Southwest looking at service to SXM

A couple of weeks ago I waited out the last East Coast snowstorm and got on a flight out of DAL to BWI. On this flight were a number of SWA middle managers leaving a meeting at the SWA HQ. In the seat behind me I overheard a conversation that SWA is exploring service to SXM through BWI. I did not hear mention of other hubs. Nor did I hear a timetable. If you want SWA to add service--you should let them know.

I wrote last week, almost begging them to start service. Haven't heard back. Know they added some Caribbean flights out of their new Houston International Terminal. Jeff Berger has also reported that SXM is on their list. They fly into San Juan now, but get there too late to make connections to SXM the same day.

This is from a year ago:

They are also looking at flying to SXM from FLL as well. Supposed to start in 2017 when terminal work is done.

SW to SXM has been talked about for a while, yes. Selfishly, I wish they would consider ORLANDO nonstop to SXM. There are already two nonstops from South Florida from other airlines. It would seem to me that they should go somewhere that there is ZERO competition in nonstops to SXM, like Orlando, but what do I know??

Heck, even a connection through San Juan since they fly there anyway.

As I said, SELFISHLY, for me I would love to have a nonstop from Orlando. We have several connections through other places from Orlando already. I actually loathe SW and their 'no assigned seats' policy in general, but if they have a nonstop from Orlando, I might change my tune! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Carol,
Did you see that JB is code sharing with Silver in Florida?
You can take the commuter out of Orlando and not drive.
It was in the paper yesterday.
Check it out.
i

Silver? What is Silver?

http://www.silverairways.com/

They are pretty big on the intra-Florida market and flying to the Bahamas from Florida as well. They also have service in the mid-atlantic as well, but they don't fly directly between Florida and mid-atlantic, they rely on code-shares to link the two.

I have flown them on the FL routes and they fly (or at least they did) twin engine turboprops. It felt like I was back in the service flying on a C-130

Irina--I'm confused, Jet Blue flies from Orlando to SJU to connect to SXM. If I'm flying out of Miami, I drive there voluntarily so I don't have to have a connection.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150317/ARTICLES/150319636

They are code sharing with JB. Don't know how this will affect you. BUT you could fly from Orlando to FLL to get JB also.

Jet Blue doesn't currently have a nonstop from FLL to SXM either, so that connection would make me have two connections.

Sorry, nothing to do with the thread, but the reference to a C130 reminds me -
"C130 going down the strip, Airborne daddy gonna take a little trip"(many more verses most not appropriate for this forum) - Jump School, a long time ago.

agree with Carol about SW seating. Vowed I'd never use them again but now it's the only way we'll be able to get to Kansas City, MO non-stop in July so I guess I'll have to remember to never saw never again. Not looking forward to it.

When you buy your ticket just pay the 10 bucks for priority boarding and you will have your choice of any seat on the plane. It is worth the few bucks....SWA is a fine airline with decent legroom and free bags but just don't get in the "C" boarding group

Well, no, you don't have the choice of any seat on the plane, you get to be one of the first to stand in line to get a seat. A lot of people like their business model and they are very popular, but they will always be my last choice. I just thank goodness that now that my mom has to fly them, since they took over Air Tran, that she gets wheelchair assist, so she doesn't have to deal with that BS. I wonder what the percentage of wheelchair assist pax they have, versus other airlines. I would bet that it is significantly higher.

The price is now $12.50 for Early Bird check in just used it last week out of Orlando to Islip. I ended up with A53&54 slots in the cattle line. There was a line of about 20+ people in the "pre board" line. I don't know what the guidelines are to get in that line. (they are boarded after the wheel chair group) Some of people on the A1-30 line, they are usually Southwest Frequent Flyers, Business flyers, were complaining that this group seems to be growing longer and longer of late.

Yup, if you buy your tix close to departure early boarding doesn't get you in the 1st group...but if you didn't buy it you would be at the end of the C group.

We usually buy our tix early and RARELY get above A30. I think it is worth it....and I agree that SWA would not be a last minute choice for flying since you will be VERY disappointed with your position in line

Families with kids do not get pre-board status before the A group...

I have found that if you confirm your flight exactly at the 24 hour point allowed you can get a B number usually in the 31-60 group. It also depends on how fully booked the flight is and the airport you are leaving from of course. Since we prefer to sit in the rear of the plane it has never been a problem to find 2 seats together and sometimes have an empty seat between us. Except once when we stayed in the airport bar too long <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />.

Southwest. Either you Luv'em or you hate'em. When they enter a market by offering service it puts pressure on the the airfare pricing of the other airlines in the market. If nothing else, it should benefit many by lowering the cost of travel. And we can all agree that is a good thing.

Well it's $25 now and they still put business class ahead of you, then consider this: if everyone bought that everyone would be in the same place and SW would get riches. AND even paying extra doesn't get you an assigned seat.

sorry $25 was 12.50 each way.

We paid once and still ended up last in C. I agree with Sandy...that "pre-board" get longer & longer.

The only time I ever saw an empty plane was Jet Blue flight with hubby in a wheel chair. Now if I could only get him to break that leg again before flying <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

since when does SW have a business class? They have a business select, but no business class seating

I fly them for buisness at least every other week. I always thought their rewards program was better than most and I always get A16-A20 with checking in up to 2 hours before the flight. The preboards have grown over the years. The best ones are the ones that go down the jetway in a wheelchair and up the jetway speed walking.

Well maybe we have been lucky MANY times but most times we are in the 1st 20 to board...NEVER in the B group..business select is a joke and I have NEVER seen more that 1-5 people in that group
Pre-board is totally dependent on destination...supposedly only disabled (no families)
...and pre-boarding is no different with any airline...except most allow families with young children to pre-board (yes, I know they have assigned seats already but it's all about the overhead space)

I'm with you on their seat game. First time I ever flew them got a good deal out west for a trip with 80 year old parent and arrived at airport extra early for checkin to get seats--- that got us "C" and we ended up with two middle seats and couldn't even sit within visual distance of each other. No one would offer up their A & B aisle or window and the flight attendants made no effort to help. Happened on the return too.

I agree. I hated when SW had their old seating arrangement, where you did have to arrive super early and stand on a long line, hoping for a good seat. Then they changed it to buying (for a small price) a priority ticket, which gives you the right to check in (within 24 hours is it?) and you now get assigned a section # for boarding. On the infrequent occasion we get to fly SW, we always check in online very early and rarely get beyond A30 too. That way you no longer have to arrive at the airport super early, you already have your section reserved. I also love the SW FA crew.....usually good natured and fun.

Wow!!! that would be a boat mover for us!
we live ~10miles from BWI..the BIG southwest hub.

Hallucinations might be joining the pack.

Realize I'm dating myself (but damned glad to still be alive and able to go to SXM). 1972, flying out of Dallas (Love Field)- SWA was such a rogue. If you don't know the history you should look it up.
Free Drinks! All flight attendants wore hot pants and were all runner ups for Miss Something or Other! When they said "we're leaving" you had better be buckled in, because they left!
Before I get a lot of chauvinistic responses, not saying I agree with all that. But at "twenty something" it was pretty cool.
Herb Kelleher had a pretty good idea, and his business plan was written on a napkin in a hotel bar right here in San Antonio. And it worked. I think we all have gripes about the airlines we fly - I know my own loyalties vary from trip to trip, depending on the success of the latest flight. I would embrace SWA taking a SXM route - unless I had to go half way around the country to get there. The "cattle car" tag has its reasons, but if you can save a couple hundred bucks, maybe it's worth it to MOO.

Well, lately rates I've checked are not a "couple hundred bucks" difference from other airlines so SWA might want to re evaluate their seating plan. I can't imagine it saving them that much money. The only reason I'm flying SWA to Kansas City, MO is they're the only one that I could get a direct flight on. Jet Blue could only get me just so close with a plane change. So I'm paying MORE with no seat assignment on SWA. And SW flies from my home port in RI but only to a very short list of places so I have the added expense/time of schlepping to Boston. If they assigned seats I'd make them my airline of choice.

I agree...PVD is also MUCH closer for us but the prices aren't even close on the same flight, same airline from BOS. SWA is only "discount" if you get the flight either as soon as they are published or nail one of their specials.

Other than that it is more secure to have an assigned seat on an alternate airline.

This is going to happen and BWI will be the first airport; there may well be others later, the airport told me.

But when Jeff? Haven't bought tickets yet for 2016. Any chance SWA will be into SXM soon?

A little bird whispered in my ear that SWA IS coming to SXM. So that'll be good for competition. I hate having to explain to customers over and over again why fares are out of SXM are so high.

Date isn't yet set or if it is set, it has not been released. I'm guessing it could be as early as late this year.

Sorry for the late response, up to my ears....

I agree with you, Orlando is a busy hub. But the airlines decide and right now they seem to be focused more on Lauderdale. We'll see...

Landing fees and gate rental cost is why airlines choose FLL over MCO.