I've been flying Southwest Airlines for many, many years, so I've definitely seen my share of…read morechanges with the airline. Recently, they made some pretty significant changes to their policies, including moving from the traditional boarding groups to assigned seating. Personally, I actually prefer the assigned seats.
I never really cared whether I was sitting in the front, middle, or back of the plane, but I absolutely hated the stress of having to check in exactly 24 hours in advance just to try to claim a decent boarding position. When you're traveling with a child, the biggest concern is always making sure you can sit together. And honestly, I could check in one second after the 24-hour mark and somehow still end up in a later boarding group. I never really understood how that system worked, so I'm definitely a fan of being able to select an actual seat now.
One of the biggest perks of Southwest used to be that checked bags flew free, so losing that benefit is definitely a bummer. We usually travel with carry-ons anyway unless we're going on a longer trip, but now it seems like everyone brings a carry-on because of the baggage changes. That means there are still tons of people trying to find overhead bin space, and eventually they have to check bags anyway. It seems a little silly to me.
The check-in process, however, is SO much less stressful now, and I definitely prefer it.
As with most airlines, your experience can really depend on who is working. I've had some absolutely fantastic flight attendants on Southwest, and I've also had some that weren't so great. That can really make or break a flight. A friendly, helpful flight attendant can make the whole experience more enjoyable.
One thing I have noticed this summer is that my return flights seem to be delayed almost every time. I've taken four different trips with Southwest this summer, and my flight home has been delayed anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more. I don't know what is going on with the return flights, but it's frustrating when you're already tired, just want to get home, and your arrival time keeps getting pushed farther and farther back.
I do enjoy the free beverage service because it's nice to at least have something to wet your beak during the flight. The snacks, however, are another story. I honestly dislike most of the snacks they offer now, with the exception of the occasional Oreo. If there's no Oreo, I usually just pass because I know I'm going to end up throwing the snack away anyway.
One of the biggest reasons Southwest was such a great deal for me this summer was having the Companion Pass. My daughter was able to fly free with me wherever we went, and you really can't beat that kind of deal. That made Southwest an especially economical option for us and definitely helped make up for some of the other changes.
Overall, Southwest still has its pros and cons, but it remains one of the airlines I look at first when I'm trying to get a good deal. Once my Companion Pass expires, I'll definitely shop around and compare prices with other airlines, but I'm not interested in the ultra-cheap airlines because I've had some pretty poor experiences with them.
With Southwest, you pretty much know what you're going to get. It may not be perfect, but for the price and the overall experience, it's still an airline I'm comfortable flying.
