Comments on: Poll: Airlines we love and why we love them

By: Why people aren’t flying. (Hint: It’s not just the fares) | FLIGHT ATTENDANT JOBS

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 08:05:59 +0000

[...] recent reader poll by Consumertraveler.com crowned Southwest as respondents’ favorite airline, with 71 percent saying that service was [...]

By: carry-on luggage, fees, travel insurance | Insurance For Trips.com

carry-on luggage, fees, travel insurance | Insurance For Trips.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:10:19 +0000

[...] Check out this informal online poll ranking airlines and if you some additional proof, here is a a second poll. No surprise that Southwest ranks the [...]

By: Why people aren’t flying. (Hint: It’s not just the fares) » Travel Insights 100

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:01:14 +0000

[...] to the point where people just don't want to fly at any price? A recent reader poll by Consumertraveler.com crowned Southwest as respondents' favorite airline, with 71 percent saying that service was the [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:08:38 +0000

I take WN as little as possible and prefer AA and CO over the other legacy carriers, mostly because of the service. I find that the service of the airline employees is equal to the attitude of the customer… WN, CO or AA, they all are the same.
I am in the minority for sure when I say I like the alacarte fees. If I’m flying to Dallas and have no bags, I enjoy the less expensive ticket price and pleasent service from AA. WN includes their costs for the checked bag (ie. tugs and airport infrastructure) in thir ticket price whether I use it or not… I just want the burger, so why should I pay for the fries and drink of a happy meal ? Eventually flyers will figure this out.
VS and B6 are by far the most comfortable coach seats.

By: Fresh Airfare

Fresh Airfare — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:48:29 +0000

I agree with Debi, the lack of change/cancellation fees at Southwest is fantastic. I accidentally booked LAX to OAK instead of OAK to LAX and didn’t realize the mistake until a week later. I called customer service and the rep just gave me a cute, southern giggle and fixed it with no fee. I’m sure I would’ve been paying the piper at a legacy carrier.

However, Southwest is not my favorite carrier. Their lack of assigned seating creates a hectic boarding environment. This just adds to the stress of travel. I prefer having my guaranteed seat over their free-for-all seating format.

I’ll take Virgin America and JetBlue over S’West at this point.

By: DWC

DWC — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:20:19 +0000

I agree with Susan. The only reason I every fly AA now is that I have miles built up on their frequent flier program and earn miles with my current credit card. I use those miles to fly when I need to go somewhere that Southwest doesn’t fly.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:49:22 +0000

Why are people ranking the legacy frequent flier programs so important? NOT because they luv them, but because they are historically tied up in them or they wouldn’t every fly them at all. I think maybe ambiguity was an issue here….they may not like the legacies or their FF programs, but IF they have to say what they like, it’s the fact that they have miles to use:) waddythink?

By: Blake

Blake — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:05:42 +0000

I’d be interested to know what random sampling procedures were in place throughout this survey. I would say that I expected Southwest and Continental to earn high marks… but American and Delta? As a previous poster said, this study is highly skewed towards frequent fliers or business travelers.

By: ykurtz

ykurtz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:20:24 +0000

SWA or LUV employees I have dealth with do two things most airlines do not: a) listen to customers, b) try to help. It’s that simple. When people are frustrated or just need assistance, just listening and approaching things with a ‘let me see what we can do’ approach works wonders. Even if they can’t ultimately help, they’ve actually tried to do something. Other airline employees are typically like automated voicemail systems: they approach everything with a flowchart mentality that makes people feel like bits vs human beings. Until customers are mostly robots with no capacity to feel, many airlines should consider treating their customers like people.

By: WLB

WLB — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:44:21 +0000

I am passionate about SWA! They simply treat their customers the best! They do so many little things that make a big difference! I have met Herb Kelleher several times on flights, and you see why his employees treat you the way they treat you — because he treats his employees so well! It is a very simple equation: treat your people right — they will treat your customers right — your customers will treat your bottom line right!