Southwest Testimonial So I have an otherwise dear friend—he knows who he is —who never misses a chance to diss Southwest Airlines, while I consistently defend the carrier. We boys need our hobbies. In continuing the radical Pollyanna in Hell concept of trying to emphasize the Good, heres why This Contributor loves Southwest to Chicago Midway this morning (Thanks again Amy Lett Rouse, for airport transport at the early hour): 1) A-17 boarding position. 2) TSA Pre-Screen. 3) Sunny flight attendants, one of whom goes out of her way to make sure a Mom with two young daughters can all sit together. 4) Spiffy new 737-700 aircraft. 5) No charge for the checked bag. (Note that some other carriers now even charge for carry-on bags.) 6) Passable coffee. (One doesnt go to Starbucks for their airplanes, after all.) 7) Pilot efficiency that gets us to Midway five minutes early. 8) Midways proximity to the Loop, a far shorter train ride than from distant OHare. 9) The $65 one-way fare. 10) No flights over Ukrainian air space. (Admittedly, I could have done without the carry-on cat who mewed all the way to Midway, but couldnt that also happen on Delta? I snap on the headphones and am bemused to find Cat Stevens purring Peace Train in sweet, random iShuffle.) Of course, those quickest to slam Southwest—again, you know who you are—will grow very quiet when making travel arrangements and discovering that Southwest is OFTEN (simmer down, judgmental typing trigger fingers who have made it this far, I did not contend always) by far, a less expensive option. Keep that bee veil at the ready for disguise when you slink onto that future flight.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 13:06:20 +0000