Technology Connections

I propose a new quirky airline to unseat Southwest.

Introducing Midwest Airlines!

The snacks and drinks are all generic, the interior will feature corn motifs, deplaning will be extra slow because of all the saying goodbyes, and the winglets will proudly feature the tagline: "Ope!"

Sep 28, 2023 at 1:04pmWeb
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsSep 28, 2023

Relatedly, a while back I was in Wisconsin and on my way back home once I crossed the Cheddar Curtain there was a sign that read

"Illinois Welcome Center: OPE "

and it was like a warm hug

Show threadStellarator 🏳️‍🌈🌮Sep 30, 2023
@TechConnectify I'm from the Midwest, but apparently the wrong part of it. What is "ope"?
Show threadElementXenonOct 3, 2023
@stellarator @TechConnectify "Open" but missing the "n". Also a... word? Noise? that we Midwesterners sometimes make at times. As in: "Ope, let me squeeze by you".
Show threadStellarator 🏳️‍🌈🌮Oct 3, 2023
@elementxenon @TechConnectify Oh, gotcha. I always spelled that "oop".
Show threadBryce 🏳️‍🌈👨🏻‍💻Sep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify How can I invest in this airline concept? How can I support this?
Show threadGreg BurnettSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Will be boarding be done on a "no You go first" basis?
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsSep 28, 2023
@cmdrwilkens yeah, group one will say "no, why don't we let group two go first" and it will all trickle down to the point that people board backwards
Show threadLightning Bjornsson*  Sep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Ope
Show thread✨🏳️‍⚧️Timelordiroh 🇵🇸Sep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify I'd like to invest in this venture.
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Sep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify We still miss Midwest Express… ✈️
Show threadIan Scott  🐙Sep 28, 2023
@rasterweb @TechConnectify they were the one that gave you fresh baked cookies when you boarded, right?
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Sep 28, 2023
@polpo @TechConnectify Yes! Though I think they baked them during the flight.
Show threadJohn SiracusaSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify I used to fly to the Chicagoland area on Midwest Express airlines. They had metal silverware and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Too good for this world, alas.
Show threadBenRiceMSep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify can cookies be freshly baked if they’re microwaved?
Show threadCGSep 28, 2023
@BenRiceM @siracusa @TechConnectify freshly radiated
Show threadScottSep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify the first flight I took in my life, they had a smoking section and a non-smoking section
Show threadPete KeenSep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify Midwest was a good airline. After Frontier bought them they kept the cookie tradition alive for a few years.
Show threadToolGuy93Sep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify And the food was good to great, the seats were comfortable (2x2 on the whole plane) — essentially first class on the whole plane, every flight, every day.
Show threadBartSep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify They switched to plastic cutlery after a bad luck run of people playing "throw the knives at the wall" game while in flight. The airline collapsed after that. Some say it was the plastic cutlery, some say it was the aircraft electrics spontaniously short circuiting for some unknown reason.
Show threadStars AboveSep 28, 2023
@bartreardon @siracusa @TechConnectify Rumor has it the aircraft’s AC power outlets were installed upside down and nobody knew.
Show threadSelttessSep 28, 2023
@siracusa @TechConnectify used to love flying Midwest express the smell of the cookies was a pleasant side effect to the chocolate chip cookies
Show threadJohn GordonSep 28, 2023

@TechConnectify That existed. It was called “Northwest airlines” because “Midwest” is dull and MN prefers “north” to mid because we think we are different. (We are only blue among red so maybe we are different.)

Sadly Delta acquired NWA years ago.

Show threadPaul TiarksSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify each seat could have a unique crocheted afghan adorned over the headrest
Show threadBryce 🏳️‍🌈👨🏻‍💻Sep 28, 2023
@paultiarks @TechConnectify *afghan or doily, handcrafted individually with love by a midwestern grandmother. And the blankets will be quilts made by the Amish or other skilled craftspeople.
Show threadSam GrossSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify ATA existed for thirty years.
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsSep 28, 2023

@SamTheGeek

🎶 ON ATA, YOU'RE ON VACATION 🎶

Show threadSam GrossSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify ope.
Show threadJonathan PolleySep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify The meals will be some form of hot dish (tater tot, etc.).
Show threadTechnology ConnectionsSep 28, 2023
@the_other_jon Even better it's a potluck and they give you a discount ticket if you bring something
Show threadJonathan PolleySep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify The ticket ordering process will be like “I’m sorry, but we have four people bringing a hot dish. Can you bring a salad or dessert?”
Show threadLightning Bjornsson*  Sep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Would Midwest try to obtain trackage and cars on railroads, too?
Show threadCaillteSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify You’d be unable to deplane until you slapped your legs and said ‘Well!’
Show threadScott EllisSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Sometimes you can get an 11% rebate on your ticket, but you have to mail it in and you can only use it to buy another ticket in person (not online).
Show threadJohn Willis 🔰Sep 28, 2023

@TechConnectify Even as a Californian I get the generic “Midwest” references until the “ope” tagline - it is like secret midwest slang term that never leaked into the Southwest - is it something hiding in an MST3K episode or something?

(I love Tech Connections🥰)

Show threadKevin HSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify ❤️
Show threadKathryn ElrodSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Will all the seats be covered in plastic to keep them nice?
Show threadTSSaloicSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify A much better version of Sun Country. I can get behind that.
Show threadBrian KingSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Jolly Good sodas instead of Coke.
Show threadCameronSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Aside from the corn motifs inside the cabin, I'm pretty sure you're describing Allegiant. For the corn motifs, you can find those in many of the terminals at the airports they fly to.
Show threadAlexSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Tower’s given us the go-ahead, we’ll be pushing off here in two tree minutes…
Show threadFlorenceSep 28, 2023
@TechConnectify Apparently the Maritimes are the Midwest of Canada (minus the corn). I love that.
Show threadDaMan_ABSep 29, 2023
@TechConnectify There used to be an airline called Midwest Express. I used to take it from Milwaukee to Los Angeles in the mid to late '90s.