Over the past few months, the more I fly Southwest Airlines across the USA, the more I realize that as an airline, they understand the needs of the business traveler better than the older and higher priced airlines.
One of the things I’m seeing more and more of are their powered seats in the departure areas of the terminal. Forget about fighting for the power outlet (if you can find them). Southwest has put power outlets in their comfortable seats right at the gates. What’s more they have also put in a series of bar height work stations also complete with power outlets.
So what does this mean? Well for starters a better work experience. Coupled with Boingo hotspot access in Chicago’s Midway Airport and at Oakland’s International Airport I was able to check email, surf the web and have some Instant Messaging conversations just before I got on the plane and just after.
During a recent trip to San Jose and Phoenix’s airports I saw the same thing, as well as in Seattle. These work stations make it easy to really get work done at the airports, and since Southwest doesn’t have an airport lounge for business travelers the chairs and the work tops provide all I need to get things done.
Southwest Airlines is clearly a Working Anywhere Approved airline.