SOUTHWEST AIRLINES... Now that's what I call real spirit and heart!

This photo was sent to me

by our warrior EE

and oh how I love that papertrail!

Thanks friend!

I just love

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES!

Of all the flying I do in the friendly skies, I have always had a marvelous time on Southwest!

That heart you see with the wings around it, surely do symbolize all that they do on a daily basis to give us a flight that is all that we could hope for; from the tickets that are still affordable, to

OUR BAGS FLY FREE

and the attendents that greet you as you enter the plane.

More often than not you have the opportunity to meet your pilots

and

they are all friendly, knowledgable,

professional and with great humor

as they take to the skies and get you where you are going!

I've laughed even when weary at some of the drills you are put through with the standard,

You cannot smoke on the airline

to the oxygen instructions

and even at times when the person who boards you does the final count,

and is about to leave the plane will come on the microphone and wish us all a wonderful flight,

ends his little talk by telling us to enjoy ourselves on our way to

"a state we are not headed"

only to see if someone notices!

YES

Let's all remember we do have choices where we fly

and

what airline we choose to take us there!

...

I'm sure it has not been lost on anyone the recent new of the airline known as "Spirit"; the one that has made the news of late.

We all now wonder how this airline continues to find its way off the ground.

Yes, I am the first to agree that there must be rules and regulations that govern the life we live, rules that are set in place to maintain order, and that allow business to thrive and survive and prosper.

I believe in prospering myself,

and do indeed think that customer service is something that good business must continually balance with common sense and a governing body.

I also believe that all rules must be as we each are; strong enough to bend at times for the overall good of community and the spirit of those in need and the spirit of the well being of paying it forward.

WITH THAT SAID...

Spirit put themselves in a rather bad light with a Veteran who had made reservations and plans to visit a loved one on their airplane.

No he did not purchase their protection plan; many of us save where we can, and don't think to do that as we don't anticipate a change of our plans.

HOwever, this man; then discovered that his health would not allow him to make this flight; had his oncologist tell him that to fly would place him in harms way.

He now is a hospice patient; and he then went to SPIRIT and explained the situation and asked for an exception to their rule to be made

...

Yes,

the rule says, "NO exceptions/no refunds", Period."

However,

would it have really pained them?

Would it have altered their budgets, or caused them angst to handle this with compassion, out of the lime lights and press that has now cost them their very "spirit reputation?"

Could they have prevented a hospice patient emotional distress?

Does it really matter that he is a Veteran of the service more than that he is a customer of an airline who after buying a $197.00 ticket now has a health crisis that is preventing him from safely flying

and now needs a break from a million dollar company;

to show a bit of compassion?

REally?

Spirit Airlines "chose" to show their lack of compassion, care, and true business lunacy to this man as they demonstrated a lack of values in a service industry filled with choices under the leadership of the CEO

Ben Baldanza.

Once again the power of people outraged, and willing to STAND UP;

have shown Mr Baldanza that we will not tolerate lack of spirit, caring, and that we do have choices.

On Facebook a group was launched to let Spirit know just how powerful people are.

In two days it grew to over 30+ thousand people saying enough is enough Mr Ben B and lack of Spirit.

And finally it seems that Spirit gets it.

What is rather comical in this to me

is that Mr Baldanza issued the most insincere apology to this veteran I've heard lately as he stated he is "personally out of pocket going to repay this gentleman his $197.00).

I had to laugh out loud.

Do we think it will hurt him, or bankrupt Spirit airlines to give back

$197.00 to a customer?

I do believe the old saying

"you get what you pay for"

yet I find it amazing that Spirit airlines tauts itself to be the lowest cost airline up in the skies.

IF you can find a flight; IF you can afford the bottled water offered;

IF you want a cocktail or beer and have a credit card with that much dough on it.

As Bob Hope must have had a crystal ball long ago,

next they will charge $5.99 for the oxygen per mile once at 32,000 feet;

the window seat will have a pay slot and the shade will roll up as long as you feed it bills per 20 second views.

NOW

Spirit announces its new add on fees.

$100.00 per carry on bag.

oh goodie, guess they will catch up on that personal check to the veteran in the first two bags

so the CEO can then go out for a grand dinner!

Yep you get what you pay for!

And yes

folks will carry on bags like you have never ever seen before,

the likes that make u look sideways, upside down and right side up;

some will amaze, amuse, and disgust;

yet I can't help but wonder at times how they can still manage A cellphone in one hand while holding coffee in their teeth,

they still do it all!

...

Bravo Mr Meekins, I'm happy you got your $197. from the CEO of Spirit; that you were able to drive to see your beloved family, I'm happy to hear you are in the care of hospice and pray you will find support and pain-free days.

I thank you for your service to our Nation.

And yes, we should all buy that protection insurance...

And still

I will tell you,

if they gave me a ticket today

I will NOT support an airline

called spirit

if they offered to fly me to Hawaii and put me up at the Hilton for a week.

Some things are just wrong.

As for me?

GIVE ME A FLIGHT ON SOUTHWEST!

Where they treat you well,

fly you with a smile, and safety,

where my heart is surrounded by the wings and the bags fly free

along with prices that are affordable and understanding seems to honor their mission/values set forth by a CEO that gets customer service.

Of course everyone has an off day,

even those lovely flight attendents

but overall

on SOUTHWEST

they make for an enjoyable flight

and

did I mention

 my bags fly free?

Oh I just had a grand time as I watched folks board on my last flight on Southwest!

I even enjoyed a conversation with the pilot before we took off as he was heading home to his family letting me know about him and his love of flying, his love of his company! Tried as I tried he just wouldn't let me ride on his lap though! Darn the bad luck on that one!!!

I look forward to the day when they add spirit to their fleet

and throw those colors and the heart with wings showing their compassion and spirit

for all of us!

As for the CEO of what is now the joke of the airline industry,

best of all things to ya

bells cannot be unrung

you have shown us who you are sir.

The people with true spirits have spoken,

they have STOOD UP.

Now let's take

Gary Kelly, CEO of

Southwest Airlines,

a man who realizes that people are the power behind sucess and the reason the planes stay in the sky!

Bravo Gary; you live your vision/mission

and compassion is the name of your heart surrounded by the wings

and I thank YOU sir!

We have choices

and

WE CHOOSE TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT

as businesses, individuals, CEO's make decisions that affect/infect

all in our communities, states, nations and across the globe.

Have the best day ever friends,

and when you book that next flight;

may your choices be wise,

your flight be fantastic

and

I hope you see angels dancing on the clouds.

Let us all hope we don't have to feed a slot near the window seat for the shade to lift for a view out there

nor for the oxygen to drop down in order to breath per minute as we are in the air,

nor to have to pay to pee

as the friendly skies

find ways to make a buck

when offering a deal on fares.

lovin me SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

oh I forgot to tell ya,

they even sent me a birthday card this year!

Now that is customer service at its finest!

Walk in beauty,

LAUGH TIL YOUR RIBS HURT AND SMILE AT EVERYONE YOU SEE

JUST COS' YOU WOKE UP TODAY

AND YOU CAN!

DRSES

keepin it real

www.sherryeshowalter.com