I heard from a very credible source a couple of weeks ago that the entire management team at Southwest Airlines including the CEO flew to New York for a securities analyst meeting on a competing airline — hmm let’s see Southwest is based in Dallas — Dallas is a hub for Southwest and American (you do the math).
Seems that after the meeting like thousands of other airline passengers the management team got stuck at the airport (flying back on this competing airline, non-stop no doubt) due to a variety of delays and had that oh so exciting option of spending the night (on their own dime if it was mother nature or at the overly comfortable hotel selection of the “competing airline” with a generous $5 meal coupon).
Evidently an executive decision was made and the management team took the train from New York to Baltimore so they could hop a ride from Baltimore to Dallas (connecting) on their own airline.
I figured someone would report on this story in the major media, but I never saw it show up, so here it tis.
I hope those of you who have sent in hundreds of notes about the painful travel experiences in the past few months gets a wry smile from this tidbit like I did when i first heard it.
I know the feeling. My wife and I were going to Seattle on AA for a conference. Flight out of IND delayed too long to connect to our Seattle flight at ORD. Agent could not get us to Seattle until into the following week. Planes full. To San Diego but no connection available Seattle? No thanks. Agent offered our money back within 10 minutes of attempts to reschedule. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. Had to cancel my conference in Seattle. Was irritated but that’s the situaton these days. Should have taken Amtrak’s Empire Builder with a much more scenic trip. The Diocese would have paid the freight.
Comment by Peder Berdahl — July 12, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
See, those executives were thinking, “Hmmm . . . we get free flights on our own airline, but we have to be crowded in like cows, sit in totally uncomfortable seats because some 4′11″ lady is in the aisle, but the 6′2″ guy gets crammed in the middle seat, and we don’t even get a snack. Or, we can fly that other airline, get a business-class seat, and feel like human beings when we fly. What should we do?” I know what every normal person thinks. It’s an obvious choice to not fly Southwest.
Comment by John — July 12, 2007 @ 7:09 pm