Skip to main content

I heart you SouthWest Airlines but please fix this

Had another lovely flight to Chicago and back on the same day flying Southwest from Dulles airport. The fare was good and both times flight took off on time, Pilots were very social. Peanuts and drinks arrived on time. I love Southwest airlines. Now as airlines set expectations here are some things that I want them to fix.

  • The number printed on the boarding card specifying your line position is confusing.
    • I have known people confuse it for Gate numbers - who would not - if you had B24 printed on your boarding card.
    • Some passengers confused it for seat numbers on the plane
    • Commentary: When you can assign seats in the line it may be better and easier to continue that and make that your seat assignment and allot seats randomly.
  • Water service
    • I like the idea of the crew taking your drink order and bringing it to you on  a tray. i think the tray works better because unlike a drink trolley there is place for any passenger to pass the crew in the aisle.
      • My idea is already implemented in airlines in India. get small bottles that the crew can just hand over to people asking for water. Saves the time and labor of pouring into glasses. of course the water has to be cold.

I enjoy the scriptless way the crew makes the announcements on board- This comment had the whole plane laughing ""Contrary to popular belief, the button with a stewardess on it does not actually turn us on". ( tweet from TheregoesDave of theregoesdave,com) This particular flight had a crew member who had everyone in stitches all the time she made the announcement. People actually listened to the announcements instead of tuning out. How else could you have a cheerful plane load of passengers laughing and smiling getting down at 11.40 p.m at Dulles airport.

Thanks SouthWest for making it a pleasure but we need even more.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How the World Measures Happiness (It’s Not Just About Smiling)

I recently read a fascinating piece by Maham Javaid in the Washington Post analyzing the World Happiness Report . The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Center at Oxford and the UN, looks beyond GDP to find what actually drives life satisfaction. I've always held the philosophy that happiness should be a state of mind—something that shouldn't depend on others. But I admit, that is difficult to adhere to. It's hard to stay internally happy when you don't receive kudos for extra effort, or when you find yourself analyzing praise to see if it was just an afterthought. While my own philosophy has always been that happiness shouldn't depend on others, the data suggests that for most of the world, happiness is inherently social. Here is what the top-ranking countries teach us: 🇫🇮 Finland: Material Security Finland takes the top spot, but not because they are outwardly the "happiest" people. It's about anxiety reduction. "Researc...

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways There is a specific moment of low-stakes confusion that happens when you travel. You approach a shop door, your muscle memory engages, you grab the handle to pull—and your arm jerks to a halt. The door doesn't budge. You look up, and there it is, often taped right next to a digital payment sticker: a sign that says PUSH. ❖ The Muscle Memory of Safety If you live in the West, your muscle memory is trained to "pull to enter" almost any commercial building. This isn't just a design quirk; it's usually a legal requirement born out of historical tragedy. Fire codes in the US and Europe dictate that exterior doors must swing outward—in the direction of egress. The logic is grim but sound: if a crowd inside panics and rushes the exit, their collective body weight should push the door open, not seal it shut. So, when I travel back to India, and I see doors like the one below, my Weste...

You start picking clothes of a certain color, and suddenly, it becomes your uniform. Try to change it, and everyone hates it.

Who Decided Your Favorite Color? (And Why You Can't Escape It) What role does color play in your life? It is a strange negotiation. Somehow, either you decide, or someone else decides for you, what your “favorite color” is. It starts innocently. You pick a blue shirt. It looks good. You buy another. A few years pass, and suddenly, you are “The Blue Shirt Guy.” Then, the trap snaps shut: The moment you try to change—maybe you experiment with a bold new shade—your spouse or friends hate it. You have been branded. The Illusion of Choice I have observed that we have less agency here than we think. Clothing companies seem to act as a cartel, releasing the exact same “new” colors every year. One year, I was inexplicably fascinated by fluorescent green. It was everywhere, so it was in my closet. But my safe zone remains firm: Blue, Pink, and Red for shirts. But pants? I tried...
ReadyThoughts.com

Connect with Shashi Bellamkonda

Quick thoughts, experiments, and digital musings from a marketer who likes to test in public and share what actually works.

Shashi Bellamkonda

Shashi Bellamkonda

Digital Marketing Strategist & Thought Leader

Advisor · Educator · Early adopter of social & AI marketing

Follow & Say Hello

On ReadyThoughts I share fast takes on marketing, AI, and experiments in public. If a post sparks a question or idea, I'd love to hear from you.