The Bus in the Sky By David Wygant
Its summer travel season and I am off to Hawaii tomorrow, so i thought i would share a recent travel related adventure with you all….
By the way airports are great places to meet people.
Recently I was sitting in the Las Vegas airport and I realized – why would anybody actually want to fly Southwest?
They just landed the flight, you get three minutes to board the plane so they remain on time – basically I think Southwest should just move all of their terminals to the Greyhound bus terminal, because really Southwest is just the bus in the sky.
Everybody’s lined up in their little groups like robots, waiting to get on the plane. They then hustle on the plane so that they can go find a seat next to somebody they don’t want to sit next to in the first place – really if you think about it, flying on Southwest is a great way to meet people. You can pick and choose whom you want to sit next to!
On the plane ride here, I actually got on the plane and I was going to sit down, and there was this perfect seat in the front of the plane. This guy was sitting there in the corner all by himself, and everybody was walking by him and I couldn’t figure out why.
So I go put my bag in the overhead compartment, and as I start to sit down, all I can smell is the lovely smell of underarm sweat! Apparently, this man didn’t believe in using deodorant.
It’s amazing that a person can get on an airplane in a public place and smell like they just finished a six-hour workout. He smelled so bad, he made Burger King and McDonald’s smell delicious – which is definitely a tough thing to do.
So as I was waiting for the bus in the sky to get home, I realized it’s just not the most civil and humane way to do it. So now I’ve decided that Southwest needs to land in the middle of the city, basically right next to the Greyhound buses, so you have the two options.
This plane I’m on right now has been to six places – it went from Midland to Albuquerque to Phoenix to Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Some people actually got on in Albuquerque to save $3.50 over all the rest of the airlines so that they can spend six hours in the sky instead of spending just two hours flying direct from Albuquerque to LA. Time is worth more to me than saving $3.50!
It’s pretty amazing, because I once flew Southwest – well, I had to, there was nothing else to fly – Southwest is generally my last option. I flew on this flight that took me from LA to St. Louis and I was sitting down next to someone who was going to Long Island, New York. He had six stops to get there!
It is literally a bus – it flies up in the air, touches down for three and a half minutes, everyone hustles like a bunch of sheep to get on the plane. The cheery Southwest flight attendants then tell some kind of joke – and they are pretty good, they’re a lot better than the sourpusses that work for American Airlines and United.
I asked the guy with six stops going to Long Island how much his airfare was and he told me it was like $265. Do you know I fly to New York City regularly on American Airlines for $299? I told him that he’d saved $34 to spend the entire day on the airplane, and he said, “huh. I guess the commercials don’t tell the truth!”
Let me tell you guys – I’m a huge fan of saving time. If you think about it, unless you are socializing in the aisles of the airplane, flirting with everybody on there – what’s the point of being up there for nine hours just to save $34?
It’s just not worth the extra time. I’d rather spend my time in the airport, flirting with the person next to me, having some fun and exchanging phone numbers – and then getting on that plane knowing that I had a good time and I can get somewhere automatically.
You don’t really need to fly a bus in the sky. I think that Southwest should change the shape of their planes to look like buses.
One more thing about flying – on a 45-minute flight, you really don’t need to give out peanuts and water and everything else. You don’t need to feed the people for 45 minutes! It’s ridiculous – people can survive not eating for 45 minutes. It’d actually do some people good!
Perhaps instead of offering peanuts, they should offer some stretching exercises instead. People don’t need to be entertained 24/7.
How about this idea: how about a speed dating event in an airplane for 45 minutes – that would be more fun!
Lucky for you David that you have this blog to vent on .. haha
But it is amazing what people will do just to save a few bucks.
Like bying cheap ass copy`s of brand name food that taste like
crap..
speed dating on the airplane awesome idea!
meeting people in the airports are fun, there are so many things to talk about!!
Hey, I know! You could get your own pilot’s license! Now that’s travelling in style. Plus, if ever there was a comfortable way to join the Mile High Club….
– Patrick
Hey man here’s my story,
I am a recent college graduate looking for work. I’ve sort of slacked on the job search because I just discovered the seduction community and have spent an inordinant amount of time reading books and going in field. This is something I really want to get good at.
So I have a question-play ‘life-coach’ for a minute and put yourself in my place. Would you consider picking up, and moving to a bigger city, (like Dallas, New York or Los Angeles) where there are more PUAs to learn from? Do you believe that being in a place where there is a stronger lair dramatically helps a students learning curve?
Right now i’m basically on my own, I have no body to advise me in person. I’ve been told by some people in the community that it would be worth it to move, but I don’t want to get burned once I get to a new city by finding out that PUAs will only talk to me if I give them all my money. What would you do if you were a newbee that is at this moment is able to start his career in any city in America?
The reason for moving wouldn’t be just to learn attraction, or pick-up. But I would consider curving my job search around notable areas with strong lairs.
Any advice would be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks man,
Neitzcshe
David, David, David — such an airline snob you are … and so wrong about Southwest Airlines!!! It is head and shoulders the best airline out there
Gee, I’m trying to imagine what exactly you dislike – the great fares? The EFFICIENT 20 minute boarding process? The most on-time airline in the industry? The fact that they feed you abd give you beverages for free on every flight? Or is it that their employees are virtually all friendly?
Yeah … You’re right … Nothing to like there!!
Buses are fun…. if you are in Europe ;p
neitzcshe,
I don’t know where you live but you should not ask yourself if the city has a strong enough lair for you to move to. You should ask yourself which city will have the most to offer you in terms of doing the things you want and love.
Obviously, having friends or any form or support group will surely help you tremendously accelerate your learning curve. But let me ask you something: why are you wanting to learn pickup? Are you wanting to bed an endless stream of women or do you want to build yourself into an attractive man.
The path is very different for the 2 of them.
Also, who are your influences while you are learning this “pickup”? What you may soon find out is that a lot of wannabe PUAs aren’t very fun to hang out with. You learning to hang out with cool guys might teach you more about pickup than hanging out with PUAs. Better, you hanging out with hot girls will teach you more about pickup.
So what is it that you really want?
Nietsche
Stay right here…….we cover it all!!!
Khiem:
That’s a fair question. I will begin by saying that I have no influences in this field. I am relatively young, and the industrial trade of advice in this area of social interaction is a new one to me. Only recently have I discovered ‘the community’. It’s teachings have instilled in me a revolutionary new method of thinking, one that I have embraced: with the cultivation of enough social skills, just as I am able to become friends with any male, I can also attract just about any woman. It is an enlightening and highly exciting concept. It is one that I now believe in. This mindset is different from what I and, I’d wager from talking to my friends, the vast majority of men believe.
I used to be terrified at the very thought of approaching strange people, until I tried it- and got friendly responses. Today I feel confident approaching girls that I would have considered “out of my league” this time, say, 3 years ago. The idea that any person would hold more intrinsic value as a friend or a romantic partner is a harmful concept of which I am happy to have rid myself. This enlightened self belief is, to my knowledge, the greatest legacy of the community, and the core of it’s philosophy.
That said, it seems that being attractive, and developing socially into the best person that we can be is something that should be learned and practiced. Naturally, I am shy. It has taken effort to come out of my shell. But just as one learns sports, or medicine, or philosophy, by surrounding themselves with athletes, doctors and philosophers- those who want to learn to sharpen their social abilities would be best served in a community that is willing and able to help them. That is what logic would seem to imply. However, from your post it appears that you don’t believe that to be true. It seems that from your experience those in the ‘community’ aren’t always helpful, and that associating with them can be counterintuitive. I really don’t know, that’s why I’m here asking; and I appreciate the implications behind your answer.
Looking at my question, I suppose it is a bit sophomoric. The very use of the term ‘pick-up’ is probably the worst possible dysphemism for what I would like to become. I am simply looking to better myself as a person and be able to develop a skill to increase the amount of options in my life. I’m not looking to manipulate or bull shit anyone. The possibilities the community has opened to me are exciting. I simply want to evolve in this realm as much as possible.
P. S. Regarding the two paths given: I’m not sure that they are mutually exclusive, but I assure you that my intentions are genuine. It doesn’t seem like I would necessarily have to pick one over the other. I would like to become more attractive- the residual affect would imply that I would get laid more often- or at least, have the option to do so.
Fair enough?
-Nietzcshe
Nietzcshe,
You have a good head on your shoulder and you seem very intelligent. I like that. I personally like the fact that you are taking steps to grow as a person and becoming a more social, more powerful, more attractive man.
After reading your response, I realize that I didn’t describe the 2 paths very well. This is why they don’t seem mutually exclusive.
My experience with the Community is actually very positive but like in anything else, you have 2 sides. You have the helpful side of the Community which I consider any of the guys that follow a more or less “natural” approach to pickup. Then there’s the heavily technical side which I found can lead you down very dark areas.
Obviously, the natural camp can also lead you to dark places if you get the wrong focus but overall, it’s a healthier side and the people who you will find there to help you are less likely to give you negative thought cycles.
Honestly, I only categorize heavily technical guys as “the Community”. Most guys that fall under the natural camp don’t really consider themselves part of thte Community. So it’s my bad if my use of words didn’t convey properly what I wanted to say.
Overall, you SHOULD find guys that are better than you and that have similar goals to you to help you grow socially. Social skills are best learned in person and going out. Reading books and attending seminars only prepare you for “the real thing”.
From my own personal experience, if you decide to follow the natural path, you won’t typically find those “natural” cool guys through lairs. You only find them through forums if they are active online. Most lairs tend to attract the technical guys more because they spend more time debating what’s the next best technique, rather than going out there, having fun and meeting people.
Now regarding you becoming more attractive and enhancing your social lifestyle, you will get more options because you now have an influx of people (women included) coming into your life.
When I asked you if your goal was to just bed girls, I meant are you simply looking for techniques to bed girls? And that would imply that you prefer a technical approach to pickup.
Nice blog!
)
My favorite part about airplanes are always the first 20 minutes and the last 20 minutes, because i get to see all the landscape and all the other jazz during take off and landing.
But besides all that airplane seat has got to be some of the most uncomfortable thing to sit on, with the little space you sit on, is literally like sitting on a giant brick against your ass.
Not to mention airplane food has got to be the worst food made on this earth. (besides the dinner roll with butter ofcourse
However i always end up knowing everything about the person sitting next to me, and become good frind with him/her after the plane ride, which is a plus after all the uncomfortablness you have to go through with the airfare.
Thanks Kheim,
I appreciate the clarification. You’ll have to spoon feed me until I’m up on the jargon.
Now I understand what you’re saying.
Although I am on the outside of both ‘communities’ I would guess that the mechanical guys aren’t happy about having to script entire conversations. But isn’t the goal to use those for a few months until you’ve gained some confidence, or social knowledge (”game”) and ultimately shed them for a natural interaction style? I’d hope so.
By ‘naturals’ are you referring to people who are natural AND aware of the ‘community’? I would imagine so. But the obvious paradox is this: why would a natural need the community at all? Are there naturals that go to lair meetings to partake in whatever goes on there, if they aren’t there to lead the proceedings (I have no idea what happens at lair meetings)? I would guess not. So it would seem that a natural A. wouldn’t pursue the community even if he found out about it and B. wouldn’t get nothing from it even if he did. So it’s no wonder that naturals wouldn’t be part of the community. They don’t need to be. The essence of being a natural is that they have whatever factor it is that leads them to the ’success’ that the non-naturals need to break down to achieve.
So now we are left with people who do need it, or want it. We aren’t all naturals. Here is the big point in this message: What would you or David suggest for those who aren’t naturals? Do you frown upon using palm readings and scripted openers and other mechanisms that allow you to see what it should look like to attract women? Or would you recommend going in totally natural with nothing in mind and just starting conversations and getting good that way? Isn’t it easier to have success if you learn scripted game first? In your opinion does learning scripted game hinder ones ability to learn natural game when they choose to do so?
Could you expand on what you’re referring to as ‘the dark side’?
To answer your question. I think I’m looking for what everyone my age is. The ability to attract chicks they are interested in. I’ve had girl friends in high school and college, but I knew them. I would like to have the ability to cold approach with consistency. Like I said at the beginning, I am hoping to move to a newer, bigger city as soon as I find a job. Having more social skills in this area will help me meet people and get along. That’s why I’m consulting the wise.
P. S. I want you guys to know that you seem like sincere and good people. There are so many crooks and conmen in this community. It’s kind of embarrassing. I’m happy I found this blog. I will be contributing.
>>>>>To Nietzcshe
Forget about where to work based on our pussy options…Just go where your best career options would be and the pussy will follow:-)
This blog is dear to my heart since I have been an Elite flyer for years and avoid Southwest like the plague. Having said that, it is the only profitable airline for years so I guess they are doing something right. I almost always get upgraded to first class and avoid cattle,err, I mean coach class. It makes a little more tolerable flying these days…Pre 911, being an Elite flyer was da bomb…Now it just makes flying with all its hassles and crazy fees just tolerable. I flew Southwest once and the boarding method gave me the creeps, I still have nightmares about it!
David, with all the flying you do you should be an Elite flyer and easily get upgraded to first class…what the hell were you doing flying Southwest?? And the myth that Southwest is cheaper is just a myth and good marketing. Any questions on how to maximize your flying and hotel staying experience let me know…
haha, (Patrick mentioned it) I came to think of the Mile High Club as well
I don’t live in the US, so I wouldnt know anything about the SW Airlines :s
To Nietzsche:
What is “the Community”?
David – Thanks for the kind words about our flight attendants – most of them do try to make flying a pleasant experience! I am, of course, sorry that you were subject to the unpleasant odor of another Customer while onboard on of our flights. While I would never wish that on anyone, the good news is, with our unique open-seating policy, you could have moved to another seat (if any were still available, of course).
You make some interesting suggestions for our operation…
We actually love your idea for speed-dating, and we sponsored several speed-dating events this past Valentine’s Day. Love is a popular theme at Southwest, and you wouldn’t believe how many letters we receive a year from Customers who have met and fallen in love onboard our aircraft (which they often attribute to our open-seating policy).
While we won’t be changing our planes to look like busses anytime soon, the Onion actually ran a funny story not long ago that had a mock-photo of just that (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/southwest_airlines_now_taking), which was pretty funny, since we actually have a Southwest shuttle bus at our headquarters in Dallas that looks just like the one they created.
As for landing in the middle of the city, well…we try to whenever we can! Southwest has a long history of operating in secondary airports that are often less congested and closer to city centers. Of course, that’s not always an option, but if you’ve ever flown into Dallas Love Field, Burbank, Chicago Midway, or Houston Hobby, you know what I mean.
But, to the question you posed, “Why would anybody actually want to fly Southwest?” Well, Southwest carriers more Customers than any airline in the United States, so we must be doing something right. I think some of our loyal customers would say:
-Consistently low fares
-The best ontime record in the industry
-The best Customer Service record in the industry
-No hidden or added fees (Southwest has never charged a change fee and has always allowed Customers to reapply unused funds to future travel)
-Open-seating (although we know there is a segment of the traveling public that doesn’t care for our unique open-seating policy, our loyal Customers actually prefer it and were very vocal about it when we proposed making a change to assigned seating on our blog about a year and a half-ago, see: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/a-message-from-our-ceo-open-season-on-assigned-seating ).
-You always get a human being on the line when you call us.
-If you write to us, you get a personalized and researched response.
-Unlike almost all other major carriers, Southwest has never had Employee layoffs in its 37 year history.
-Unlike almost all other major carriers, Southwest has never filed for bankruptcy and remains profitable, which tells our Customers that we are a stable company that can be relied on for consistent service.
Indeed our aircrafts spend less time on the ground than those of other airlines. It’s part of our low-fare/low-cost model of operational efficiency. However, I must take issue with your claim that you sat next to a man that paid $265 for a six-stop flight to Long Island! While all airlines’ aircraft fly routes that make numerous stops throughout the day, Southwest will never sell an itinerary that includes more than two stops, and for exactly the reasons you suggest – it would be ridiculous, unpleasant, and not worth a fare difference of $34. Check our schedule out online for evidence (http://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/showItinerary). Even one of our longest flights from Los Angeles to Long Island, will, at most, make two stops with one change of planes. It’s also worth noting that the vast majority of flights we sell are nonstop.
While you may find a lower fare at times on another airline, statistically Southwest is the nation’s leading low fare carrier, offering more consistently low fares than any other airline.
So, again, thanks for the kind words about our Flight Attendants. And if you happen to find yourself onboard one of our aircraft again in the future, I hope you are on a low-fare, nonstop flight to a small uncongested airport in the middle of town, and seated next to an attractive and charming young lady that smells like roses (wink)!
Until then…take care!
Paula Berg
Southwest Airlines
David: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You know 46 is the new 26!!! Enjoy all that is you on your special day.
Jim
Thanks and as far as i am concerned age means nothing except all the great wisdom it brings!!!
Paula
Thanks for the great post!!
I am an airline snob.
I am platinum on American and will always fly them unless they don’t go to a certain place or another airline has more options and it is a short jump.
Being platinum means I
Board first and never ever get shut out in overhead space.
Get double miles for each flight.
Always sit in the exit row when by chance i am not upgraded.
Priority check in lines if i need to check luggage which i never ever do.
Priority security lines so can fly right through security.
Plus as you know many more benefits……I really do not like the cattle and sheep herding feeling that i get when i fly southwest.
But you are right it makes money and the flight attendents are much nicer than american.
But i can do without the smiling face asking me if i want drinks or peanuts….i prefer that all flight attendents leave me alone when i am flying.
I like to read…sleep….meditate and i bring my own supplies with me so i always politely tell them that they can skip me and attend to the other passengers….
I am a very easy person to fly with and i do not ever put my suitcase sideways…wheel first.!!
The people who put it sideways are the same people who drive like they are the only ones on the road in the left lane going 55!!
I had the pleasure of dating an AA Platinum Member a few years back, and certainly reaped a few of the benefits that you listed. Emergency Exit row to Rome was a treat I will never enjoy on my humble little airline, so I know what you mean. While we can’t be all things to all people, we try to do what we do as well as it can be done! I have to admit that I do fly AA on occasion when SWA does not fly to the destination I need (like Springfield, MO), so perhaps I will see you onboard sometime. I’ll be sure not to wake you
To Paula:
Your response here shows that Southwest is a class operation. You do your thing very very well. I must admit I flew you once when I won a prize to Seaworld and was okay with it (even though that boarding process still gives me panic attacks) and my 4 year old at the time loved the flight attendants. I have been an Elite flyer for years with Northwest and it is hard to do away with the perks (as David intimately knows) of being an Elite. Now that the mother of all bad airlines is buying Northwest I am seriously thinking about retiring from the game, it’s just not as fun as it used to be.
Thanks again for replying here!
JustMe,
“The Community” is a term used to refer to the Seduction Community (aka the Pick-up Artist Community).
Nietzcshe,
Most mechanical guys never get out of using scripts b/c they’ve trained and conditioned their minds to rely on them. As such, they lose their ability to be spontaneous and improvise.
By “Naturals”, I refer to both guys who learned it on their own… and those who learned it through the Community. The difference between the natural camp and the more technical camps is that naturals focus on developing their self-esteem, confidence and belief system FIRST. They focus on making you feel attractive and acting out based on your desires and instinct. You are to tap into your masculine core and learn to vibe and create a moment with women.
David and I would definitely frown on you using palm reading and scripted openers. You can re-use certain openers over and over again.. that still doesn’t make it a script. You are using a script when you are saying things with a specific response in mind. Even if you get good at knowing all the responses a woman can give you, you’ll never be able to be prepared for ALL contingencies.
Scripted routines takes away your ability to truly listen and be in the moment.
Attraction is not about what you do… it’s about who you are. So unless palm reading… or any other gimmicks you use are your hobbies and your areas of interest, you shouldn’t use them.
Anything you do should be a reflection of your identity.
For centuries, men have been able to attract women without these gimmicks, why would you want to start now? The scripted routines and the gimmicks are only a PLUS to your game if you want to spice it up. They are sometimes fun to use b/c they are what they are… they are “games”… and games are fun!
While on your journey for social growth, you don’t want to replace or hide your natural attractive core with “illusions of coolness”.
When I tell you to learn to be a natural, I don’t imply that you just go in with nothing in mind with no structure. Even naturals have some form of structure… or direction they take with their interaction. A natural understand the way emotions work. He understand that his sheer presence can have a huge impact or influence on the people around him… so his game is a reflection of his ability to create feelings and emotions in the person he’s interacting with based on what he decides to project about himself.
A mechanical guy only understand techniques and step-by-step instructions.
Overall, learning scripted game in itself is not a bad thing but from my experience, it creates more negatives than positives just by the simple fact that you are looking to learn to say the right thing instead of focusing on creating a certain vibe/energy. When going down that path, most guys get in the downward spiral that they need to learn more content/material which is a lot less important than HOW you convey yourself (thru storytelling and body language… etc)
Personally, you practicing delivery is way more important than you practicing scripts. Learn how to convey everything well and you’ll develop attractiveness.
You want to express everything confidently.
As far as the dark side goes, there is too much to say … but just to give you a glimpse, you can read this: http://zentransformation.blogspot.com/2008/05/short-public-service-announcement.html
Khiem:
Thank you. That was a great post, and a very helpful link.
-N
I have flown Southwest all over california for work. .. from sacranto to san diego or orange county. . oakland to riverside. SFO to LAX and back. When I fly for work, It is generally for the day only.
I love southwest for flying between the major cities in california. There are about 10 flights each way between each city, so that means that when I am done with a project in Orange County I have about five choices for flights that I can hop on for getting back to Norcal. If I want to hang around for a bit and have a drink, I can, or if I finish early, I can fly stand by on an earlier flight and 9 out of 10 times there is a seat. Also, they fly between the smaller regional airports. Last week I had to be in los angeles for the day. It was much easier to fly to burbank where I could disembark and be in a cab within 10 minutes rather than LAX, where it would have taken far longer than 10 minutes to hop off a plane and get a taxi.
Mark – I have to share your praise for Southwest Airlines!!! They have been head and shoulders above every other airline I’ve ever flown – and unless I am unable to, I now fly them exclusively. That is saying a lot too – because I am from the Detroit area where NorthwORST is king … so choosing to fly Southwest means NEVER getting a direct flight
But for extreme weather issues, I’ve never even had a Southwest flight be 5 minutes late. They are generous with snacks and beverages. Their staff is overwhelmingly friendly across the country. Their change / cancellation policies are the best in the industry (NO fees!!!!!) Their fares I have found to be really good as well. I don’t think it is any mystery or accident that Southwest has over time been the only profitable airline, that their employees actually like working for them, and that they continue to be one of the most successful airlines in the country. It’s just too bad the other airlines won’t take a few notes ….