South West you never be stuck in a small jet

akaFlyboy 4

New Member
I just saw a South West commercial that bragged that if you fly with then you will never be stuck on a small plane! Don't they use some Regional Jet connections for some legs i.e. Skywest? The commercial makes it sound like if you get stuck in a small jet you are a looser. Thoughts?
 
Southwest doesn't outsource their flying to regional carriers.

They do have some code-shares with ATA, like to Hawaii, but they do not subject their passengers to regional jets. Not that you're a loser if you get stuck in a small jet, but many people find RJs to be cramped and uncomfortable.
 
Nope, but you might be sitting next to some guy named Cleetus who hasn't showered in 6 days. Last time I flew on them they told me my skirt was too short, I guess I should have been wearing underwear.
 
There's no doubt it was a pot shot at ExpressJet's branded operations.

While yes, ExpressJet flies EMB-145's you'll be fed good food (ie chicken caeser wraps), $1 beers, XM radio, and you'll even get your bags transferred if you have a connection not to mention an assigned seat.
 
As a kid I remember the entire road to the airport was peppered with billboards that read, "No if, ands, or props." In those days south Texas was pretty much limited to tprops or SWA.
 
The commercial makes it sound like if you get stuck in a small jet you are a looser. Thoughts?

Yeh, you are a loser if you ride in the back of one..

Just think how big of a loser those guys who fly those twiddly Rj's are!
 
It comes down to price and convenience. The people will still fly on a small jet if the price is right and the flight/connections are convenient. They'll complain about a small jet but very few will pay more and travel longer just to get on a larger aircraft.
 
There's no doubt it was a pot shot at ExpressJet's branded operations.

While yes, ExpressJet flies EMB-145's you'll be fed good food (ie chicken caeser wraps), $1 beers, XM radio, and you'll even get your bags transferred if you have a connection not to mention an assigned seat.
Actually, word around the Metroplex is that it was a shot a both AA & CAL.

Mainly AMR because of it's diligence in keeping the Wright Amendment in tact which limits SWA from flying non-stop from anywhere in TX.

That said - those commercials are hilarious!! And unfortunately, spot on.
 
I don't think is was a direct shot at XJT branded. In the commercial the fictitious airline is "Conglomerated Airlines".
 
Today's RJ is yesterday's Jetstream. Not a big deal. Passengers will always gravitate towards what they perceive to be the safest, most comfortable aircraft they can provided it meets their travel needs and budget.

I remember the day that the first Comair RJ taxied into Fort Wayne, Indiana... our loads were down for the next three months. Nobody wanted to fly a Jetstream when they could enjoy the comparable luxury of an RJ. The prop was noisy, cramped, and they perceived prop pilots to be less safe then their turbojet counterparts.

Today, when compared with the 737, 717, or even E170/E190, the "RJ" is considered noisy, cramped, and with pilots who are less safe (less experienced) than their "big jet" counterparts.

Don't let it get to you. You can't change human psychology.
 
I think it's a well targeted ad campaign - frustration with airine flying is the highest it's been. Given a choice, most pax would prefer the large jet to the RJ or tprop. It's to lure people away from sites like orbitz that SWA doesn't participate in.
 
I've flown SWA. I've flown Xjet. Same route, same day, I'd look to go on Xjet over SWA. Xjet has a superior product, in my mind, after all things are considered.
 
Almost all my travel has been on 737s...and except for the emergency exit row I find them MUCH less comfortable than an ERJ, especially an XJET branded ERJ which has the most comfortable airline seat I've ever been in.
 
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