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southwestairlines
Southwest Passenger Says Airline Owes Him 45 Free Drinks
By Chris Morran on November 17, 2011 11:15 AM
62 Comments
Once upon a time (i.e., up until August 2010), people who bought Business Select tickets on Southwest Airlines flights were treated to free drink coupons that didn't have an expiration date and could be used at a later date if the passenger didn't feel like tippling on the day of the initial flight. But now that these coupons are only good for the date of issue, one Southwest traveler with a stockpile of now-useless paper is suing the carrier. More »
(delfuego)
AirTran To Require Some Overweight Passengers To Buy Second Seat
By Chris Morran on October 12, 2011 1:15 PM
162 Comments
Now that AirTran is a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, it looks like the carrier will be adopting Southwest's controversial policy of requiring that "customers of size" purchase a second seat. More »
George Takei May Protest Southwest Airlines For Scolding L-Word Actress
By Ben Popken on September 28, 2011 2:00 PM
67 Comments
Earlier this week, Leisha Hailey, actress and former star of the Showtime's The L Word, was reprimanded by a Southwest Airlines flight attendant for sharing a kiss with her partner while onboard the aircraft. Earlier today, George Takei, actor and former helmsman of the USS Enterprise, mock threatened to stage a protest in response during his next Southwest Airlines flight. More »
'L Word' Actress Says She Was Scolded By Southwest Staff For Kissing Girlfriend
By Chris Morran on September 27, 2011 1:17 PM
163 Comments
Leisha Hailey, actress and former star of the Showtime's The L Word says she was given a talking-to from a Southwest Airlines flight attendant after the employee deemed a smooch between the actress and her girlfriend was unfriendly for the family environment. More »
(Photo: Luisdaniel reyna)
Guy From Green Day Kicked Off Southwest Because Of Saggy Pants
By Meg Marco on September 3, 2011 1:15 PM
200 Comments
Add "saggy pants" to list of reasons you, or your favorite celebrity, can get kicked off Southwest Airlines. Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong objected to being told to pull up his pants by a flight attendant, and, according to an eyewitness who happens to be a producer for ABC 7 in San Francisco, the dispute resulted in both Mr. Armstrong and his companion being asked to leave the aircraft. More »
40 Of 100 Most-Delayed Flights Take Off Or Land In Newark
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2011 1:15 PM
29 Comments
If you're reading this story on your laptop or smartphone while waiting for a flight to or from Newark International Airport, we have some good and bad news. On one hand, there's a decent chance your flight will be delayed. On the other, you'll have plenty of time to file a complaint with the airline, airport and FAA. More »
Southwest Passenger: I Was Removed From Plane For Crying, Asking For Wine
By Chris Morran on July 29, 2011 12:45 PM
72 Comments
A woman who was trying to fly from Oakland to Dallas, where her father had just suffered a heart attack, says she and her sister were removed from a Southwest Airlines flight because the flight attendant misinterpreted the passenger's tearful request for a glass of wine. More »
Delta, Continental, Others Jack Up Fares After Federal Tax Takes Vacation
By Chris Morran on July 25, 2011 7:30 AM
56 Comments
As we reported last week, the inability for Congress to come to terms on a bill that would extend the FAA's operating authority means that airlines are not currently charging federal taxes on airfares. But if you're not seeing any difference in the final price of your ticket, that's because most airlines have increased their fares since Saturday. More »
Unable To Get Nicotine Fix, Southwest Passenger Resorts To Throwing Peanuts & Pretzels At Flight Attendants
By Chris Morran on July 14, 2011 9:15 AM
92 Comments
A passenger on board a Southwest Airlines flight from L.A. to Salt Lake City was arrested earlier this week after he allegedly hurled bags of snacks at flight attendants to express his frustration over being unable to inhale fumes from an electronic cigarette. More »
Airlines Can't Convince Court They Are Being Overcharged For TSA Screening
By Chris Morran on July 6, 2011 8:37 AM
47 Comments
Even though the screeners at airport security checkpoints in the U.S. are employees of the Transportation Security Administration and those fancy new see-through-your-clothes machines are technically paid for by the feds, the airlines still have to fork over hundreds of millions of dollars per year for security theater. Several of them claim the TSA is overcharging to the tune of $115 million. An appeals court disagrees. More »
Southwest Pilot Suspended For Ranting Over The Radio That He Can't Date Gay, Old & Fat Flight Attendants
By Chris Morran on June 22, 2011 12:40 PM
105 Comments
While Southwest Airlines might be tops in customer satisfaction, at least one of its pilots is dissatisfied with his employer's lack of sexy stewardesses. And now that pilot has been suspended after his profanity-filled rant on the topic was broadcast from the cockpit. More »
Get A Refund After An Airfare Pricedrop
By Ben Popken on June 3, 2011 4:00 PM
15 Comments
It is possible to get a refund for the difference if the airfare drops after you buy your ticket, but you'll usually have to fly one of these three airlines to make it worth your while. More »
(ashi)
Southwest Vacations Mysteriously Changes Mind About Ticket Cutoff After Consumerist Post
By Laura Northrup on May 18, 2011 8:00 AM
12 Comments
Luke experienced the strangest coincidence recently. He didn't get the Vegas show tickets that were part of his vacation package because the transaction went through 23 minutes too late. One morning, he hung up after yet another fruitless phone call to the company. Later that day, Southwest Vacations called him up to let him know that they would be sending the tickets after all. Hooray! Victory! What happened in those few hours to change their minds? Well, you may remember that Luke's story appeared on this site a few weeks ago. More »
(delfuego)
DOJ Gives Thumbs Up To Southwest's Purchase Of AirTran
By Chris Morran on April 27, 2011 7:45 AM
15 Comments
Seems like it was just seven months ago that we first wrote about the proposed sale of AirTran to Southwest Airlines for $1.4 billion. Now that deal is all but done after it passed the Justice Department's antitrust review yesterday. More »
Airline Employees Really Don't Care That You Left Your iPad On The Plane
By Laura Northrup on April 5, 2011 11:00 AM
189 Comments
If there's anything I've learned over the last year of reading the stories that our readers send in to The Consumerist, it's this: the seat-back pouches on airplanes are the perfect place to stash your iPad during a flight, then never see it again. This apparently happens to a surprising number of people, but Amin thought he was lucky: he noticed that his was missing only twenty minutes after getting off the plane. This meant that he could rush back and perhaps recover the iPad before the plane took off again. Except...well, we're posting this story, so you can probably guess what happened next. More »
CNN
Southwest Grounding 79 Planes After Hole Opens In Fuselage Mid-Flight
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 2, 2011 4:35 PM
61 Comments
Southwest Airlines announced today that they are grounding 79 planes after 3- to 4-foot hole opened in the fuselage of one its planes mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. More »
Sale Of AirTran To Southwest One Step Closer To Being A Done Deal
By Chris Morran on March 25, 2011 10:15 AM
22 Comments
Overshadowed by last year's relatively rapid merger of United and Continental was the sale of AirTran to Southwest. That sale is now one big step away from completion after AirTran shareholders approved the deal earlier this week. More »
Southwest Apologizes For Booting Muslim Woman From Flight
By Chris Morran on March 18, 2011 2:15 PM
93 Comments
Earlier this week, I took part in a panel discussion at SXSW on "The Legal Ramifications Of Saying 'I'm Sorry,'" along with a senior executive from Southwest Airlines who explained why his company believes it's best to be proactive about apologizing to customers when a mistake has been made. A few days later, Southwest was given the chance to make good on its claim. More »
Get Your Airline Ticket Changed For Free Because Of Massive Midwest Storm
By Ben Popken on January 31, 2011 9:26 PM
37 Comments
The Superbowl of storms is headed for the Midwest with 20" snow and 45 mph winds predicted for Chicago. Thankfully, a lot of airlines are waiving their usual ticket change fees for travelers who could be affected. 3,000 flights have already been canceled in advance of the potentially deadly weather. Don't go to the airport to see if you can make your flight, don't get stuck in an airport, stay home, stay over at your friend's house an extra day or two, and take advantage of this leniency. Here are links to the various airlines and their waiver and winter update pages and policies: More »
Southwest Pilot Holds Plane For Murdered Child's Family
By Ben Popken on January 12, 2011 1:00 PM
198 Comments
Elliott.org has the incredible story of a grandfather who was trying to race through the airport to get to the hospital to say goodbye to his 3-year old grandson who being taken off life support after being body-slammed by his daughter's live-in boyfriend. Despite getting to the airport early, long lines were going to make him late for the plane and all the TSA drones couldn't give a damn. Finally through security, he ran through the airport in his socks, clutching his shoes, before arriving, gasping at the Southwest gate—12 minutes late. More »
