

and, on edit: they have never lost my luggage. continental has, as has delta. and someone stole from dh's bag on a continental flight. I would love to fly JetBlue (as they are a blue company! for real, not just in name), but they don't fly to TX, my main destination.

I always try to fly thru vegas, as those flights are frequently full and have lots of stand by, good way to get a voucher and money if you volunteer to take the next flight, usually only 45 min later!

I had one youth ticket and one senior discount ticket as well as a regular ticket and you can't check in via the internet for boarding passes on these discount tickets. Yes, the tickets were about $100 cheaper on the same destinations under SW.

I don't mind sitting separately from family or friends myself, I don't want to talk or anything on a flight.

I find folks pretty cooperative on SW flights, I have seen many people switch around their seats to keep a family together, esp. with a little one. With a youth ticket, could you have preboarded? SW is pretty cool about special requests...did you ask anyone after you got your C boarding pass about trying to get an A or pre-board?

I generally get to the airport at least two hours prior for SW flights, if I can't check in online. I don't mind paying with my time instead of my wallet, personally.

...and I ALWAYS get the checkerboard square at the bottom of my ticket. That means, in SOUTHWEST parlance, that you are a criminal, a suspect, an evildoer..of some sort or other.

At one time in my life, I had a higher clearance than the chimp. I have never advocated overthrow of the powers that be, either now, or in the past.

For some, fucked up, Rovian reason, I am NOW, suddenly, an ENEMY of the STATE. I am BRUTALIZED every time I fly. Seaarched, tossed, questioned, treated cruelly. It is heinous. It is dispicable. And, what they do not seem to get, it is totally UNNECESSARY. The more I give them no reason to beat me up, the more they find the reason that does not exist--but they leave me feeling raped, beaten and abused. I suspect they do not want me to fly. Why, I have no fucking idea!

I think they are fuckwads, but I'll not challenge them---I will leave first. Canada, Ireland, Italy, France--they all look good. America looks uglier every day I peruse it. And I always loved America, warts and all.

Why my very own government berates me, I've no idea.....

If you do not think it could happen to you, think again, folks. It puts my teeth on edge every fucking time it happens to me.

I have a long career (VERY VERY LONG, mind you) with the government, and yet, they come after me like I am the most rabid of criminals. I, who have not anything greater than a minor traffic violation on my otherwise spotless "record" am somehow, suddenly, after years of "preferential" treatment, an evil creature. It is sick--stupid, and totally whack.

You have to wonder how really INCOMPETENT they are when they come after me. I think they are totally LOST, dumbfounded, dare I day FLUMMOXED!! Pathetic little weenies! They may feel better beating ME up, whilst Mohammed Bin McVeigh is cruising through without a hint of a problem!

All I can say is--be very afraid, folks. This country is in trouble. And as Big Dick might say, BIg TIME!

on Southwest? SW airlines doesn't get to decide the parameters under which folks are pulled for search. I get the boobie rub-down search if I buy a one-way ticket, or if I buy the day before or day of flight. I understand that to be true of all airlines these days, from those that fly often and all over.

I hate it, it's fucked up, and I am sorry you get treated like shit, but I have to defend the folks at southwest who have absolutely nothing to do with it.

And I never had a problem with seating... maybe that was another poster! Usually, I got great seating, sometimes as a consequence of being screwed over by the TSA goons. If you were "C", and got roughed up BAD, you suddenly became "A" and could hop on right after the oldies, kids, fatties and cripples. Happened to me more than once, to be honest.

Let me make that clear. They (the Southwest flight attendants and ticket agents) are always fine to me. (I've a family member/friends or two who works for competing airlines; I totally understand their many challenges!). It is not a question of one way, or last minute tickets, I plan WELL AHEAD. It does not matter. I ALWAYS GET THE TREATMENT. It has to do with something they refuse to reveal -- ME, my name, my travel history, my work history, my associates..........? Tell me, ya pricks, and let me clear it up for ya, ya nosy bastards! There's NOTHING THERE!!!!!

My problem is with the TSA system that has my name on the fucking LIST. Why, I do not know. And I have friends in positions who should be able to tell me, and THEY do not know.

All I can say is, something is really WRONG. Ted Kennedy got the same treatment, but he had enough clout to get the cloud lifted.

The country is fucked up. When they start targeting the blatantly innocent, it is time to be fearful.

the president? (even a shitty one!)

I am so nosey, what did you do for a living that had higher clearance than our highest position ?!?!?! cool.

I was referring to his clearance as a shitbird AWOL pilot and Governor of TX in charge of the TX NG...not his CURRENT CLEARANCE! Basically, that fucking idiot can see everything--be VERY afraid!!! Nowadays, I see NADA! Nothing, not a thing!

Oh, hell, they'll be pounding down my door, crucifying my family, and torturing me poor, damn near a hundred, auntie in the nursing home now! Damn! That's whatchaget for posting on a DEMOCRATIC message board! Enemies of the State, we are!

To answer your question, I did some decent work, not GREAT work, just decent, honorable, well meaning, work, for a system of government I admired and loved. No hero, me, just ordinary work that anyone in my shoes with my skills would have done. When ya do that sort of work, they give ya a clearance!!

I am saddened at the craziness nowadays....

Cheap flights, and never had a problem with the boarding system. On the older 737's (the entire fleet is 737's, which helps keep the costs down), you could get more leg room sitting at the front of the cabins where they have reversed seats.

Best thing about them is that their seating is egalitarian, none of that first-class shit. Also one of the safest airlines in the world.

not really, but I like that show

For some reason American Airline boards in groups instead of rows. Which really sucks. I got stuck in group 6 (the last one) when I was boarding in Dallas and it just irritated the hell out of me. I was fricking row 8, why did I have to wait so long for folks to board out of order

in the front seats to pack up and sit down. Back to front. quicker.

Now you can get a boarding pass online (even if you're checking luggage) starting midnight on the day of travel. Just go to their website, go to "Reservations" link (I believe), enter your confirmation number, and it will present you the boarding pass most likely with "A". Print it and you're good to go. That way you could be one of the early ones to board the aircraft.

P.S. I didn't realize somebody already mentioned this.

There are some folks in the system who cannot do that, on SW, on DELTA, on ANY airline. You go to print, and you get this sick note that says NO--SEE THE TICKET AGENT AT THE AIRPORT. Makes ya feel real comfy packing your bags! Why am I being accused? What have I done??

Many of them are innocent, just like me!

This has happened to me maybe a dozen times...or more likely, more, since 911.

Never happened to me before then--ever. I sailed though every check, was never questioned, and often got 'preferential treatment' from airport security.

I am the same person. The only thing that has changed is our government!

had an absolute nightmare experience flying out of BWI with them. never again! I do like the show "Airline" though.

A creep sits behind you and pushes his knees in the back of your seat,belchs and farts.Several 2 month old babys scream for the whole flight and a guy sits next to you eating a gorgonzolla pizza while he plays pocket pool and reads a copy of Milky Maids.The steward person spills boiling lava on your lap then tells security you're a terrorist,other than that,you can't beat the price and sometimes you get your luggage within weeks.