Southwest #1189

From: Denver (DEN)

To: Midway (MDW)

Date and time: Sunday, February 21 - 4:50pm (Mountain)

Gate: C46

Gate/Pilot Announcements: Standard fare, with one brilliant exception. After an additional wait of ten minutes, the gate agent came on to announce that our crew had been located and were on the way.

AGENT: "Now, everybody say woo-hoo!"

PASSENGERS: "..."

AGENT: "Oh, come on - you can do that better than that ...?"

PASSENGERS: "..."

Takeoff: Smooth, minimal de-icing delays.

Flight Attendant Service: Good delivery - beverages were distributed with a cheery "Water . . . coffee . . . and cheap red wine!"

Food: Southwest peanuts - no longer honey-roasted. I see this as a positive, as "honey roasted" to me is thin code for "unnecessary sugar."

In-flight Entertainment: Nothing official, although Olen Steinhauer's The Tourist proved a welcome distraction.

Turbulence: None!

Passenger Behavior: Aside from the huge dude squeezed in next to me in 5E, not much worth noting.

Landing: Considering Southwest's track record of snowy landings at Midway, I was a little worried. I'm not making fun here, folks . . . I was concerned. Happy to report that all went well and I didn't even mind the long delay waiting for an open gate.

Notes: I'm firing Tina, my travel coordinator. She booked the return leg of my United flight for the 21st of March - not February. After scrambling to book a one-way Southwest ticket ($300 - poof), I found myself stuck in Concourse C of the East Terminal along with all the other peasants. FML indeed. Food and libation choices were scarce, but I did find a little-used "Additional Seating" section (primo people watching) perched high above the moving walkways near my gate. Silver linings.

Overall rating: One carry-on and one personal item.

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