Southwest Airlines News and Discussion Thread - 2022

Jshank83 · Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:41 pm

sonnyr23 wrote:
Read on Yahoo this Morning on a flight from Long Beach to HNL there was a customer who was playing the Ukelele on the flight giving lessons to those interested .
Looks like a Southwest , Herb K era good time on that flight.
Yeah i worked 709 many times. Memories.

I always find it interesting what different people consider a good time on a flight. If this was my flight I would have been really annoyed listening to people who have no clue how to play it, playing it badly. When I see things like this (link: https://www.today.com/news/news/southwe ... -rcna48245) or when they did their in flight concerts, I often wonder what the organizers are thinking. On the outside it kind of looks fun and I get it, but not everyone wants to be forced into listening to whatever it is going on and on an airplane you don't have the choice to leave...

Maybe I am just no fun and lame.

sonnyr23 · Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:05 pm

I get what your'e saying. Kind of like that screaming baby at the movie theater or someones cell phone that keeps going ringing. Probably be more entertaining in the gate area before boarding.

USAirKid · Mon Sep 19, 2022 7:36 pm

Jshank83 wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
Read on Yahoo this Morning on a flight from Long Beach to HNL there was a customer who was playing the Ukelele on the flight giving lessons to those interested .
Looks like a Southwest , Herb K era good time on that flight.
Yeah i worked 709 many times. Memories.

I always find it interesting what different people consider a good time on a flight. If this was my flight I would have been really annoyed listening to people who have no clue how to play it, playing it badly. When I see things like this (link: https://www.today.com/news/news/southwe ... -rcna48245) or when they did their in flight concerts, I often wonder what the organizers are thinking. On the outside it kind of looks fun and I get it, but not everyone wants to be forced into listening to whatever it is going on and on an airplane you don't have the choice to leave...

Maybe I am just no fun and lame.

I'm with you there.. Unless its something that starts near the end of the flight, so you'll know it'll be done promptly it could be annoying..

Kinda reminds me of VX's dance music video first thing in the morning. It just didn't catch its audience correctly..

That being said, its probably pretty likely that most of the people here were going to their vacations. However, people do forget that people do live on the island, and perhaps a loved one was going back for a funeral or something. That is the problem this sort of entertainment during air travel, everyone is in a different headspace.

737tanker · Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:25 pm

n471wn wrote:
departedflights wrote:
n471wn wrote:
SAD DAY……..N709SW has been flown today to BHM for retirement. She was the #3 prototype for the NG series. The early build NG’s are dropping like flies.

Oh wow.... I just worked several flights on that aircraft last week!

An Amazing history of 79,000 hours and 47,000 cycles!

Not much in the big scheme of things but I did 33.8 of those hours, 28.4 as Captain. I was also the crew for 16 of those cycles, 8 of which I did the landing

jplatts · Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:13 pm

Stations served by WN in June 2019 where WN carried more domestic passengers in June 2022 than in June 2019 include the following:
DEN, MDW, LAS, BNA, AUS, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SLC, ELP, OGG, RNO, OMA, OKC, RSW, TUL, BOI, GEG, ECP, CHS, KOA, BHM, MAF, ORF, PNS, LIT, LBB, HRL, AMA, GRR, ICT, PWM, ROC, RIC, DSM, GSP, CRP

Jshank83 · Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:22 pm

USAirKid wrote:
Jshank83 wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
Read on Yahoo this Morning on a flight from Long Beach to HNL there was a customer who was playing the Ukelele on the flight giving lessons to those interested .
Looks like a Southwest , Herb K era good time on that flight.
Yeah i worked 709 many times. Memories.

I always find it interesting what different people consider a good time on a flight. If this was my flight I would have been really annoyed listening to people who have no clue how to play it, playing it badly. When I see things like this (link: https://www.today.com/news/news/southwe ... -rcna48245) or when they did their in flight concerts, I often wonder what the organizers are thinking. On the outside it kind of looks fun and I get it, but not everyone wants to be forced into listening to whatever it is going on and on an airplane you don't have the choice to leave...

Maybe I am just no fun and lame.

I'm with you there.. Unless its something that starts near the end of the flight, so you'll know it'll be done promptly it could be annoying..

Kinda reminds me of VX's dance music video first thing in the morning. It just didn't catch its audience correctly..

That being said, its probably pretty likely that most of the people here were going to their vacations. However, people do forget that people do live on the island, and perhaps a loved one was going back for a funeral or something. That is the problem this sort of entertainment during air travel, everyone is in a different headspace.

I just compare it to someone not using headphones to watch a movie or play a game. They wouldn't be allowed so I am not sure why this is celebrated, let alone allowed. I just got my kid take a nap and now Taylor Swift breaks out a guitar for everyone... haha...

WN732 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:48 am

jplatts wrote:
Stations served by WN in June 2019 where WN carried more domestic passengers in June 2022 than in June 2019 include the following:
DEN, MDW, LAS, BNA, AUS, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SLC, ELP, OGG, RNO, OMA, OKC, RSW, TUL, BOI, GEG, ECP, CHS, KOA, BHM, MAF, ORF, PNS, LIT, LBB, HRL, AMA, GRR, ICT, PWM, ROC, RIC, DSM, GSP, CRP

Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

avi8 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:14 am

WN732 wrote:
jplatts wrote:
Stations served by WN in June 2019 where WN carried more domestic passengers in June 2022 than in June 2019 include the following:
DEN, MDW, LAS, BNA, AUS, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SLC, ELP, OGG, RNO, OMA, OKC, RSW, TUL, BOI, GEG, ECP, CHS, KOA, BHM, MAF, ORF, PNS, LIT, LBB, HRL, AMA, GRR, ICT, PWM, ROC, RIC, DSM, GSP, CRP

Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

No airports in Florida either.

mesasurf · Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:20 am

avi8 wrote:
WN732 wrote:
jplatts wrote:
Stations served by WN in June 2019 where WN carried more domestic passengers in June 2022 than in June 2019 include the following:
DEN, MDW, LAS, BNA, AUS, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SLC, ELP, OGG, RNO, OMA, OKC, RSW, TUL, BOI, GEG, ECP, CHS, KOA, BHM, MAF, ORF, PNS, LIT, LBB, HRL, AMA, GRR, ICT, PWM, ROC, RIC, DSM, GSP, CRP

Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

No airports in Florida either.

ECP is on that list. WN isn’t really the top carrier to Florida. I would think B6, G4, NK, and maybe F9 do carry more passengers in/out than WN.

WN732 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:39 am

mesasurf wrote:
avi8 wrote:
WN732 wrote:

Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

No airports in Florida either.

ECP is on that list. WN isn’t really the top carrier to Florida. I would think B6, G4, NK, and maybe F9 do carry more passengers in/out than WN.

You should add DL to that list. They spam Florida with 757/767 all day long and that's just from ATL.

n471wn · Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:56 am

737tanker wrote:
n471wn wrote:
departedflights wrote:

Oh wow.... I just worked several flights on that aircraft last week!

An Amazing history of 79,000 hours and 47,000 cycles!

Not much in the big scheme of things but I did 33.8 of those hours, 28.4 as Captain. I was also the crew for 16 of those cycles, 8 of which I did the landing

Great memories and thanks for sharing!

cledaybuck · Tue Sep 20, 2022 2:07 am

mesasurf wrote:
avi8 wrote:
WN732 wrote:

Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

No airports in Florida either.

ECP is on that list. WN isn’t really the top carrier to Florida. I would think B6, G4, NK, and maybe F9 do carry more passengers in/out than WN.

Did RSW move too? Last I saw WN is the market share leader in MCO, TPA, and RSW.

sprxUSA · Tue Sep 20, 2022 2:21 am

And PNS is on the list.

WN732 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 2:38 am

sprxUSA wrote:
And PNS is on the list.

You can throw some tomatoes but MIA, VPS, and SRQ could be on that list too since they weren't even there in 2019.

airboss787 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:29 am

jplatts wrote:
Stations served by WN in June 2019 where WN carried more domestic passengers in June 2022 than in June 2019 include the following:
DEN, MDW, LAS, BNA, AUS, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SLC, ELP, OGG, RNO, OMA, OKC, RSW, TUL, BOI, GEG, ECP, CHS, KOA, BHM, MAF, ORF, PNS, LIT, LBB, HRL, AMA, GRR, ICT, PWM, ROC, RIC, DSM, GSP, CRP

With CA recovering slower than many other states, I am surprised and happy to see so many CA cities. Especially SJC, SMF.

jplatts · Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:14 pm

WN732 wrote:
Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

WN has enough room at LAX to accommodate at least 30-40 additional flights (even when Gates 9 and 11A at LAX get closed during Concourse 0 construction) with WN currently only operating 79 daily departures at LAX, whereas WN was operating 126 daily departures (and an equivalent number of daily arrivals) out of only 9 gates at LAX 5 years ago.

I can understand WN operating fewer flights out of LAX due to the further expansion by WN at secondary LA airports such as LGB/SNA and the operational issues that WN is currently facing.

WN732 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:54 pm

jplatts wrote:
WN732 wrote:
Shame LAX is so drawn down. I was there last Wednesday and there were only two WN jets at T1. I've never seen that few, even when they shared that terminal with other carriers.

WN has enough room at LAX to accommodate at least 30-40 additional flights (even when Gates 9 and 11A at LAX get closed during Concourse 0 construction) with WN currently only operating 79 daily departures at LAX, whereas WN was operating 126 daily departures (and an equivalent number of daily arrivals) out of only 9 gates at LAX 5 years ago.

I can understand WN operating fewer flights out of LAX due to the further expansion by WN at secondary LA airports such as LGB/SNA and the operational issues that WN is currently facing.

79 is honestly pathetic for LAX. AUS is a smaller market and has way more than 79 departures.

sonnyr23 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:01 pm

I always preferred Burbank over LAX when i used to fly into BUR get a rental car and drive 101 N to San Luis Obispo to see my Mom.
Santa Barbara would now be easier being that is about the half way point to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

sprxUSA · Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:11 pm

sonnyr23 wrote:
I always preferred Burbank over LAX when i used to fly into BUR get a rental car and drive 101 N to San Luis Obispo to see my Mom.
Santa Barbara would now be easier being that is about the half way point to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

Only of you take the correct turn in Albuquerque.

sonnyr23 · Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:42 pm

I actually watched a Bugs and Daffy cartoon in which Bugs said that maybe we should have taken that right turn in Albuquerque. LAX has always been number 1 or near number 1 for Freight.
I will always remember @ MDW that if we had a 700 Originator going to LAX booked to 143 The Freight House would bring 5 or 6 Freight Carts with 3 of the carts having Freight The Size of a Vending Machine then add the 30 Cases of Hassett Junk Mail and other freight of assorted weight and sizes all Marked NFG ( Next Flight Guaranteed ) including the Supersize freight.
The 130 to 150 bags to load and the 3, 4, or 5 SUV size strollers are just an afterthought to The Freight House Manager.
We loaded whatever NFG freight we could . Tuscon was another Turn that had carts and carts and carts of freight of which most was tagged NFG.
Just thinking about all that freight makes me want to call my Chiropractor.

Wneast · Wed Sep 21, 2022 2:02 am

So big question do we hear any announcements tomorrow maybe I’m pessimistic but I say know ? Also did anybody else see WN is exploring new seats ?

BoeingGuy · Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:02 am

sprxUSA wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
I always preferred Burbank over LAX when i used to fly into BUR get a rental car and drive 101 N to San Luis Obispo to see my Mom.
Santa Barbara would now be easier being that is about the half way point to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

Only of you take the correct turn in Albuquerque.

Haha. I doubt many young people would get this reference nowadays.

What is the latest on WN possibly serving PAE?

UA444 · Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:15 am

Weren’t the two new retro jets supposed to be delivered by now?

sprxUSA · Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:41 am

BoeingGuy wrote:
sprxUSA wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
I always preferred Burbank over LAX when i used to fly into BUR get a rental car and drive 101 N to San Luis Obispo to see my Mom.
Santa Barbara would now be easier being that is about the half way point to San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

Only of you take the correct turn in Albuquerque.

Haha. I doubt many young people would get this reference nowadays.

What is the latest on WN possibly serving PAE?

So true and was thinking that as I typed it.

WN had their chance at PAE and swiftly decided not to. Nothing really to gain there and they keep spouting about rebuilding network and I believe they are done adding new dots for a while, imo.

SXDFC · Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:06 am

UA444 wrote:
Weren’t the two new retro jets supposed to be delivered by now?

They’re both in final assembly, should be painted soon. Illinois One (N8619F) is currently being painted in GEG, and will be out at the end of the week.

For those who like Nevada One (N727SW), get your pictures while you can, she will be retired in November. Not sure which -800 will replace her next.

avi8 · Wed Sep 21, 2022 5:21 pm

So no news from Nashville?

southwest1675 · Wed Sep 21, 2022 5:28 pm

avi8 wrote:
So no news from Nashville?

Party is tonight at 6pm.

Jshank83 · Wed Sep 21, 2022 5:42 pm

southwest1675 wrote:
avi8 wrote:
So no news from Nashville?

Party is tonight at 6pm.

Do you know if there was any media invite sent out? Kind of figure if something big comes out they would want media there.

Might not matter but I was curious

Jshank83 · Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:54 pm

Pilots picketing the spirit party in Nashville.

https://twitter.com/swapapilots/status/ ... oLsbZebKtw

av8tiongeek · Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:11 am

Jordan spoke for less than 5 minutes. Sad.

SWADawg · Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:24 am

Jshank83 wrote:
Pilots picketing the spirit party in Nashville.

https://twitter.com/swapapilots/status/ ... oLsbZebKtw

Super impressive turnout. #SSFM.

Jshank83 · Thu Sep 22, 2022 1:08 am

Usually wouldn’t post in two places but it’s relevant in here also.

With around 800 employees already in Nashville, Jordan told the Business Journal that Southwest is looking at a future flight attendant and pilot base, a city where crew and aircrafts are stationed, in Nashville — though there are no immediate plans.

“A lot of that depends on where you want to originate flights, where you want to have aircraft overnight, but I’ll just tell you we are looking at that and there is a possibility that Nashville becomes a base,” Jordan said. “I don’t see that immediately. … [J]ob one is get the network restored and see how everything is performing.”

Jordan added that the idea of at least a satellite base in Nashville, which is a smaller base, is on Southwest’s radar.

We are at 16 gates and will get the four new gates at the end of next year,

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/n ... ights.html

Wneast · Thu Sep 22, 2022 1:33 am

Jshank83 wrote:
Usually wouldn’t post in two places but it’s relevant in here also.

With around 800 employees already in Nashville, Jordan told the Business Journal that Southwest is looking at a future flight attendant and pilot base, a city where crew and aircrafts are stationed, in Nashville — though there are no immediate plans.

“A lot of that depends on where you want to originate flights, where you want to have aircraft overnight, but I’ll just tell you we are looking at that and there is a possibility that Nashville becomes a base,” Jordan said. “I don’t see that immediately. … [J]ob one is get the network restored and see how everything is performing.”

Jordan added that the idea of at least a satellite base in Nashville, which is a smaller base, is on Southwest’s radar.

We are at 16 gates and will get the four new gates at the end of next year,

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/n ... ights.html

Wouldn’t be surprised If was announced next year.

sonnyr23 · Thu Sep 22, 2022 8:11 am

I'm thinking that Mr. Jordan was Frazzled by The Pilots picketing @ The Airport which is why his speech was so short. Well Played by The Pilots Union.

av8tiongeek · Thu Sep 22, 2022 2:11 pm

sonnyr23 wrote:
I'm thinking that Mr. Jordan was Frazzled by The Pilots picketing @ The Airport which is why his speech was so short. Well Played by The Pilots Union.

He should be frazzled. He's inherited a mess and while I do believe he would do much more his predecessor is still pulling the strings. Labor negotiations could be settled, but the question is why haven't they settled them.

sonnyr23 · Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:31 pm

A Hot Mess indeed and it doesn't need to be that way.

ChetManly24 · Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:00 pm

Deliveries were busy last week. 3 days in a row and 3 MAX delivered.

Silver1SWA · Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:45 pm

sonnyr23 wrote:
I'm thinking that Mr. Jordan was Frazzled by The Pilots picketing @ The Airport which is why his speech was so short. Well Played by The Pilots Union.

It’s nice to think so but I doubt it. Everyone knew ahead of time the pilots were planning to picket.

Dtwramp · Sun Sep 25, 2022 9:01 pm

There were 4 max deliveries last week.
tues,wed,thur,fri per flight aware

sonnyr23 · Mon Sep 26, 2022 8:09 am

I get what you are saying S1 SWA. I'm hoping that they have toned it down with The Super Bowl Half Time and WWE Pay Per Views they would have for Gary Kelly with The Pyro, The Light Show, The Radio City Rockettes, Michael Buffer introducing Gary and all that.
BNA should be a Flight Base and now it's just a matter of when not if.

ChetManly24 · Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:09 am

Dtwramp wrote:
There were 4 max deliveries last week.
tues,wed,thur,fri per flight aware

I stand corrected.

Kinda wild we have hit the 100 max threshold on deliveries already. Closing in on the total 800 fleet size

Western727 · Mon Sep 26, 2022 12:21 pm

Silver1SWA wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
I'm thinking that Mr. Jordan was Frazzled by The Pilots picketing @ The Airport which is why his speech was so short. Well Played by The Pilots Union.

It’s nice to think so but I doubt it. Everyone knew ahead of time the pilots were planning to picket.

I agree that everyone expected it, but I'm willing to bet that the extent of it was a surprise. That voluminous line-up outside was quite a thing to see and I personally wasn't expecting it to be that substantial.

385441 · Mon Sep 26, 2022 4:42 pm

Western727 wrote:
Silver1SWA wrote:
sonnyr23 wrote:
I'm thinking that Mr. Jordan was Frazzled by The Pilots picketing @ The Airport which is why his speech was so short. Well Played by The Pilots Union.

It’s nice to think so but I doubt it. Everyone knew ahead of time the pilots were planning to picket.

I agree that everyone expected it, but I'm willing to bet that the extent of it was a surprise. That voluminous line-up outside was quite a thing to see and I personally wasn't expecting it to be that substantial.

It’s also big news in that WN went from being the gold standard when it came to management-employee relations to the company where pickets occur at “culture parties.” WN’s old “take care of the employees so they take care of the customers” mantra appears to be fading. WN’s labor relations are starting to look more and more like those of their competitor in Fort Worth.

LAXintl · Mon Sep 26, 2022 9:24 pm

Executive changes at Southwest.

President & COO Mike Van de Ven is retiring. Chief commercial officer Andrew Watterson new COO. CEO Bob Jordan also becomes president.

https://swamedia.com/releases/release-5 ... ip-changes
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 33487.html

Wneast · Mon Sep 26, 2022 10:32 pm

LAXintl wrote:
Executive changes at Southwest.

President & COO Mike Van de Ven is retiring. Chief commercial officer Andrew Watterson new COO. CEO Bob Jordan also becomes president.

https://swamedia.com/releases/release-5 ... ip-changes
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 33487.html

Interesting.

WN732 · Tue Sep 27, 2022 1:19 am

Illinois One has returned to revenue service on an -800 as N8619F

The Canyon Blue retro has been completed at the factory and is awaiting paint.

Wneast · Tue Sep 27, 2022 3:01 am

I know Bob jordan is Ceo but with this Andrew move could we see new movement and expansion he has said to be more ambitious.

Jshank83 · Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:40 am

Did the next schedule update change? It says the next one is through July 10, which I feel like I would have noticed before because usually they only release April/May together then June/July/sometimes Aug together. So it seems weird to see June with April/May.

Wneast · Tue Sep 27, 2022 4:44 am

Jshank83 wrote:
Did the next schedule update change? It says the next one is through July 10, which I feel like I would have noticed before because usually they only release April/May together then June/July/sometimes Aug together. So it seems weird to see June with April/May.

Could there finally be expansion maybe something on the max 7 front and it will be certified soon ?

sonnyr23 · Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:13 am

Kind of thinking that Bob Jordan could be just a Transitional CEO - President while Andrew Watterson is being groomed to take over in a year or two.
Many of us felt that Anthony Gregory, who left Southwest last year was The Chosen One to Succeed Gary Kelly but that wasn't the case.
Anthony Gregory's roots were Air Tran.

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