chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jul 11, 2013 12:38:16 GMT -5
I really hate SWA. I was happy enough with all my Airtran flights until SWA started to change them. They doubled the fare on at least one... this makes my head hurt. I think you are the only person I know of that prefers airtran to sw. I will never voluntarily fly airtran again. sent from my electronic distraction
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jul 11, 2013 12:44:56 GMT -5
I have yet to travel to a place that didn't have a drugstore or walmart. If I am going to stay more than 2 days, I either buy stuff there or check a bag. Otherwise I am pretty minimal and don't need many liquids in a carryon. SWA seems fine to me, but it's the only one I've flown in the past five years because they always have the lowest fares for our trips.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 11, 2013 12:54:22 GMT -5
My BFF and I travel together a lot. It is like traveling with Suzanne Sugarbaker. I thought I carried a lot of crap but she takes the cake. When we went to Alaska her suitcase weighted 64 pounds and she had to pay the overage charges. When we got there I started unpacking my toiletries. I walked into the bathroom for a few minutes and when I came out she had a pile of shit all over her bed. I have never seen so many clothes for an 8 day trip before. I asked her if she remembered to pack her crowns She has decided she wants to go to Ireland with me in the spring. I am going to have to have a little talk with her about not packing so much crap because I am not sure her suitcase will even fit in the rental car
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 12:59:10 GMT -5
almost40 - I think my husband over packs, and when we went to Europe I was teasing him about bringing so many pairs of jeans. When we got to the airport we had a long wait at the gate for our flight, so we bought some coffee, which he promptly spilled all over himself and his jeans. And he said "Good thing I brought an extra pair." And I haven't teased him since.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Jul 11, 2013 12:59:31 GMT -5
I find the cattle call seating to be a lot less drama than the assigned. Then again, I check everything and people tend to scatter like cockroaches when the see us coming with 3 small kids.
If you have a good set of earplugs, you don't have to be nearly as picky about where you sit.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 13:02:33 GMT -5
I will say that I am more concerned about it for this trip than I am when I travel alone. I can sit anywhere when I'm alone, but I want to sit with my hubs. It is easier when I'm holding a ticket that says we have two seats together.
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Jul 11, 2013 13:11:47 GMT -5
Southwest is great in my experience. Cheap flights, no baggage fees and they fly out of the local airport to Vegas and quite few other destinations. I don't mind having to check in and select a seat < 24 hours before the flight if it means I can get out of paying a $25 bag fee.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 13:14:25 GMT -5
I have yet to travel to a place that didn't have a drugstore or walmart. If I am going to stay more than 2 days, I either buy stuff there or check a bag. Otherwise I am pretty minimal and don't need many liquids in a carryon. SWA seems fine to me, but it's the only one I've flown in the past five years because they always have the lowest fares for our trips. and then what do you do with the product you don't use - throw it away? my hair cream is $16.50 a bottle.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 13:18:13 GMT -5
I also find the stress of having to do an errand while on vacation to detract from my experience. I rarely vacation in the suburbs where finding a Target and running in is a piece of cake. So, I would be stuck roaming around looking for a place to buy product. It is especially bad if my flight is later in the day - then I'm roaming around an unknown city late at night, otherwise I won't have what I need in the morning.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jul 11, 2013 13:34:18 GMT -5
I was interested when Southwest started operations at Newark (NJ), because I'd heard lots of good things about them, including that they were cheap. I'm going to Orlando later this year, and checked out Southwest. Their airfares were about double United's and all flights included a stop in either Chicago, St. Louis, or New Orleans.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 13:37:35 GMT -5
I was interested when Southwest started operations at Newark (NJ), because I'd heard lots of good things about them, including that they were cheap. I'm going to Orlando later this year, and checked out Southwest. Their airfares were about double United's and all flights included a stop in either Chicago, St. Louis, or New Orleans. I haven't found it this bad - but I find they charge at least what everyone else charges. We have gotten cheaper flights, even when including checked bag fees, from other airlines. Usually the difference is pretty small, so we will pay a little extra for the time we want. And we will always pay extra for non-stop flights. I'm surprised when people say Southwest is cheap. I don't know where they are going, but the days with the $20 flight from Phoenix to Vegas on SWA are long, long gone.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 11, 2013 13:47:43 GMT -5
I will say that I am more concerned about it for this trip than I am when I travel alone. I can sit anywhere when I'm alone, but I want to sit with my hubs. It is easier when I'm holding a ticket that says we have two seats together. Nah, what do you need to sit with him for - you see him everyday
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Jul 11, 2013 13:51:47 GMT -5
I will say that I am more concerned about it for this trip than I am when I travel alone. I can sit anywhere when I'm alone, but I want to sit with my hubs. It is easier when I'm holding a ticket that says we have two seats together. Nah, what do you need to sit with him for - you see him everyday DH and I travel with kids. So far, we've never had any problems finding 3 seats together. We just make a beeline for the back of the plane. Though I must admit, having kids with is gives us all kinds of leverage that two adults wouldn't have.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 14:12:59 GMT -5
Nah, what do you need to sit with him for - you see him everyday DH and I travel with kids. So far, we've never had any problems finding 3 seats together. We just make a beeline for the back of the plane. Though I must admit, having kids with is gives us all kinds of leverage that two adults wouldn't have. When you have kids you get to board between A and B. We have B boarding passes. So, mathematically, we could be in a situation where every aisle and window seat is taken. Especially if there are 12 families that board with C boarding passes, but during the special family time boarding. They we are screwed with a capital F.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 14:49:55 GMT -5
DH and I travel with kids. So far, we've never had any problems finding 3 seats together. We just make a beeline for the back of the plane. Though I must admit, having kids with is gives us all kinds of leverage that two adults wouldn't have. When you have kids you get to board between A and B. We have B boarding passes. So, mathematically, we could be in a situation where every aisle and window seat is taken. Especially if there are 12 families that board with C boarding passes, but during the special family time boarding. They we are screwed with a capital F. Many of SWA planes have 137 seats - ~91 aisle or window. 60 people in the A's.. Some of those A's are traveling together and will consume middles. So early B's are a lock to get a non-middle, especially on flight that isn't connecting through.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jul 11, 2013 14:50:02 GMT -5
I have yet to travel to a place that didn't have a drugstore or walmart. If I am going to stay more than 2 days, I either buy stuff there or check a bag. Otherwise I am pretty minimal and don't need many liquids in a carryon. SWA seems fine to me, but it's the only one I've flown in the past five years because they always have the lowest fares for our trips. and then what do you do with the product you don't use - throw it away? my hair cream is $16.50 a bottle. I don't use anything that expensive. I buy small bottles and leave them (if we are at family/friend's house) or pitch them. But DH and I will use the same products. Or I just take some of those sample packets I seem to get in the mail all the time. I do the same thing with diapers for DD - just take what we need to get there and then buy a pack once we are there. I can pack for all three of us in one medium suitcase for a week, depending on where we go.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 14:58:10 GMT -5
How can this be an odd number? LOL
I know the math - we already did it. I agree that we will probably get a seat together, but if 4 families of 4 board between A and B, it would be likely that we will be separated and in middle seats. Not a big deal to me, because if we sit together I will be in the middle seat.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jul 11, 2013 15:02:03 GMT -5
I have yet to travel to a place that didn't have a drugstore or walmart. If I am going to stay more than 2 days, I either buy stuff there or check a bag. Otherwise I am pretty minimal and don't need many liquids in a carryon. SWA seems fine to me, but it's the only one I've flown in the past five years because they always have the lowest fares for our trips. and then what do you do with the product you don't use - throw it away? my hair cream is $16.50 a bottle. Pfffft. Cheapskate. I use a hair oil that's $45 a bottle. Comes from Spain. But a little bit goes a really long way. A bottle lasts 6-8 months. I do take it with me when I travel, but just a small amount in a mini-squeeze bottle.
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whoami
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Post by whoami on Jul 11, 2013 15:15:57 GMT -5
I was interested when Southwest started operations at Newark (NJ), because I'd heard lots of good things about them, including that they were cheap. I'm going to Orlando later this year, and checked out Southwest. Their airfares were about double United's and all flights included a stop in either Chicago, St. Louis, or New Orleans. I haven't found it this bad - but I find they charge at least what everyone else charges. We have gotten cheaper flights, even when including checked bag fees, from other airlines. Usually the difference is pretty small, so we will pay a little extra for the time we want. And we will always pay extra for non-stop flights. I'm surprised when people say Southwest is cheap. I don't know where they are going, but the days with the $20 flight from Phoenix to Vegas on SWA are long, long gone. It cost me $350 to fly my kid from round trip San Antonio to Dallas Love. Anytime I've looked at LUV, its always been either the same or more expensive....certainly not these $19 fares they like to advertise that consist of a very limited inventory of seats that fly between places nobody voluntarily goes.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 11, 2013 15:23:11 GMT -5
You have to wait for the SWA specials and buy then. I got a round trip to NC to see my dad for $160 and I just bought a ticket to Vegas for a total of $192. Also, I have their Chase CC and get points. I know you can't always wait for one of their sales but it is well worth it if you can.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Jul 11, 2013 15:31:43 GMT -5
DH and I travel with kids. So far, we've never had any problems finding 3 seats together. We just make a beeline for the back of the plane. Though I must admit, having kids with is gives us all kinds of leverage that two adults wouldn't have. When you have kids you get to board between A and B. We have B boarding passes. So, mathematically, we could be in a situation where every aisle and window seat is taken. Especially if there are 12 families that board with C boarding passes, but during the special family time boarding. They we are screwed with a capital F. I have flown on lots of flights and never once have I seen anyone willingly sit next to someone else's unattended kid.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Jul 11, 2013 15:53:58 GMT -5
You also get to board A with kids if you check in on-time and get A passes. DD was a lap-child during our last trip (4 flights), but they let us take her carseat on every flight since there were spare seats. We made sure to get our A passes so we could get three seats together. But I've never had a problem getting A passes, either. Only once was I in B and that's when we were in Vegas and too preoccupied to check in We just set phone alarms and go online to get our passes. They even let you check in from your phone now & print your passes when you get to the airport. We also do what Almost40 said and plan our travels around the specials as much as possible. Our last trip was something like $440 for both of us from KC to El Paso since we were willing to layover in Phoenix (there) and Houston (back). Direct flights were considerably more. But we couldn't have driven for that price and we still got there in less than 1/2 the time of driving, so it was well worth it.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 16:07:53 GMT -5
But I've never had a problem getting A passes, either. Only once was I in B and that's when we were in Vegas and too preoccupied to check in We just set phone alarms and go online to get our passes. They even let you check in from your phone now & print your passes when you get to the airport. And that is what I hate about SWA - if you don't plan your day exactly, you won't get the boarding pass. I don't have a phone that I can use to check-in, so I have to be sitting at my computer, exactly 24 hours before we leave. Wait an hour, and boom - you are a B boarding pass. It is worse now that they have reserved so many spots for priority boarding, frequent flyers and people who pay more. My company wouldn't pay the $10, and I didn't care that much. So, I forgot when doing our personal travel.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 11, 2013 16:20:14 GMT -5
People typically either love or hate SWA. I am in the love camp.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jul 11, 2013 16:35:29 GMT -5
People typically either love or hate SWA. I am in the love camp. Me/us too. No they are not a upscale airline (we tease about taking trips on their flying buses or flying cattle calls), but they get us there and back safely and reliably. We always check our bags because the first (and our only, we deliberately take only one each) is free, so no worries about limits on liquids, cosmetics or personal care items with carry-on. Oh, and they treat my 90 year old mother with great care and respect. They've ALWAYS been extremely helpful and courteous to our entire traveling party (usually 1-3 other people accompanying mom). We don't experience the "frustration" of check-in and boarding because we are almost always flying with an elderly senior who pre-boards (and us with her - walker/wheelchair/cane and all). For those who "forget" to check in at the 24-hour mark, look at your account settings when you book the flight online, and make sure they have an email address you check regularly or frequently. We always get an email "prompt" almost exactly 24 hours in advance, reminding us to go online and check in. On those infrequent trips where we are traveling without mom, we've never ended up anywhere but in a A grouping. YMMV. But I love SWA. I have their Chase credit card to earn points for travel. It's how we're able to visit family for dirt cheap
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jul 11, 2013 16:41:33 GMT -5
I don't think any of the major airlines in the USA are upscale anymore. Every one of those companies treat their passengers like cattle. So, it was a funny joke when SWA first came on the scene and they didn't have food or any of the other luxuries that other airlines did, but now none of them feed you. In fact, SWA seems more upscale because they actually give you peanuts AND because everyone on the planet has coupons for free drinks - so you really feel like you are loved.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jul 11, 2013 16:59:28 GMT -5
I also like SWA because you can easily change your flight. All other airlines charge you a $125 - $150 change fee. SWA was the best when my mom had her sudden heart attack. Not only did they let me use points for a last minute flight out (as in 1.5 hrs later) but I was able to change my ticket coming back several times without incurring a fee. I must have changed that ticket at least 5-6 times because mom's condition was so up and down. Just when I thought she was stable enough for me to leave something would happen and I would end up staying. I definitely wouldn't have had that type of flexibility with any other airline.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jul 11, 2013 17:06:14 GMT -5
I agree Thyme, I have no idea why southwest does all that nonesense with the check in and getting a number then lining up at the gate. Seems terribly inefficient. Why not just give customers seats like every other airline?
They are cheap though, and they give you free snacks and a free checked bag. Though I kind of prefer frontier when I fly, especially for work.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jul 11, 2013 17:22:18 GMT -5
I've noticed that since many airlines charge for checked bags, many people will bring on carryons. So many in fact the airline ends up checking many of them anyway.
Both check bags and having carryons have advantages and disadvantages. Both can be a hassle. With a carryon you do have to carry it, and make sure you don't have any offending stuff in your luggage. In particular it's tough to get all your toiletries into tiny bottles. With checked bags you have to wait in line to check it, and wait around to collect it after the plane lands. Also, you run the risk of the airline losing your bag, or your bag running late.
Personally, I prefer to check my bags. I always do so when I travel for work, since I'm not the one paying.
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justme
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Post by justme on Jul 11, 2013 17:37:08 GMT -5
I agree Thyme, I have no idea why southwest does all that nonesense with the check in and getting a number then lining up at the gate. Seems terribly inefficient. Why not just give customers seats like every other airline? They are cheap though, and they give you free snacks and a free checked bag. Though I kind of prefer frontier when I fly, especially for work. Actually, SWA boarding is quite efficient from my experience. I've flown others and they always take longer with assigned seats. People have to find their assigned seats, since they charge for checked baggage EVERYONE has carryons so half the time people have to go further down then come back upstream to their seat, people that didn't pay to pick their seats want to start trading with people to sit by someone they know, those "groups" aren't very efficient and sometimes someone in row 10 is in a later group (or late) so then they stop up the whole line while they put their stuff away. They also have real quick turnarounds when a flight is running late and they always get their checked baggage to baggage claim fast - I always wait longer with other airlines.
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