I have flown Southwest for years now and it was not always my favorite way to fly. Not that I have a fear of Erica Jong or the friendly skies and I felt safe in the air long before Capt. Scully turned the Potomac into a runway.
Years ago Southwest used to corral you into these “zones”; areas designated for first come first served seating on the plane. Then they upgrades to the current “A, B, C” boarding system where you log in the day before to find out which group you’ve “won” -kinda like hitting the lottery only with their “system” supposedly the earlier you call the better your chances of getting into the coveted “A” group (but I’ve found this not to the case sometimes).
I’ve never been a fan of lining up or cues. I did once, years ago to get into Studio 54 (that’s right, the club-not the movie) and found the experience all at once humiliating and degrading (being sized up like a prize bull or some dairy queen at the fair) but alas, my moral outrage wasn’t compromised so much that I didn’t go in when I found the velvet rope opening for me…ah, youth…..all at once a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.
But, I digress, Southwest isn’t a moral issue, it’s just a pain in the ass to remember to log in so that you can cue up. And you don’t have to do it just once; no you have to remember on the out bound and the return.
No worries, if you forget you’ll still get on the plane but you’ll be the last to board and believe me nobody wants to have to sit in the only seat left in the back of the plane close to the crying babies, next to the smelly, fat guy that can’t seem to stop sweating.
Of course, that’s a worse case scenario or so one hopes.
The other thing to be aware of is that Southwest doesn’t fly directly into major airports but somewhere near by, kind like the Banlieues (or the suburbs vs. the city). For example on a recent trip to California I flew into Oakland instead of my destination city, which was San Francisco.
If you want to go to Chicago you have to fly into Midway and not O’Hare (all in all not a bad trade off considering O’Hare is one of the busiest and most crowded airports in the country). But when you travel it can cause some compromises logistically and add some expense.
Still, having said that I now think that Southwest is the best thing in the air. As the other airlines have increased prices and dropped service and civility, Southwest remains competitive price-wise and when you consider that you can check two bags for free (while other airlines are charging $70.00 a pop) Southwest starts to look better and better.
So, the next time you’re thinking of traveling whether it’s West coast or East, North or Northwest, check out Southwest if you haven’t already discovered them.
TyTIP: Set your alarm on your smartphone or computer and make sure you check in 24 hours prior to departure. It won’t guarantee you “A” class boarding but it sure will keep you out of the dreaded “C” section, which is last to board.
TyTIP: Always carry a water (regulation size) or other beverage and a snack with you on a flight, you don’t think it makes much difference but arriving hydrated and sated to your destination will make a big difference in how you feel.
Ty Tips:Luxury living for less 