Today's the Day: Southwest is Coming to Town

[Matt Molnar]

:arrow: Counting Down to Southwest’s Arrival at LaGuardia! (http://nycaviation.com/2009/06/27/counting-down-to-southwests-arrival-at-laguardia/)

Notes:
* Planes should arrive around 3pm, according to information in other threads
* Runway 13/31 is closed for construction. Winds may be favorable for runway 4 to be in use, making the arrival visible from Planeview Park.
* Click the link above for more info!

[T-Bird76]

There's an error in your link Matt. Loads the page and then bombs out.

[Delta777LR]

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but does anyone know if SW is going to bring only 73Gs or a mix of 733 and 73Gs??

[Futterman]

FYI, the Southwest people are expecting the flight to land at LGA at about 4:00 or 4:15.

[Alex T]

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but does anyone know if SW is going to bring only 73Gs or a mix of 733 and 73Gs??

All the flights are scheduled to be -700's however there is always the option of MX or WX causing a swap out to a -300.

Alex

[Matt Molnar]

There's an error in your link Matt. Loads the page and then bombs out.
Cripes. I think it's only happening in IE...is that what you're using? If so, which version? Anyone else having issues?

Thanks!
</offtopic>

[moose135]

Matt, I'm running Firefox and didn't have any problems accessing that page.

[AirtrafficController]

Track the flight here on flightaware:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA8725

[emshighway]

There's an error in your link Matt. Loads the page and then bombs out.
Cripes. I think it's only happening in IE...is that what you're using? If so, which version? Anyone else having issues?

Thanks!
</offtopic>

Works fine for me. Feel free to use any of my pics even though they are lousy.

[Matt Molnar]

Works fine for me. Feel free to use any of my pics even though they are lousy.
Thanks! I used one for the story thumbnail on the homepage.

[Matt Molnar]

Track the flight here on flightaware:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA8725
I think that will be the second flight. There is another flight coming from BWI.

[MarkLawrence]

Link works fine for me and I'm on IE 8.0

[Matt Molnar]

There's an error in your link Matt. Loads the page and then bombs out.
Cripes. I think it's only happening in IE...is that what you're using? If so, which version? Anyone else having issues?

Thanks!
</offtopic>

I think I have fixed it on our end. If you continue to have problems, please let me know. Also, updating to Flash 10 seems to eliminate it either way.

[Matt Molnar]

Track the flight here on flightaware:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA8725
I think that will be the second flight. There is another flight coming from BWI.
My bad:

SWA 8725 DAL-LGA is expected to arrive around 4:20pm.

SWA 8726 BWI-LGA is expected to arrive around 7:00pm.

I'm going to head over to Planeview soon for the first one.

[MarkLawrence]

I think that will be the second flight. There is another flight coming from BWI.


Can't find the other one on Flightaware at the moment....

[LGA777]

I would guess since one is coming from Dallas Love Field it will have WN execs on board for tomorrows festitivies. This probably is one of the more significant new station openings for WN in recent times me thinks. I am not at LGA today but looking forward to many good shots guys!

Cheers

LGA777

[Matt Molnar]

Can't find the other one on Flightaware at the moment....
Doesn't seem to be on there yet. I found it on BWI's flight status site.

[Matt Molnar]

The eagle has landed! N939WN

http://nycaviation.com/newspage/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/southwest-lga-n939wn-1-800.jpg

http://nycaviation.com/newspage/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/southwest-lga-n939wn-2-800.jpg

[AirtrafficController]

Great catch from the Landing Lights Park Matt. I watched it on approach from my house.
Here is the second flight from BWI:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA8726

[moose135]

Nice shots, Matt! I was over at Planeview Park - there was one other spotter (from NYC, but not a regular here), I was wondering where everyone was.

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/575496427_MkNqN-L.jpg

http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/575496638_vDVg7-L.jpg

Over the Grand Central Parkway for the first time.
http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/575496840_rUZ9K-L.jpg

Touchdown!
http://moose135.smugmug.com/photos/575497134_2uuKM-L.jpg

According to Airfleets.net, N939WN is one of SWA's newest 737-700s, delivered June 15.

[Matt Molnar]

Nice shots, Moose! Sorry I didn't see you, I rushed to Landing Lights and got there just in time, and then I went home.

Just discovered this is Southwest's newest plane, seems it was delivered just a few days ago! [Edit: I guess we discovered that around the same time]

[Alex T]

As soon as WN landed at LGA, how many hear the other airlines groan right at touch down? :lol:

Alex

[T-Bird76]

As soon as WN landed at LGA, how many hear the other airlines groan right at touch down? :lol:

Alex


Well the price war is on already....AA is matching WN's fare on all competing LGA-Chicago flights.

[jetblue187]

Southwest is in town now :|

[emshighway]

As soon as WN landed at LGA, how many hear the other airlines groan right at touch down? :lol:

Alex

They have been groining for weeks now.

Frontier is refusing to move to the A Concourse.

[jetblue187]

...let the fun begin! JB troops move into position.

[PhilDernerJr]

Southwest is in town now :|

I'm excited about it! Why do you not care for it?

[hiss srq]

As anyone here knows I'm probably at least first glance as anti WN as it comes but I am pretty happy abou this move none the less. It means two things. One is I don't have to drive to ISP now to do my twice a week orlando hops and maybe it will cause a loss of USX flying and maybe instead of express metal it will go mainline to BWI.it will be nice to fly for free from LGA again though.

[Matt Molnar]

maybe it will cause a loss of USX flying and maybe instead of express metal it will go mainline to BWI.
Probably not. The number of New Yorkers going to LGA to take a 30 min flight to BWI is small, and vice versa. That small number carried by US now will only get smaller once WN grabs a chunk of the market. The main reason anyone flies the route, especially WN, is for connecting pax, and US doesn't have a whole lot of connecting action going on between LGA and BWI.

[Delta777LR]

Southwest is in town now :|

I'm excited about it! Why do you not care for it?

Im very happy about SW coming to LGA! Im dying to catch some speacial schemes and SW has alot!

[Matt Molnar]

Photo and video roundup of the action at LGA, BWI and MDW. Includes a guest appearance by the Rapping Flight Attendant and video of the runway 4 approach on the first BWI-LGA revenue flight.

:arrow: Photo Roundup: Southwest Arrives at LaGuardia (http://nycaviation.com/2009/06/28/photo-roundup-southwest-arrives-at-laguardia/)

[N790SW]

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but does anyone know if SW is going to bring only 73Gs or a mix of 733 and 73Gs??

All the flights are scheduled to be -700's however there is always the option of MX or WX causing a swap out to a -300.

Alex


I was actually looking around and sometime mid-July some of these fights will switch to a -300. At least for the LGA-BWI flights, not sure about the rest...I looked those flights up on Flight aware so who knows what can happen by then....

Glad to see some Canyon Blue in NYC! =)

[MarkLawrence]

Start looking for those special schemes!! :borat:

[Matt Molnar]

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but does anyone know if SW is going to bring only 73Gs or a mix of 733 and 73Gs??

All the flights are scheduled to be -700's however there is always the option of MX or WX causing a swap out to a -300.

Alex


I was actually looking around and sometime mid-July some of these fights will switch to a -300. At least for the LGA-BWI flights, not sure about the rest...I looked those flights up on Flight aware so who knows what can happen by then....

Glad to see some Canyon Blue in NYC! =)
The first BWI-LGA flight Sunday morning was a -300. Maybe that will be a Sunday-only thing, it was a -700 today.

[emshighway]

I'm sure shamu will be making an appearance some day soon.

[N790SW]

I'm sure shamu will be making an appearance some day soon.

You forgot New York One! :wink:

[Delta777LR]

I'm sure shamu will be making an appearance some day soon.

You forgot New York One! :wink:

I mention about that along time ago, I think WN should make a New York One, espeacialy now they come to LGA, that would be sweet

[Futterman]

Here are some shots of the first arrival (Saturday afternoon) and the first flight (Sunday morning)...

Full size images here: http://www.pbase.com/joshandbrian/southwest_at_lga

http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432957.4QPBVHNt.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432958.EqoHkDGi.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432959.w2Qs9s1K.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432960.vVGrUNHN.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432961.ssMhCXQz.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g1/21/670021/2/114432962.Ynd2f5bo.jpg

More coming...

Brian

[LGA777]

I have only been here after 1300 for day one and two and sadly no Special Schemes so far. The first Terminator tonight was a -300.

Here are the regs I observed so far.

Sunday:

N460WN (Really faded)
N740SW
N222WN
N429WN (RON)

Monday:

N740SW
N286WN
N265WN
N277WN
N603SW (733 RON)

Will not be at the airport the next two days but when I return will be on the lookout for some hopefull special schemes.

Cheers

LGA777

[N790SW]

I have only been here after 1300 for day one and two and sadly no Special Schemes so far. The first Terminator tonight was a -300.

Here are the regs I observed so far.

Sunday:

N460WN (Really faded)
N740SW
N222WN
N429WN (RON)

Monday:

N740SW
N286WN
N265WN
N277WN
N603SW (733 RON)

Will not be at the airport the next two days but when I return will be on the lookout for some hopefull special schemes.

Cheers

LGA777

A/C 286 = Former 471 that overran MDW in December

A/C 277 = Flew on her 08-August - 2009

A/C 429-460 both need a visit to the paint shop! haha

A/C 603 = I believe has winglets......

[afr022]

hey futterman fix the preview pics plz because im getting red X'S on my comp

[planelove]

I was excited since the day I heard the news, I live in NY but commute to Baltimore weekly for school so there more options the better.
Everyone kept saying the flights are just $49 etc. etc. and I kept telling them that its most probably only $49 if you book 2 weeks in advance but I just looked online and the flight for today and tomorrow is still at $49.

[moose135]

Everyone kept saying the flights are just $49 etc. etc. and I kept telling them that its most probably only $49 if you book 2 weeks in advance but I just looked online and the flight for today and tomorrow is still at $49.
It must be a promotional deal for the launch of LGA service. If you check their web site, you can't get the $49 fare from ISP to BWI without an advanced purchase.

[Alex T]

Yes, that BWI-LGA was a swap in BWI.

I am still showing LGA being entirely a -700 station in regards of SCHEDULED service. I have no clue what you are using flightaware for Bobby because that is very useless in regards to figuring out WN aircrafts.

As we all know WN probably swaps out the most of any airline, I assume they intend to keep LGA as a -700 station for noise reason and whatnot. However as we have already seen swaps have happened to a -300.

Yes, N603SW has winglets.

Alex

[LGA777]

Well it's 2240 on Thursday night and WN 208 just taxied past my office, almost 3 and half hours late and no gate, as two WN birds landed within 5 mins of each other. Ground sent them down to the penalty box at the east of the end of LGA. I think WN is getting and early dose of LGA, their last 3 departures today are delayed between 3 and 4 hours, and are likely full with the holidays. That means about 400 people stuck at Gate B4. Their 1325 departure to MDW pushed right on time, but spent 2 and a half hours in line for takeoff, meaning I would guess many missed their connections. Well Southwest, you wanted LGA, you got it !

Regards

LGA777

[T-Bird76]

That means about 400 people stuck at Gate B4.

400 ppl in the B pier...oh my...that's not a pretty sight.

[LGA777]

That means about 400 people stuck at Gate B4.

400 ppl in the B pier...oh my...that's not a pretty site.

That just the WN folks, you also have the B6/NK/FL and YX delayed passengers.

LGA777

[planelove]

Blasted out on 13 on SWA1305 landed in BWI 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Hope to return tomorrow night.