7/18/10

{Bags Fly Free} Letter from a SWA Flight Attendant


Yesterday, while completing the boarding a full flight of 137 passengers out of Sacramento to San Diego, our boarding agent (Operations Agent) that is responsible for scanning all boarding passes and calculating cargo, luggage and all weight and balance aspects of the aircraft comes aboard and as we are closing the door, he makes the following announcement:

"Ladies and Gentlemen can I have your attention please. My name is (X) and I am the Operations Agent for your flight to San Diego today. I want to give a shout out to my math teachers for teaching me how to do the following math: I show 137 passengers had 125 bags checked in today for this flight as originating here.....with what the other airlines are now charging for luggage, I come up with at least $3250.00 that you all did not have to pay EXTRA today to travel. Thanks for flying Southwest Airlines".

The plane erupted into literally a standing ovation! 137 Passengers were cheering, whistling, clapping...it was great.
It set the mood for a great flight and we had a great time onboard.

It was the best, most effective announcement I have ever heard to "fly the point home". Loved it. And then I look out the window and I see the luggage carts with the new banners on them, "I carry free bags".

Brilliant marketing at it's best.

A Southwest Flight Attendant

2 comments:

dan said...

that is really clever marketing - with the personal touch and making people feel good about their choice to fly that airline!