Some Southwest Airlines passengers had a pretty memorable flight to Hawaii. However, the internet doesn’t seem to be very impressed.
In this post:
Southwest’s inflight music lesson
Southwest Airlines posted to social media about a special surprise that was planned for passengers on a recent flight. Specifically, this was on the Friday, September 22, 2022, flight from Long Beach (LGB) to Honolulu (HNL). The airline teamed up with Guitar Center (the world’s largest musical instrument retailer) to give all passengers onboard a 20-minute introductory ukulele lesson. Passengers could even keep the instruments!
There’s a video online showing part of the lesson.
Well, that’s… unique
In fairness, it sees like most passengers are enjoying themselves (well, except the people with masks in the third row of the picture in the “D” and “E” seats). Furthermore, Southwest is known for being a “fun” airline, and this attitude is something that a lot of people like about flying with Southwest.
However, looking at the responses on Twitter paints a very different picture, as they’re overwhelmingly negative — you’d think Southwest dragged someone off a plane. Admittedly this may represent the vocal minority, but still, it seems to be about 90/10 as to whether people think this sounds awful or fun.
If Southwest Airlines is going to teach passengers something musical inflight, personally I’d much rather the airline give a lesson in the “Southwest Shuffle.”
Or there’s always the good old “Alaska Safety Dance,” though that’s not terribly relevant nowadays.
Bottom line
Credit to Southwest for doing something creative, as it’s not every day (or ever?) that you see an airline providing inflight music lessons. Personally I don’t think I would have enjoyed this, but then again, I probably also wouldn’t fly Southwest to Hawaii, so I’m not probably not the target demographic here.
I suspect this is a case where the internet feels differently than the passengers, but who knows…
What do you make of Southwest’s inflight ukulele surprise — yay or nay?
I would have loved to have been on that flight. Great idea!!! Way to go Southwest and Guitar Center!!!
How awful for the people who just wanted a quiet and peaceful flight and instead were forced into hearing trailer trash banging on ukuleles. Now that I know Southwest does this stuff, I'll make sure that if I fly again I'll never fly Southwest.
I think that was a great idea. Obviously people don’t know or care how fun ukulele is. But since people were flying to the land if the ukulele, why not?
Annoying and stupid. I would have requested a refund. Even if they paid me I would not have taken this flight. Exactly as others said that's why I don't fly Southwest or similar airlines.
So when did this flight operate? Friday, September 22? Does SWA have its own calendar or do their flights in the future fly in the past.
Just be glad they weren’t given accordions!
Or bagpipes...
Dangerous precedent being set for inflight in your face must do commercials. Look forward to more of these paid advertising forced upon paying customers.
And this is the reason I don't fly Southwest. The singing, dancing, joke telling, putting on a show, every have a texas style sing-a-long...OMG I'd have died on this flight. Positively inappropriate to torture people who just want a quiet boring flight. I get it that some people like this environment and that's what Southwest is known for. But for me personally, I just want quiet and a peaceful flight.
Coming from generally a miserable old git… there really are some miserable people in this world that will stab away with fat little digits at their keyboards complaining about anything they can lay their miserly little eyes on.
A 20 minute potential inconvenience with what was I’m sure a genuinely nice/playful *intent* and a free musical instrument…
What has the world come to.
American Airlines often targets and responds to Southwest. American Airlines should do the same thing but upon landing, tell people that they have exceeded their carry on allowance and will then have their bags seized and charged a checked bag fee.
I was on a SWA flight from Houston Hobby to Dallas and a flight attendant was playing one when we got on the plane. Longest hour flight of our lives. She thought she was really entertaining everyone. If she really wanted to entertain break out the beverage service.
You want privacy, go fly private. Overcrowded lounges, go fly private. Overbooked flights, go fly private. Lost luggage, go fly private.
Can't afford it? Suck it up, that's flying commercial. Entitlement issues are destroying America.
I don't get why people complain about this.
I would take a Ukulele over body odor, stinky foot, or misbehaved children or pets any day. Of course, if I could afford private this wouldn't be an issue. So I have to suck it up.
If Southwest intends to do this, then tell people before they book and let THEM decide if they want to be subjected to unplanned noise.
Nobody is saying there aren't people that want it but there are WAY MORE that wouldn't buy a ticket on that flight if they knew what was going to happen.
People make purchases based on expectations. Southwest changed it and they need clearly to know that doing so...
If Southwest intends to do this, then tell people before they book and let THEM decide if they want to be subjected to unplanned noise.
Nobody is saying there aren't people that want it but there are WAY MORE that wouldn't buy a ticket on that flight if they knew what was going to happen.
People make purchases based on expectations. Southwest changed it and they need clearly to know that doing so is NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THAT is the issue whether you can understand it or not.
I understand THAT issue that you have concerns.
However, Southwest doesn't have to ask THEM for permission. THEM can bring their business else where.
What Southwest are doing is fine and within their limits.
THAT issue is all about you feeling entitlement.
This would annoy the shit out of me. I probably already have work or video games or a show to catch up on lined up for the flight. It’s one thing to have an activity people can choose to engage in (e.g. Oktoberfest beers and soft pretzels on a flight to Munich), but that photo makes it looks like the activity was hard to ignore.
Im austistic and sensitive to noise. Even with my headphones this would definitely cause a panic attack. Who thought this was a good idea?
I would LOVE to be on a flight like this. Versus United: "Pretzels or Biscoff cookie? No, not both..."
As long as they announced it in the gate area before, gave people that didn't want to be on the plane denied boarding compensation twice the value of their ticket, and the ability to smash those guitars as soon as they got on the plane, sure.
The option, of course, is simply to put seatback entertainment on the aircraft like most airlines do to Hawaii and let people entertain themselves as they wish and...
As long as they announced it in the gate area before, gave people that didn't want to be on the plane denied boarding compensation twice the value of their ticket, and the ability to smash those guitars as soon as they got on the plane, sure.
The option, of course, is simply to put seatback entertainment on the aircraft like most airlines do to Hawaii and let people entertain themselves as they wish and ask people not to do something in-flight that interferes with other people's choices.
Feeling entitled?
If I get denied boarding compensation twice the value of the ticket every time I'm on an entitlement trip, I'd make millions by now.
I'd retire and just booking full fare tickets just to "I don't want to be on a plane with .....".
Even on Delta.
clearly you miss that the reason for even giving it is because an airline chose to significantly change the environment in which you were expected to spend five plus hours.
Finding a baby guitar on your seat as a "surprise" is no way to win friends and influence people.
Seems like it wasn't that long ago that we were talking about a group that sung religious songs and someone preached - and the majority...
clearly you miss that the reason for even giving it is because an airline chose to significantly change the environment in which you were expected to spend five plus hours.
Finding a baby guitar on your seat as a "surprise" is no way to win friends and influence people.
Seems like it wasn't that long ago that we were talking about a group that sung religious songs and someone preached - and the majority of comments were about the intrusion.
There is nothing that makes a ukelele any less intrusive just because everyone is given one and told to "join the fun"
I never doubt your entitlement.
As far as I know, the environment didn't change a bit. They provided you with transport from point A to point B.
And because you massive entitlement has blinded you, let me explain why is this different that your choir.
First, this was sanctioned by Southwest, that one wasn't. On that case the crew should have even stop the rogue passengers.
And not only is this one...
I never doubt your entitlement.
As far as I know, the environment didn't change a bit. They provided you with transport from point A to point B.
And because you massive entitlement has blinded you, let me explain why is this different that your choir.
First, this was sanctioned by Southwest, that one wasn't. On that case the crew should have even stop the rogue passengers.
And not only is this one on Southwest 'official', but the airline has kept neutral on religions. I wouldn't be surprised a bit if Chick-fil-A had choir praising the lord.
But at the end of the day, now you know what Southwest is like. To fly them or not is up to you. But don't feel greedy entitle for denied boarding compensation, especially not 'twice'. And you know @guitarcenter carry those baby guitars. Go smash them at will.
P.S. To my creepy stalking fanclub, you clearly need to improve your reading comprehension skills. If I won the MEGA Million jackpot I'd made a billion. That statement alone doesn't imply I'm a billionaire or not, nor do I need to confirm or deny that I'm a billionaire. But don't get shocked yet. You haven't seen some of the old masters, that I don't have to confirm or deny that I have.
What?? So you're NOT actually a millionaire?! I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!
LOL LOL LOL
Ugh. Yet another reminder on why I don’t fly Southwest.
Southwest and other low cost carriers are turning Hawaii into another Cancun. The islands are being inundated with hordes of low fare tourists who are seriously over stressing the infrastructure and resources of an extremely isolated and rare and delicate environment. The unique Hawaiian culture is being destroyed in the process.
"hordes of low fare tourists"
Wow.
The last thing I would want on my flight is a wannabe Tiny Tim.
Playing a ukulele is a great way to get yourself leid.
Fun move by southwest, but I’m honestly surprised they did this from a legroom/safety perspective as well.
1. Would all those fit under the seat in front of you for landing? I’d guess not from the length alone.
2. I have to assume with carryon bags, there wasn’t room for ALL of them in the overhead at landing.
Sobbing and having a panic attack? LOL
Some people are too fragile for this world
I think being in an aircraft with the engines, call beeps and all the other stuff that goes on during a flight I think he's either never flown before, or not invested in the mother of all noise cancelling headphones.
I'm sympathetic to those with disabilities, but I love people like this who sprint to Twitter to wail about it or any number of other scenarios. "AS SOMEONE WITH (lists 27 conditions), I COULD NEVER HANDLE THIS". If things were indeed as dire as they make it, they could never leave the house. And if true, they have no business complaining about air travel anyways.
"And this is when Cameron goes berserk"
If i had walked onboard and seen this, I would have walked right off and either rebooked for the next day or bought a ticket on Hawaiian. I have.
Wait….. , is Friday Sept 22 2022 a new thing or am I living 2 days in the past on Wednesday the 21st, 2022….or?…
Yeah think Ben you have mixed the dates up
Reason 457 why I'll never fly WN.