SWA: WDW's new 'official' airline

[WDW1974]

The thread title says it all.

Southwest Airlines joins Eastern and Delta as an 'official' carrier of WDW.

I've mentioned it elsewhere, but I thought it deserved its own thread.

I don't fly them often, but have had largely good experiences.

I do think it's weird because they don't fly outside the USA, don't codeshare (agreements to do so in Canada and Mexico still haven't happened) with anyone, and do not have a First Class or Business Class cabin. They are a discounter all the way.

They also didn't want any part of DME ... but yet they are now Disney's airline.

 

[_Scar]

So... are they sponsoring an attraction or do they just get the title "Official airline of Walt Disney World"?

 

[WDW1974]

So... are they sponsoring an attraction or do they just get the title "Official airline of Walt Disney World"?

Not that I know of.

 

[Phonedave]

Not that I know of.

So being the official airline and a $1.50 will get them a cup of coffee.

As far as I know, the only direct flights from this area on SW are form LaGuardia - which I am not about to drive to in order to save $30 bucks

-dave

 

[yankspy]

I wonder if they will actually do anything with this.

Eastern was great. Disney music and movies on the plane, characters met you at the gate, attraction, etc.

 

[Rob562]

The thread title says it all.

Southwest Airlines joins Eastern and Delta as an 'official' carrier of WDW.

I've mentioned it elsewhere, but I thought it deserved its own thread.

I don't fly them often, but have had largely good experiences.

I do think it's weird because they don't fly outside the USA, don't codeshare (agreements to do so in Canada and Mexico still haven't happened) with anyone, and do not have a First Class or Business Class cabin. They are a discounter all the way.

They also didn't want any part of DME ... but yet they are now Disney's airline.

Well, they originally didn't want to participate in Resort Airline Check-In (not to be confused with DME) because they were concerned that RAC/Bags, Inc wouldn't be able to handle the volume of luggage that would be introduced into the RAC system if Southwest were to join. (I've read that 20% of people flying into/out of MCO are on Southwest)

I guess their "fears" have been taken care of, hence the testing that's been going on with RAC and Southwest the past few months at Pop Century (and I've heard one or two reports of it expanding to the All-Stars recently, too).


As for code-sharing, Southwest did recently take a step toward the possibility of opening that up, too. I heard they recently switched their reservation and ticketing system over the SABRE, which is the industry standard.

-Rob

 

[NemoRocks78]

I swear by SWA. <3 this.

 

[Captain Hank]

I've had some excellent experiences with Southwest in the past. Despite their low fares, they have fantastic customer service standards.

 

[SorcererMickey]

Hmmm. That's interesting.. We're just about to get a new airport and SWA is one the first carriers in, and they are offereing direct flights from here to MCO. What exactly does being an official airline of WDW mean?

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

Southwest has direct flights from Islip to Orlando here on Long Island.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I swear by SWA. <3 this.

Us too...especially now that they have early bird check-in!

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

if you had wings.....you could do many things.....you could fly southwest.....if you had wings............southwest knows the way to the vacation kingdom :lookaroun

 

[wm49rs]

You're now free to roam about the cabin...errr the country...errr the Magic Kingdom.....

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

oh......that could be a good slogan :wave:

"You're now free to roam about the Magic Kingdom"

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

if you had wings.....you could do many things.....you could fly southwest.....if you had wings............southwest knows the way to the vacation kingdom :lookaroun

Seriously.


Can we get a nice Aerospace/Weather Pavilion out of this in EPCOT? :lol:

Sponsor for Soarin'?


Something?

 

[wm49rs]

Seriously.


Can we get a nice Aerospace/Weather Pavilion out of this in EPCOT? :lol:

Sponsor for Soarin'?


Something?

A sponsor for the WoL building? A whole new mix of aeronautics, geography and weather all under one roof?

 

[DisneyMusician2]

You would think that more than a cash transaction would be necessary to make you an official airline of WDW.

Perhaps there will be more in the future, or something at this press event.

I thought that after the trial SW run was over that all resorts were getting the SW check-in. In other words, I believe they caved.

Interesting nonetheless. Thanks for the report!

 

[RSoxNo1]

Southwest sponsors the Penguin Encounter at Sea World. I wonder if that will change. Also will that mean that Disney can check you in on Southwest now?

 

[captainkidd]

I think it's kind of ridiculous that the official airline of WDW doesn't participate in airline resort check-in. We always fly Southwest down to Orlando, but always fly Jet Blue home, just because we don't want to deal with standing in Southwest's lines at MCO.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

A sponsor for the WoL building? A whole new mix of aeronautics, geography and weather all under one roof?

That would be swell, but I would want it closer to Soarin'.:lookaroun