Airline

[Rudee]

I've watched A&E's reality show Airline several times, and in my opinon the show certainly doesn't paint Southwest airlines in a positive light. First of all, they have a habit of refusing boarding for passengers whom they suspect have been drinking. Secondly, if you argue with them, they will also refuse you to board the aircraft.

Now, I've travelled on many airlines in my life on business trips, and I've never had a problem with airlines such as Air Canada, United or Delta refusing me from boarding because there is a whiff of rum & coke on my breath. Nor have I been refused boarding because I communicated my displeasure with an agent at the gate. Southwest in my opinion is certainly hurting their business by their holier than thou attitude.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

I see the opposite. Most of the people they refuse boarding to are hammered.
Also I see no reason to let people board if they become hostile.

 

[brigden]

If the show is doing well, people are watching it. If people like it, chances are they like the airline. The employees are never protrayed as antagonists. It's free advertising for the airline - a no-brainer.

 

[FoBoT]

i also think the show is odd. it is like airing dirty laundry in public, sure everyone knows that "customer service" issue happen, but showing problems and pissed off customers on TV seems counter productive

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Southwest sucks. The show doesn't portray them in a positive light or a negative light, it portrays them in an accurate light. You can get more help from the IRS than you can get from Southwest customer service people.

 

[Hammer]

i think this show is follows the saying any publicity is good publicity.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Southwest sucks. The show doesn't portray them in a positive light or a negative light, it portrays them in an accurate light. You can get more help from the IRS than you can get from Southwest customer service people.

I love southwest.

Cheap, on time, no hassels.

I've been on 8 southwest flights this year, not one damn problem

I've Flew northwest for a total of 4 flights, every flight was well over an hour behind schedule.

Southwest = win.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Southwest sucks. The show doesn't portray them in a positive light or a negative light, it portrays them in an accurate light. You can get more help from the IRS than you can get from Southwest customer service people.

I love southwest.

Cheap, on time, no hassels.

I've been on 8 southwest flights this year, not one damn problem

I've Flew northwest for a total of 4 flights, every flight was well over an hour behind schedule.

Southwest = win.

Yeah, and the Unabombers neighbors thought he was quiet and well-behaved. Anyone seems okay if you don't catch them at their worst. Try making changes to your itinerary with Southwest, you'll never fly them again.

 

[chowderhead]

For me, the show makes SWA and their employees look bad. I fly SWA and really never have any issues with them. But the show has to show either drama or heartwarming stuff. Who would watch if everything went smoothly and all we saw were people boarding in rows and arriving on time? Internet and echeck-in have greatly decreased the interaction with gate agents and check in agents so all they show are things that either go very wrong or extraordinary things.
Many times, the employees are mugging for the cameras, creating drama where none really should be. They deny boarding to borderline intoxicated people or go WAY out of their way to do something nice which you know if the cameras weren't there, there be no way that would happen. A favorite thing shown is when they make a obese person buy two seats. First, if I was that person, I wouldn't sign the television waiver and second, I would demand a refund of the extra seat when/if there are empty seats on the plane.
The worst was the case of the gate agent who involuntarily bumped a guy and his family from an oversold plane. He was not the last to check in - two military guys were but she allowed them to stay when they claimed to be "on-call" If they were "on-call" they shouldn't have checked in last. She did not follow the rules and editing made her look like the victim of the guy's righful anger for being bumped.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Southwest sucks. The show doesn't portray them in a positive light or a negative light, it portrays them in an accurate light. You can get more help from the IRS than you can get from Southwest customer service people.

I love southwest.

Cheap, on time, no hassels.

I've been on 8 southwest flights this year, not one damn problem

I've Flew northwest for a total of 4 flights, every flight was well over an hour behind schedule.

Southwest = win.

Yeah, and the Unabombers neighbors thought he was quiet and well-behaved. Anyone seems okay if you don't catch them at their worst. Try making changes to your itinerary with Southwest, you'll never fly them again.

I've tried flying Southwest, I've tried Flying Northwest (haven't been on AA for a while).

in my experience (i've been doing alot, for me anyway, of flying recently), Southwest blows Northwest out of the water.

I will keep flying Southwest until this changes, and it sure as hell doesn't look likely to.

 

[Rudee]

Air Canada is great when it comes to alcohol. I've had 7+ hour flights where I have been served free booze from start to finish. Then again, I mostly travel in business class where decent service is prority.