COERJ145 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1420 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1647 times:
Quoting Ansett767 (Thread starter): Quick qu- Does Southwest pre allocate seats at checkin? or when booking or is it a true low cost model a la Easyjet?
Also, would you take SOuthwest nonstop from IAD to MDW....
No. They issue you a group letter as well as a number, like A16. Group A boards first with passenger A1, A2 and so forth until the group is finished, then they go to the B's, then finally C's. I'd take Southwest, they have good service, are reliable and are safe. However if you want to fly out of DCA, look on United or American, both of which have non-stop flights to ORD.
Nope, once you are on board the aircraft, you are free to choose any seat you like
Quoting Ansett767 (Thread starter): or when booking or is it a true low cost model a la Easyjet?
You cannot book a certain seat ahead, no. You are merely guaranteeing that you will have a seat on the flight when you buy a ticket on WN...
As COERJ145 notes, though, there are some quirks with the new Southwest boarding process. It used to be that there were three boarding groups, A, B, and C, but I guess the gate agents at WN got a little upset with people in the A group lining up 1.5 hours before boarding was to begin, and I can kind of understand why. Other than pre-boards (which are selected using the same criteria at WN as any other airline), the first person in A group can pick and choose any seat on board the aircraft.
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
AirportGuy1971 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 355 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1581 times:
Going to have to vote for Southwest direct as Atlanta seems very out of the way.
Another out of the way option would be to take F9 through Denver. The bonus there is assigned seating, inflight entertainment, and a chance to see the Rocky Mountains in the back ground and the famous Frontier Zoo in the fore ground on the sky bridge while an aircraft taxis under you. If you have time the main terminal at DEN is a sight to see as well...
Again out of the way but worth doing if you have the time.
StarAlliance38 From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 1445 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1561 times:
ATL is so much easier to connect with FL than DL. It's either 1 term of the other (I think its C or D). Even thought its out of the way, you can go to the AeroClinic
Honestly, it's not that bad going via ATL to Midway. I would take the ATL layover.
Since I'm a US and FL fan, I would never take WN. I especially don't like the boarding (A,B, and C tells me they can say their alphabet )
ThreeIfByAir From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 509 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1525 times:
If speed is the main concern, I would choose Southwest. 2 extra hours of flying time plus a layover of at least 30 minutes will make ATL quite a bit slower.
IAD will take longer to get to from central DC, probably ~45 minutes more than to DCA. Still, 45 minutes versus at least 2.5 hrs is a big difference.
Honestly, IAD is not that bad to get to. Your best public transportation bets to IAD from central DC are:
1) Orange Line Metro to West Falls Church ($2-$4, depending on where you begin your trip and the time of day), connecting to the Washington Flyer bus ($9) which takes you directly to the terminal. If you have more than one suitcase, this is probably easier.
2) Metrobus Route 5A ($3.10). You can catch the 5A at two different Metro Stations: L'Enfant Plaza in central DC and Rosslyn, just across the Potomac River in Arlington, VA. The last stop is next to the Dulles Airport terminal. This is a little more complicated and also slower, but the price is right.
Crewchief From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (5 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1427 times:
Quoting IAirAllie (Reply 6): Southwest is as lowfrills as you can get in the US.
Airtran at least has XM radio onboard.
That all depends on how you define "frills". The times I've taken Airtran (about a dozen) the hassle factor was quite a lot higher than with Southwest. Sure, Airtran has XM, but they showed me longer line waits, less convenient ways to change travel plans, less direct routes, and less helpful agents (apparently due to Airtran corporate policies -- the agents weren't allowed to solve the problem).
It's all in what someone values when they travel. You obviously value XM, as do many others. I value other parts of the travel experience. At least we can each fly an airline we enjoy.
for shame!! Southwest is the original LCC of the current trend of LCCs, and most newcomers claim to model themselves on WN. I flew with Southwest for the first time last year, and they were considerably better than easyJet. I say go with them.
Quoting IAirAllie (Reply 6): Southwest is as lowfrills as you can get in the US.
Airtran at least has XM radio onboard.
Take an Ipod or MP3 player. It's a really sad state now when people need entertaining on just a 2hr sector. I'm only 21 and i yearn for the good old days!
Ansett767 From Australia, joined May 1999, 1021 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (5 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1385 times:
Quoting 02hilliert (Reply 8): for shame!! Southwest is the original LCC of the current trend of LCCs, and most newcomers claim to model themselves on WN.
HAHA I know that but its not 'true' low cost in the sense of the word I meant - even Easyjet isn't - We've just studied all the airlines in a business class im taking and Ryanair is the only low cost airline (true to business model)... sorry, that's all I meant.
I meant in that some 'low costs' offer seat selection, and added bonuses....
Ill let u know if I take them- its either them or Airtran via ATL
IAirAllie From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (5 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1374 times:
Quoting Crewchief (Reply 7): You obviously value XM, as do many others. I value other parts of the travel experience. At least we can each fly an airline we enjoy.
Xm isn't that big of a deal for me. More important is the ability to upgrade and having assigned seating is what I value more. I hate the cattle call even the modified cattle call now in use. I find it so dehumanizing it just automatically puts me in a grumpy mood. I also hate the connect through 10 different random airports to get where your going on SWA. I prefer the hub system. Rarely more than one connection to get where you are going domestically.
Quoting 02hilliert (Reply 8): Take an Ipod or MP3 player. It's a really sad state now when people need entertaining on just a 2hr sector. I'm only 21 and i yearn for the good old days!
I do take an Ipod. Just saying SWA gives you nada and not all their flights are that short. Not to mention they have a piss poor snack selection man I hate peanuts.
IMHO Jetblue is the best value with great service and nice amenties for a similar price to what you pay on WN.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21215 posts, RR: 19 Reply 11, posted (5 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1373 times:
Quoting Ansett767 (Thread starter): Also, would you take SOuthwest nonstop from IAD to MDW....
I think I told you this in the other thread, but if you want to try WN, you ought to fly BWI-MDW, not IAD-MDW.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5613 posts, RR: 54 Reply 12, posted (5 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1356 times:
Quoting IAirAllie (Reply 10): I also hate the connect through 10 different random airports to get where your going on SWA. I prefer the hub system. Rarely more than one connection to get where you are going domestically.
This is clearly untrue. You will NEVER have more then ONE change of aircraft on any segment on Southwest Airlines, guaranteed. That is the NICE thing about SWA over the other airlines.
Also, I know you are exaggerating but obviously WN does not have 10 stops between the segments, again you will NEVER have more then 3 stops in your itinerary and even THEN that is rare to have as the only choice in booking your itinerary.
Quoting IAirAllie (Reply 10): Just saying SWA gives you nada and not all their flights are that short. Not to mention they have a piss poor snack selection man I hate peanuts.
Least it's free!!!! Also if you hate peanuts, inquire if they have pretzels on board if you do choose to fly WN again, I have never said No to someone when asked and would be shocked if a F/A would.
Alex
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
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