South West you never be stuck in a small jet

[FlyChicaga]

I enjoy the fact the flight attendants "spice up" the PA's during flight. Why? Because they have proven that you can be a "professional" without the mindset that "the business of business is business." You can have fun, joke around, smile, and laugh, yet still work hard and do your job the way it is supposed to be done.

What is our job as flight crew? Get our passengers from one point to another safely and comfortably. I don't see how trying to make people smile and brightening up their day with a positive attitude is a negative in any way.

By the way, our jet is small. I am very proud of the fact our company has been able to take a 50-seat jet and make it a good enough product that people would bypass flying a larger aircraft because of our comfort and service. However, I'm sure they'd enjoy it even more if we flew the Embraer 195 instead of the Embraer 145. I also know that our product would be much better if it was our complete focus... We have a good thing going, but the company still is in the "regional" mindset. That could hurt our operation more than anything.

 

[jonnyb]

I enjoy the fact the flight attendants "spice up" the PA's during flight. Why? Because they have proven that you can be a "professional" without the mindset that "the business of business is business." You can have fun, joke around, smile, and laugh, yet still work hard and do your job the way it is supposed to be done.

What is our job as flight crew? Get our passengers from one point to another safely and comfortably. I don't see how trying to make people smile and brightening up their day with a positive attitude is a negative in any way.

By the way, our jet is small. I am very proud of the fact our company has been able to take a 50-seat jet and make it a good enough product that people would bypass flying a larger aircraft because of our comfort and service. However, I'm sure they'd enjoy it even more if we flew the Embraer 195 instead of the Embraer 145. I also know that our product would be much better if it was our complete focus... We have a good thing going, but the company still is in the "regional" mindset. That could hurt our operation more than anything.

Yep, Express Jet has a long way to go but they're off to a great start. Hopefully they can slowly shed the code-share stuff and expand on the branded side. Larger aircraft are necessary though, those 145's are a wee bit small.

 

[SkyCougar]

Thanks for making me feel old, I've flown as a revenue passenger on a DC-3 and a Martin 404, in the US!

Me too! I've flown on a DC-3 and get this, you got all dressed up in your little girl dress, little white gloves, and black patent leather shoes, before you got on the airplane! Imagine that! People dressed in their Sunday best to get on an airplane.

 

[meritflyer]

We have a good thing going, but the company still is in the "regional" mindset. That could hurt our operation more than anything.

Eh... yes and no, in my opinion.

The only reason branded has been as sucessful as it has so far is simply the cash flow from our CPA with CAL. This has been no secret from management. This is what truely makes our operation unique and different from FlyI. The fact that we operate under our own banner and still have the ability to serve our main line carriers is the only thing really feeding the growth factor right now. Take a hard look at XJT's balance sheet right now. It actually looks very comfortable, for lack of a better term.

Without the constant cash flow from CAL, the company would be sucking swamp water. We'd be financing everthing and probably be 1/3 the size we are.

When businesses get away form their primary cash or rather the 'what we do best' attitude they tend to go belly up. With that being said, we have done a great job so far and hope it'll continue but I believe there should be both branded and codeshare. This ensures positive cash flow and in the words of JR himself, "cashflow is everything", not profit, cashflow.

 

[SkyCougar]

I enjoy the fact the flight attendants "spice up" the PA's during flight. Why? Because they have proven that you can be a "professional" without the mindset that "the business of business is business." You can have fun, joke around, smile, and laugh, yet still work hard and do your job the way it is supposed to be done.

What is our job as flight crew? Get our passengers from one point to another safely and comfortably. I don't see how trying to make people smile and brightening up their day with a positive attitude is a negative in any way.

:yeahthat: Absolutely! If I can't joke around and have fun on a job, then it's time to move along to another. Actually studies have shown that people who have fun and humor in the workplace are more productive than those who are always serious.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

I enjoy the fact the flight attendants "spice up" the PA's during flight. Why? Because they have proven that you can be a "professional" without the mindset that "the business of business is business." You can have fun, joke around, smile, and laugh, yet still work hard and do your job the way it is supposed to be done.

For every person that finds those PAs funny and "spiced up," there two others that are thinking it's unprofessional and wishing that they'd just shut up. Personally, I don't want to hear someone singing and cracking played-out jokes on the PA. Just make the announcements and let me take a nap.

 

[kellwolf]

For every person that finds those PAs funny and "spiced up," there two others that are thinking it's unprofessional and wishing that they'd just shut up. Personally, I don't want to hear someone singing and cracking played-out jokes on the PA. Just make the announcements and let me take a nap.

See, I'm the opposite. Suprise, seeing as I worked there for so long, right?

Most of the FAs that I come across that just do the PAs and go through the motions look (and act) like they'd rather be somewhere else and that I'm a bother to them. That's the feeling I get, even from a majority of our own FAs.

That being said, I realize there are passengers that thing the opposite way. SWA doesn't hide the fact that they are the way they are, and they welcome those passengers to fly another airline. Seeing as they're been profitable for over 30 years running, I'd say what they're doing is working for 'em.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

That being said, I realize there are passengers that thing the opposite way. SWA doesn't hide the fact that they are the way they are, and they welcome those passengers to fly another airline. Seeing as they're been profitable for over 30 years running, I'd say what they're doing is working for 'em.

Kellwolf, I agree completely, and that's why I avoid SWA like the plague. It's a great company and I'm sure many passengers love them, but it's not for me. I prefer a good old DAL or AAI flight any day with a quick professional PA followed by a long nap.

 

[meritflyer]

For every person that finds those PAs funny and "spiced up," there two others that are thinking it's unprofessional and wishing that they'd just shut up. Personally, I don't want to hear someone singing and cracking played-out jokes on the PA. Just make the announcements and let me take a nap.

:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

 

[seagull]

I would take SWA over an RJ any day of the week. Experience of the airline in operating jets and the crews is the primary issue. In the same way, I'll ride on NWA over KAL. Sure, KAL has better service, but....

Yes, I've flown on KAL if that was the only viable option. However, I'll go out of my way not to.

 

[Queboat]

Click play and you'll see what I mean.

umm when did xjet not fall into a discount airline? that commercial is aimed at making fun of the discount airline pilots. swa has a way better payscale then xjet.

and the seats suck on xjet, now to be fair there are things i hate about swa. i'd rather have an assigned seat but i like to be able to stand up straight in the cabin when i walk to the pisser. more leg room on the 737, and that single row on the erj is terrible, very little leg room due to the fuselage getting in the way. i'd rather take the bigger airplane and usually do, since my company airline sme around 5-6 times a month and they're buying. when i buy my own tickets i always pay more for a direct flight, even if its $500 more, usually its over to europe or trans-con which makes it worth it not having to stop in houston for 2-3hours.

 

[killbilly]

For every person that finds those PAs funny and "spiced up," there two others that are thinking it's unprofessional and wishing that they'd just shut up. Personally, I don't want to hear someone singing and cracking played-out jokes on the PA. Just make the announcements and let me take a nap.

I used to be able to sleep like a baby on planes. Right around the time I turned 30 I lost the ability - don't know why.

So I like to BS with the crews when I can, and the SWA crews tend to be pretty friendly/fun.

I think the devotion to SWA is a little different for those of us in Dallas. Love Field is soooooo much easier to get to than DFW if you live anywhere east of I-35, and with the frequency of flights and schedule changes now that they're phasing out Wright, it really makes SWA a lot more convenient. Know what would be awesome for me? Working for Xjet or AE and being based at Love Field.

With the price of gas these days, and what I value my time at plus the cost of hotel rooms, it's often cheaper for me to fly on a full-fare SWA ticket to AUS than it is to drive down there.

 

[meritflyer]

umm when did xjet not fall into a discount airline? that commercial is aimed at making fun of the discount airline pilots.

Since our CEO and Senior Director said "we're not a discount airline." XJT is not classified as LCC.

After commuting on Continental 737's back and forth from PHX to IAH, which I might add are the worst seats imaginable, XJT's seats are pretty dang comfortable.

swa has a way better payscale than xjet

I hope so. We're flying EMB-145's. They're flying 737's and not to mention their payscale is better than any legacy's 737 payscale.