Today I Hate Southwest Airlines

I've always loved Southwest Airlines - cheap tickets, no stress, no hassle and some fun on the side. Lately though Southwest has been losing its luster. First there was that time earlier this year when my flight got canceled. I thought, "Hey, no big deal, happens to everyone eventually" until flew back a week later. I started talking with other passengers flying the same day to discover they had canceled about 30 flights just between Southern California and Northern California...not so cool.

Then there was this trip. It wasn't that they did anything particularly horrible. It was just a general feeling of frustration with grumpy and unhappy Southwest employees and Southwest's short hop addiction. I know, its my own fault for wanting to fly into Long Island instead of JFK. I knew I wasnt going to get there nonstop. I just haven't taken three legs to get across the country in a long time - wow! did it suck! Starting at 5am west coast time LAX to Phoenix, then a layover, then Phoenix to Chicago. Welcome to layover number two. Then Chicago to finally arrive in Long Island at almost 7pm east cost time. All told it was just a mere 14 hour project to get across the country.

At least I didnt have to worry about the flights getting cancelled. Every seat was taken on every one of those three flights. And I had slacked off and not checked in until 12 hours before my flight so on the second leg we were practically at the back of the line. Middle seats for everyone!

I did feel a bit of love for Southwest Airlines budding in me as I paid that $40 luggage fee to Delta on the way home. Southwest is still great for saving on all those stupid fees there are these days. Still I'm feelin a bit burnt on Southwest and will just be keeping them around for short hops. Maybe I'm just gettin old - but its time to focus on the nonstop service from now on. Thankfully getting back to one of my favorite places was worth it. As was the night in the city and the New York Pizza. And of course, Go Islanders!!!!

Knowing your Airline options - More stops added for Free

So you're getting to go on a gut busting, click a pic n dash, mad grand tour of Europe. Every day is a new city, a new adventure and you're looking for a way to squeeze in one more quick stop. Or maybe you're flying from the entirely wrong side of the continent you are on and you'd just like a break from the hours and hours and hours in the air.

Its time to explore the 24 hour layover rule. I'm doing my usual yesterday, wandering the internet for good air fare deals. I think I've found what I want. I'm about to hit Buy Now - then the thought of 18 hours of travel hits me like a ton of bricks. Wow, that sounds like no fun. So I check with my travelin buddy for this trip....did you say you wanted to see London? Yep. So instead of finishing my transaction online I go old school and dial the digits for American Airlines reservations.

Yes, its true you can stop in any city that is on your route for up to 24 hours of fun and exploring for no additional charge. Lets take a peek at what I did. The original plan was to leave Austria at 11am arrive in London at 1pm sit around for two hours and get on the flight home at 3pm. Which means I would have been in airports from nine in the morning for almost 24 hours. Instead we broke it up into something more manageable.

Now we leave Vienna at the same time a day earlier, and arrive in London at 1pm. Plenty of time for a few rounds about town on the tube and a boat tour for a river view of London before we grab some munchies at Piccadilly Circus and hit the town at night. Time for a proper english breakfast before its off to the airport for our non stop flight home.

Since this was my first 24 hour layover adventure, I went a head and booked with the reservation agent so there was a $20 per ticket charge. So this extra day in London cost me $40 this time. Now I know what the restrictions are and that I have to keep my layover under 24 hours. I will just use the multi-destination search option online next time and get the extra stop for free. You can too! Here's to seeing more and spending less. Cheers!