Southwest Airlines Now Taking Passengers To Destinations By Shuttle Bus=0AA= pril 14, 2008 | Issue 44=9516 =0A =0AA new shuttle bus prepares for takeoff= .=0AE-mail =0APrint =0Ablog this =0Atext this =0Adigg this =0A =0ARelated A= rticles=0A Area Family's Trip To New Hampshire Sparks Rumors Of Presidentia= l Bid January 17, 2007 =0A Nation's Crumbling Infrastructure Probably Some = Sort Of Metaphor December 20, 2007 =0A Space Tourist Spends Entire Vacation= Inside Space Shuttle August 18, 2007 =0AEmail This Article=0ATo: From: = =0A =0A =0A =0ADALLAS=97In what the company is calling a "bold new leap= " in comfort, convenience and overall quality of travel, Southwest Airlines= announced Monday that it would be replacing its entire fleet of passenger = jets and planes with daily shuttle buses.=0AThe shuttle buses, which will d= epart from airport runways to over 200 destinations nationwide, represent a= major breakthrough in commercial aviation. =0A"The future is now," announc= ed Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, gesturing to a 30-foot bus painted in the comp= any's signature red, yellow, and blue. "With these amazing new buses, trave= ling from New York to Los Angeles takes as little as three days. That's les= s than half the time it took passengers to get there on our old planes." = =0AEquipped with a 70-gallon tank and a four-stroke engine capable of speed= s up to 60 miles per hour, the innovative buses will reportedly reduce trav= el time by 75 percent on average. In addition, cushioned plastic seats and = easy-to-hold metal poles will present passengers with a level of comfort ne= ver before experienced on Southwest flights.=0AAfter checking their luggage= and going through normal security procedures, passengers line up at their = gates and board the new Southwest craft by walking through the connecting j= etway to an awaiting bus. Once a runway opens up, the shuttles then prepare= for departure by taxiing down a designated airstrip, activating their turn= signals, and maneuvering onto an adjoining highway ramp.=0ASouthwest also = guarantees that the buses will take off and arrive within two minutes of th= eir scheduled time=97a feat of precision many had long thought impossible.= =0A"Traveling across the country is more convenient than ever before," Sout= hwest spokeswoman Catherine Miller said. "Just step onto one of our state-o= f-the-art buses, sit down for take off, read for a while, stand up and wand= er around the shuttle to help pass the time, sit back down for a few hours,= read some more, look out the window at an empty corn field, wander around = the shuttle once more=97and before you know it, you've arrived." =0A =0ATra= vel Troubles=0ASaid Miller, "You'll never travel on an outmoded airborne ve= hicle again."=0AIn addition to the added convenience, the shuttle buses off= er improved dining and meal service, with passengers getting a choice betwe= en Arby's, Roy Rogers and Dunkin' Donuts, at more than 500 rest areas acros= s the country. Complimentary snacks and beverages are also be distributed t= o all travelers, depending on when and where the shuttle bus stops for gas.= =0AThe buses are capable of making emergency breaks by the side of the high= way if required=97a feature Southwest officials say passengers will prefer = to cramped airplane toilets. According to Miller, exciting new entertainmen= t options=97such as asking the shuttle's captain to change the radio statio= n=97will replace in-flight films.=0AEach bus will also come equipped with a= high-powered steering-wheel horn, providing superior communication between= the shuttle's captain and his surroundings.=0A"For as little as $199, cust= omers can travel to dozens of exciting tourist and business destinations," = Miller said. "And if they choose to upgrade to Executive Class, not only wi= ll they ride in style, but we'll also drop them off right at their front do= or."=0AA number of passengers who had previously vowed never to fly commerc= ially again said that Southwest's new ground service is a welcome change.= =0A"The turbulence wasn't so bad except for a few potholes, and it was nice= being able to step out and have a cigarette every once in a while," said H= ouston resident Michael Dworkin, who participated in a test trip last month= . "Still, it seems like no matter how I choose to travel, I always end up g= etting seated next to a crying child." =0AAs of press time, Southwest's ina= ugural shuttle-bus trip, from Dallas to Phoenix, is reportedly stuck in a t= raffic jam on I-10, because some asshole rear-ended a minivan and won't mov= e his car off the road. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".