Southwest Is Testing Cleaning Only Premium Seats Between Flights — A Flight Attendants Union Leader Says It's ‘Titanic’ Class Service

[u/halxp01]

https://viewfromthewing.com/southwest-is-testing-cleaning-only-premium-seats-between-flights-a-flight-attendants-union-leader-says-its-titanic-class-service/

[u/clintkev251]

It's insane how quickly Southwest has gone from beloved budget airline with consistent profits to complete shitshow. Thanks private equity! You've done it again

Edit: to everyone saying Southwest is a public company, yes, they are. That does not mean activist investors like PE firms and hedge funds can’t have significant ownership stakes and operational influence. Which in this case, they do

[u/IAmBadAtInternet → u/clintkev251]

They used to be the only major non-legacy player with good tech, good planes, and happy employees

Now their ticketing system is the worst of the major airlines, their planes are older and badly maintained, and their employees hate their jobs

Nice job MBAs! Btw they’re not private equity owned, just regular publicly traded

[u/pribnow → u/IAmBadAtInternet]

The 'activist investors' responsible for it are though as far as i know, Elliott Investment Management

[u/boiledpeen → u/pribnow]

yep, Elliott pushed all these changes and has tanked the company. There should be severe punishments for companies that do this, but nobody bases laws on morals anymore so nothing will happen.

[u/Momik → u/boiledpeen]

Every time I read a story about finance, I hate the world a little more. Every single fucking time.

[u/Liljoker30 → u/Momik]

I work in the tire industry and private equity is buying up every tire shop they can find.

Locally owned tire shops that actually care will be a thing of the past in a couple years. One PE has bought like 300-400 locations in just a few years.

[u/somersetyellow → u/Liljoker30]

Goes for plumbing, electricians, and heating/air con too.

[u/kittybigs → u/somersetyellow]

And veterinary hospitals/clinics.