6.2/108 votes#1 - The Delicate Art of Saying No
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/4/2004
An airline supervisor must handle a passenger who's drunk at 7 a.m., and a colleague has the delicate task of telling a passenger that he smells too bad to travel. In this high-flying new series, we provide viewers with complete access to the inner workings and emotional stories behind the daily workings of Southwest Airlines--from individual passenger's tales and dramatic reunions to action at the counter between passengers and employees.
Director: Matthew Barbato
Writer: Daniel Beaufort
- 6.0/101 votes
#2 - Consider Yourself One of the Family
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/5/2004
Airline personnel talk about underwear with rap star Sisqo, singer of the "thong song", and an angry family tries to prove their toddler is less than two years old so he can travel free in this high-flying new series that provides viewers with complete access to the inner workings and emotional stories behind the daily life of Southwest Airlines.
Director: Jo Inglott
Writer: Paul Bolton
- 6.0/101 votes
#3 - Beyond Our Control
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/12/2004
At Chicago's Midway Airport, Southwest employees spend 48 hours dealing with the chaos caused by a power blackout in the East. In this high-flying series, we provide viewers with complete access to the inner workings and emotional stories behind Southwest Airlines--from individual passenger's tales and dramatic reunions to action at the counter between passengers and employees. Our "cast" of characters includes the personnel who create a minor miracle every day by getting the airline airborne.
Director: N/A
Writer: James Harrod
- 6.0/101 votes
#4 - Times Change
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/19/2004
A&E's exclusive look at Southwest Airlines continues with pilot Steve Palmason's last flight after 30 years of service. Friends and family are onboard, and Southwest President Colleen Barrett and legendary chairman Herb Kelleher wait to greet him. Meanwhile, at LAX, supervisor Mike Carr faces the delicate task of helping an Alzheimer's patient clean up after he's had a small accident.
Director: John Mounier
Writer: N/A
- 6.0/101 votes
#5 - Kids... Who'd Have Them?
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 1/12/2004
It's another challenging day at Southwest Airlines. In Chicago, distraught passengers demand compensation for the worst flight of their lives. Seems a rowdy group of biker kids disrupted the flight all the way from Las Vegas. Meanwhile, at LAX, a 10-year-old on his first unaccompanied flight is lent a hand from a flight attendant, and after a stressed mom and her two kids miss their flight, their attempts to get home to San Diego push everyone to the limit.
Director: Lee Servis
Writer: Daniel Beaufort
- 6.0/101 votes
#6 - Winners and Losers
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 1/19/2004
A passenger tries to con his way on to a Southwest Airlines flight, a customer service supervisor must find volunteers to leave two overbooked flights, and flight attendants help a Price Is Right contestant practice before the taping of a show. Grab your boarding pass and join us for another episode of this high-flying series that reflects our love-hate relationship with commercial aviation.
Director: Jim Warren
Writer: Paul Bolton
- 6.0/101 votes
#7 - Terminal Beauty
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 1/26/2004
It's a busy and bizarre day at Southwest Airlines when a woman treats the LAX terminal as her personal bedroom, changing her outfit in full sight of fellow passengers. Supervisor Yolanda meets country singer Randy Travis before running into a group of drunk and troublesome young women who were kicked off their flight. And in Chicago, ramp staffers Hector and Juan hope they'll be chosen to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in front of 40,000 fans at Wrigley Field that night.
Director: Matthew Barbato
Writer: James Harrod
- 6.0/101 votes
#8 - Luv Is In the Air
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2/16/2004
A&E's exclusive look at Southwest Airlines features a day of romance. Flight attendant Heather Hale waits for her boyfriend to arrive from Switzerland, not knowing that he wants to ask her a very important question. In Chicago, a student is desperate to fly to New York to save his relationship with his girlfriend, but every flight is full. And beautiful 6-foot-tall customer service supervisor Anita has trouble fending off a 5-foot-tall admirer.
Director: Jo Inglott
Writer: N/A
- 6.0/101 votes
#9 - High Spirits
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/2/2004
The FAA rules are clear, alcohol and air travel simply do not mix. In LA, passenger Wayne Samuel has been drinking and it's fallen to supervisor Yolanda to tell him he's too drunk to board the flight. It's the night of the Southwest Spirit Party--a vast annual staff gathering--and a huge occasion for supervisor Mike. He's invited a special guest he wants to introduce to his colleagues. Gospel group the Faithway Doves are on their way to Chicago to be honored by the American Gospel society and surprise their fellow passengers with some remarkable spirituals.
Director: N/A
Writer: Daniel Beaufort
- 6.0/101 votes
#10 - A Team Effort
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/9/2004
It's a day of tension at Southwest Airlines. Erik faces the worst nightmare of all ramp workers. For the first time, he must push a $40-million plane out of a tiny gate, knowing that a mistake can cost the company millions of dollars and Erik his job. In baggage claims, David has to control his own nerves when a customer insists that the airline lost her luggage. And supervisors at LAX must confront a swarm of dangerous bees that has set up a hive at Gate 13.
Director: John Mounier
Writer: Paul Bolton
- 6.0/101 votes
#11 - You Must Be Kidding?
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 2/16/2004
A drunken passenger needs a police escort and two overweight customers take the armrest test.
Director: Lee Servis
Writer: James Harrod
- 6.0/101 votes
#12 - Relative Values
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/23/2004
Family relationships are pushed to the limit during another hectic day at Southwest Airlines. A grandmother isn't allowed to travel with her pressurized oxygen canisters; an elderly woman's relatives are distressed because she's separated from her life-saving medicine; and a couple that has been waiting 10 years to adopt a child is flying home with their new baby daughter, and an emotional meeting with the rest of the family is expected.
Director: Jim Warren
Writer: N/A
- 6.0/101 votes
#13 - For Better For Worse
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/1/2004
Wedding bells are ringing at Southwest Airlines, but not everything is going according to plan. In Chicago, a passenger going to her nuptials is denied boarding because she's too drunk to fly. In Hollywood, a stuntman waits anxiously with an engagement ring for his girlfriend--but will she show up? And pilots John Trumble and Annie Fitzgerald elope to Las Vegas.
Director: Jim Warren
Writer: Daniel Beaufort
- 6.0/101 votes
#14 - It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/8/2004
A blizzard in Chicago causes massive cancellations and delays at Southwest Airlines. Two honeymooners rush to make it to Los Angeles in time to catch a flight to Tahiti, but with most flights grounded, they may not make their connection. A group of teenage Eminem fans, who flew all the way from Idaho to LA to see their idol, discover it may be a long time before they set eyes on him.
Director: Matthew Barbato
Writer: Paul Bolton
- 6.0/101 votes
#15 - Don't Take No For An Answer
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/15/2004
In Chicago, Sandy comes to the rescue of the Park Forest soccer team after their reservation falls through on a rival airline. Val helps a passenger track down his army buddy, last seen somewhere between the ticket counter and the gates. They've survived months together on active duty in Iraq, but will they be able to reunite for their journey home? Meanwhile at LAX, temperatures rise when an airline mix-up separates parents from their children.
Director: Jo Inglott
Writer: James Harrod
- 6.0/101 votes
#16 - All Creatures Great and Small
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/22/2004
From penguins to party animals, the airport looks like a zoo to Southwest Airlines staffers. A nervous Colleen may have to deny boarding to rowdy football fans. At 30,000 feet, penguin passengers Pete and Penny get the star treatment from flight attendants Sam Anderson and Janie King. A man dressed as a tiger ignites intrigue in Chicago. And when passengers complain about a man in a short black miniskirt who's exposing himself, Yolanda must tell the gentleman to cover himself if he wants to fly.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.0/101 votes
#17 - There's Real Time... Then There's Airline Time
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/29/2004
Southwest Airlines workers race against the clock to help passengers in distress. At the ticket counter in Los Angeles, Mike is confronted by a frantic woman who's late for her flight, but there's little he can do to calm her down. Meanwhile, in Chicago, a passenger is desperately trying to get to her dying mother. Supervisor Denise has to tell her that she didn't make her original flight and is rebooked on another flight--but will it be too late?
Director: John Mounier
Writer: Daniel Beaufort
- 5.0/101 votes
#18 - Oh, What a Performance
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/5/2004
There isn't much goodwill on earth for the Southwest Airlines staff during the holiday season. Customer service supervisor Mike Carr has to tell an inebriated passenger that too much Christmas spirit can be a bad thing. Supervisor Yolanda confronts an angry flyer who's lost his paper ticket and refuses to buy another. And assistant station manager Ginny Bona nearly puts two unaccompanied minors on the wrong plane.
Director: Jim Warren
Writer: Paul Bolton
The Best Episodes of Airline Season 1
Every episode of Airline Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Airline Season 1!
Airline is an American reality television series that showcases the daily happenings of passengers, ground workers and on-board staff members of Southwest Airlines. The series...
Genres:DocumentaryDramaReality
Network:A&E
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Delicate Art of Saying No" is the best rated episode of "Airline" season 1. It scored 6.2/10 based on 8 votes. Directed by Matthew Barbato and written by Daniel Beaufort, it aired on 1/4/2004. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Consider Yourself One of the Family".