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Not a frequent flier here, just take occasional trips up or down the West Coast, primarily via Alaska and Southwest.
Once in a while Jet Blue or Delta. All are okay, but I'd like to see Alaska and Southwest each borrow a page
from the other's playbook:
Alaska: don't shake down your customers with change fees! (and this also goes for every other airline that isn't SWA)
Southwest: give preassigned seats!
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NW4me
Not a frequent flier here, just take occasional trips up or down the West Coast, p... Southwest: give preassigned seats!
I know... neither of these is likely to happen.
YIKES... I HOPE SWA NEVER has assigned seats!!! then I would not be free to MOVE! when ''Bertha" or 'pet-smart-axx" (flea bitten pet with an awe-struck owner) sits next to me.
Frequent flier (6) SWA flights so far this week, but since they don't go to Asia (yet) I MUST also fly others carriers (a lot). That is Too bad... "assigned seats" and all the grief that goes with it.
Get on and GO! is my preference... find a seat, any seat QUICKLY!
Many changed flights in the last month would = a BIG financial hit if I had to pay for those changes!
I have gotten as many as (10) SWA flights for the price of changing (1) ticket on a 'legacy' carrier.
I'm fine with Delta, Alaska, JetBlue, and American, all of which I've flown relatively recently.
Have never flown Southwest.
Will not fly with United or any of the budget types like Frontier or Spirit or Allegiant. Have had awful experiences with United recently and with the few budget options I've tried. Never again unless I'm desperate.
I flew 30,000 on United in Q1 before my travel pattern changed. I’ve done 50,000 miles with them a few times but not recently. I’ve been A List Plus level with Southwest. I’ve flown them quite a bit over the last couple of years. I’ve flown JetBlue some over the last 2 years. American on US Airways routes a few times. I was Chairman’s Preferred level with US Airways maybe 20 years ago.
My take:
The city pair, the equipment, your fare, and when you book it matters more than the airline.
I find Southwest equipment to be really run down. Filthy. Threadbare. I like flying them on short notice flights because you can throw a few bucks at them and get a decent seat with early boarding. The no change fee is also useful on business trips.
United is fine if you have FT status to board early and sit in Economy Plus. I recently encountered 30” seat pitch seats. WTF!! I’m 6’2”. I don’t fit in the seat. It made Economy Plus essential. I can sort of jam myself into an aisle seat in the back and spill out into the aisle. A middle seat is out of the question. I won’t get on the plane.
I like JetBlue. Wider seats on Airbus narrow bodies. Good seat pitch. Comfortable leather seat. Everything else being equal, I’ll fly them.
All my long haul flights recently have been on international carriers. They’re way better than domestic where it’s a race to the bottom.
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) sits next to me. 
