Passenger on Southwest flight stung by scorpion

by Katie Hammel on

First snakes on a plane, now scorpions.

Doug Herbstommer was traveling from Phoenix to Indianapolis on Southwest Airlines and was apparently carrying some non-TSA approved items in his carry-on. As he was rummaging through his bag, he was stung by a scorpion, identified as an Arizona bark scorpion, which had presumably gotten into his bag in Phoenix and come along for the ride. The sting of this kind of scorpion is rarely fatal and Herbstommer was treated when the plane landed in Indianapolis.

Several more baby scorpions were found in Herbstommer’s luggage and in the overhead bin of the plane. They were removed and the jet was fumigated as a precaution.

[via USA Today]

Hole breaks in fuselage, Southwest plane lands safely

by Tom Johansmeyer on

A Southwest Airlines 737 landed safely in West Virginia last night after a 1 foot by 1 foot hole opened in the fuselage. Passengers could actually see the sky through the gape. Cabin pressure dropped, and passengers put on their masks quickly. Nobody was injured.

The plane was flying from Nashville to Baltimore but diverted as a result of the hole. The pilot landed the plane, to the thanks, applause and hugs of the passengers. As a precaution, Southwest is now inspecting all its 737s, the company announced. So far, the cause of the problem remains unknown.

Southwest launches massive fare sale

by Grant Martin on

Usually, we at Gadling don’t raise much fuss when an airline puts a few routes on sale. But Southwest really isn’t an airline when it comes to fare pricing. They’re a paradigm. When they drop fares, other airlines usually drop fares. As a result, shockwaves surge through the entire pricing network, travelers like you and I jump on tickets from any variety of carriers and everyone goes home happy. Doesn’t that sound nice?

So here’s the skinny. Southwest’s promotion puts fares on sale from $30 to $60 to $90, depending on distance. Travel is good from September 9th to November 18th for any day of the week except for Friday and Sunday.

Keep an eye out for price matching as well. For example, tickets from Detroit – Boston for $60 one way that may require a layover on Southwest may be the same price on a direct carrier.

The promotion runs through 11:59 tonight, so you’ve got some time to lock your tickets in, call your significant other and pull the trigger. Just don’t wait too long or availability might dry up.

Book your tickets at southwest.com, where the sale is prominently featured.

On Southwest, the internet’s no longer free

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Starting tomorrow, Southwest Airlines is going to start charging for internet access on four of its planes. The fees will range from $2 to $12, based on how long you’re in the sky and how you connect. For the past few months, access has been free, but the lure of additional revenue must have been hard to resist.

Yep, another extra fee to add to the list …

Both Delta Airlines and American Airlines are planning to add internet access to more than 300 planes each, but they’re still in the early stages. The fee to connect can reach $12.95, though less on shorter flights or when you use a handheld device instead of a laptop. I tested out Delta’s offer on a flight from New York to Atlanta and had great results. If you’re looking to recapture a few hours of your professional life, the price is well worth it.

For once, there’s a fee well worth paying.

Southwest Airlines new fees: Pets, children and baggage

by Jamie Rhein on

Starting in June, Southwest Airlines is allowing for pets on board for a $75.00 pet fare. This doesn’t mean the animal that won’t fit in a small carrier can climb on board. The carrier will count as a carry on bag. Hmmm, what if the pet fits in a purse and no one knows it’s there?

In the human realm, there’s another fee being tacked on in June for children flying solo if they are between the ages of 5-11. The $25 is to help cover the cost for making sure that junior, as an unaccompanied minor gets the extra assistance needed. Flights need to be direct, otherwise no solo travel for your pre-adolescent offspring.

In another effort to bring in more money, another $25 is being tacked onto the overweight baggage fee. On a positive note about this overweight baggage stuff, I imagine travelers aren’t hurting their backs as much dragging belongs from pillar to post.

If you compare the fees other airlines charges for these services, as reported in this AP article, Southwest is still a cheaper option. The $75 charge or a pet seems like a bargain, although AirTran’s fee is just $69 for one-way.The most expensive is Delta. The on-board pet can cost $150 to $277.