What Happens When You Don't Fly Southwest

When you don't fly Southwest, you have great stories to post.


This week I had to fly Midwest because Southwest doesn't fly to Flint, Michigan.


I always try to be at the airport at least one hour before my flight. This never presents a problem with Southwest. This morning my flight was scheduled for 8:25. I arrived about 7:15. I was amazed at the line at ticketing! I had my boarding pass, but needed to check my luggage, so I had to get in line. There were some kiosks available, but I couldn't figure out if you could check luggage there, so I got in the long line with all the people who had suitcases. The line moving pretty slowly and when I reached the sign that said, "check in closes 45 minutes before the flight" I began to panic. I finally dropped out of line and went to the counter. I told a check-in person that I had an 8:25 flight and the line was moving pretty slowly. She asked me if I had a boarding pass and I said I did. I got it out of my briefcase and showed it to her. She told me that I could use the kiosk, but said that line didn't seem to be moving much faster. I asked what I could do be be sure my luggage was checked in time for my flight and she said, "You could get to the airport at least 2 hours before your flight is scheduled to leave." I couldn't believe it! When lines are long and slow, I am used to PA announcements asking people who are on flights getting ready to leave to come to the front of the line. I looked at her and said, "I guess this is what happens when you don't fly Southwest."


I decided to go the kiosk line. They did not have an attendant assigned to the kiosk's, which was why that line was moving so slowly. The mean one from my earlier interaction came over and totally ignored me. By then I had completed the process to check my luggage and only needed an attendant to pull my sticker and place it on my bag. This would have taken her about 30 seconds, but instead, she spent 10 minutes teaching this lovely elderly couple how to use the kiosk. I figured that since they had taken my money to check my luggage, they had to take it, but doubted if it would actually make it to Flint when I did. When she finally tagged my bag I headed to the gate.


Seems when the day gets complicated, it never changes. Getting through security was a challenge. People kept setting off the alarms and having to come back and remove jewelry and belts, but then they figured out it wasn't the people, but was the little man standing next to the screener with the oxygen tank. When I made it to the gate, I found out my plane was to be 30 minutes late leaving. I had to connect in Milwaukee, but that actually worked without a problem, even with the delay.


I made it to Flint,and so did my luggage, but, alas, there was no one at the National Counter to rent me my car. She finally came back from the bathroom and I was able to drive to Frankenmuth without any further problems.