A Southwest Airlines 737 overran the runway at Burbank-Hollywood Airport yesterday, skidding to a halt. But a technological system prevented a far worse disaster. Flight 278 from Oakland to Burbank had 112 passengers and five crew members onboard. No...
Man Gropes Female Passenger, Blames Donald Trump
“The president of the United States says it’s OK to grab women by their private parts.” That’s the rationale Michael Alexander, a Southwest passenger, used to defend his groping of a female passenger on a flight from Houston Hobby to...
Southwest Companion Pass Loses Luster, Value
I have written before about the valuable Southwest Airlines Companion Pass (pass holders can take another passenger with them for free). But its value proposition has lost its luster, we find ourselves using it so rarely because the value...
Passenger Ejected From Southwest Flight For Running Her Racist Mouth
A woman was ejected from a Southwest flight (to the applause of fellow passengers) after embarking on a racist tirade when told to fold up her tray table. I write about these stories, in part, to chronicle poor behavior...
Thank You Southwest For Your Common Sense On Emotional Support Animals
Southwest Airlines has tightened up its rules on emotional support animals and I could not be happier. Starting on September 17, 2018, Southwest Airlines will only accept dogs and cats as emotional support animals onboard. Furthermore, passengers will only...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: July 23, 2018
Greetings from sunny Los Angeles. I’m in a holding pattern this week. I thought I was going to have to leave for Europe tomorrow, but that trip has been postponed. I’m both relieved and disappointed. I never like leaving...
Southwest Challenges American, Delta and United at Hollywood Burbank Airport
As the economy continues to grow and air travel picks up, one of LA’s smaller airports is witnessing a renaissance. While many carriers are adding capacity at Hollywood Burbank Airport, one airline is adding capacity to a tactical assortment...
Exclusive: Same-Sex Couple Accused of Child Trafficking on Southwest Flight, Threatened By Police
Imagine returning from vacation with your granddaughter only to be treated like a criminal thanks to a nosy passenger and a reactionary police officer. Last year I wrote about a man who was falsely accused of human trafficking on...
The End Of An Era At Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is ditching peanuts, effective August 01, 2018. Health advocates and parents with children allergic to peanuts are rejoicing. Meanwhile, peanut farmers and King Nut (the peanut manufacturer for Southwest) are lamenting. Maybe Jimmy Carter is too. Southwest confirmed...
Passenger Who Survived Fatal Flight is Now Suing Southwest
One passenger onboard Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 has wasted no time in suing the airline. Lilia Chavez was was sitting three rows behind the smashed window. Per NPR: The lawsuit alleges that the traumatic events of Flight 1380 left...
Live and Let’s Fly Weekend Digest: April 29, 2018
Greetings from the fairly remote Las Padres National Forrest about 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. It was special weekend for me: my brother is getting married next week and this weekend was his bachelor party. Heidi, don’t worry…it...
Impressive: How Southwest Sprang Into Action After Disaster Struck
How does an airline deal with a disaster? In the case of Southwest Airlines, impressively well. Scott McCartney, author of the Middle Seat column in the Wall Street Journal, shares the amazing story of how Southwest swiftly dealt with...
Southwest Gives $5,000 to Each Passenger on Flight 1380
Southwest Airlines is trying to minimize its legal exposure by preemptively paying off passengers aboard the ill-fated Flight 1380. Earlier this week, that Boeing 737-700 flight from New York to Dallas was forced to make an emergency landing in...
Five Airlines Awarded New Flights to Havana
Earlier this month I wrote about the battle for Havana slots. Like a game of musical chairs, demand outstripped supply and it was up to the U.S. Department of Transportation to divvy out the slots. Yesterday, the U.S. Department...
Brilliant: Why A Man Sued Southwest for One Penny Less
Southwest Airlines flew a 737 to the wrong airport in Branson, Missouri. One man sued for damages, but for the seemingly odd amount of $74,999.99 instead of an even $75,000. But his reasoning is sound and his strategy brilliant....
U.S. Airlines Fighting Over Cuba…Again
With yields weak and demand far lower than expected, we’ve seen many carriers reduce or eliminate service to Cuba. Even so, U.S. airlines are still fiercely fighting for Havana slots. Under current U.S. Department of Transportation rules, airlines are...
Fight Breaks Out on #WalmartoftheSkies (Southwest Airlines)
Another day, another plane flight…this time aboard a Southwest Airlines flight to Los Angeles. But I’m having trouble figuring this one out. The fistfight broke out on a flight from Dallas Love to Los Angeles, delaying departure and causing...
When Will We Learn? Dog Bites Child on Southwest Flight
As debate continues over emotional support animals onboard airplanes, we must ask ourselves this question: how can we ensure a dog doesn’t attack a child onboard a plane? That’s exactly what happened onboard a Southwest Airlines flight on Wednesday...
Southwest Companion Pass Is On The Way
My husband has held the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass before and we missed it once it expired. When the opportunity came up to get it again early in the year, I jumped at the chance. Previous Experience A few...
Southwest Kind Of Announces Hawaii Flights
Last weekend I reported about Southwest and the rumors swirling regarding their Hawaii operations. Based on information I gained from a casual conversation on a beach in Kona with a Southwest senior employee, it was clear that Denver would...
