Domestic flights in the US. If you try Southwest once you won't be able to stop
The companies in America are so many and of all types. There are the three giants-Delta, United, and American. There [...]
Southwest Airlines
United States of America
The companies in America are so many and of all types. There are the three giants-Delta, United and American. There are those in the middle, but looking up, like Alaska and JetBlue. There are the ultra low-cost ones like Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant and many, many more. And then there is Southwest.
In this article:
If you have never taken a domestic flight in the U.S., I can guarantee you that it is a completely different experience from what happens in Europe and Italy. Here taking a plane is like taking a bus in Milan, and this is reflected in all aspects from baggage handling, to security checks, from terminals to boarding procedures.
The best bonuses
In this panorama Southwest is the world's largest low-cost, with a fleet of only Boeing 737s. Same business model and same aircraft model as Ryanair, but these are the only two things they have in common. Instead, all the worst of the made-in-Dublin airline is all the best of the carrier with a heart as its symbol. Southwest has a third thing in common with the other low-cost carriers, or perhaps it would be better to say that it invented and the other carriers copied. Flies mainly from secondary airports, when there are any. As in Chicago or Dallas, to give two examples.
Sure, flying with an airline that doesn't offer lounges much less business class might seem unfashionable, but that's the beauty of this Texas-born airline in the 1970s: "We do it our way," and in the end for a 2-hour flight you also look at your wallet.
If you plan to travel the great American distances, here are 6 reasons why Southwest is truly a unique company.
#1 The customer comes first
This may sound like an empty slogan, but it is not. In the DNA of this company is a customer focus at levels that we humble European tourists only dream of. Smiles are always on the faces of the staff, and the company's policies are all geared toward passenger satisfaction.
The logo is a heart, the acronym in the stock exchange is LUV, and they have invented a word that sums up their industrial policy: Transfarency. A philosophy that "low fares actually stay low, with no unexpected baggage fees, change fees or hidden costs." The slogan is "Low rates. Nothing to hide."
#2 The best boarding system that exists in the world
On Southwest's planes there are no assigned seats, even for a fee. Everyone sits wherever they want, front row or back, the passengers have the choice. However, there is also no chaos at boarding because. the process by which passengers board is the same as it has been in Italy for 50 years We use at the deli counter at the supermarket. That is, with the little number.
Travelers check in 24 hours in advance and receive the number with which they are to queue. This simple way avoids standing in the queue 30 minutes before boarding, fighting with "smart" passengers, and above all helps those who want to sit with their family or fellow passengers to avoid paying exorbitant surcharges. However, if you want to be among the first 15 on board you can, even directly at the gate, buy priority at a cost of 12.5$, but it is not absolutely necessary.
How do you get in line? At the gates that Southwest uses, there are poles with numbers. Passengers are divided into 3 groups A/B/C. Staff invite passengers with a number between A15 and A30 to get in line, as the line empties B passengers are invited...and so on. Simple, fast, with no possibility of error or stress.
#3 Two free checked bags, always
Booking a ticket today is a source of stress because there are so many things to check. Schedule, seat, restrictions, carry-on and checked baggage, priority.... With Southwest none of this exists. Fares are simple and clear and everything is included in the fare. Hand luggage, the classic cabin trolley, as well as backpack/bag. Two checked bags, the kind that low-cost and traditional airlines charge, sometimes more than the ticket itself.
#4 There are no supplements and plenty of leg room
This benefit during the pandemic became normal, but even now we have seen how the rates are not as flexible as before. This has always been the case in Southwest. No surcharge of any kind is applied to the ticket. You want to change your name, you can do that. You want to take a flight on a different date, you can do that. You got the wrong ticket and want to change departure/arrival airport, you can do that. Of course, if there is a fare difference, you are asked to supplement it, but all the other carriers ask you even 100€ and more. Finally to have a comparison on board, between rows of seats. there are almost 2 inches more than the European low-costs.
#5 Everything is included in the price
About boarding and luggage we have said, but everything else is free as well. The famous seat with more leg room is free. Are you thirsty? Want a snack? There is a menu with what is offered to everyone and what you can buy separately.
Planes have wi.fi, you can connect for free and still use messaging apps, you can watch movies from the in-flight portal or TV. All for free. If you want to surf, however, the cost varies from flight to flight, starting at 6$.
#6 Connecting flights without getting off the plane
With Southwest, you will never miss a connection, much less risk your luggage staying in the wrong airport. This is because you can take a flight from, for example, San Jose to Las Vegas via Houston and stay in your seat. Whereas on all the other airlines you have to get off and go to the gate of the next flight, here you remain comfortably seated in your seat while the plane empties and fills up again to depart for the next destination, like on a bus that runs a fixed route and you get on/off when you want.
The most important thing is that we have fun on board, ALWAYS
You never know what will happen on board a flight of this company. What happened to me was the lottery before boarding in which priority was given to the first two passengers who had the oldest 25cent coin with them among those in line. The cabin crew is always happy to do all kinds of shows and the web is full of funny videos about it. On my last flight the whole plane sang Happy Birthday to a passenger at the invitation of the staff, after turning on all the cell phone lights.
In conclusion
There would also be other aspects to be addressed, such as the Rapid Rewards loyalty program which is simple and really allows for so many benefits. The best of all is the Southwest Companion Pass. If you travel at least 100 routes within a year, or accumulate 120k points, you get the chance to buy for 12 months two tickets for the price of one. Sure, 100 flights might seem like a lot, but you have to compare everything to the U.S. Here you take a plane like we take a train to go from Rome to Florence, so 100 flights for a commuter who goes to work every day 100km from home is nothing.