Southwest Airlines – Page 23

I had back surgery8/30/13 and was unable to fly.

Dr Beckner
Jewett Orthopaedic
1285 Orange Ave
Winter Park, Fl 32789

OK, why are you posting this here?

Sorry my flight was DFW to DEN and back. The slam of the disabled man happened on the way back to DFW.

I must agree but with an addendum. Not only were the flight attendants rude and unprofessional, the airline's policies were designed to ensure a secretive system so that the uninitiated could not manage to sit together if they got their boarding passes at the airport instead of before. In addition, the hostile environment created by the flight crews spilled over into the passengers so that getting on the plane (with a boarding pass that ensured you'd have trouble finding a seat) was like running a gauntlet. All this was just part of the hassle of flying, I guess. However, the flight attendant's treatment of a disabled passenger was truly offensive and disgusting. The poor man, who could not walk, simply asked if he could disembark after everyone else, and if someone could bring a wheelchair to help him get off. The fllight attendant looked at the man like he had leprosy rather than a disability, told him he would simply have to get off the plane on his own, and then proceeded to vent their hostility at the gentleman's request on the intercom once the plane landed. 'If you can't walk or have trouble walking, sit down! stay in your seats! Your're gonna have to wait to get off after everyone else!' When I complained to gate agents, they simply looked at me like I was speaking latin and completely blew me off.

What a shocking and completely unjustified screed. But perhaps what you'd expect from someone who would pay $325 for a piece of luggage. Moral: if you've got that kind of money to throw around on status symbols, you should probably fly on airlines that cater more specifically to status seekers. SWA is for ordinary people. I fly on Southwest about 10 times a year and I prefer them above all other airlines: cheerful employees, great customer service, extremely good organization. If you're a negative person, awful things will happen to you.

I'm sorry your baggage got lost, but that is no reason for you to make unfounded judgements about all of Southwest Airlines employees. First of all, you have to be 20 years old to be a flight attendant. Second, who do you think puts the gum on the seats and the floor? Hmmm. That would be the passengers. Where did you get the idea that the baggage handlers are drug addicts and thieves? That's a pretty strong allegation to be making without proof of some sort. And, ticks? Sorry, never seen one. Once in a while, a bee or fly gets on when the door is open, but that's all I've seen in my 7 years. One more thing, I assure you that all of the flight attendants are trained in firefighting on the aircraft. If you weren't aware, fire is the most dangerous thing that can happen during flight, except of course, birds flying into both engines. There are fire extinguishers in the front and aft of the aircraft and the flight attendants are very well trained what to do in case of a fire. Next time you plan to bring luggage with valuable items in it, may I suggest that you send it ahead of you via UPS or FedEx and remember to purchase insurance on it lest those companies be ridden with thieves and drug addicts.

I fly SWA many times each year and have never had anything close to your experience. I do not tempt fate by sending valuable items in checked luggage, and I don't send designer bags through the system. Those things I regard as simple common sense, whether you are traveling Southwest, Amtrak or Greyhound.

Regarding the post by Scott.

He is correct. There are no more Positive Claim by airlines (except I think International at overseas airports) anymore because that has been away with by the airports themselves. All airlines are only tenants at the airport and thus subject to their policies and rules. There is potential for anyone walking up to the carusel at almost anyport and take any bag.

Thank you for bring that up. Good observation.

Oh, and don't forget about any courier service if you bag is misdirected or delayed for any reason. That should not surprise anyone, ... but then it may.

Well, again it seems people like Dee are eager to point fingers at an airline rather than look at facts or even consider other possibilities. Before making the points, please go check the TSA websites and DOT websites. they are VERY specific in stating not to pack anything of value. Good gravy, even the GOVERNMENT is telling you not to pack valuables in your bags.

Lets take a look at how bags are potentially touched by other people (depends on airports, but generally close in the process.) If you check in at curbside, then a skycap has it briefly (and most airlines don't hire their own skycaps, they are local contractors.) So one bubble burst for Dee.

Then you have the TSA. They actually open your bags and search them (even by X-Ray.) They are generally in a secure location and not accessible nor seen by the general public. And you trust government employees with your personal belongings? Check out all the stories online about how the TSA arrests or fires their own employees for dishonesty and theft. Again, not neccessarily an airline problem. "Pop" goes another bubble.

Then you have the ramp agents. Most are employed by the airlines, but there are some airports where they are contracted out. Does Dee know which ones they are? Does she know where they get their people? Did she see the 'airline' employee do it? The answer there to all of these would be Nope. So please watch the finger pointing out because there are 3 more back at you. Did I just hear another 'pop'?

Then, again it depends on airports, the big ones actually have airport employees transporting the bags to the airplane due to the distance from the check in area to the gate. Another potential group of people that may have access to your bag.

So again, with a tad bit of looking into something and asking the right questions, it appears there are more people that have access to your lugagge than a typical bag handler of one particular airline. Funny, I don't hear you venting about them. But why whine against the governmental employees (that most would not qualify to actually work at an airline) since they are the Government. Trust us. Sure. Funny how they are the ones who flat out tell you not to pack those things, yet they are the ones who actually open your bags and has free reign over them. Try to get ANY compensation from them. Good luck in fighting against the Machine.

But in todays society, it is easier to whine, complain, point fingers than actually think about something and ask the right questions. Ooohhh, thinking...don't start off any fire alarms if you try to do that next time you want to blame someone so quickly.

southwest hires thieves and enables them to steal from it's paying passengers. the enable them in that they just don't give a u know what if anything is stolen because they are not responsible (as the fine print reads). rather than find out why these items are disappearing from our suitcases, they continue to employee the thieves. i will walk before i ever fly southwest again. they are the most uncaring airline i have ever flown. they offered me $100 voucher for the loss of my digital camera. they didn't realize that the camera was worthless but the pictures it contained were worth more than anything they could have offered. i promptly tore the voucher up and sent it back to them. point made. i can't be bought. there is a principle involved. if you allow a thief to get away with it they will continue to steal. to top it off with, they are stealing from the very people who are paying their salaries ... us, the consumer! southwest can stick it where the sun don't shine.

As for the folks who missed their flight in Vegas. Well DUH! 140 people showed up and made the flight on time. You didn't. Hmmmmmmmm 140 vs. 2. Who could possibly be in the wrong? Certainly couldn't be the dip ### who didn't even ask about the flight until an HOUR after their departure time.

And for the [censored]hs who claim that "they gave everybody diffent seats". They don't GIVE everybody different seats. They give seats left to give. Check in early if you have a group, or check in ON LINE. Like the rest of America, you wont' take responsibility for your own INACTION.

Are you people kidding? Nobody promises flight holds. What airline is gonna hold a flight (when it has to get it's destination and immediately turn to the next flight) for 4-5 people?

Grow up or fly Greyhound.

Garden variety complaint here. Made an online booking. AirTran's system sent me a confirmation email with an error in the itnerary. I checked my email in a separate window immediately following the booking, so I returned to the confirmation screen in the window that I used to book. The confirmation email indeed differed from what I was shown in the booking confirmation page.

So I called customer service. They straightened it out, but charged me a ten dollar booking fee. I expalained that since the error was caused by them, that I should not have to pay the direct booking fee. They agreed that it was their error, but "There is nothing we can do about it."

There is something that I can do about it. I will avoid AirTran. And I will encourage others to avoid AirTran.

In fact, the real name of the airline is AirTrash.

We also had problems with air tran we flew out of seattle and had a connecting flight to Orlando, when we arrived at the gate for our flight to Orlando they informed us that they gave our seats away, they didn't think we would make it. We informed them that we were on time and we wanted our seats we were travelling with thee children. They finally removed the people from our seats and we left. I wish that was it but its not. We flew back to Atlanta for our sons wedding and on the return flight for home they gave all our family different seats our three year old was going to have to sit with strangers for 5 and a half hours. When I approached the gate they said to talk to the stewardess so I did they told me to talk to the passengers and see if they would change seats they would not help. Finally one man did trade and I got to sit with our three year old but our other two children sat with strangers and my husband was up in the front. They also told us our luggage was oversized on our return home, funny thing is everyother airport said it was fine. They charged us 87.oo dollars more. Would I take airtran again, not in a minute. They were rude and not in the least bit helpful.

My boyfriend and I had a flight leaving from Las Vegas, NV on November 2, 2007 at 2pm. We arrived at the airport at 10am to return our rental car and to await our flight. At approximately 12:30pm we left our flight gate (D24) to get something to eat just up the corridor, we returned at exactly 1:30pm to gate D24. At this time we watched an AirTran plan back way from the terminal and taxi away. We continued to sit at the window next to the D24 terminal awaiting our flight. At approximately 3pm we approached the AirTran service desk to inquire about our flight. After showing our ticket to the guy behind the desk, Jason Carter, we were told, in a very indignant and perturbed manner, that the flight had already left and we’d missed it. We then asked what could be done to correct the situation since we’d been sitting by the terminal since 1:30pm and the flight was not scheduled to leave until 2pm. He replied sharply that someone would help us and then he walked away. The young female that was at the desk, Rashaunda Green, put us on stand-by for the next flight but stated that she could not confirm it. At this point, Mr. Carter returned and we began to question how was that we’d missed a flight that we had been waiting for in the same corridor and at the terminal for hours. Mr. Carter began to state in a rude and accusatory tone that if we were at the terminal then we would not have missed the flight. Ms. Green grabbed her belongs and began to walk off stating repeatedly “I don’t care” when we asked her for her name. Mr. Carter questioned in a very condescending tone “you didn’t see 140 people lined up at the terminal?” After expressing our frustration at how we were being treated to Mr. Carter and the inconvenience of the stand-by for the next flight, he retorted “I am trying to get you on the God-damn flight!” At this point my boyfriend demanded to see Mr. Carter’s supervisor and he responded “I am the supervisor” and stated that the other supervisor had gone for the day. After getting the name and number of the other supervisor Zeke we walked to the AirTran desk in the main airport terminal. We called Zeke who was in fact on duty and still at the airport. Zeke and a young lady by the name of Vivian was very helpful and sympathetic to our situation and were just as out-raged by the way we were treated by Mr. Carter. Zeke gave us the number to customer service to file a complaint that my boyfriend called and spoke to a guy named David (ID#: 6435) who was just as rude and disrespectful as Mr. Carter. He hung up the phone and called back and spoke with a guy name Zavario who was very helpful and took all the information for my complaint down.

We have never been so disrespected by any airline and we use AirTran frequently. I am seeking the termination of Mr. Carter, strict reprimand for David (ID#: 6435), and some sort reward for Zeke, Vivian, and Zavario for outstanding customer service. I would ask to be compensated in some fashion for the way we were treated but I don’t think I have to. I want to be notified immediately of the action taken against Mr. Carter for cursing at long-time AirTran customers and David (ID#: 6435).

While boarding a recent flight from Las Vegas to Burbank (3/27/08, Flight #2702) I recognized an old friend and sat down next to him in seat 3D near the front of the aircraft. During the pre-flight routine before takeoff we chatted quietly as the one of the female crew staff (Jan) was giving the required safety presentation. Halfway through her delivery she came up to me and asked me to not talk because it was disturbing her. I was totally surprised by this action for several reasons: (1) my conversation with my friend was in a low and moderate tone, and (2) three other men directly across the aisle from me were also talking to each other, as were a number of other passengers in the immediate area of the cabin. As far as I'm concerned this crew member's actions were totally out of line and uncalled for. Why she fixated on me is a total mystery, but I can assure you her actions did not go unnoticed by other passengers who looked at her and shock their heads in disbelief. Maybe "Jan" was having a bad day, may be she's just wired tight; either way if customer service is a priority with SWA I would highly recommend that they consider bringing this young lady in for some remedial training on how to handle passengers who are doing nothing more than having a conversation in their seats.

Do you like being poked by a stranger? How about if you are at work? You said you are a professional middle aged woman. Shouldn't you know better than to poke someone to get their attention? That is the behavior of a child. Did it ever occur to you to simply try to get her attention verbally? Poking someone is rude, plain and simple. She called you on it and now you're embarrassed. Instead of just taking responsibility for your own actions, you are placing the blame on an innocent person who was just doing her job when you decided to assault her with your finger. I have to say that I'm not surprised that you are from Orange County, CA. The kind of behaviour that you have displayed is unfortunately quite common in that area of the country.

Did you ever consider the fact that maybe you were being rude by talking through the safety demonstration? You may not care about it, but there are people who do. First time flyers, children, and even some elderly passengers might want to hear the safety briefing instead of your conversation.

I hope you were answered by Southwest. I see you didn't post the response.

my parents fly southwest from PHL to Oakland, CA in May, on the way there, they lost their luggage. My familes fly from PHL to Oakland two days later, they lost our luggage. they were able to find it and delivery to us the next day, which is fine. But then on the way home. They lost my dad's luggage, the next morning they found it and call me telling me that the bag was damage, and the stuff inside was soaking wet, so they offer me a new bag and $75 voucher, since they don't have the same size bag as the one that damage, they will offer me a bigger one, so i accept the offer and let me know that my husband will stop by the airport in the afternoon to pick up my dad's bag and the new bag and the voucher. By the time my husband got to the airport, the staff are telling me the different story, they told him they don't have any bag the same size, so they are just going to offer us $100 voucher. My husband call me while he is at airport and tell me, and I spoke to the SWA staff and told me that's not acceptable. The SWA staff was so rude to me, he said he can't give me the bag, i only have 2 options, either take my torn bag and the $75 voucher to go, and go fix my bag, and submit the receipt to them or take the $100 voucher. And I told him, by the way, his name is Noel, and I told him either option is not acceptable, that's not what they told me on the phone. I told me that they are wasting my time to go to the airport and pickup the stuff. And Noel told me that's why they are giving me the voucher. after i told Noel that both options that he offer are not acceptable, and I ask to speak to his supervise, and he put me on hold and then come back to me telling me that he can give me a bag with southwest print on it. I told him no, I do not like to advertising for SWA. And he was asking me what else i want. and I told him that I don't want anything but speak to his supervisor, after he put me on hold for 5 min., he finally transfer me to his supervisor. and his supervisor Lennox is an idiot too, i am pretty sure that while Noel put me on hold for 5 min, he has already describe the situation to his supervisor. But Lennox act like he didn't know what happen, so I explain it to him again, and his response is that he can't really hear me, coz i am on the cellphone and i am driving. So i repeat it again, after Lennox listen to it again, he put me on hold for 5 min, and then hang up on me.

** Southwest has no service at all, even the flight attendent are very rude.

** They lost your luggage and damage your luggage, and have the gut to be mean to you.

**** Never ride Southwest again******

I AGREE DO NOT FLY THIS AIRLINE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE FEEL THIS WAY THEY WILL EITHER HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES OR SHUT DOWN MY NAME IS REGINALD BOLTON AN I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS AIRLINE AN VOW TO NEVER FLY WITH THEM AGAIN PASS THE WORD AN MAKE A CHANGE

I have flown with Southwest 3 times in the past 4 years. EVERY TIME my bags have been lost. I have tried to make phone calls to complain about the lack of competence but every phone number they list is either always busy or goes directly to voice mail (with no return phone call).
If you have a simular experience please go to this web-site to complain Aviation Consumer Protection Division airconsumer.ost.dot.gov
The info you give them will be shared with Southwest as well as the MEDIA.
I am Sick of Southwest getting so may accolades with they cant even complete the simplest of tasks, answering the phone!

We picked up my brotherinlaw from a flight from Chicago to Orlando March 22/08 to have the same sort of problem, no bags on arrival. We waited for 30 min. with no announcements from southwest. My wife saw a pile of bags near the baggage office and called us over. My brotherinlaws bags where there as well as a female employee of S/W. Bro-in-law said out loud to us, "Why didn't anyone say anything to us", the baggage person looked right at us and said "I'm so sick of you idiots complaining about your bags", we all tried to reason with her to no avail, we then went to file a complaint against her in the baggage office where this female told us to "F***off" as well as many other nasty things. Another S/W employee escorted her to the back office and the nasty person exited from another door to return to us to continue her abusive behavior. We complained to a superviser about this and got a phone call from customer service later with no results being issued. Bottom prices = rock bottom baggage service!

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LOST MY LUGGAGE AND TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE NORTH WEST HAD LOST MY LUGGAGE THE YEAR BEFORE. THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SOUTH WEST AND ARE INTERESTED IN A LAW SUIT AGAINST THEM CALL [protected] OR [protected].
WE NEED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS LAW SUIT AND THERE IS A BIT OF RACISM INVOLVED IN BAGGAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

PAT

Your luggage was not lost. It was stolen by drunks and addicts that pass for Southwest Airlines baggage handlers.

I recently made a reservation on SWA for a round trip ticket and since it was booked online required the payment from my credit card right away before they would issue a ticket.

*****What a concept...paying for something before you actually "get it"...LOL

Here is where the problems occur. I had to cancel my flight and the entire ticket was fully refundable. I cancel the flight and start looking for my credit to appear on my charge card listing. I wait a week and no refund. I call SWA and I am told, SWA takes your refund and puts it into a holding account in which you can use for future travel. This was all completed without my approval!

*****Yes, unless you ask for the refund, it is held for future travel...so?

Then I now after ten days request the money be credited to my charge card. I was informed before I hung up that the credit to my card can take up to 14 days. It already took almost two weeks to find out they were holding the refund WITH NO INTEREST being paid.

*****Interest? They aren't a bank. You don't fly very often, or you would realize they didn't charge YOU $50 for cancelling your reservation. *I LOVE ROOKIES>>

We have to put a stop to these large companies continuing to find ways to hurt the average American who is trying to make a living. DO NOT FLY SWA IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE YOU MAY NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR TRIP.

*****By all means, fly another airline and pay a cancellation fee. Which by the way, they will get whether you cancel or not, because they will charge you to check your bags...It's $50 to fly or cancel...LOL

Flight wn1278 was delayed for awaiting passengers coming from Seattle 9:35( actual departure of 11:05. Passengers were accounted for at 10:40- waited for two bags- unbelievable! After my bags missing connecting flights on numerous occasions, this delay was totally unacceptable.

Southwest airlines has turned into the worst airline. I'm a priority member and there seems to be always a catch to upgrading to extra leg room seats. I call and they explain the rules and then when I try to use by benefits, I get burned! I think I will be switching back to American airlines.

not sure if we will using southwest in the future missed our dinner with family (after all the poor service and delays we made it to albany with our laggage after 8:00 pm very disappointing flight with southwest my name is John Pietrefesa Sr. we are in our 80's thank GOD we made back safely

Attached photos of damaged Bag\Luggage.

I just flew in from El Paso on flight 1511 to San Antonio. Our flight attendant was incredibly rude. I’ve not experienced this before on a SWA flight. I’d say dog walking might be a good alternative career, but I hate to do that to the dogs….Redish long dreadlocks and a bad attitude

Just was lied to and spent 4 hours trying to
Resolve a ticket concern and was told it was taken care of and I would receive email . This was told to me twice by customer relations team and I never got email.

Bag destroyed in handling
also my wife and i had a total of three bags and was told
one bag was 2 pounds over and had topay 75 dollars i asked could we average the bags
as i am 100 % disabled v eteran in a wheel chair is clear i could not repack bags

had flight cancelled second plane broke down third plane fine

Gait attendent was extremely rude upon customer walking to desk. After a long exhausting trip with small children at Disney. I did not appreciate being treated so poorly with just trying to ask a simple question.

On Sunday may 28 we flew from Orlando to New York in flight number 1533 were our baggage got delayed.
So to claim the money for the baggage delayed from our insurance company they require the claim form.I kindly request you to look into this matter and reply as soon as possible
Thanks and Regards
(NARESH P KARPE)

They Just canceled my flight and didn't even bother to tell me! I tried changing it for a earlier flight and the kooks attendant wanted to charge me $180! Moved my flight to depart 2hrs later! Now I'm late for my daughter's first birthday. Disappointed and upset.