I Don't Believe I Did It But......

[Art at ISP]

I guess I am living proof of Never say Never.....

I just booked WN for ISP-MCO on Tuesday--

It will be interesting to see how it goes....I'll comment upon my return.

 

[ELP_WN_Psgr]

I guess I am living proof of Never say Never.....

I just booked WN for ISP-MCO on Tuesday--

It will be interesting to see how it goes....I'll comment upon my return.

Art:

Good deal. I've read you enough to know that you will keep an open mind and be honest.

In a way, I wish you had let me know....I would have mailed you some drink coupons and might even have sprung for the difference to upgrade you to Business Select (You know me, last of the big spenders.)

Now....if we've got some WN employees hanging around.....get ahold of the crew or at least the station at Islip and make darned sure that Art has a good experience.

A few hints from one of the WN cognoscenti:

If you are on a fairly early morning flight....the FAs will pass thru the cabin with juice and coffee. That doesn't mean that is all they will serve. They are glad to get you a "special beverage" (anything that is not on their tray)...all you have to do is ask.

If you want a can, ask for a can. The FAs are usually great but they are not clairvoyant. (Although I swear I flew with a female FA named Claire Voyant, one time...)

If you booked Business Select, life looks good. If you aren't.....check in on line 24 hrs out. Get that "A" boarding pass and life looks grand. No standing in interminable lines, no fistfights to get the seat you want. "A" will put you in the first 46 folks on the plane or so.....which means you are guaranteed either a window or an aisle whichever you prefer.

Your best chance for an empty middle is just past the wing. The front fills up....and then the back, as people go all the way back looking for an empty seat. The area just aft of the wing usually is good. I personally like the aft.....as that puts me close to the galley for drink refills.

Speaking of refills...after the beverage service the FAs will wander around picking up trash. If you want a refill, just tell them when they pass by. They expect it. They won't scowl. Again, it gets back to the mind reading business.

If I were you, I'd identify myself as a first time WN flyer. Tell the gate agent that you had been a life-long, diehard USAirways fan and had decided to see if you could fly WN and continue to live. He or she is apt to find that a real hoot.

If you treat the WN employees as well as you treat the USAirways front line.....I promise that you all will enjopy each other.

Speaking for myself...and I'm sure KC....we're real tickled you have decided to experiment with joining us among the unwashed huddled masses. Come on in, the water's fine (and free LOL). I hope you have a good trip.

Watch the whole operation. It is fascinating. Southwest's folks....who tend to act a bit more casual than US or the other legacies....are no less professional.

The plane will be clean. There will be other business folks on board. The seating is not "F" but it is real comfortable Y seating. Barring weather or a broken plane you should get there on time and with your baggage.

I'm sorry I didn't manage to get you any drink coupons to you. I actually dug a couple of books of them out of a drawer and told my wife that I was gonna mail them to Art at ISP if he ever shot me a mailing address. I'd scan them in and e mail them to you but somehow I am afraid the FAs might think that a bridge too far in providing positively outrageous service. I think the ones I got out have expired but that has not stopped the FAs from accepting them when I travel.

Again....WN employees, if you're listening......make sure Art has as good a trip as the other 100 MM folks that fly your airline each year!

 

[JS]

I guess I am living proof of Never say Never.....

I just booked WN for ISP-MCO on Tuesday--

It will be interesting to see how it goes....I'll comment upon my return.

 

[Art at ISP]

ELP,

Thanks for the information. I am already in Business Select--the difference from lowest to highest was only $28, and there is value to that difference--wait a minute...VALUE--now there is a concept foreign to US.

I'll post a report when I return.

Thanks again!

 

[jimntx]

Art, you will not be disappointed. As an AA employee who commutes frequently on WN, I am constantly amazed at the smoothness and efficiency of the operation--bad weather or not--and the NICENESS of their employees--all of them.

You will get exactly what you paid for--transportation from point A to point B. But, in addition, you will be reminded of how air travel used to be when everyone who worked for an airline seemed to enjoy being at work and being able to help others. I was always taught that the word, classy, is not; however, WN is a class operation.

 

[vantheman63]

Art - You are in for an excellent experience. For this kind of traveling, I would select WN every day of my life over US.

You will be impressed with the "systems" they have in place. The new boarding procedures are EXCELLENT, you no longer have to get to the airport 2 or 3 hours ahead of time....figure what the time is through TSA and then figure 35 minutes of so onto that...and you are, with Business Select, all but guaranteed an exit row aisle. You are absolutely, 1,000% guaranteed an aisle seat...or window if thats what you prefer.

The crews are extremely friendly and ready to serve. Some of them are downright entertaining and fun.

WN is a much, much better value then US these days. In fact, as far as Coach is concerned, they may, honesly, be the best product in aviation. The pitch in WN is much more generous then everyone except UA with E+...and to be fair, I haven't flown B6 ever....I understand they also have excellent seat pitch.

 

[KCFlyer]

I guess I am living proof of Never say Never.....

I just booked WN for ISP-MCO on Tuesday--

It will be interesting to see how it goes....I'll comment upon my return.

Art - I'll be interested to read your report. If you are flying business select, then it should be even better. The only complaint I really ever had with WN was with the MCO flights...entire families with teenagers, but one kid under 5 boarded early. The preboards were awful there. With business select, YOU board first. As the others have said, while there is no first class cabin, the coach legroom is quite good...almost as good as United's E+. Enjoy your trip.

 

[SolidCactus]

Art - I'll be interested to read your report. If you are flying business select, then it should be even better. The only complaint I really ever had with WN was with the MCO flights...entire families with teenagers, but one kid under 5 boarded early. The preboards were awful there. With business select, YOU board first. As the others have said, while there is no first class cabin, the coach legroom is quite good...almost as good as United's E+. Enjoy your trip.

KC, since the new boarding process started, those families with children board between A and B I love it

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

ELP,

Thanks for the information. I am already in Business Select--the difference from lowest to highest was only $28, and there is value to that difference--wait a minute...VALUE--now there is a concept foreign to US.

I'll post a report when I return.

Thanks again!

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Art(in ISP),

A loyal customer as yourself deserves to be treated as such,..............always !

When your travel needs call for you to be in either ..LAX/SFO/SEA, I hope your .."on the choo-choo" to Jamaica Station/Air Train, and ob an AA Wide Body, out of JFK.
(If and when you go, I'll be curious to see how the REAL FOOD was)

Travel safe and well my friend,.................No matter what Paint job is on the fuselage !!

 

[giantfan]

KUDOS, KUDOS to Southwest!!

I'm just a visitor from another airline (US...don't beat me up too bad!) but I just saw on CNN where SWA gave the boot to an unruly family in PHX. They were concecting in PHX and going to SEA and they were so unruly on the first leg that they wouldn't board them on to SEA! It's so refreshing to see an airline take a stand against bad behavior for the sake of the other passengers and the crew. Good for them!!!

Of course, CNN.com had to put a spin on it to make SWA look like the bad guy but anybody who flies at all will be cheering them on!! Again, KUDOS to SW!

 

[gatemech]

When I need to fly positive space I purchase a ticket on SWA. CLASS ACT !

 

[SharoninSAT]

KC, since the new boarding process started, those families with children board between A and B I love it

We (WN CSA's) like it too!

 

[ELP_WN_Psgr]

Well, flt 2187 was due there at 9:05 and got in at 8:58 am.

Flt 1236 was due at 12:10 pm and got in at 11:58 am.

Flt 2138 was due in at 1:45 and got there at 2:07.

Neither CNN nor Fox has reported WN having to divert for an enraged, unruly passenger.

I guess Art made it. I hope he had a good trip and that we'll hear from him soon.

 

[Singleflyer]

Over the years I have flown WN several times. Their route system rarely fits into my travel plans even though I fly out MHT. Since I purchase last minute tickets, and the flights to FLA are usually full when I need to go.

However in the past year I have flown them a few times, and have been very impressed with business select. Especially on a MHT-MDW flight last winter when my UA flight was hours late because the FA broke an ankle on the ice doing the walk around inspection. I got three wild tukeys in business select, it was in plastic cups, but better then Jim in a glass on UA. And no one in the middle seat.

WN runs a great operation, it just rarely goes where I need to go.

 

[Art at ISP]

Well, I was on 1236, which did arrive somewhat early.

Here's a brief trip report:

I got to ISP about an hour and 15 before the flight--to go to US and see if any of my old friends were still there...and they are!!
Said hello to Gerry, Brian Kathy and Charlie, who had no one on line--first two flights of the day cancelled mechanical....they asked where I had been, and I told them--with CO and AA. They said they have lost alot of their regulars as US keeps dropping flights-they think ISP will be gone soon.

On to WN, I had checked in on line, with the number on my boarding pass A02. Of course, not being able to deal with NO line at security, I walked through with my cell phone, but finally got through and walked to the boarding area. This being the first time in the new section of ISP, WN's side, it was new, spacious, and clean, with workbenches for laptop users. They have the new poles with boarding position lineups, which I had seen before elsewhere.

At 8:55AM, the inbound making up my flight arrived--and within 15 minutes they announce pre boarding--quick turn! I believe this is what they are famous for. They did wheelchairs first (6 of them-reminded me of MIA). Then called out Business Select, A 1-15--no. 1 and I boarded together, appeared we were the only ones in BS.

Got on board, greeted by the crew, found my way to 12F (the only seat without a seat in front of it). Turns out to be a not so great choice as there is no table in the armrest, but it's in the seat ahead 2 rows forward. Going to try 11A tomorrow.

The boarding process became a little haphazard toward the end, but I noticed they were very organized in getting standbys on--count free seats, agent boards more people. There was actually not an issue with carryons--no gate checks, although the flight was full!

They did the exit row spiel, and I will say it was refreshing to see the crew's attitudes, but the lone male FA, who had the mike, was just a little overboard in his announcements--a little too hokey, criticizing other airlines, making fun of first class, calling themselves Southbest, etc....even the other FA said he was a little over the edge. It got tiring after a while, but that was the worst of it to be honest. He took special aim at US and DL, mocking all the charges, and fees.

Off the gate 5 min early, in the air within 5 min, and on our way. Once in the air, they came around took beverage orders, and offered the snacks. The bev service was quick and efficient, and after the first round, as they cleared, they offered refills to anyone who wanted them.

We did arrive early into MCO, and deplaning was again somewhat organized...considering this was a "Kettle" full of people...I would say there were maybe 3 business travelers on this whole airplane, with me being one.

I just checked in for tomorrow's flight from my room--could not print, but got A01 for the return--but I may be able to get an earlier flight tomorrow. We'll see and I will post. I will also let you know how easy it is to reprint boarding passes (and the drinky coupon!)

Overall, I would say it was a good flight, excellent value, and oh...the aircraft was spotless--inside AND out.....

I would not choose them for a transcon, and I still have an issue with the open seating, but like I said I do have an open mind, and I might consider them again as the situation arises.

Thanks to all for the encouragement and advice.....