Dear Southwest Airlines-
The gig's up. Please stop sending me free drink coupons. I appreciate the gesture, but no amount of alcohol could help me forget last week. Waking up at 6:30 am to your text message from that said "SWA Flight 11 at 9:30 am is cancelled" is just . . . well . . . its no way for a girl to wake up. You didn't even say "Good Morning." Or "I'm sorry." You should know that breaking plans by text message is not acceptable.
I'm embarrassed to admit it now, but my first response (after stumbling out of bed) was to check online to see when you would be available to take me out again. You weren't available until 11. That's wasn't any good since I had to make an appearance in court at 1. For my job. So, I called you and plead my case. I explained that I HAD to get on an earlier flight. For my job. You told me that the earlier flights were booked and that my aircraft required routine maintenance. That's right, after making plans with me, you broke them so you could perform routine maintenance. That's like cancelling a date so you wash your hair.
The soonest you could get on a flight to Houston was at 11. In a sugary-sweet, patronizing voice, you asked me, "Will this be okay?"
No, this is NOT okay.
You promised to give me a ride at 9:30 in the morning. You knew it was important for me to get to Houston. I paid you an agreed fare and you promised you would be there for me at the agreed time. Then you cancelled our plans by text.
I know what it's like to have routine maintenance. Sometimes my eyebrows need plucking. Sometimes my hair needs a trim. Other times my fingernails need filing. My makeup always needs refreshing. But I manage to make it to appointments--personal and professional-- on time. Texting my boss and to let her know that I will be three hours late for "routine maintenance" isn't really an option-- I would be fired on the spot.
The soonest you could get on a flight to Houston was at 11. In a sugary-sweet, patronizing voice, you asked me, "Will this be okay?"
No, this is NOT okay.
You promised to give me a ride at 9:30 in the morning. You knew it was important for me to get to Houston. I paid you an agreed fare and you promised you would be there for me at the agreed time. Then you cancelled our plans by text.
I know what it's like to have routine maintenance. Sometimes my eyebrows need plucking. Sometimes my hair needs a trim. Other times my fingernails need filing. My makeup always needs refreshing. But I manage to make it to appointments--personal and professional-- on time. Texting my boss and to let her know that I will be three hours late for "routine maintenance" isn't really an option-- I would be fired on the spot.
But that is exactly what you told me last week. And somehow, you think you can get away with that. You can't. I'm disappointed in you Southwest. We've gone a great many places together, but I can't rely on you to get me where I need to be for work. That's really too bad for you because I fly for work at least once a week. I'll still use you when I don't have anywhere I have to be . . . but as for business travel, you're fired.
Of course, I don't think you'll miss me much--I've read that book called "He's Just Not That In to You." You should read it too, because canceling a date is the most effective way of communicating "I'm just not that in to you." I'm off to find an airline who is in to me. Or at least one that compensates my time lost with frequent flier miles. I'm just too old for airlines (or men) who have to liquor me up to maintain a relationship. Keep your coupons--I deserve better.
Sincerely,
SEE
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