I was flying from San Diego to San Francisco on Southwest. Due to overbooking, a late arriving passenger at the terminal wanted to board to make a wedding on time. As we were waiting to taxi and take off, a flight attendant asked us if anybody was willing to give up their seat. Nobody wanted to do that. After realizing this, the attendant sweetened the deal. I agreed to it to get a seat upgrade on another flight, plus free meal vouchers. So I arrived in S.F. 3 hours late. My rental car was rented out, so I got a car upgrade at no extra cost. When I arrived late at the Holiday Inn, my room was rented out but luckily they had another vacancy, in a better room, which I got at the same rate as the less desirable room. So in this case a good deed (giving up my airplane seat) was rewarded with 3 upgrades at no extra cost to me., the plane, the car and the hotel. I figure the 3 hour wait was worth it. I don't think the person who wanted my seat was lying about the wedding. He was dressed in a tuxedo. The way people dress for airplane flights these days, I didn't doubt him.
A week ago they were quite desperate to get a person on the plane: upgrade + $600 + something else (don't remember) for 3 hours later plane. Was on a business schedule otherwise might take up the deal :(
yixnorb that’s real nice of you. i woulda done that on a delta flight from boston to milwaukee for a $500 flight voucher if i didn’t have school right when i got home
Let me ditto that from an ATL CSA, not a spokesperson and thanks for flying us!!!! I've really enjoyed your videos BTW (both airline and train related) :)
@@FABAGENT Hobby to Orlando International is my favorite route ( Disney World Universal ) I can manage the 3 4 hour flight over water if I got my entertainment ( phone ) and if I get the front seat or wing window seat all good
I've hardly ever seen in comment sections employees of any organization short of the goddamn Marine Corps who have this much pride in their brand. This sense of employee ownership in your work should have managers and commanders all over the world salivating. How do you all keep staff morale this high?
Southwest is the best low cost airline in the US imo. I've flown on them about 10 times in total and have had nothing but the best experience! Love your videos Paul! Thanks!
I much prefer the open seating on Southwest. I'd much rather stand in numerical order for a couple minutes and get the pick of whatever open seat I like, rather than board in a jumble in regular zone boarding and be locked into whatever assigned seat I am stuck with on the other airlines. The difference is clear.
Yes, the difference is clear. I much prefer getting the pick of my seat when I make a reservation rather than being stuck with what's left once I board the plane. The very nature of assigned seating is that you get to choose.
I think what Southwest gets what some other LCCs like Allegiant and overseas like Ryanair and Easyjet is their service. Free flight tracking on the wifi, pretty good free snacks and drinks, and everybody is super friendly. They still provide a great experience but at a low cost.
Ha. Travelling in Europe has become an absolute disgrace. How many carriers don't even give you a cup of water? BA, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Sleazy Jet, Lying Air, Vueling, etc. Stop living in the past.
You get free chat via WhatsApp and iMessage as well. Also free checked bags, TV and Movies. The only down sides are stressing about checking in exactly 24 hours in advance and that they leave the seat belt sign on way too long.
Their flight attendants are quite fun as well. Another thing I like about Southwest is that while on some of the airlines legroom is a problem for me on their airplanes it is good enough.
I've flown Delta many times, and they are almost the same! Free WiFi, and the Inflight Entertainment screen on the seat in front of you, as well as free drinks and snacks, and I've always had a good experience with the flight attendants! Delta and Southwest are the best airlines that has happened to America, they sure are great ;)
Thank you for sharing Paul. I love Southwest!! They are inexpensive, efficient and the only airlines I fly domestically. Plus everyone is kind, helpful and pleasant. They just got me out of Fort Lauderdale to Newark on Thursday with re-routing all the way to Austin and no extra charge. Amazing!! Can't thank Southwest enough.
Southwest is the main antagonist of the series “My Pony Plane”, and Vietjet Air is the main protagonist in this series. (“My Pony Plane” grafted from Planes and My Little Pony).
Hope you enjoyed your first Southwest experience. Nice seat choice. I think after BA this is my second most flown airlines for my history of flying. I love the no change fee's on SW it really makes a difference with tight schedules. The service on the plane is always fast thanks to them serving no food and only drinks and making them free is quick and the amazing $5 prices for everything else keeps the transactions simple. A few other airlines could learn from this. Great report as always
+When I Travel The World Cheers. Yes I really liked how simple they kept stuff. It's weird waiting in number order to board though! I only wish Midway was a nicer airport.
Did you miss the woman who was killed last year then? www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/19/woman-sucked-southwest-plane-window-wearing-seatbelt-died-blunt/
Hobby used to be the only game in town in my day. It was named after William P. Hobby, a shaker and mover in old Houston and Texas. If my memory banks serve, and sometimes they don't, I believe his wife was head of the WACS during WW II. I flew out of Hobby in 1963 and back into Hobby in 1966 after my duty in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Thanks Paul for the review of Southwest Airlines. I very recently retired after 33 years at WN. Great company with a Big Heart ! It’s all true. Enjoy your channel very much my friend.
I took Southwest for the first time to Colorado and I was impressed! The price, getting to choose your seat, friendly service and smooth flight into DIA dispite a raging snowstorm had left me hoping to book again with SWA! Thanks for you vid!
As far as I'm concerned, Southwest is the best airline period! I use Southwest for all my personal travel, however I had to fly to Baton Rouge LA, for work, and I was stuck on Delta. A 767 from Las Vegas to Atlanta and a CRJ200 from Atlanta to BR. That was bad enough but coming back I got stuck on a United CRJ200 from BR to Houston, and one of United's horrible A321s with horrible legroom from Houston to Las Vegas. Gimme Southwest EVERYTIME!!!
Fun trivia; twenty years ago you would check in with Southwest, go to the gate and be handed a plastic boarding card. No name, just a hunk of plastic (like the material used in flexible cover three ring binders) with a number stenciled on it. I can't recall if the boarding passes began with A, B, C or were just numeric.
OMG I know this was 2017 but THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO, WOW I'm possibly going to be taking my first flight ever & with southwest here soon & have been nervous & your video helped me not be as nervous to the point to where I'm thinking maybe I would like the window seat instead ofthe isle. Thank you agian for a beautiful video
I'm a big SW fan. It's funny that they started off as a no-frills LCC and are now one of the more full service domestic airlines. They're also not always the least expensive. I am willing to pay a bit more to fly with them though since you get 2 free bags, drinks and snacks.....and NO CHANGE FEES! I think they're the only airline left that doesn't charge a fee for changes. I don't mind the open seating policy. As a solo traveler I almost always get my first choice of aisle seat. I agree that it could be an issue for families but they have the option of buying Early Bird Check-In. If they do that they're guaranteed seats together.
claus, you are delusional man. Southwest is light-years better than the big US legacy airlines when it comes to domestic service. Plenty of flights, always on time, no cancellations, and cheap fares.
So good to get your views and commentary. Looks like a smooth journey on a streamlined & efficient service. Wish you safe travels. Hello from London where I have just got myself a wonderful flight tracking app - a simple pleasure to know more about the traffic above - fascinating stuff : )
The one I use is for Android and is FLIGHTRADAR24. I's basic but you can subscribe for extra services. I want one with control tower/flightdeck audio if possible : )
Nice trip report...to answer your question, families with small children board after the A group. The group is only 60 people and the plane you were on holds 175. And the pre boarders who aren't families sit in the front of the plane so no worries Paul.
My very first flights were from Hobby, we used to take United 727s from there to Cedar Rapids IA to visit the grandparents! Hobby looks about like I remember from the late 80's lol, another great video from "Paul's trip reports" ;)
I see that this was about a month before the floods. If you had landed recently, you would just see water across this metro of about 6.5 million, and 2.3 million in the city itself. A rain gauge across I-45 from Hobby Airport, where you landed, collected about 45 inches of rain in 3 days. The region where Houston is located is already one of the wetter parts of the country, but this was ridiculous. I have a lot of family there, but they were OK. Not the case for many thousands. Enjoyed your video, as always.
+zachmatt3 Glad to hear your family are okay. The flooding looks awful from back here in England. We are very grateful we never see such extreme weather.
I only flew Southwest once and that was Boston/Manchester to Philadelphia back in 2007 (ish). Had zero problems with the service and flight. The non-allocated seats and free drinks were a nice plus.
Love SW. Find a seat, push back, fly/snack, land!! No pretense, no BS. Just efficient and comfortable with good service, free bag check and good prices.
Southwest is a good airline. Besides the positives mentioned in this video... they do not charge you for putting your bags below and they will actually sort of reimburse you if you have to cancel your ticket. If you have to cancel a ticket with Southwest or Alaska airlines they will attribute the money you spent towards your next ticket with them. So if you purchase a ticket with Southwest or Alaska for $250 and then cancel it and then later get a flight that would cost $300 then you only pay $50 for that $300 flight. That is why the business that I work for flies with Southwest and Alaska on domestic flights. It saves us a ton of money.
I do like southwest but last time I flew them my family kinda got screwed over because we booked a flight for the wrong date and cancelled the day of but they still charged us the whole $800 for 3 of us round trip from msp to Atlanta and then to San Antonio, and the way back San Antonio to saint Louis to msp, we called them and they kinda told us to go away and that they weren't gonna give us a refund so moral of the story make sure you book your flight for the right day
Nice video Paul. I'm glad to see you're no longer fast-forwarding the last part of the take-off. My favorite part of any flight is launching into the sky. As for Southwest, I've flown them many many times and never had a bad experience.
Can't beat SWA for flying alone and business travel. Free checked bags, always ample overhead space for carry on since you can just find an open spot instead of having to fit the bag near an assigned seat, can easily move flights/cancel/standby since they fly so many routes. Switched from American and never looked back. Many flights have free movies/tv/live tv/phone messaging.
My family lived near Hobby for most of childhood. I enjoyed seeing the flight path into Hobby. They took you east over the Houston Ship Channel then headed back west to land. When you came in, you flew over South Houston (a small separate city) just the other side of I-45 where my dad's business was located and where I went to middle school. The neighborhood where I lived was there on your right as you landed. Hobby and Southwest are our preferred airport and airline if we are flying anywhere in the United States. It's much easier to get in and out of and I much prefer Southwest over United now that United has purchased Continental.
Totally different look and feel to Houston now since your visit...on another point at least the mock South West Trains livery will continue to live on with South West Air.
I love Southwest Airlines. Also non allocated seats are a big win for men. I haven’t tried their new seats yet but, there old seats are relatively comfortable. I assume that there new seats are firm but, they are probably more comfortable. Seat firmness is just a personal preference thing.
Well done Paul, great filming and editing. The free drinks/ snacks on southwest should put BA to shame.where are you going next? Planning for flights is on my to do list today. Tbilisi is on the list
Nice one... Belfast is on my list :-) I might do a combo of BA and Ryanair I went to Tallinn in early August. - beautiful old town (bit overwhelmed by groups from cruise ships, hopefully bit quieter by the time you go). Enjoy :-)
Thanks Joshua. That's very kind. I am a big fan of Paul's work too. never thought about a collaboration but who knows. I learn so much from YT or websites like flyertalk... seriously addictive and so enjoyable too :-)
You asked for suggestions. Try the United Airlines "island hopper" from Honolulu to Manila with stops at Majuro, Kawjelein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam, (Yap), and Palau. BEWARE: 1. The fare will land you in debtor's prison. 2. If you don't get off the plane and make stops somewhere, you'll end up knockered for weeks. If you ever plan to come to Honolulu or Yap, please contact me. I'll arrange for special tours that tourists never get. By the way, one special feature of your train/plane trip reports is that you take the the time to identify landmarks, whether spotted from above or flashing by the train window. I really appreciate that added touch, especially the British train videos. I studied in England from 1967 to 1968 before I entered university. I often rode trains, mostly between Manchester (or Cheshire) and Birmingham where my great uncle lived. (He was a retired professor of economics at the U of Birmingham.)
+manu bird Thanks! I have wanted to take that flight for a long time, but it is so expensive (not withstanding the costs in getting to HNL in the first place!). Sadly much of the charm of British railways has departed - and mostly before I was born - but what we have left is generally good, efficient, and more affordable than people give it credit for. The scenery in Britain is very special and a lot of us who live here fail to appreciate it. It is not as striking as the in-your-face mountains and plateaus of the USA (which always makes a good video!), it's more a gentle watercolour pockmarked with signs of our industrial heritage. Cheshire is a great example of that.
Paul's Trip Reports - have you seen any of the 'all the stations' stuff on UA-cam - there's some pretty stunning railways in the uk.., I did the west highland years ago and it's brilliant... I also liked their stuff they did on the line to Barmouth in wales and some of the other lines in Scotland...
+MrGreatplum Haven't seen much of the All The Stations series - I actually covered most of the UK network some years back when I worked for the railways!
Hi Paul! Glad you like Southwest. I don't know if you know about their EarlyBird Check-In? You pay $25 each way and it guarantees your check-in and earlier access to seats so in this way your family can all be together.
No bag fees! The ticket may be $40/50 more than a cut rate airline, but 1 personal, 1 carry-on, and 2 checked bags for the price of your ticket can make it worthwhile.
I try to fly Southwest anywhere I go! I am due to fly to Canada in July, but unfortunately they don't go there yet. For me, Southwest is the best game in town!
I would like to point out that you messed up, as Southwest operates the 737-700, -800, and Max8 aircraft. The actual aircraft this flight was on was a -700 not a -800 like was said. You can also notice this on the safety card at 2:50.
No, that was an -800. See the 2 pairs of overwing exits. -700 only has 1 pair. -800 on WN also has the sky interior shown and more leg room. -700 does not.
Keep in mind this is the old southwest seats, the newer ones have much more legroom, and they are more comfortable. Edit: you also should have taken advantage of the free live TV on you’re phone.
I'm guessing the bad weather were the remains of Hurricane Harvey. By the way, Southwest will receive a fleet of the new Boeing 737-MAX soon -- I read that it will arrive sometime in October.
I commented on your Spirit Airlines review that you should try Southwest. Silly me, I didn't realize you already had. Great video but I would have loved to hear your thoughts on the airline.
Thanks for the insight Paul on Southwest Airlines , not too sure i enjoy the idea of not having allocate seating , however will settle for free soft drinks !
It really isn't a big deal especially if you check in early or pay for the earlybird seating. I've found that the passengers on SW are usually friendlier and will be glad to switch seats with you if you want to have seats together. The flight crews also tend to be nicer and even like to joke around with the passengers.
Most flights you can pay about $12 extra to board in the A group, which will pretty much guarantee you can get a window or an aisle. It's generally worth it since Southwest tends to run their planes full or nearly so.
The only thing I don't like when I buy a business select ticket to get a better seat is that all these wheel chair pre-boards come out of nowhere and hog up the front seats. Its gotten so bad I don't bother buying a business select ticket anymore.
Cast of My Pony Plane: Southwest - Nicole Oliver Vietjet Air - Tara Strong Pacific Airlines - Andrea Libman Vietravel Airlines - Kelly Sheridan Bamboo Airways - Rebecca Shoichet Vietnam Airlines - Ashleigh Ball Eva Air - Tabitha St. Germain
I was flying from San Diego to San Francisco on Southwest. Due to overbooking, a late arriving passenger at the terminal wanted to board to make a wedding on time. As we were waiting to taxi and take off, a flight attendant asked us if anybody was willing to give up their seat. Nobody wanted to do that. After realizing this, the attendant sweetened the deal. I agreed to it to get a seat upgrade on another flight, plus free meal vouchers. So I arrived in S.F. 3 hours late. My rental car was rented out, so I got a car upgrade at no extra cost. When I arrived late at the Holiday Inn, my room was rented out but luckily they had another vacancy, in a better room, which I got at the same rate as the less desirable room. So in this case a good deed (giving up my airplane seat) was rewarded with 3 upgrades at no extra cost to me., the plane, the car and the hotel. I figure the 3 hour wait was worth it. I don't think the person who wanted my seat was lying about the wedding. He was dressed in a tuxedo. The way people dress for airplane flights these days, I didn't doubt him.
A week ago they were quite desperate to get a person on the plane: upgrade + $600 + something else (don't remember) for 3 hours later plane. Was on a business schedule otherwise might take up the deal :(
@@alexx86hater i hope for these, i work for myself so extra money plus the trip could be pushed back a day
Hilarious story. Very lucky that everything eventually worked out
yixnorb that’s real nice of you. i woulda done that on a delta flight from boston to milwaukee for a $500 flight voucher if i didn’t have school right when i got home
thats some good karma!
THANKS FOR FLYING US. I’m not an official spokesperson, just an employee of Southwest Airlines at MDW
If I dont fly Southwest I'm will dread my trip to the airport
Let me ditto that from an ATL CSA, not a spokesperson and thanks for flying us!!!! I've really enjoyed your videos BTW (both airline and train related) :)
@@FABAGENT Hobby to Orlando International is my favorite route ( Disney World Universal ) I can manage the 3 4 hour flight over water if I got my entertainment ( phone ) and if I get the front seat or wing window seat all good
I have flown out of midway several times never a problem. .great job swa !!
I've hardly ever seen in comment sections employees of any organization short of the goddamn Marine Corps who have this much pride in their brand.
This sense of employee ownership in your work should have managers and commanders all over the world salivating.
How do you all keep staff morale this high?
Is it just me, or do u like to watch these videos when you know your going to an airport
me rn
Southwest is everyone's favorite in my city! Especially with United and Delta having basic economy, southwest is just awesome!
i went on southwest and the captain was funny af 😅
Sorry.
It's Delta for me.
"If Delta can't get me there, I ain't going"
Southwest is the best low cost airline in the US imo. I've flown on them about 10 times in total and have had nothing but the best experience! Love your videos Paul! Thanks!
There’s a reason they’re called “low cost” and not “ultra-low cost” (hint: it’s not the price)
I much prefer the open seating on Southwest. I'd much rather stand in numerical order for a couple minutes and get the pick of whatever open seat I like, rather than board in a jumble in regular zone boarding and be locked into whatever assigned seat I am stuck with on the other airlines. The difference is clear.
Do they still do that?
Yes, the difference is clear. I much prefer getting the pick of my seat when I make a reservation rather than being stuck with what's left once I board the plane. The very nature of assigned seating is that you get to choose.
@@Bobrogers99 yay
I think what Southwest gets what some other LCCs like Allegiant and overseas like Ryanair and Easyjet is their service. Free flight tracking on the wifi, pretty good free snacks and drinks, and everybody is super friendly. They still provide a great experience but at a low cost.
Ha. Travelling in Europe has become an absolute disgrace. How many carriers don't even give you a cup of water? BA, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Sleazy Jet, Lying Air, Vueling, etc. Stop living in the past.
You get free chat via WhatsApp and iMessage as well. Also free checked bags, TV and Movies. The only down sides are stressing about checking in exactly 24 hours in advance and that they leave the seat belt sign on way too long.
Their flight attendants are quite fun as well. Another thing I like about Southwest is that while on some of the airlines legroom is a problem for me on their airplanes it is good enough.
I've flown Delta many times, and they are almost the same! Free WiFi, and the Inflight Entertainment screen on the seat in front of you, as well as free drinks and snacks, and I've always had a good experience with the flight attendants! Delta and Southwest are the best airlines that has happened to America, they sure are great ;)
Thank you for sharing Paul.
I love Southwest!! They are inexpensive, efficient and the only airlines I fly domestically. Plus everyone is kind, helpful and pleasant.
They just got me out of Fort Lauderdale to Newark on Thursday with re-routing all the way to Austin and no extra charge. Amazing!! Can't thank Southwest enough.
Emil Yao Alaska is pretty good too but yes. Alaska and Southwest are the best.
Southwest is the main antagonist of the series “My Pony Plane”, and Vietjet Air is the main protagonist in this series.
(“My Pony Plane” grafted from Planes and My Little Pony).
Hope you enjoyed your first Southwest experience. Nice seat choice. I think after BA this is my second most flown airlines for my history of flying. I love the no change fee's on SW it really makes a difference with tight schedules.
The service on the plane is always fast thanks to them serving no food and only drinks and making them free is quick and the amazing $5 prices for everything else keeps the transactions simple. A few other airlines could learn from this.
Great report as always
+When I Travel The World Cheers. Yes I really liked how simple they kept stuff. It's weird waiting in number order to board though! I only wish Midway was a nicer airport.
MDW will improve as soon as Chicago cuts down its murder rate -- in other words , never.
Southwest is also the only major airline that has free checked luggage in the us
Another cool southwest fact is that nobody aboard their plane has ever died as a result of any crash or airplane malfunction of any kind
Did you miss the woman who was killed last year then? www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/19/woman-sucked-southwest-plane-window-wearing-seatbelt-died-blunt/
Hobby used to be the only game in town in my day. It was named after William P. Hobby, a shaker and mover in old Houston and Texas. If my memory banks serve, and sometimes they don't, I believe his wife was head of the WACS during WW II. I flew out of Hobby in 1963 and back into Hobby in 1966 after my duty in Bremerhaven, Germany.
Thanks Paul for the review of Southwest Airlines. I very recently retired after 33 years at WN. Great company with a Big Heart ! It’s all true. Enjoy your channel very much my friend.
When departed MDW it was a 31C departure with a turn too 220, you flew right over my place.
That outline of downtown Chicago was breathtaking!!!
Just came over from Noel Phillips Southwest video it will be interesting to see both videos.
I took Southwest for the first time to Colorado and I was impressed!
The price, getting to choose your seat, friendly service and smooth flight into DIA dispite a raging snowstorm had left me hoping to book again with SWA! Thanks for you vid!
As far as I'm concerned, Southwest is the best airline period! I use Southwest for all my personal travel, however I had to fly to Baton Rouge LA, for work, and I was stuck on Delta. A 767 from Las Vegas to Atlanta and a CRJ200 from Atlanta to BR. That was bad enough but coming back I got stuck on a United CRJ200 from BR to Houston, and one of United's horrible A321s with horrible legroom from Houston to Las Vegas. Gimme Southwest EVERYTIME!!!
United doesn't fly the A321
United does indeed fly the A321. Look it up online.
Fun trivia; twenty years ago you would check in with Southwest, go to the gate and be handed a plastic boarding card. No name, just a hunk of plastic (like the material used in flexible cover three ring binders) with a number stenciled on it. I can't recall if the boarding passes began with A, B, C or were just numeric.
I love this airline, for it being a low cost carrier. It is by far the best in the sector. I like the idea of no allocating seats.
If you think Southwest is low cost you are not comparing prices. Every time I check, they are more expensive than other carriers on the same routes.
OMG I know this was 2017 but THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO, WOW I'm possibly going to be taking my first flight ever & with southwest here soon & have been nervous & your video helped me not be as nervous to the point to where I'm thinking maybe I would like the window seat instead ofthe isle. Thank you agian for a beautiful video
I'm a big SW fan. It's funny that they started off as a no-frills LCC and are now one of the more full service domestic airlines. They're also not always the least expensive. I am willing to pay a bit more to fly with them though since you get 2 free bags, drinks and snacks.....and NO CHANGE FEES! I think they're the only airline left that doesn't charge a fee for changes. I don't mind the open seating policy. As a solo traveler I almost always get my first choice of aisle seat. I agree that it could be an issue for families but they have the option of buying Early Bird Check-In. If they do that they're guaranteed seats together.
I"m comparing domestic US coach/economy on Southwest vs. "the big three". The service level on SW is vastly superior to what you get on AA, DL and UA.
Families with small children are automatically allowed early boarding.
claus, you are delusional man. Southwest is light-years better than the big US legacy airlines when it comes to domestic service. Plenty of flights, always on time, no cancellations, and cheap fares.
@@ahungryflyer Not cheap!!
Manch Vegas I do that because we have four of us
So good to get your views and commentary. Looks like a smooth journey on a streamlined & efficient service. Wish you safe travels. Hello from London where I have just got myself a wonderful flight tracking app - a simple pleasure to know more about the traffic above - fascinating stuff : )
Mclean Milne Thanks!
Mclean Milne what's the name of the app? Ever since the AMAZING "Flight Track" app was was discontinued 😢 I can't seem to find one I like.
The one I use is for Android and is FLIGHTRADAR24. I's basic but you can subscribe for extra services. I want one with control tower/flightdeck audio if possible : )
They're a great airline and always have amazing deals!
Nice trip report...to answer your question, families with small children board after the A group. The group is only 60 people and the plane you were on holds 175. And the pre boarders who aren't families sit in the front of the plane so no worries Paul.
My very first flights were from Hobby, we used to take United 727s from there to Cedar Rapids IA to visit the grandparents! Hobby looks about like I remember from the late 80's lol, another great video from "Paul's trip reports" ;)
Kinda rare to land RNW 22. Hope you got to go and visit the 1940 Air Terminal Museum on the west side of the field.
I see that this was about a month before the floods. If you had landed recently, you would just see water across this metro of about 6.5 million, and 2.3 million in the city itself. A rain gauge across I-45 from Hobby Airport, where you landed, collected about 45 inches of rain in 3 days. The region where Houston is located is already one of the wetter parts of the country, but this was ridiculous. I have a lot of family there, but they were OK. Not the case for many thousands. Enjoyed your video, as always.
+zachmatt3 Glad to hear your family are okay. The flooding looks awful from back here in England. We are very grateful we never see such extreme weather.
The people at Southwest love what they do and it shows. Never have had a bad experience with them.
I only flew Southwest once and that was Boston/Manchester to Philadelphia back in 2007 (ish). Had zero problems with the service and flight. The non-allocated seats and free drinks were a nice plus.
Cheers Paul, nice internal Trip report :) Couldn't help thinking of those poor folk of Houston, & surrounding area..
Love SW. Find a seat, push back, fly/snack, land!! No pretense, no BS. Just efficient and comfortable with good service, free bag check and good prices.
I love flying southwest out of MDW. I live only 25 min away so that's the main reason why I fly Southwest.
Southwest is a good airline. Besides the positives mentioned in this video... they do not charge you for putting your bags below and they will actually sort of reimburse you if you have to cancel your ticket. If you have to cancel a ticket with Southwest or Alaska airlines they will attribute the money you spent towards your next ticket with them. So if you purchase a ticket with Southwest or Alaska for $250 and then cancel it and then later get a flight that would cost $300 then you only pay $50 for that $300 flight. That is why the business that I work for flies with Southwest and Alaska on domestic flights. It saves us a ton of money.
I do like southwest but last time I flew them my family kinda got screwed over because we booked a flight for the wrong date and cancelled the day of but they still charged us the whole $800 for 3 of us round trip from msp to Atlanta and then to San Antonio, and the way back San Antonio to saint Louis to msp, we called them and they kinda told us to go away and that they weren't gonna give us a refund so moral of the story make sure you book your flight for the right day
You do realize every airline gives out vouchers when they cancel/ overbook, right?
But I agree, Southwest rocks.
Nice! I've been waiting to see a Southwest video. Also I've never clicked so fast
We go to New Jersey shore for a month every summer from Arizona and we love south west never have a problem knot on wood we love it
Nice video Paul. I'm glad to see you're no longer fast-forwarding the last part of the take-off. My favorite part of any flight is launching into the sky. As for Southwest, I've flown them many many times and never had a bad experience.
This is a video from last year 😊
Another great report Paul! Southwest are a fun airline to fly in the US. Flying out of MDW’s short runway is quite fun as well.
Cheers,
Brendan
Can't beat SWA for flying alone and business travel. Free checked bags, always ample overhead space for carry on since you can just find an open spot instead of having to fit the bag near an assigned seat, can easily move flights/cancel/standby since they fly so many routes. Switched from American and never looked back. Many flights have free movies/tv/live tv/phone messaging.
Southwest will be starting a flight into Montana soon!
My family lived near Hobby for most of childhood. I enjoyed seeing the flight path into Hobby. They took you east over the Houston Ship Channel then headed back west to land. When you came in, you flew over South Houston (a small separate city) just the other side of I-45 where my dad's business was located and where I went to middle school. The neighborhood where I lived was there on your right as you landed. Hobby and Southwest are our preferred airport and airline if we are flying anywhere in the United States. It's much easier to get in and out of and I much prefer Southwest over United now that United has purchased Continental.
Totally different look and feel to Houston now since your visit...on another point at least the mock South West Trains livery will continue to live on with South West Air.
I love Southwest Airlines. Also non allocated seats are a big win for men. I haven’t tried their new seats yet but, there old seats are relatively comfortable. I assume that there new seats are firm but, they are probably more comfortable. Seat firmness is just a personal preference thing.
Well done Paul, great filming and editing. The free drinks/ snacks on southwest should put BA to shame.where are you going next? Planning for flights is on my to do list today. Tbilisi is on the list
+Speedbird1 FLY Thanks. Next trips are to Newquay, Dublin, Belfast, Tallinn.
Nice one... Belfast is on my list :-) I might do a combo of BA and Ryanair
I went to Tallinn in early August. - beautiful old town (bit overwhelmed by groups from cruise ships, hopefully bit quieter by the time you go). Enjoy :-)
Love both of your flight reporting ! Maybe a collaboration soon ?
Thanks Joshua. That's very kind. I am a big fan of Paul's work too. never thought about a collaboration but who knows. I learn so much from YT or websites like flyertalk... seriously addictive and so enjoyable too :-)
You asked for suggestions. Try the United Airlines "island hopper" from Honolulu to Manila with stops at Majuro, Kawjelein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam, (Yap), and Palau. BEWARE: 1. The fare will land you in debtor's prison. 2. If you don't get off the plane and make stops somewhere, you'll end up knockered for weeks. If you ever plan to come to Honolulu or Yap, please contact me. I'll arrange for special tours that tourists never get. By the way, one special feature of your train/plane trip reports is that you take the the time to identify landmarks, whether spotted from above or flashing by the train window. I really appreciate that added touch, especially the British train videos. I studied in England from 1967 to 1968 before I entered university. I often rode trains, mostly between Manchester (or Cheshire) and Birmingham where my great uncle lived. (He was a retired professor of economics at the U of Birmingham.)
+manu bird Thanks! I have wanted to take that flight for a long time, but it is so expensive (not withstanding the costs in getting to HNL in the first place!). Sadly much of the charm of British railways has departed - and mostly before I was born - but what we have left is generally good, efficient, and more affordable than people give it credit for. The scenery in Britain is very special and a lot of us who live here fail to appreciate it. It is not as striking as the in-your-face mountains and plateaus of the USA (which always makes a good video!), it's more a gentle watercolour pockmarked with signs of our industrial heritage. Cheshire is a great example of that.
Paul's Trip Reports - have you seen any of the 'all the stations' stuff on UA-cam - there's some pretty stunning railways in the uk.., I did the west highland years ago and it's brilliant... I also liked their stuff they did on the line to Barmouth in wales and some of the other lines in Scotland...
+MrGreatplum Haven't seen much of the All The Stations series - I actually covered most of the UK network some years back when I worked for the railways!
Paul's Trip Reports - sounds like a good job to me :)
I’m going to Chicago in March! I’m so excited and happy for this!
Lucky you had an older aircraft. I was on a brand new one last year. The crew was pleased, but the seats were hard as rocks and very little legroom.
tbh the most popular reason why Southwest is so popular - they give you 2 free checked bags
Anthony Kernich and their fares are cheap. The only one that can possibly go up against them is JetBlue
And they are nice !
And SWA employees are nice to customers!
Southwest is love and life. Fantastic airline.
Hi Paul! Glad you like Southwest. I don't know if you know about their EarlyBird Check-In? You pay $25 each way and it guarantees your check-in and earlier access to seats so in this way your family can all be together.
Enjoyed this. Pointing out the sites was cool. Ty
Beyond words excellent in every way. thanks for this beautiful video!
That’s so fun! Fun that you pointed out Oklahoma! That’s my home
Best customer service and youre always guaranteed to fly a Boeing 737 which I like.
Great Video, i've flown Southwest a few times and always had a good experience.
No bag fees! The ticket may be $40/50 more than a cut rate airline, but 1 personal, 1 carry-on, and 2 checked bags for the price of your ticket can make it worthwhile.
Cool report! I travel mostly by Southwest around the US (it's priced right!). Always had good experiences with them.
Traveled that route many times with southwest
Southwest is a great Airline..I noticed how quiet the engines are..5hanis for the video.
Hobby has several Pappasito's restaurants, highly recommended.
Not often you see a Flap 15 departure, must have been heavy!
I try to fly Southwest anywhere I go! I am due to fly to Canada in July, but unfortunately they don't go there yet. For me, Southwest is the best game in town!
congrats on 10,000! and awesome video! I flew out of MDW on the 20th & the 26th connecting through there
Hi I just flew on a 8 hour flight to America when I landed I saw a southwest and it was the same livery as yours😀
did you notice the similarity between Southwest Airlines's colors and the Southwest Trains in he UK?
Last time I flew Southwest I scooped seat 16A on one of their new 737-800 with the double bonus of having an empty middle seat next to me.
I would like to point out that you messed up, as Southwest operates the 737-700, -800, and Max8 aircraft. The actual aircraft this flight was on was a -700 not a -800 like was said. You can also notice this on the safety card at 2:50.
No, that was an -800. See the 2 pairs of overwing exits. -700 only has 1 pair.
-800 on WN also has the sky interior shown and more leg room. -700 does not.
My first trip is to Dallas from LAX net week! I can set anywhere?
Why does it say 737-800 in your description, but shows a safety card for a 737-700 in the seat back pocket?
I believe the card is 2 sided one side is the 700 and the other 800. They only fly 737's so it saves cost.
I love the open seating, actually. I wish all planes had open seating.
I like your video Paul Southwest Airlines is my favorite airline to fly I have a future trip idea can you do one of Pittsburgh.
Great report! My favorite airline. I MDW is home base!
southwest is great , also they have 2 free checked bags on all bookings
Paul have you done any Spirit Airlines reviews? It would help for planning an upcoming USA trip.
Keep in mind this is the old southwest seats, the newer ones have much more legroom, and they are more comfortable.
Edit: you also should have taken advantage of the free live TV on you’re phone.
I do this flight every summer to see my dad. It's not grand, but it is nice.
Southwest for my experience didn’t have screens but they had some nice pepole
If interest about Southwest Airlines at Chicago Midway you can fly to Salt Lake City Utah on the Southwest Airlines it’s going to be cool!
Good thing you got out of Houston before the hurricane came. A lot of devastating flooding occurred there last week.
How’d you like Chicago? Who else from Chi town?
Eyyyy I'm from Chicago
@iAvgeek737 i know where you go
Me I live in manteno. I’m in Kankakee county
Midway is the only airport I know how to get around. Really nice all things considered.
I miss going to Houston!!!!
Great video. I felt like I was there.
I always bring a carry on bag instead of a suitcase because it is easier
Good video as always. Have you seen two videos of southwest flight attendants giving their flight safety talk. Very funny
Usually takes me about 2 - 3 hours to check in and go through security Atlanta’s hartsfield international
I'm guessing the bad weather were the remains of Hurricane Harvey.
By the way, Southwest will receive a fleet of the new Boeing 737-MAX soon -- I read that it will arrive sometime in October.
+AgFish86Zip90 I read that too about the MAX. Good news. This video was filmed on 23 July, which was before Harvey.
Are you still in Houston? To think some of your video does not look the same today.
My experience at Southwest Airlines was pretty good I flew from St.Louis Missouri to Florida
Mia That’s what I’m flying tmw
Great Trip report, Paul! I enjoyed. What's the song title from the beginning check in part?
+Justin Winslow Thanks! Handbook - See The World
Good video and information. I'll fly for the first time in Southwest in December. San Jose to Washington 😁
I love flying with Southwest Airlines
I'm flying tomorrow From Houston To Pittsburgh
I commented on your Spirit Airlines review that you should try Southwest. Silly me, I didn't realize you already had. Great video but I would have loved to hear your thoughts on the airline.
It would be interesting to know the cost of the trips , i enjoy them very much . I am from U K .
Just Google Southwest Airlines and you can find out more that you probably think you want.
Thanks for the insight Paul on Southwest Airlines , not too sure i enjoy the idea of not having allocate seating , however will settle for free soft drinks !
It really isn't a big deal especially if you check in early or pay for the earlybird seating. I've found that the passengers on SW are usually friendlier and will be glad to switch seats with you if you want to have seats together. The flight crews also tend to be nicer and even like to joke around with the passengers.
Most flights you can pay about $12 extra to board in the A group, which will pretty much guarantee you can get a window or an aisle. It's generally worth it since Southwest tends to run their planes full or nearly so.
TheBonzomatic agreed. I have never met a rude or impolite crew member or passenger while flying with Southwest
Hobby is the 2nd biggest hub for southwest and hobby is my domestic airport
I knew it was Oklahoma before you even put the graphic up on the screen. Totally strange, as I've only been living here for 12 years, lol!
The only thing I don't like when I buy a business select ticket to get a better seat is that all these wheel chair pre-boards come out of nowhere and hog up the front seats. Its gotten so bad I don't bother buying a business select ticket anymore.
Cast of My Pony Plane:
Southwest - Nicole Oliver
Vietjet Air - Tara Strong
Pacific Airlines - Andrea Libman
Vietravel Airlines - Kelly Sheridan
Bamboo Airways - Rebecca Shoichet
Vietnam Airlines - Ashleigh Ball
Eva Air - Tabitha St. Germain
26F is a favorite of mine!
I fly southwest at least 12 times a year and I have to say I’ve never had one problem also if you want to board early you can pay 15$ to get A 1-15
Holy crap I would appreciate having those empty seats at the front on my flights from sac to Phoenix when I get A position