Thanks to coronavirus, lots of things in the travel industry are gone, either for the short term or forever. Cruises. Breakfast buffets. Choices of flights. Many peoples’ 2020 vacation plans. Hotels have permanently closed. Right underneath the ultimate tragedy of lost lives, it’s a travesty that’s accounted for thousands of lost jobs, to say nothing of the loss of potential lifelong memories for what would have been passengers and guests.
All that being said, there’s one thing that’s now gone from Southwest Airlines that I can’t say I miss one bit. In fact, I’m personally glad they’re not happening anymore.
Their pop up in-air concerts.
We wrote about these a couple of years ago, and updated the post last year. Briefly, imagine being on your plane and, without any notice ahead of time, a concert starts on your flight.
Welcome to what Southwest called Live at 35. The concept started in 2011 and, on and off, performers would be on your flight and start playing their tunes. Acts such as Filmore, Straight No Chaser, Barenaked Ladies, and dozens of others have been involved and, regardless of your musical tastes, (or your wish to sleep, work, read, or talk with your travel mates), there they were.
I was never “lucky” enough to experience a Live at 35 concerts and frankly, I’m VERY glad. Granted, there are plenty of people who experienced one of their in-plane shows and tweeted it as “the best thing ever.” However some media outlets have referred to them as annoying or inflicted on trapped passengers, and I tend to agree with them. Sorry not sorry, but if I’m on a plane, I want to do my thing and not be subjected to a concert. Even with noise-canceling headphones, I wouldn’t want to have to be “that person” who ignored the entertainment because I wanted to sleep or read. So I’m just as glad that I never had the “pleasure.”
Anyway, I came across our old Live at 65 post the other day and it got me wondering if the concerts had been canceled due to COVID. I mean, I assumed they had, but I tweeted Southwest just to make sure and yes, they are indeed on hold for now. However they, “…can’t wait to offer them again.”
I can. Sorry, not sorry. š
(Note from Joe. I would love to be on a flight with a surprise concert from Barenaked Ladies or Straight No Chaser.). š
(Note from Sharon: I don’t know why I married him…;-) )
Feature Photo: Needpix.com
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
5 comments
Wow – these seem to have really made you unhappy. Lighten up and enjoy things a little more. These represented the Southwest spirit of friendliness and good service and they were a nice change of pace from the typical stodgy airline service most others offer.
By the way, since you only post comments that you like, you’d be better off just eliminating your comments section
LOL, you’re so funny!
Anyway, an airline can be “unstodgy” and still not be intrusive. All I’m looking for is safely getting from Point A to Point B, preferably without interruptions from whatever it is I’ve decided to do with my time while on board. Concerts, without any warning, doesn’t feed into that. Still sorry but not sorry. š
Idk this is Southwest. You’re not here for relaxing amenities. This is the party bus. Sorry not sorry
Passengers board a flight with ideas about how they will spend their time: book, downloaded movie, sleep, or work. I’d say unplanned in-air concerts are a distraction from what I had looked forward to accomplishing. A few might call it entertainment, I’d call it noise pollution. How about put a roving guitarist beside boarding gates and I’ll find plenty of ways afterwards to fill my in-flight time.
I got to experience a Live at 35 concert on the inaugural OAK-OGG flight, and for a normal flight I agree it is awful. Planes are extremely cramped under normal circumstances, and a concert in the aisle makes it more so. Because it was an inaugural and it was a local Maui artist, I felt it fit with the party atmosphere that goes with an inaugural.