The Ins and Outs of Travel on Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines pioneered a new type of airline. Before its incarnation, such low fares and concepts such as unassigned seating were unheard of in the airline industry. Originating as a regional Texas carrier, Southwest has grown to one of the nation's largest and most popular low-fare carriers. Many first-time Southwest travelers are disenchanted by the procedures and policies that are vastly different from those of conventional airlines. However, with a small amount of planning and knowledge on the workings of Southwest's system, one can indeed have an enjoyable trip.

Unlike most major carriers, Southwest does not operate on a hub-and-spoke system. No one city could be considered Southwest's "hub"; instead, Southwest's flights are distributed throughout the country. However, this means that many flights will have stops en route, making for longer travel times. For example, while US Airways may have only direct flights between Nashville and Philadelphia, most of Southwest's flights have stop-overs in Raleigh-Durham or even Chicago. Southwest's stop-overs are generally only 15-30 minutes long, and even turn-around times at endpoints are relatively short.

Like many other aspects of its industry, Southwest's online booking system is also unique. There are a variety of different fares available for any given flight, and fares are based on one way flights instead of round trips. Though the highest, fully refundable fare may not be any lower than that of other airlines, the lowest, non-refundable, retricted internet fare can much more inexpensive. However, these low fares often sell out in advance for popular flights, so it is wise to book early.

Low prices do, sadly, come with disadvantages. Southwest's gates and check-in areas are often cramped and at the farthest ends of the terminal; likewise, flight time are not always convenient. You must be prepared for mishaps such as mechanical problems; while they are rare, the occasional problem can throw Southwest's schedule into disorder, as the tight schedules and turnaround times leave little room for tardiness.