Flying is a means to an end, one of many methods of getting from point A to point B. For most travelers, the entire process of checking in, getting through the security line and waiting at the gate only to spend the next hour or more sitting next to strangers in a cramped space is more of a necessary hassle than a valuable part of the travel experience. Southwest Airlines, the United State's low-cost operator, seeks to change that.
Southwest employees do a shoot for "Bags Fly Free" — Photo courtesy of Irwin Thompson - Southwest Airlines
Besides flying checked bags for free and letting you choose your seat, Southwest has long offered another in-flight perk: humor. We've all sat through – and likely ignored – the pre-take off safety spiel and warnings to return your seat back and tray tables to their upright and locked positions before landing. The friendly crews on Southwest flights have managed to inject humor into even these seemingly mundane formalities.
For example, when introducing the plane's emergency exits, one flight attendant said, "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane." Another Southwest attendant recently quipped, "Simply fasten your belt and wear it like Britney Spears: low, tight, and across the waist."
Another attendant, when explaining the use of the plane's safety features joked, "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with two small children, decide now which one you love more."
You'll still have to deal with security lines at the airport, but at least the folks at Southwest will do their best to put a smile on your face once you board their plane. We leave you with one of our favorite rapping flight attendants.
