A&e's New Series Airline

[FWAAA]

Just pointing out that you were wrong as to the age that was being questioned in the show.
And , no, I don't "mean' anything. I simply thought that it was a TSA requirement that ALL passengers show ID to be allowed through security. What is the minimum age, if this is not the case?
As far as 'baby ID', perhaps you've heard of a document called a birth certificate?

The TSA (and the airlines, as well) only require photo ID of pax 18 and older.

But anyone with a brain should bring a copy of a lap child's birth cert if there is any doubt (like with a big kid).

Then again, IMO, only fools refuse to buy their infants a half-price infant ticket - so it is hardly surprising that the parent neglected to bring some proof of age.

 

[magsau]

If you complain about the parents and the child being foolish, should the reservationist or online ticket terms include the disclaimer that ID should be brought for children? Even though the TSA does not require ID for less than 18 years? If your policy is different than others then you bear some responsibility.

WN has a responsibility to let the travelers know the terms and conditions.

Also, making the mother call the hospital was pretty classless.

Of course you are talking about an airline that touts its low fares and good times. Come to think about it none of the fares charged for the child or the POS (love that term for Person Of Size, I think immediately of another term interchanged with POS but that is another thought) were 49bucks. Thought all WN tickets were cheappppppp.

 

[Ch. 12]

If you complain about the parents and the child being foolish, should the reservationist or online ticket terms include the disclaimer that ID should be brought for children? Even though the TSA does not require ID for less than 18 years? If your policy is different than others then you bear some responsibility.

WN has a responsibility to let the travelers know the terms and conditions.

Also, making the mother call the hospital was pretty classless.

Of course you are talking about an airline that touts its low fares and good times. Come to think about it none of the fares charged for the child or the POS (love that term for Person Of Size, I think immediately of another term interchanged with POS but that is another thought) were 49bucks. Thought all WN tickets were cheappppppp.

Yeah...I'm sure this is the end of WN because their display on the show was so much worse than any other major.

At least the series gives those that hate WN the chance to feel important. I personally like that they show the bad situations. I can tell you that in EVERY situation I saw on the show, it was handled far better than I have witnessed first-hand at the legacies. The issue isn't the kinds of problems that are brought to the agents but rather how they deal with it. The WN employees far exceed the others in how they handle situations.

 

[SWAFA30]

Actually, WN officially refers to passengers who require a second seat as "COS" or Customers of Size. If anyone has a more tactful or appropriate suggestion I'm sure WN management is all ears.

Reservations and Customer Service agents are indeed trained to advise passengers traveling with lap children that ID is required is asked. Of course, you have to tell someone that you intend to travel with a lap child for them to make you aware of the policy. A two minute phone call before heading to airport could saved everyone involved a ton of grief. All you have to do is ask.


The following is taken from the current printed flight scheduled dated October 26, 2003.

"INFANTS/CHILDREN-One child over 14 years of age and under two(2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free with a Customer paying the applicable adult fare. Affordable Infant Fares are also available that enable a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA-aproved safety seat. A birth certificate is required to validate the age of all infants. A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old."

I don't know how much clearer the policy could be.

How about the parents take a little responsibility and buy their child a seat? Likely the parents in question would NEVER think of driving around the block without their precious child strapped into a car seat but they think nothing of hurtling down the runway at almsot 200 miles an hour with little Johnny perched on Mommy's lap.

Cheap is relative. If the carrier at the next gate is charging $500 bucks on the same route, $299 sounds pretty cheap. WN always the cheapest? Nope. Of course they never said they were. If people assume otherwise...that's just great marketing.

 

[KCFlyer]

Of course you are talking about an airline that touts its low fares and good times. Come to think about it none of the fares charged for the child or the POS (love that term for Person Of Size, I think immediately of another term interchanged with POS but that is another thought) were 49bucks. Thought all WN tickets were cheappppppp.

Cheap is a relative word. Example - A flight on UAL from ORD-MCI is $170. A flight on Southwest the same day is $172. The intrepid traveller can save two bucks by flying United. But...since both are advance purchase fares, lets say you get sick and can't go on the original departure date, but can two days later. That change just cost you $100 on UAL,and that's assuming that there isn't going to be any fare difference. It cost you $30 (the difference between the one way full fare and the outbound fare paid) to make the change on Southwest. Net result, it was $70 less to fly SWA. That's a pretty nice dinner in KC.

 

[Fred Ziffel]

"INFANTS/CHILDREN-One child over 14 years of age and under two(2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free with a Customer paying the applicable adult fare.

14 days maybe?

 

[magsau]

I am not picking on WN. If that show was done on any other carrier I would cringe also. In the UK there is a so that is similar on Easy Jet. The perception and CS is much better than what "I" saw on these two episodes. Just me but that is my OPINION.

The only good I saw in this show is that this portrays WN as just like any other carrier. Sorry to burst the WN bubble but you are just like anyone else.

 

[funguy2]

I have only seen one episode of the British show "Airport" where they show the goings on at LHR. I thought it was far more interesting. Part of that episode documented the British customs agents busting an arriving passenger with materials needed to make couterfeit cash... I believe it was watermarked paper and ink. That was far more interesting than watching the WN Supervisor run with the passengers to China Airlines. (This act on the part of the Supervisor was good customer service, but hardly compelling TV.)

I personally hope that there is not a drunken passenger story in every episode (like the first two). I think it would be far more interesting to regular flyers to see a mid-afternoon mechanical delay at MDW, which turns into a weather delay, and eventually cancels, or something along those lines... And show the behind the scenes... how a part had to be flown in from STL, and the ops agents looking to find a different plane to use, or finding alternate routes for passengers, or moving a special needs pax quietly (i.e. the person who is missing their kids wedding or whatever)... More behind the scenes stuff.

I've always thought if people knew the hundreds of little things that could delay any flight, they would be amazed that any flight ever goes on time.

The promo for tonight's show said they were going to address the Summer Blackout. That should be more interesting.

I am hopeful that the show improves... If its going to be a half hour of "When Passengers Attack" or "Dumb Things People Do", I will probably not pay any more attention to the show.

For example, if the show had a crew in PHX to show the worried couple waiting on their delayed WN flight to get moving so they did not miss the China Air flight, then flew with them, and ran with them, I think it would have made a more compelling storyline. They could have shown the apprehension... the repeated trips to ask for assistance or updates at the PHX gate, etc.

 

[skycruiser]

At least the series gives those that hate WN the chance to feel important. I personally like that they show the bad situations. I can tell you that in EVERY situation I saw on the show, it was handled far better than I have witnessed first-hand at the legacies. The issue isn't the kinds of problems that are brought to the agents but rather how they deal with it. The WN employees far exceed the others in how they handle situations.

I am willing to bet a lot of what you saw was either some crafty editing on the producers part and/or people trying to get their fifteen minutes. Those passengers knew they were being filmed and had to sign a waiver to be shown otherwise their faces would have been grayed out. It kind of makes you wonder how much was actual and how much was exaggerated by the folks being put on camera. I would like to see the contrast given the same situations under hidden camera both passengers and agents alike.

 

[bigbusdrvr]

I am willing to bet a lot of what you saw was either some crafty editing on the producers part and/or people trying to get their fifteen minutes. Those passengers knew they were being filmed and had to sign a waiver to be shown otherwise their faces would have been grayed out. It kind of makes you wonder how much was actual and how much was exaggerated by the folks being put on camera. I would like to see the contrast given the same situations under hidden camera both passengers and agents alike.

They sign the waver after they have been filmed,( whether they know they are being filmed or not at the time is uncertain). The SW employees will be seen in a different light from now on, that is for sure!! Kind of like finding out there is no Santa or Peter Pan!! The are only human, and as*es just like the legacy carriers, go figuer. Well I always knew it. The trick is now so does the traveling public!! Welcome to the real world!!

 

[SWAFA30]

The are only human, and as*es just like the legacy carriers, go figuer. Well I always knew it. The trick is now so does the traveling public!! Welcome to the real world!!

Uh oh...we've been unmasked...the secret is out....Southwest Airlines is staffed by...gasp...actual human beings!!! Can we at least get credit for keeping it a secret for the past 32 years?


When did any of us at Southwest ever claim to be anything other than human. The media in particular have been the ones who have built us(and now jetBlue) up into this mythical nirvana of commercial travel. That is their perception of us not ours. If people bought into that I don't see how that is our fault. Herb himself will be the first to tell you that SWA is far from perfect.

As far as the traveling public finally seeing who "we really are"...The flying public does know who we are...we interact with them everyday. When you move as many people as we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis...you are bound to screw up royally and tick someone off. That is just the law of averages. Every airline...EVERY AIRLINE mishandles their customers. The difference is what you do to make things right when the inevitable eventually happens. Why aren't the cameras aimed at the Customer Relations Department that reads, researchs and responds to each and every customer letter doing everything they can to make things right. I guess that would not make very good TV. It is obvious that we either meet or exceed their expectations way more often than we disappoint them. Our DOT Customer Complaint stats speak for themselves.

 

[KCFlyer]

Recap of tonights epsisode - manager at MDW should be nominated for sainthood. And...is the narrator part of SWA? If so - relay this message...Kansas City (MCI) is in Missouri, not Kansas. There were two references of passengers on a flight from "Kansas".

 

[skycruiser]

Recap of tonights epsisode - manager at MDW should be nominated for sainthood.

Missed tonight's episode but the supervisor in LA last week, the one who dealt with the stinky passenger, would have to be in line as well. Although I would love to see how that situation would have gone down without the cameras in place. I don't know of to many companies that would give out uniforms to homeless folks (regardless if they cut the tags off). Now that was a PR rep's dream, just a theory, I could be wrong.

 

[mga707]

Does anyone know if this show repeats during the week?

I believe the Monday episodes are repeated on Saturday night.
(Could be wrong, though--I have to tape the show on Mon and watch it the following day since our cable feeds here in Mountain time are all West Coast, meaning it's on way past my bedtime: 11PM... )

 

[SWAFA30]

I don't know of to many companies that would give out uniforms to homeless folks (regardless if they cut the tags off). Now that was a PR rep's dream, just a theory, I could be wrong.

Why wouldn't someone do that? It isnot at if the CSS/CSM in question had been saving old uniforms specifically to be given to needy passengers. The station found themselves in a delicate situation and did the best they could to preserve this poor person's dignity and come up with a creative solution so he could at least reach his destination.

Taking out of the equation the factors of the cameras and PR and airlines and competition and all of that...would it not just be a basic human kindness to give clothes to a homeless person if they needed them.

I like to think that most of us would do the same no matter what name is painted on our airplanes.