I do give Southwest Airlines credit for being consistent and reliable. My early morning jaunt from Burbank to Las Vegas on a 737-700 was predictably smooth, albeit somewhat depressing.
Southwest Airlines 737-700 Review
Had JSX had an earlier flight, I would have taken it in…the $200 one-way price tag (booked eight days in advance) was just a few bucks less than JSX was 90 minutes later.
As I have for the last 20+ years when I’ve flown Southwest, I dutifully checked in right at the 24-hour check-in window in order to get an “A” boarding group (I could not justify paying extra for A 1-15 priority boarding). I landed with A45…good enough.
When I fly out of Burbank on a day trip, I park at the Metrolink (commuter rail) station and walk over to the airport (just across Empire Avenue). July turned out to be extremely mild in Southern California and it was a cool and cloudy morning.
Construction is underway on a new airport terminal at Burbank adn while the current Terminals A and B are functional, they are well past their prime with limited concessions, even more limited power ports, and no lounges.
I showed up at the boarding gate just as boarding was commencing and had to try to approximate where to insert myself. (Southwest sections off each boarding group with signs designating groups of 10 passengers; for example, A 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc). I got in line and noticed I was just after A46 but A43 and 44 were behind me…great.
Burbank has no jet bridges. Instead, you walk out to the apron and then climb a ramp to the plane. Southwest boards from both the front and the back and I boarded from the rear of the aircraft, hoping to score an open middle seat.
Southwest 2816
Burbank (BUR) – Las Vegas (LAS)
Monday, July 28
Depart: 7:10 AM
Arrive: 8:30 AM
Duration: 1hr, 20min
Distance: 223 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Seat: 20F (single-cabin)
As it turned out, the flight was less than half full and not only did the middle seat next to me stay open, but so did the aisle seat. The Southwest 737-700 has 143 seats:
- Row pitch: 31 inches
- Seat width: 17 inches
- Seats recline: 2 inches
There were no power outlets or USB ports.
Flight attendants immediately announced that Wi-Fi internet was not working, though streaming entertainment would be available.
We took off and were soon above the marine layer for the short journey to Nevada.
Even though the plane was only about 1/3 full, the flight attendants announced there wasn’t time for a beverage service (there was…) and that they would offer water only.
But they pre-poured the water and had very few takers, so they ended u dumping most of it. How lazy and stupid at the same time…
I got up to use the lavatory…Southwest has a single lavatory in the rear and one in the front of the aircraft.
We passed over a solar farm and many new housing tracts (where is the water?!) as we neared Vegas.
We landed 20 minues aerly but had to wait 20 minues for a gate…
CONCLUSION
Nothing special about this flight…but nothing hroribe either. Would I have appreciated functional Wi-Fi and a full beverage service? Sure. But this was a 45-minute flight and I was very thankful to have a row to myself. But as always, I’ll take Southwest if necessary…but only if necessary.
“hoping to score an open middle seat”
“not only did the middle seat next to me stay open, but so did the aisle seat”
I think you meant to say youbwere hoping to score an open window seat?
No, I meant I was hoping to score an open middle seat in the sense that I hoped it would remain open during the flight.
Ak, ok. That makes sense.
And this is why WN keeps losing money. All my flights so far on SWA have basically been only 1/2 full this year.
Yep, they lead a race to the bottom with Spirit and Frontier and that segment of the population just isn’t flying as much, especially to Vegas since the Covid checks ran out.
We fly somewhat regularly between MCO & MCI (only direct flights) and they flights are always full. I guess it’s destination and origin dependent
I fly Southwest often as much of my travel (about 50,000 miles on Southwest alone) for business is in the western US. While they do not have many amenities, they are typically close to being on time and their flights are conveniently scheduled. Many of my flights now have power at the seats however the Wifi is unreliable, and most of my flights are full or over 95% full. The point system I find to be great as none of my family ever pays for a seat and the companion fare is really a nice perk. After so many years flying on them, I actually look forward to the assigned seats as the abuse of the current boarding system of invalids (27 wheel chairs in Denver, took 45 minutes to load them all), pets, plus-sized passengers in one seat, and other pre-boards has been royally abused for many years now and is now at the worst I have ever seen.
The solar is on the border near Primm, and is closing soon due to it being a financial and environmental failure. Over 6000 birds are killed there annually along with it costing too much to produce the energy.
While I’ll never fly Southwest it is nice to see the seating nonsense going away soon. As for the service, no one needs a drink other than water on a 45 minute flight and you really should check with a doctor regarding your bladder issues. Never hurts to check when something isn’t normal.
I flew United once. Full flight ORD-BUF. No service due to turbulence. Not severe turbulence. Some FA will use any excuse not to work, short duration of flight, etc. Then bitch when they dont get raises. Price of ticket includes service. Or a comp beverage/snack for no service. $200.00 one way BUR-LAS and no service? Arrive early and no gate? Thats cause you arrived 20 minutes early so the FA can sit for an hr and get paid!!! A letter to the Boss may help and to FA Union.
Burbank > Vegas is a short flight. It can be as short as 35mins. It’s a water only service because it takes about 20mins to get through a service especially if the flight was full. This is company police now for shorter flights. You can always get a drink in the airport beforehand.
But when the flight is 1/3 full, I think the FAs should go through and take orders…there was certainly time on this flight.
So change company policy based on capacity, you have to know the problems that could create. What is the cutoff number? 33% or less? 40%
Dude, you know I love what you do but damn you come across as a crybaby at times.
Beazy nailed it, buy a drink before boarding when you know it’s a short flight and you want one. We can definitely look into a GFM for your airport food and drinks for all the good stuff you do free of charge for us here.
How are European airlines able to do it on a 100-mile flight?
Trick question because you know I wouldn’t know, lol.
Dear Matthew: As the
Mom of a Southwest pilot who loves his job and is really good at it — and enthusiastic about being at work — I was saddened by your review of the very short flight to Vegas. Give the airline another go, perhaps a longer flight. It’s a carrier in transition, for sure, but I hope you’ll find the next journey more to your satisfaction. The fact we can routinely fly safely and happily across the country and do so at less cost than many things we are obliged to underwrite in life never stops amazing me. Thanks to those who make it possible every single day.
Unfortunately this is the “new” Southwest and the days when the F/As would make an effort to serve a beverage on a short forty minutes flight between Las Vegas and LAX is gone. They claim that turbulence is getting worst so they want to ask the F/As to prepare for landing a bit earlier now.
It is sad to see Elliott Management slowly destroying a good brand!
Southwest used to manage to get 2 drinks out on the short Burbank to Vegas flights, and they made it fun. Now they are lazy and soulless.
Thank goodness for JSX – drink of your choice including cocktail or good coffee AND a snack service on every flight unless the turbulence is ACTUALLY bad. They are great.
Agreed – and similar price point! My inbound review on JSX will be published tomorrow.
Not sure I’d call the FAs lazy, soulless or stupid. This is the company policy. Doesn’t mean they agree with it. Many would be happy to do a full bev service whether the flight is empty or full. But I’m sure they also don’t wanna get called into the office for violating company policy should an all to frequent supe be onboard. Sure it’s frustrating but it is what it is. Just sayin.
Are FAs barred from doing a full beverage service on LAX-LAS flight?