Well, hopefully not THE last flight out, but for me this past Thursday’s Southwest Airlines flight #150 was my last flight out of Las Vegas. My just completed trip during these gives full credence to the fact that Southwest is truly the #Luv airline and they have earned both my respect and trust forever.
One week ago, I got called and had to respond to a family emergency in Las Vegas. So, I nervously booked a flight as quickly as I could on Southwest (hey, it’s what you do for those you hold close in your heart) not really knowing when I would return.
My outbound routing took me on an unusual connection Baltimore – Atlanta (SWA #1175) and then on to Las Vegas (SWA #2529) getting me in late on Saturday night. The terminals in BWI, ATL and LAS were all like ghost towns.
My flight #1175 departed for ATL with approximately 175 seats and only 1/3 full and, with a no doubt nervous crew of professional flight attendants and pilots who all conducted themselves with all the professionalism and courtesy you would expect from the teams of Southwest.
SWA #2529 3.21.20
It was on the next leg, flight #2529 where the flight attendants broke from the script. With only 40 passengers onboard a plane that holds 175 and an almost eery vibe, we took off for Vegas. Part-way thru the flight – somewhere over Arkansas…or, maybe it was Nebraska – one flight attendant stepped to the head of the plane and broke out his acoustic guitar and started playing for us. What was really amazing is when the majority of passengers joined him in singing Take Me Home, Country Roads. Never would have seen that one coming….. the perfect temporary elixir to a world filled with nervousness and anxiety.
With a possible grounding of ALL air travel looming, later in the week, I learned my return trip home had been cancelled. Scrambling before ALL Southwest flights were put on hold, I quickly rebooked aboard Southwest Airlines #150 departing Las Vegas on Thursday, March 26th. It was then, I noticed that this same flight had been cancelled 2x earlier in the week and was already cancelled for the following day, Friday, March 27th. Keeping my fingers crossed, I hope I would be able to “thread the needle” and make it home.
Arriving at the Las Vegas airport on Thursday was more than surreal. No wait at the ticket counter. Zero…yes, zero(!)…people in line to check in at security. And, hardly anyone in the C Concourse where Southwest flies from at LAS.
As my departure time drew near, I kept noticing nobody was in my gate area – just me and the gate check-in folks. So, eventually, I wondered over and asked if we were still flying to BWI. With a big, bright smile, she replied “Yes, Sir.”
So, I sat back down and waited. A short time later, boarding was announced as it always is at Southwest Airlines….starting with A1-30. For the record, I was A16.
Boarding flight #150 from LAS – BWI on Thursday, March 26th didn’t take long, but we rec’d all the normal security announcements about carry-on luggage, etc. All very professional and done with a smile.
As I boarded my flight, I was met by another smiling Southwest flight attendant, reminding me that it was “open seating” on Southwest, so I welcome to sit anywhere there was an open seat.
A short time later, we had been given all the required safety announcements reminding us of what to do in an emergency, how to put on our life vest, where the safety exits were and so on.
All this for the 3 passengers on board. That’s right….. 3 passengers!
4 flight attendants.
2 pilots.
3 passengers.
At a time when flight attendants are at the front lines of service in COVID-19 world, flight attendants are putting themselves tremendously at risk in the service of others, all of the Southwest Airlines flight attendants throughout my trip were outstanding.
And, on this day….. that outstanding service was for only the 3 of us onboard.
I couldn’t have faulted Southwest if they had cancelled my flight. I wouldn’t have faulted the flight attendants if they weren’t friendly or professional. After all, stories are already in the news of flight attendant fatalities from the COVID-19 virus.
However, every Southwest employee from ticket counter agents to gate personnel, from flight attendants to pilots, I encountered on this trip – out and back – was spectacularly professional and friendly – never missing a beat in following all their protocols in their primary goal of keeping us safe.
For the record, I arrived back at BWI a bit early on my flight…and as usual, with our pilot thanking us for flying Southwest – all 3 of us passengers.
To the entire team at Southwest Airlines, I am grateful for your outstanding service during these stressful times. You allowed me to travel and do my best to support those that I care about so much about…and then, return to my home to be with my family. And, for that I am forever very grateful.
Thank you for flying when I needed you most.
So, I want to give some #LUV to the “Luv Airline”. It is in the difficult times that a company’s character shines through.
Southwest Airlines….. you and your people absolutely rock.
Thank you.
