Southwest’s video response to “Pretty Girls” debacle

by Grant Martin on

Earlier this week, Soutwest Airlines came under fire again in the story about two young women begin escorted off a flight between Florida and California after causing a ruckus. In the public outcry and subsequent debate that followed, many people came to the defense of the embattled airline (check the Digg comments for some of the berating), but many of the facts still weren’t clear. Were the women actually causing problems? Were they really mistreated on the flight?

Well, in an effort to straighten out the matter, Paula Berg, PR from SWA has been in contact with the community including myself and one Mr. Cranky Flier pointing out their stand. Additionally, they’ve now posted a video on Youtube stating their stance. Despite the strange setting and verbage chosen by PR, the message basically confirms what most of us were suspecting: the women were being disruptive and Southwest chose to refund their return trips. Easy enough. Take a look:

[Via The Cranky Flier — although, I beat you to the punch on the first article. Ha!]

Update! Southwest comments on whether we’re too pretty to fly!

by Grant Martin on

Last week’s article on the two young ladies escorted off a Southwest Airlines plane after causing a ruckus caused quite a stir. Seems that many people feel that the girls got what they deserved and were misbehaving on the plane– while others have jumped to their defense.

Unfortunately, most of the details on the issue are still speculation, so we can’t really make any definitive statements on who was actually at fault. But Paula Berg from Southwest did decide to chime in on the unfolding events.

She says:

” It is important to clarify a few points:
1. The two ladies are not “banned” from ever traveling on Southwest in the future.
2. Our Crews’ decision had nothing to do with the ladies’ appearance, but rather their behavior and interaction with another Customer onboard.
3. Our Employees have an obligation to maintain a safe environment onboard.

Clearly, we would have gone out of business a long time ago if we discriminated against beautiful women – or anyone for that matter. We carry 96 million Customers a year, and they’re all beautiful in our eyes! “

Perhaps, as the original Gadling article speculated, things have just been blown out of proportion.

Are you too pretty to fly?

by Grant Martin on

I believe that we have just crossed the line from irritating to incredulous in the Southwest Airlines fashion police scandal.

As I’m sure everyone is now aware, last year, Kyla Ebberts raised a huge ruckus with Southwest when they asked her to change out of the skimpy clothing that she was wearing on a flight. She was perfectly warranted in her argument, mind you; as numerous images prove, she wasn’t wearing anything more than a tight shirt and a really short skirt.

Now it seems like it’s getting out of hand. In the most recent chapter of Skirtgate, two teens flying between Tampa and Los Angeles are crying foul because they were escorted off the plane by security officers (at the destination). Apparently they were causing a disruption on the plane because they couldn’t get water when they wanted it and were knocking on the lavatory door while someone was inside.

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Their side of the story is that the flight attendants were rude and discriminatory to them, saying,

“I think they were just discriminating against because we were young decent-looking girls. I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us. [The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger.”

Or maybe you were just being spoiled brats.

Details at Tampa Bay’s 10 are still fuzzy, but I have a feeling I know how this is going to turn out.

***Update! Paula Berg from Southwest comments on the debacle! Read her comments here.***

***Another Update! Southwest’s official video reply can be seen here.***

Southwest Airlines announces new baggage policy

by Justin Glow on

Southwest Airlines made some adjustments to their baggage policy. I’m just going to paste what they wrote on their blog since I’d rather not muck up the already-confusing changes:

“The free baggage allowance for each ticketed Customer will change from three to two bags. The first and second bag you check (up to 50lbs) are FREE. The third bag (also up to 50 lbs) will be $25.00. Oversized and overweight bags may be subject to extra charges. The maximum dimensions will remain the same, where the luggage should not exceed sixty-two (62) inches when you add the length + width + height. SWA does not accept items over 100lbs.

“Customers will still be permitted to substitute certain sporting equipment free of charge in place of one of the two free bags. For example, ski equipment can be used for a free bag, SWA allows up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, ski poles, and ski boots) to count as one item, even if they are packed and tagged separately. (Overweight charges may still apply.)

“Customers may substitute up to two baby items, such as car seats and strollers, in exchange for one checked bag. In real-life terms, a family of four (including two small children over the age of two) may check two sets of golf clubs, two strollers, two car seats, and four pieces of luggage (under 50 pounds each) all for free.”

So in case that isn’t clear: you can now substitute a pair of skis for a baby stroller, which is something you should seriously consider the next time you fly Southwest with your kid. Would you rather have a munchkin that grows up to be a winter Olympic medal winner, or a lazy dolt that’s used to being pushed around all day by his parents? I thought so. Thanks, Southwest!

Southwest Airlines Blog: New Baggage Policy

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How cool is this plane?

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California teen in custody after plane incident

by Justin Glow on

The wire was buzzing this morning with the tale of a Los Angeles teenager who was arrested for plotting to hijack a flight and — I’m not joking here — crash it into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, Louisiana. I swear I’m not making this up.

See for yourself: LA teen in custody after plane incident

The teen was pulled off of Southwest Airlines flight 284 — without incident — on Tuesday night with a bag full of handcuffs, rope and duct tape. How does a kid get through security with a bag of handcuffs? A search of his home back in California revealed a mock cockpit, but authorities are confident “his plan had a low probability of success.”

Update: The FBI is now dismissing reports that the teen planned to crash the plane into a Hannah Montana concert. (Thanks, Melinda!)

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