Air Safety Incidents For Southwest Airlines: Is It Safe To Fly?

With over 4,000 daily flights and a solid reputation as a dependable and customer-focused business, Southwest Airlines has remained a major player in the American aviation industry. Ever since its establishment in 1967, the airline has been committed to maintaining the highest safety standards, and it aims to continue doing so until 2024 & upcoming years too.

In this guide, Southwest Airlines’ safety record and standards are thoroughly discussed to help travelers make good decisions before flying.

How Safe is Southwest Airlines?

From a safety standpoint, Southwest Airlines remains excellent as of 2024. The airline has made sure to be transparent about safety concerns and has taken significant action to alter the company’s safety culture. Based on available data, significant investments in technology and training are being made to optimize passenger safety.

The following are a few elements that support its security:

• FAA Certification: Southwest Airlines has the best security measures available and is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They thus abide by the FAA’s extended safety regulations.

• Highly Qualified Crew: Pilots and cabin crew members make up Southwest Airlines’ highly qualified crew, which contributes to the airline’s exceptional safety record.

• Stable Fleet: A stable fleet of well-known Boeing and Airbus aircraft is flown by Southwest Airlines, guaranteeing safety through well-maintained technicalities.

• Safety Management System: After assessing any type of safety risk event, Southwest Airlines has created a safety management system that enhances safety precautions and may additionally correct organizational procedures.

Southwest Airlines Safety Record

Southwest Airlines has an excellent safety record. Even though there have only been a few minor air incidents in the past, the airline’s dedication to security was demonstrated by the enhancement and enforcement of tighter security measures.

In the most recent occurrence, which occurred during the first week of March 2024, a rear tire on the airline’s aircraft failed in San Francisco, forcing an emergency landing in Los Angeles. Since the emergency landing was successful, there were no injuries to passengers or crew members inside the aircraft.

In terms of safety concerns, such frequent occurrences have no bearing on Southwest Airlines’ overall and daily operations.

Nevertheless, Southwest Airlines remains one of the safest airlines to cease operations in the United States. The airline has a positive safety record because it has only experienced a very small number of major, fatal incidents or accidents since entering the field of safety management procedures.

Southwest Airlines Safety Reviews

It has been noted that customer opinions and reviews have prominently highlighted the airline’s strong points. Only a small percentage of travelers left negative reviews due to flight delays, which are typical in inclement weather or certain circumstances.

The following are the main conclusions, both favorable and unfavorable, from travelers’ point-of-view for Southwest Airlines’ safety:

Positive Evaluations

• A few travelers expressed their genuine admiration for the friendly assistance provided by the cabin staff and check-in agents in resolving any issues they may have had.

• The luxurious cabin, excellent seating, and adequate services provided during the flight were tolerated by the passengers.

• As a prominent US airline, it provides tariffs ranging from super-premium to economical classes, all with the appropriate guarantee of safety. The airlines can accommodate various passenger groups as a result.

Negative Evaluations

When compared to regular days, the responsive desk is unavailable to passengers during rush hours and certain seasons, due to which some passengers might seem frustrated. However, this issue is very uncommon with Southwest but the airline does its best to ensure its passenger’s comfort.

Southwest Airlines Safety Rating

As per AirlineRatings.com, Southwest has received a perfect safety rating of 7 out of 7 for the year 2023. However, Southwest Airlines is no longer ranked among the top 20 safest airlines globally, as it was in 2021.

Moreover:

• In terms of safety, the airline has demonstrated its dedication to safety by emphasizing pilot training and obtaining FAA certification for a portion of its pilots.

• The airline complies with and adheres to some of the strictest safety regulations in the world since it holds an FAA Air Operator Certificate.

• The pilots employed by Southwest Airlines are regularly trained and are exceptionally skilled.

• The airline has very few incidents on file, but there have been no reports of injuries to passengers recently.

Should you fly Southwest Airlines?

Naturally, there isn’t an airline that suits every traveler. These travelers might disagree that Southwest is the greatest:

• Journeys outside of a hub: Southwest Airlines flights may be slightly more scarce. It might be difficult for customers who live outside of the airline’s normal service area to find the desired flight because it does not fly to nearly as many locations as, say, United.

• Passengers who need Premium perks: Travelers who consider first-class or other high-class travel benefits will be extremely disappointed to hear that Southwest does not provide this service. If seats are still available at the gate, you can upgrade your boarding position for an additional cost. The Business Select fare does guarantee an early boarding position. However, it’s best to look elsewhere if you’re looking for greater legroom, roomier seats, or lounge access.

• Travelers who want to select their seats: Selecting a different airline may be a good idea for passengers who prefer to select their seats or who are adamant about sitting with family or friends. Between the A and B boarding groups, there is family boarding; if you miss it, you might have to sit apart.

Additional Safety Considerations of Southwest Airlines

Airlines aren’t just about style and comfort, of course. When deciding whether or not to fly with Southwest, there are additional considerations.

• Dependability: It’s a little difficult to pinpoint Southwest’s general dependability. Out of the 20 airlines graded for on-time performance, Southwest came in at number 13 in the Punctuality League Report 2023 published by the aviation rating website OAG. Southwest ranked fourth out of 15 airlines based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s on-time arrival rankings from the January 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report, with a percentage of 77.5.

• General Cost: Depending on how and where you travel, flying Southwest can be a great value when you take advantage of free carry-on and two free checked bags. However, the airline isn’t always the cheapest.

• Loyalty Program: On every flight, Southwest Rapid Rewards offers an infinite number of rewards seats with no blackout dates and points that never expire. Flying Southwest will also earn you points; with the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card, you can accrue points for regular online purchases made through the airline’s website and its travel partners.

Unique Southwest Perks

• Companion Pass: It should come as no surprise that Southwest stands out among other airlines. It is among the few American airlines that provide two complimentary checked bags in addition to a carry-on and a personal item. The airline also offers an extremely useful Companion Pass, which is a ticket that lets you designate a travel companion to fly for free (well, less taxes and fees) each time you use cash or points to book a flight.

• Southwest Getaway: The “Southwest Wanna Get Away” fare is the most affordable option for customers looking to travel for the least amount of money. It is particularly intended for travelers whose main goal is to get to their destination as cheaply as possible and who don’t anticipate having a lot of demand for any particular seat or other facility. For detailed information, refer to our guide to Southwest Wanna Get Away Fares.

Southwest Safety Culture

At Southwest Airlines, a strong corporate culture of safety exists. From the lowest frontline positions to the highest levels of executive management, it imbues the concepts of safety. The foundation of SWA’s safety culture is continuous improvement, with an emphasis on identifying and reducing risks before they become problems.

While there have been some safety issues with Southwest Airlines, the company has swiftly resolved them. For instance, a passenger experienced a fatality in 2018 when one of its engines failed. The airline moved quickly to enhance its engine inspection process and adjust safety protocols to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Southwest Airlines Safety Management System

At Southwest Airlines, a safety management system (SMS) is a comprehensive approach to workplace and operational safety. This calls for keeping an eye on safety performance, spotting hazards, evaluating and reducing associated risks, and promoting a culture of safety.

Customers and staff arrive safely and on time when they work together. According to Southwest Airlines, every action it takes to ensure safety—including looking out for one another—matters. Therefore, its goal is to create an empowered culture.

Final Words

Should you book a flight on Southwest or is it a bad airline? Most of the time, the response is in the middle. There is a high level of customer satisfaction. Flight cancellation and modification flexibility have always been excellent with Southwest. A major benefit is that all flights include free checked bags.

However, the drawbacks/disadvantages might include the absence of first-class benefits and seat assignments, which may be factors to take into account. The degree to which these realities are unavoidable depends mainly on the individual traveler. Southwest is an excellent airline that offers comfort at a reasonable cost, all things considered.

Frequently Asked Questions