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Initially, they'll be flying MDW-Florida and BWI-Florida then look for them flying between MDW and the west coast, BWI and California, and between Las Vegas and Florida.

First flight will be flt 1717 MDW-FLL on April11.

http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/4-...-two-new-equipment-types-swa-fleet

Man ATrude777 is slacking today! LOL

Great to see. Interesting the flights are to supposedly low-yielding Florida and not slot restricted airports.

Quoting seven3seven (Reply 1): Great to see. Interesting the flights are to supposedly low-yielding Florida and not slot restricted airports.

There could be a variety of reasons they're going to Florida first, could be Spring Break timing, could be stage length and making sure things are ironed out with cabin service FIRST on the longer leisure routes before deploying them on business markets... who knows. I can't imagine they haven't done their homework as to why.

Quoting WNCrew (Reply 2): There could be a variety of reasons they're going to Florida first, could be Spring Break timing, could be stage length and making sure things are ironed out with cabin service FIRST on the longer leisure routes before deploying them on business markets... who knows. I can't imagine they haven't done their homework as to why.

It makes sense to start a new type at airports where WN has crew bases in case there are swaps and plenty of additional flights. Between WN and FL there are 7 daily BWI-FLL flights. In case something happens, it makes sense that these routes are some of the first to get the planes. It's not HOU-DAL, but it makes sense to me to have them on those routes. There are plenty of options if there is a problem with a plane which is not true at the slot restricted airports.

Quoting seven3seven (Reply 1): Man ATrude777 is slacking today! LOL

Hey Go Easy on me! I was busy all morning!  

I am very excited to see this finally be announced and scheduled of course I will be looking to try to get on this flight. This will be a lot of fun.

Alex

Quoting usflyguy (Thread starter): Initially, they'll be flying MDW-Florida and BWI-Florida then look for them flying between MDW and the west coast, BWI and California, and between Las Vegas and Florida.

Good to finally hear where the 738 will be used. NIce to see MDW be the first station to get them.      

Quoting seven3seven (Reply 1): Man ATrude777 is slacking today! LOL

He sure did.  

Quoting WNCrew (Reply 2): There could be a variety of reasons they're going to Florida first, could be Spring Break timing

Each season the Easter, Passover, Spring Break loads get larger. This is the time of year when you have mega sellouts/over sales. So SWA LIFE (WN)rolling out the newest and finest makes "plane sense!"   

Anyone know when we at BWI will get our first WN 737-800?

How is the ramp side of this going to work? The -800 on a full flight is going to require an extra person in the bin in both bins to load the airplane.

Quoting cotparampguy (Reply 7):

How many people do they use now to turn a 73G?? When I was on the ramp we use to turn 738s with only 3 people and that includes the Lead. They would throw an extra body in every now and then if there was a lot of freight but is for bags it's either going in the front or back. One scanning and two in the bin.

Quoting zippyjet (Reply 6): So SWA LIFE (WN)rolling out the newest and finest makes "plane sense!

Why are you saying swalife? That is the name of the Company's website for internal stuff and flight loads, not the name of the airline, that is very confusing.

Quoting zippyjet (Reply 6): Anyone know when we at BWI will get our first WN 737-800?

The blog states one each will overnight at MDW and BWI though I am not sure if it is the same date?

Our -800 adventure starts small, with just two aircraft overnighting at Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington and flying to and from Florida.

Alex

Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 8):

Whenever I see them they do how we load planes at B6, 1 in the bin and one on the bottom for a total of 4.

Quoting cotparampguy (Reply 7): How is the ramp side of this going to work? The -800 on a full flight is going to require an extra person in the bin in both bins to load the airplane.

That's a good question. The union is definitely concerned.

Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 8): Quoting cotparampguy (Reply 7): How many people do they use now to turn a 73G?? When I was on the ramp we use to turn 738s with only 3 people and that includes the Lead. They would throw an extra body in every now and then if there was a lot of freight but is for bags it's either going in the front or back. One scanning and two in the bin.

How long were turn times at your airline? It depends on how each station does it, but generally you have two agents staffed at a gate. At SAN, agents at neighboring gates are supposed to assist for up to a total of 4 agents working a flight (one agent in the rear cargo hold and one in the front with the assists at the bottom of the belt loaders) as long as the other gates aren't on the ground at the same time. With flight schedules these days, gates tend to be occupied at the same time so assist agents are increasingly hard to come by. With bag loads on the rise thanks to the free campaign, it's becoming increasingly difficult to turn a plane in 30 minutes with 4 agents, nearly impossible with just the two. In other words, you pretty much need both front and back being on/offloaded simultaneously for any hope of getting done in time. Whatever they figure out to ensure a timely turn for the -800s, two agents in the rear cargo bin will be a must, so unless turn times are increased, I see the need for 5 agents on one flight. That's based on my experience with flights here at SAN where we see a LOT of bags and cargo.

Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 11): How long were turn times at your airline?

I was with Delta. 40 Minutes for 738s on down. 45 Minutes for 757s. 55 minutes for widebodies. This has since changed that's what it was when I was a below wing agent. I worked the ramp in Orlando one summer and Atlanta for a while. In MCO, everything was obviously turns so for the most part it was last bag off, first bag on. At that time, we use to get multiple daily 763s and an afternoon and evening T7 from Atlanta plus the narrowbodies for the other hubs and large stations. In ATL it was well...different. Not unheard of to mark an 88 or 737 and have to turn it in 30 minutes or so.

But yes, "normal" staffing is 3 a 3 man gate crew for all a/c up to a 757. If the flight was heavy or was a quick turn, we would get a 4th MAYBE 5th body but not always. Again, just depended on what the load was. Most of the time we could quick-turn a narrowbody (Delta defines a quick-turn as anything under the times listed above for each particular a/c size) if we were just dealing with bags and no freight.

Quoting Atrude777 (Reply 9): Why are you saying swalife? That is the name of the Company's website for internal stuff and flight loads, not the name of the airline, that is very confusing.

I've mentioned this earlier; now being part of the company, I like the ring and feel proud of the culture. SWA Life sounds cool.

With a couple overnighting at BWI; I'll get the chance to check it out up close and personal as I work the closing shift and will share.

A SWA Captain friend of mine said SJU will be a 737-800 destination too.

Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 14): A SWA Captain friend of mine said SJU will be a 737-800 destination too.

Very well it shall once they are certified for international and overwater flying. BWI-SJU MCO-SJU ATL-SJU could DEFINITELY use that lift.

Quoting zippyjet (Reply 13): I've mentioned this earlier; now being part of the company, I like the ring and feel proud of the culture. SWA Life sounds cool.

Except no one I know at Southwest calls the airline "swalife".

Glad you feel proud of the culture but call it LUV, Spirit, Southwest, anything BUT swalife, that's for the website, and the website only  



I am still debating on taking the flight, I am just worried of paying the money and it swaps even though it sounds like this is pretty much set in stone.

Alex

So to clarify, the "Evolve" aircraft will be the -700's that will have 143 seats now, yes? The blog says they will code these as "73W"

thanks.

Quoting pvd757 (Reply 17): So to clarify, the "Evolve" aircraft will be the -700's that will have 143 seats now, yes? The blog says they will code these as "73W"

Yes...

733 737-300
735 737-500
73G 737-700 (Non Evolve)
73W 737-700 (Evolve)
73H 737-800 W/ Winglets

I believe there will be a classification once they go ETOPS between 738 and 73H.

Alex

Quoting Atrude777 (Reply 18): I believe there will be a classification once they go ETOPS between 738 and 73H.

738 will be ETOPS designator : )