I am curious. How about plans that revolved about being somewhere on time? Is the airline liable for any missed time or maybe you had to take an extra vacation day because of a delay?

That really is what bugs me about the process in general. There is a real lack of concern for people's lives just to get a crew to Louisville. It happens all the time but that does not mean there is not a better way.

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If Southwest was truly the cheapest then it would be more of a benefit. I'd pretty much always check one bag at most for me and my wife. That means a $25 difference in fare makes up for that. Now, I've got an airline credit card that gives me free checked bags though that does have a yearly fee that means I have to fly them at least once or twice a year to make up that difference.

Also, given the scam of Southwest "Early Bird Checkin" which is something you don't have on any other airline you may very well be spending $15 per person each way just so you can sit together as so many people do it now that if you don't you are almost assured to be at the end of the B line or even in C if you don't.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I don't disagree with you.

I'm just saying that the bag fees can be make or break for a family trying to take their yearly or bi-yearly vacation.

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No doubt. Southwest can still be great if you are willing to fly at bad times too. There are a lot of families that need to shop at Wal-Mart too. I'm not going to blame anyone for flying on or liking Southwest. I'm just no longer a fan of them after being one of the diehards before.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Probably Luna security

Ah, I don't think so. From what I saw, those guys looked WAY too thin to be with Luna.

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At least on guy had Police on the back of his shirt/vest. I do not think security anything is allowed that. It would say Security on the back.

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Agreed

I think people hear they offered him $800 or $1000 and think cash, but I am pretty sure it was credit. And credit does not pay for a vacation day or a hotel stay.

This is why I think the solution is simple. Follow Delta's model where you keep on raising the offer until someone takes it. You will have some travelers on your plane who have no urgency to get to the plane's destination. The offer will entice them to volunteer. If that offer means a free trip somewhere for someone who has the time to take it, then the bumping is not an unpleasant experience.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

just shopped for a flight to the east coast and even before you consider checked bag fees southwest was easily $100+ less than anyone else for my 3 tickets. my wife just flew southwest and checking in exactly 24 hours before she was able to get A50 boarding position (not having to pay the early bird check-in fee)

I go to LA a couple times a year. As they are planned trips I can shop. I mostly have used Southwest and never paid more than $250 a ticket. There are Spirit and other cheapos and at time United comes close. Bottom line is SW out of Pitt works very well for me. Also, yes the baggage can save 100 which isn't nothing.

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Of course Southwest still has some low fares. I already said as much. It's normally inconvenient times though. It's normally pretty cheap to fly on them at 6am on a Sunday morning and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I can share plenty of anecdotes when other airlines that weren't Spirit were cheaper than Southwest too when I was looking though.

I had early bird checkin where I ended up near the back of the B lines and got C before by checking in 10 minutes after the window. When you have to set an alarm in order to check in to your flight exactly 24 hours before so you can be sure you can sit with your wife that is a bad system.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If I am flying with my wife, I always do Southwest. I give her one of my checked bagged bags and carry on bag. Why do women feel the need to pack nearly 1/2 the house for a 2-3 day trip?

The Cult of Southwest Airlines is strong on this board. It's ok. I was once like you guys.

I'll now be happy to have a reserved seat, ample leg room, and I won't be stressed out going to the airport that I'm going to miss the cattle call and end up looking for two center seats close enough so I can nod to my wife every so often and then get my bag that had to be checked at the gate.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

it is what it is... some are willing to pay $15 a ticket to not have to do that... luckily i fly so infrequently i can deal with all the bullshit that taking a plane trip entails in 2017...

You guys know that for free you can check in 24 hours in advance via the internet right? Since that began I never once boarded worse than group B.

Edit. I did not see this was mentioned. I will add I never did not sit with my companion.

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That's the point though. It's $15 per ticket and you can't split them up unless you buy the tickets separately and then do the "SEATS TAKEN!" routine while you and your travel companion get on separately. That's $30 each way which is equal to or more than pretty much any checked bag fee I've had. So right there you already give up your cost savings unless you check multiple bags and there really isn't any reason for that when you can get 50 pounds on it. If you fly a decent amount the credit card yearly fee makes it even more cost effective.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

you are surprised infrequent fliers pick the cheapest option and are willing to put up with some shit to fly said cheapest option?

Thanks for the tip, Mr. Wizard.

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Of course not. It seems like people are arguing that Southwest is a great airline or at least don't like that I am saying it isn't a great airline. People love Wal-Mart too. I just happen to not be a fan of it.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If you figured $25 dollars a checked bag, family of four(8 bags), round trip, that's a savings of $400. I don't know why Brick is making that seem inconsequential.

8 bags? Are they moving to the new place?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

My family of 4 went to Florida back in Feb...3 checked bags, 2 carry on's...8 bags is ridiculous.

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BRick is correct. Southwest is no longer special. We're fortunate to have a competitive Chicago market and they're just a guy.

The no seat assignment is dreadful.

Yes, United has to wear this 100%.

It's torts 101. Eggshell plaintiff. When you are negligent you take your victims as you find them. Even if the guy was on drugs. In this situation, its well within the realm of reasonable thinking that it is foreseeable that a person in that situation might react extremely. It's also reasonably foreseeable that some people flying on planes might be intoxicated, legally or otherwise. Intoxicated people sometimes react more extremely than others. Once again, United knew or should've known this when they attempted to force people off their plane. Even if he was taking illegal drugs, that doesn't mean he was fair game to be assaulted.


The fact that this is the part of the situation that has you "really interested now" just shows that you are easily distracted by non essential facts. Which was basically the point of all those articles coming out.

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Yeah, that's what I said to my wife...

I'm guessing if bags were extra, we would have cut it down to six.