Not your average airline. It's
inexpensive. They deliver exactly what they say they will
deliver and there are no
frills. They serve
peanuts and drinks on most routes. That's it for food. Most
passengers bring their own
meals.
The staff is known for their
casual,
friendly style and wonderful
sense of humor. They make plenty of
jokes in the announcements and play little tricks on each other. In fact, Southwest is the only airline that I'll listen to the announcements on - simply because it's worth it for the
entertainment value!
Southwest Airlines is the
best thing that has happened to the US air industry in ages! Because their
prices are so
low, other airlines have been forced to lower their prices on the same
routes that Southwest covers. Prices in my home town dropped by almost 50% when Southwest came to town on the routes they fly. Such a relief!
Seating on Southwest is "
carnival". When you arrive at the
gate, you must
stand in line to receive a plastic rectangle with a
number on it. Seating is done in groups of 1 - 30, 31 - 60, etc. If you want a number lower than 30, it's necessary to arrive at the gate 90 minutes before the flight. Then, everyone
crowds around the boarding area, jockeying for position before boarding. It's
hell for
claustrophobics. But if you don't mind standing in line and competing for place, it's a great airline!