{"id":123572,"date":"2025-03-10T05:48:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T05:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/airline\/southwest-long-beach-inaugural\/"},"modified":"2025-03-10T05:48:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T05:48:34","slug":"southwest-long-beach-inaugural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=123572","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Long Beach Inaugural"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nSee my video<\/a> of the arrival and departure.<\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n

March this year, Southwest announced that they were starting service to Long Beach (LGB) on June 5th.\u00a0 My good friend and fellow photographer Rick suggested us taking the inaugural flight.\u00a0 Southwest had received four slots at the noise-sensitive, capacity-controlled airport and the airline decided to use all four slots for service to Oakland (OAK).\u00a0 This further solidifies SWA\u2019s position as the dominant airline in California, flying to all five Los Angeles area airports (LAX, BUR, ONT, SNA, LGB) \u2013 10 cities in total in California with 160 daily intrastate flights and 19 unique city-pairs.
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\nOur good friend Mike the \u201cLGB Guy\u201d,<\/span> would be joining us on the inaugural departure from LGB back to OAK, so it would be a fun time with old friends. I have never been on a Southwest inaugural flight before so that would be interesting for me as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nRick had acquired LGB t-shirts for us and we were a big hit!\u00a0 Everyone wanted to know where we got them (zazzle.com). \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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We looked really (Av) geeky together!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nWe arrived at OAK shortly before 7 am, plenty of time ahead of our 8:30 am departure. Although the security line was short, it still took me about 10 minutes to get through due to slow people in front of me. We wanted to get to the gate early in case there was an event going on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nBalloons decorated Gate 25 and LGB photos were being put up when we got there. Rick introduced me to our Captain, Cindee Goes, who specifically chose to fly this flight today. Meanwhile, the gate agent overheard our conversation and proactively printed me hard copies of my boarding passes on hard paper stock. What great service!<\/p>\n

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\nStarbucks coffee and Heart LGB cookies were put out for all to enjoy. Gate agents made multiple announcements about the significance of this flight and invited everyone to enjoy the coffee and cookies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nEven though this flight did not have the same \u201cbang\u201d as other inaugurals I have experienced, a lot of enthusiasts did show up to celebrate.\u00a0 There was a good amount of AvGeek talk accompanied by much camera clicking.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nAbout one hour before our departure, aircraft N235WN arrived at from Columbus. This old \u201cSpirit\u201d colors -700 would be flying our inaugural today. Everyone was disappointed that it was not a special colors aircraft (California One<\/i> would have been appropriate) or a new colors aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nBefore queuing up, off duty flight attendants were passing out goodie bags filled with a postcard, a pen, and 100 Grand<\/i> and Payday<\/i> candy bars promoting their union. People behind the profits<\/i>\u00a0the bag proclaimed. [See this tweet<\/a>\u00a0and this followup tweet<\/a>.]<\/div>\n

\nWhile boarding, we were given yellow Long Beach Airport sunglasses. They were cheapy plastic sunglasses but it was fun!\u00a0 Everyone got into the spirit and wore them:\u00a0 from our Captain to the flight attendants to the wing walkers. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nFlight<\/b>:\u00a0 WN 972, Oakland (OAK) \u2013 Long Beach (LGB)<\/p>\n

\nAircraft<\/b>:\u00a0 Boeing 737-7H4<\/p>\n

\nRegistration<\/b>:\u00a0 N235WN (old colors)<\/p>\n

\nmsn\/ln<\/b>:\u00a0 34630\/1916<\/p>\n

\nDelivered<\/b>:\u00a0 April 2006 (age 10.2 years)<\/p>\n

\nScheduled Departure \u2013 Arrival<\/b>:\u00a0 8:35 am \u2013 10:0<\/span>0 am\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nActual Departure \u2013 Arrival<\/b>:\u00a0 8:35 am \u2013 9:51 am<\/p>\n

\nTakeoff Runway 30 OAK<\/b>:\u00a0 8:42 am<\/p>\n

\nLanding Runway 30 LGB<\/b>:\u00a0 9:47 am<\/p>\n

\nFlight Duration<\/b>:\u00a0 1:05<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Flightaware Tracking Map<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nOnce on board, we picked a seat near the front. We were anticipating an event at LGB so we wanted to be able to get off early to take part.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nCapt Goes made her pre-departure announcement in person. What class! \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nShe told us that she specifically chose this flight today because Long Beach is special for her.\u00a0 She took her first flight from Long Beach in a Catalina Airlines seaplane and that experience inspired her to become a pilot. She reminisced flying all over Southern California while taking her flying lessons. She gave shoutouts to her family on board as well as to me and Rick as part of the cadre of enthusiasts flying today.\u00a0 That put a big smile on my face.\u00a0 So awesome!<\/p>\n

\nWe made our taxi to Runway 30 and departed without delay. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nWith massive condensation over the wings, the ground quickly disappeared as we broke through the typical June overcast.\u00a0 With a sharp turn left, we made our way south to LGB.<\/p>\n

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\nSutro Tower (1811 feet above sea level) in San Francisco was peeking out over the clouds. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nService on this short intrastate flight consisted of beverage with peanuts and pretzels.\u00a0 Off duty flight attendants helped out in the service along with a little promotion for the SWA Flight Attendant\u2019s Union.<\/p>\n

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\nMeanwhile, our lead flight attendant got on the PA and led a guessing game: first person that rings the call button and answers the question correctly wins a prize. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\nFirst question \u2013 when is Southwest\u2019s birthday?\u00a0 (Answer: June 18, 1971)<\/p>\n

\nSecond question \u2013 which international city does Southwest fly nonstop from LAX?\u00a0 (Answer:\u00a0 Liberia, Costa Rica).\u00a0 The winner received bag of pretzels (as in the big bag designed to serve the entire airplane). \u00a0<\/p>\n

\nThird question \u2013 what is Southwest\u2019s \u201clast\u201d aircraft type.\u00a0 He was looking for 737 Max but since the question was poorly worded, it caused confusion and we replayed the question.\u00a0 The winner received an adult beverage. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nFun and games now over, Capt Goes announced our descent and destination weather: cloudy and 68\u00b0F. Our lead flight attendant announced, \u201cthe exciting moment has come \u2013 the descent to Long Beach!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nWe made a turn east over Catalina Island (with a small clearing over Airport in the Sky) and touched down on Runway 30 at LGB to the applause of everyone on board.\u00a0 \u201cYou just helped Southwest Airlines make history!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nAs we taxied up to Gate 1, I was surprised to see a stage right on the ramp along with a large number of people awaiting us.\u00a0 I was very happy to see that we would be walking outside and there would be a celebration of our arrival.\u00a0 At first I thought we were special to walk out on the ramp, but as it turned out LGB does not use jetbridges. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nWalking out on the ramp make flights like this so special.\u00a0 Enthusiasts and ordinary fliers alike took photos while wearing their yellow Long Beach Airport sunglasses. Employees on the ground welcomed our arrival.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nCaptain Goes unfurled a California state flag out the cockpit window and posed for photos.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nThis energy and aura of excitement is exactly the reason why I love these inaugural flights!\u00a0 I lingered as long as I could as I walked into the terminal, savoring every moment.<\/p>\n

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\nInside Gate 1, the area was quite crowded between the SWA event and a Delta flight boarding next door.\u00a0 As it turned out, it was Delta\u2019s first day flying an upgauged aircraft to LGB \u2013 appropriately with the Boeing 717-200, the aircraft\u2019s production home! \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nWe met up with Mike and the rest of our gang \u2013 long time friends Mark and Doug \u2013 and new member Justin \u2013 and waited for the inaugural departure from LGB.\u00a0 Mr. LGB Guy was not all too pleased with me and Rick showing up with LGB shirts and not bringing him one!<\/p>\n

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\nAt the gate area, off duty flight attendants were handing out cookies and goodie bags, once again promoting the Flight Attendant\u2019s Union.<\/p>\n

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\nOnce again during boarding, passenger were given the now-trendy yellow Long Beach Airport sunglasses as well as a small California state flag.\u00a0 Of course, everyone had to get their photos taken.<\/p>\n

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\nThough the frenzied boarding, I didn\u2019t notice both forward and rear doors were being used.\u00a0 I had to swim upstream to get to my friends seated near the back of the aircraft. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nOnce again, Capt Goes introduced herself in the cabin, explaining why LGB is so special for her.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nShortly before the door closed, the company photographer took a photo of the cabin, with everyone in their yellow glasses. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\nFlight<\/b>:\u00a0 WN 1853, Long Beach (LGB) \u2013 Oakland (OAK)<\/p>\n

\nAircraft<\/b>:\u00a0 N235WN (same aircraft as the outbound flight)<\/p>\n

\nSchedule Departure \u2013 Arrival:<\/b>\u00a0 10:30 am \u2013 11:50 am<\/p>\n

\nActual Departure \u2013 Arrival<\/b>:\u00a0 10:31 am \u2013 11:46 am<\/p>\n

\nTakeoff LGB Runway 30<\/b>:\u00a0 10:44 am<\/p>\n

\nLanding OAK Runway 30<\/b>:\u00a0 11:41 am<\/p>\n

\nFlight Duration<\/b>:\u00a0 0:57<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Flightaware Tracking Map<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nAfter waving goodbye at the crowd at the inaugural event, we taxied past the Gulfstream Service Center (with a hot Korean Air Gulfstream 650) and soon held short of Runway 30.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Watchout Jetblue…Southwest is now in town!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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\nCapt Goes explained LGB is a busy airport and we had to hold for traffic. After about five minutes, we took to the runway, past the many spotters photographing our departure, and made Southwest\u2019s first departure from Long Beach.\u00a0 Minutes later, clouds cleared below us which gave us a beautiful view as we made our way north.<\/p>\n

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\nService on the return was identical to previous flight:\u00a0 drink, peanuts, and pretzels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nThough the lead flight attendant did note we weren\u2019t as spirited as passengers on the flight down.\u00a0 Finally, he drummed up some cheer as he led the questions game.\u00a0 Same prizes as before: big bag of pretzels, adult beverages. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nOnly the second \u201ccity\u201d question was different:\u00a0 what new cities is Southwest launching from OAK today?\u00a0 (Answer:\u00a0 LGB, RNO, STL and BWI).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nThe short flight gave us very little time to socialize.<\/p>\n

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\nWe started our descent just southeast of San Jose. \u00a0Lick Observatory atop Mt Hamilton (elevation 4216 feet) is visible here.<\/p>\n

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\nSan Antonio Reservoir<\/p>\n

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\nTurning west over Niles Canyon and north again over Fremont, I had my eyes glued to the window taking in the sights of the East Bay.\u00a0 Not being a normal flyer to OAK (in the middle of the day at that), I was thoroughly enjoying the view that I was only familiar with from the ground. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\nFremont and Milpitas.\u00a0 The white cluster of buildings next to the railroad tracks (below and to the left of the winglet) is the Tesla (former NUMMI) Factory.<\/p>\n

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\nPink salt evaporation ponds in San Francisco Bay; Fremont, Newark and approach to the Dumbarton Bridge.<\/p>\n

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\nWetlands on the eastern approach to the San Mateo Bridge.<\/p>\n

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\nSoon, we were skirting the bay waters and touched down on Runway 30,<\/span> less than one hour after departing from LGB.\u00a0 \u201cYou made history today,\u201d announced the lead flight attendant on the PA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\nDowntown San Francisco as we turned off Runway 30 at OAK.<\/p>\n

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\nEastern 737-800, a NBA Finals charter.<\/p>\n

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\nBack to OAK \u2013 home of Southwest in the Bay Area!<\/p>\n

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\nFive minutes later, we parked at Gate 25, the same gate we departed from three hours prior.<\/p>\n

\nBefore deplaning, I asked Capt Goes for an autograph and a photo and thanked her for making this day so special and memorable. With FO Joseph Pankey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Photo: \u00a0Michael Carter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nAt the gate, Rick and I couldn\u2019t resist for another parting shot.<\/p>\n

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\nAll the while, someone was waiting for us \u2013 not for the captain but us.\u00a0 He wanted a photo with us wearing our LGB shirts.\u00a0 Too funny!\u00a0 Talk about a brief moment of celebrity!<\/p>\n

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