Comments on: Beefing: Southwest Airlines Sucks

By: Sasquatch

Sasquatch — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:36:33 +0000

Some of you people have no clue. Some airlines really do suck, like United (I should know, I work for them). However, when a customer service agent tells you something, like “that’s just the way it is” or “I’m sorry, I can’t do anything about that”, they mean it. They probably want to, and it probably could be done, just not by them. They can ONLY do what the system allows them to, and the systems block a lot of things. The companies set up their systems so that we are forced to give piss poor service if we want to keep our job. Also, you can only check in 24 hours prior because those are the rules, its for security reasons (or so they say). Don’t kill the messenger, blame the airlines for creating a horrid monstrosity of a system that we have do deal with. Also, expect customer service at United to go downhill for a while (I know, who thought that was possible?) because we are going to an even older and more useless system. Did I mention that at smaller cities we have to do counter and ramp work in the same shifts? You run around like a chicken with your head cut off, sprinting back and forth, working yourself to death, all for what? $9.00 an hour, and we have to buy our own uniforms, OH! and our union dues… our union is the most useless peice of garbage that has ever exsisted in the realm of unions, and it costs me $58 a month! It does nothing for those of us who work hard and pull our own weight (and some other employees’ weight as well), it merely protects the losers around us who don’t give a crap. I will keep putting my job on the line bending the rules to try to help my customers, because I genuinely care about how I treat another human being. In the meantime, please don’t kill the messenger, some of us really put effort into helping you guys and every now and then a genuine “Thank You” would go a LONG way towards motivating us to continue to do so.

P.S. I am writing this from my work computer, I’m done for the day and I have 4 hours of downtime until I head home. I could leave now, but I’m milking the company, since I am on the schedule.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:51:00 +0000

And Air Tran has been great!! Good rates. Can pick your seats and reserve them at check in.

But now SW owns them. Great. The last of the competitively priced, reserve your seat airlines will now go away. Thanks SW for giving people what they DON’T want.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:45:37 +0000

Lets dissect Samantha’s comments:
“The level of hostility and the tone these complaints present is very interesting to me. I work with general public complaints and have concluded the following about difficult customers:”

First she is dismissing customers that probably have legitimate complaints as “difficult”

“– When a customer is upset, the story will be fabricated.”

Really? I’m sure there are some unreasonable people that will make mountains out of molehills, but if something upsets me, the actual situation does the talking for me. I don’t have to fabricate a thing.

“- When the customer is at fault, he will not admit it.”

Depends on the customer. If I’m caught I will always say, “geez, I feel stupid. my fault, sorry”

“Most importantly, if you’re hot tempered and you share your story with friends and family, they consider the source!”

true, if they are truly hot tempered. but again, I think you are dismissing anyone who has gotten upset over a legit complaint as hot tempered, therefore having no reason to complain to others.

“SOUTHWEST AIRLINES has it’s flaws just like any other airline.”

Actually….there are not. To my knowledge, they are the only airline that now doesn’t allow you to reserve your seats at check in. this is highly inconvenient for families traveling with children as they do not, more accurately CANNOT be seperated.

“They probably transport millions of people per month and receive commendation letters for the employees who DO go above and beyond their call of duty.”

sure, for the people who travel alone or maybe with just one other person or not in a family. I’m sure the staff is top notch. but its their policies that are going to have people not wanting to come back.

“My suggestion to Mr. Complainer”

Once again, dismissive. I’m hoping you are no longer in customer service. I have been and I can tell you, you’re training has failed you.

“Stop living in your, “It’s all about me, world” and understand that the next guy, is just as important as you.”

When I pay good money for tickets, it IS all about me. As far as the next guy, you mean the guy that gets on the plane, sits in the middle as to discourage others from sitting next to him unless absolutely necessary, therefore forcing families to be split up on the plane. you mean THAT guy?

“Honest, proactive, and loyal customers are by far “WINNERS” in any heated situation. They remain composed, professional, realistic and they document the sequence of events. They attempt to comply with what is asked”

What you are talking about is an obedient customer that lets the airline call the shots when they have been royally treated like crap.
Here is something to ponder. Maybe if they were treated right in THE FIRST PLACE, there wouldn’t be a problem. Yes, there still will be those that are unhappy no matte what. but they would be few and far between if the airline would have considered that in the first place.

Why do you think there was a reality show highlighting the lousy service of the airline industry? remember the show Airline? People were told that the flight was overbooked and the tickets that the PAID for aren’t going to get them on the plane. And the service staff acted like they were unreasonable complainers. Much like you. Again, I hope you aren’t in the industry any longer.

“This person, is by far the one whose name you’ll probably NEVER see on one of these blogs because you see, unlike you, he WON his battle and continues to fly SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!”

Sorry, don’t think so. the person in question is more than likely a single flier without a family who has never been told they have to split up on the plane due to SW being the ONLY airline that doesn’t allow reserved seating, or that has never been told “sorry, you can’t board the plane because we overbooked. You’ll have to wait another 12 hours for the next flight.”

By: SWA Sucks

SWA Sucks — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:10:18 +0000

Southwest is a trash airline. Trashy customers, trashy flight attendants, trashy planes.

EVERY flight has a crying 2 year old with a TERRIBLE/trashy parent who does not know how to handle a crying child. Moreover these “kids” get to fly free.. Wonderful.

The planes are old, and it’s only a matter of time before they all start falling out of the sky.

By: Shawn M Adams

Shawn M Adams — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:38:46 +0000

Ok, so normally I wouldn’t really care much about the drama with the airlines (or railroads) in this country because they are always crying poverty looking for state and federal bailout moneys, while spending on payrolls like a drunken sailor on hookers…

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:57:24 +0000

@John- Again, why do you people complain to the pilots about the flight attendant behavior???They have no authority over us whatsoever. If and when one of the pilots takes it upon his or herself to repremand a flight attendant, we merely get their ass in a sling with the chief pilot because its not their job to supervise us. If you’re worried about safety, why would you want a person thats supposed to be flying an airplane to have to worry with the behavior of an employee thats working in the cabin?? The majority of American travellers are idiots that whine, can’t follow instructions, or read signs. As a flight attendant, what I see on a daily basis makes me want to retreat from society. The United States is rapidly becoming a cess pool of spoiled morons that have to be led around and told every little move to make. Its so sad. America does not deserve the “Freedom to Fly”. When they made it so cheap to fly that all common people could afford it, the industry started going downhill. Its been Wal-Marted. Now flight attendants have to deal with poor white trash that want their granny’s ass wiped during flights, they want everything you can give them for free. here’s an idea. When you know you’re travelling, bring some food!! We’re tired of hearing your complaints about what we offer. Stop bitching about it being cold in the cabin. Do you go to a movie and ask them to turn the air conditioner off?? Be prepared!! Take responsibility. Half of our society couldn’t be dropped in the middle of a city park and be told they will have to survive for a week. BOOHOO!! “Where’s my bottled water and cell phone?” God,what a pathetic bunch of whiners this country has become. Grow a sack you guys.

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:21:24 +0000

@Tina. im a flight attendant and we think its hilarious that passengers tell the pilots about rude flight attendants. Pilots don’t care. They’re not our supervisors and half of them are dumbasses. We deal with idiot after idiot all day long and by the time you get on the plane, honestly you’re just another idiot. The worst part of the job is having to cater to old people that can’t walk to the restroom on their own. Boohoo. take some personal responsibility. Its not a flight attendants job to wipe your granny’s ass. Our society is full of weak whiney people. Too bad Darwinism can’t apply to American society. We could thin the population by just letting nature run its course. You’re pathetic.

By: Property is theft

Property is theft — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:15:58 +0000

Nobody has mentioned how SW fares have been climbing. Even tho I think SW is worthless, I do not discriminate between airlines; I fly whichever saves me money. But I haven’t flown SW in years because they simply haven’t been the cheapest. (I fly once or twice a month for work.) It’s strange, too, as in the last 2 years fuel costs are down and unemployment is up. SW fares rising too? F-that.

All that crap advertising has made the outfit a “club” atmosphere, perceived as”fun” to fly, meaning the plans of those marketing majors on coke have fallen right into place: use the brand appeal to jack the fares, don’t pay the employees any more, and pack the pockets of the pissants higher-ups while they’re cutting “dispensable” jobs and charging the already-poor more to travel to see their families. Yay capitalism.

By: Ed L

Ed L — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:21:43 +0000

Yup. Southwest has managed to become my own “never again” airline. For that matter, I intend to use what influence I have to guarantee that it will be our corporate “never again” airline. Idiotic attendants, crap customer service, shoddy baggage handling, dismissive practices, dismal loyalty program, even more dismal treatment of loyal customers…. As airlines go, Southwest is utter garbage. I’ve had challenges on other airlines (US Airways, don’t get me started), but Southwest is the clear favorite in the self-serving airline category. Fly them if you must, but only if you must.

By: Duane W

Duane W — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:55:49 +0000

Ah! 2 years later and nothing has changed. The Southwest Site Admins. still spout off the same drivel from a policy book. Not only are your flights cheap, but your attitude and your company is a bunch of cheap asses too.
SOUTHWEST still sucks. Still won’t fly them.