Southwest, don't ask "Is this seat taken?"

[ArmchairDetective]

Perhaps someone wants the unusual experience of flying seated next to an adult child not their own.

What? Are you saying you want an unusual experience sitting next to my adult child daughter? She's 12. Are you a pervert? What are you getting at?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disingenuity doesn't suit anyone, but especially someone who threatens assault and battery on a commercial flight because his wife refuses to pay the airline's seating charge.

Unless that person's twelve year old daughter is impersonating that person, it appears likely the daughter is infinitely more mature than the father. Just sayin'.

 

[gdrj]

It isn't. There is NO SAVING SEATS. I know it is a polite habit but get over it.

The flight attendants repeated this over and over AND kept saying the flight is full take the first available seat.

I pay $12.50/per person so all my family can sit together towards the front in rows 5-10. However, the woman across the aisle kept saying to everyone "My husband is sitting there." No he wasn't. They only wanted to pay for one person on Early Bird while he had a C boarding pass. She brought the bags on and stuffed the overhead and then saved his seat.

The flight was full and I mean no empty seats at all, every middle seat was taken.

Easily 1-2 DOZEN people said "Is this seat taken?" (We were in row 7, so she got asked that much) Her reply "Yes, my husband is sitting there." After the first dozen my "It is all open seating." earned me an elbow from my husband and a let it go.

My advice. Throw your small bag on an empty seat, put your overhead if you need one (with SW we only travel with under the seat bags. Bags are free, so why worry about overhead space. You'll have more room towards the front since the overheads there fill up quickly. Any protests should be met with, "Talk to the flight attendant."

Wow, should the person save a seat probably not. Could someone ignored her sure, should she have gone further back possibly. Is it possible she went towards from since her husband has issues walking or has health issues, or maybe they are cheap or fell entitled. I have no idea.

Unless the choice of a seat is that or the last seat next to the lavatory I wouldn't want to sit next to her anyway. If it bothered me and I was boarding I would just ask which of the two seats he is taking and take the 3rd seat.

Last I checked those near the front or the back of the plane still land at the same time. I live in a glass house and while you paid your 12.50 for your seat, is there anything that you've done that just maybe irritated someone else. Go through the 10 or less line with 11 items? Not come to a complete stop at a stop sign? Go through a yellow light when you should have stopped? Take 2 samples at Costco? Tell the girl scouts that you already bought cookies when you really didn't. See a person who needed assistance and pretend not to notice them. Been on your cellphone and talk too loud and bother others. How about judge someone on a plane without knowing if there is a more to the story than you know. If there isn't more to the story instead of just blurting out no saving seats like an 85 year old Grandmother without any built in censors, just smile and look at your family and be thankful for the blessings you have. But hey that's just 1 option.

Bless your heart

 

[MillauFr]

Yes, supposedly it is for faster boarding.

That is what I thought but it doesn't seem to help their ontime performance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Where is the ignore button on these boards? I cannot converse with people that cannot read, jump to conclusions, and are over-the-top dramatic.

Hmmm... this is assault and battery? "If they threw a fit, I'd likely move to the middle seat, move my kid to the window, and keep my elbow just a little bit on their side out of spite."

Got it.

Btw, I'm not a man so stop calling me one.

You're showing your inability to research and your age. Get a life. Ignored.

At least I'm in good company.

 

[LisaS]

When I book on other carriers I can *gasp* pre-select my seat and... what's this? *gasp* preselect my row. It's like Christmas!

And when I fly Southwest I can take a quick look around as I board and select a seat that is not in front of small children (potential seat kickers) or babies (I'm sympathetic but would prefer not to be too close to a crying baby on a flight) or next to someone with broad shoulders who might encroach into my space during the flight.

Preassigned seats are not guaranteed anyway. On one occasion the great seat assignments DH and I chose when we booked our flight disappeared a couple days before departure for some unknown reason. We ended up being given new seats that weren't together and told we could try to fix it at the gate. We did but ended up in the very last row in seats that didn't recline at all and with lots of people standing in the aisle next to us in line for the bathroom.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

There can also be extenuating circumstances. When we went to WDW in December, I paid for EBCI for all 4 of my family members for both legs. On the trip down, we knew the flight was nearly full so we went to the back row and DD16 and I took aisle/window on one side and DH and DS20 took aisle/window on the other. The last two people to board were a husband and wife and they cameto the back of the plane. DD16 moved to the middle seat and the husband took the window in our row. My DH, has very broad shoulders and prefers an aisle so he can lean "out", my DS20 likes a window so he can lean into it and sleep, so the wife took the middle seat between them.

However, on the way home, SWA somehow screwed up my EBCI, and had used my return EBCI on my outbound flight, so they didn't have an EBCI to check in for me and when I checked in at about 23 hours, I was B56 (DH and DD16 were A2x and A2x) (DS20 flew earlier that day to a student convention in Nashville, so he wasn't with us). It was a completely full flight, so DH and DD16 went to the last row and sat aisle/window and I took the window seat when I finally boarded, moving my daughter to the middle. I did head to the restroom before we took off and somebody in the C group asked if my seat was taken and she was told by the flight attendant that there was someone sitting there, but that I was in the restroom, so she headed back toward the front of the plane looking for the coveted middle seat.

So, we are not serial "seat savers," but had two unusual circumstances. We have normally had a few empty seats on our flights, and since they are non-stop, we have found heading to the back gives us a better chance to be able to spread out.

 

[LisaS]

That is what I thought but it doesn't seem to help their ontime performance.

I read an article a couple of months ago that stated that a year or so ago (?), Southwest experimented with increasing the number of flights per day by reducing their turnaround time by several minutes. It didn't work and any delay early in the day snowballed by the end of the day, impacting their on-time performance. The article stated they had concluded it was a bad idea and they planned to go back to their previous turnaround allowance. It will be interesting to see if their on-time performance improves this year.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, supposedly it is for faster boarding. I also imagine they would sell less tickets if people "could not sit together" and all that was left were middle seats. Do you think so?

It's really annoying.

Mythbusters did an episode on the fastest boarding time. SW's boarding WAS the fastest, but had the lowest "satisfaction" score. There were three other boarding policies that were slight slower (<~1 minutes) with GREAT satisfaction scores.

 

[philharmagic fan]

On a recent Southwest flight, a man who boarded in the A1-A15 group (I was A19, so it was easy for me to see) took an exit row aisle seat and announced to the couple who had A16-A17 that he was saving the middle seat for a companion (he eventually boarded with the late B's or C's) and they (the couple) couldn't sit together if they chose that row/side. It wasn't the first flight of the day, so there weren't another 2 seats together in the exit rows. A short but heated discussion ensued, and the FA announced he would remove all 3 of them from the plane if they didn't resolve their differences. The couple ended up choosing another row, but to me it looked as though the passenger saving the seat was in the wrong, and I was disappointed that the flight attendant didn't make him give up the middle seat.

 

[goofy4tink]

STOP!!! You're killing me here!!!d Get over yourselves.
SW has the fastest turn around time....due to their boarding process. The system works, most have no issue with it. Personally, I can't imagine a world where a single traveler is going to pass by multiple empty seats and go to the rear of the plane in order to take a middle seat between people they didn't know. Just stupid...and it's going to happen. Elbows jabbing people? Don't do it. I'm broad-shouldered as well. I've been seated next to larger men that seem to think both arm rests are theirs, even the one with my tv control on it! Just had to deal with it. Have I saved a seat on SW before? Yep. But, again, I was behind the wing....dh got stuck in the mens room in a huge crowd so missed our boarding slot. There were no issues. No one even looked at that empty seat. They continued on down the aisle. And yes, we all bought EBCI!!!!!

This is a ridiculous discussion. Everyone is making up 'what if' scenarios. And those situations would probably occur, maybe, 5% of the time. Yes, there are rude people. But there are also kind, considerate people.

EBCI? It does not say that you will get a better boarding slot. It says, and this only, that you will get checked in earlier than those not buying EBCI...hence the name...early bird check in!!! If you want to save a seat, go to the back of the plane. Allow those boarding with their entire party to get seats together as they board.

If you all chooses to continue this discussion, please do so without the 'what ifs'. I can make up a multiple of situations that would, in all likelihood, never happen but would certainly prove my point. If the 'snarkiness' continues, this will be closed. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I've never seen EBCI into the B's. Business will board (typically A1-15 if they are all filled) and then EBCI boards. Following them, the family boarding, and then B group, C, and D group......

People with EBCI often get B boarding. Boarding is A group, then family boarding, then B and C. There is no D boarding group.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've never seen EBCI into the B's. Business will board (typically A1-15 if they are all filled) and then EBCI boards. Following them, the family boarding, and then B group, C, and D group. I never fly in/out of MCO without EBCI as there are so many kids and so many families coming and going from MCO. Instead of one parent boarding with a baby, you will typically see both parents, all of their kids, grandmas and grandpas. EBCI gets you ahead of those folks.

Ok, a few corrections....medical preboards, minors flying along board first, followed by business select or others who chose to pay full fare and are in slots A1-15. Then, the rest of the A group boards (usually mostly EBCI people). Then, those flying with children 4 and younger....if there is a family group of two parents and several children but at least one under 4, they are usually allowed to all board together. We are not seeing a lot of instances where entire family groups (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, nannies) are allowed to board with the primary family unit. When they have boarded, the B group follows...with an increasing number of EBCI passengers within the grouping. Then, the C group boards, with those at the end of the group having some trouble finding multiple empty seats.

I guess it's a question of semantics here. I watched that video. It does not say 'empty' seat, it says 'open' seat. Sooooo, one has to wonder if someone sitting in that row can justifiably 'save' that second seat and it is now not considered to be 'open'. Food for thought. I have to wonder if this is the reason the FAs seldom get involved.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I booked a BA flight a couple of months ago and I paid $424 for round trip seat selection for the four of us. The only thing BA guarantee's is the area, not the actual assigned seat. If I hadn't paid extra, I would have been assigned seats around those that did pay for the assigned seat. Therefore it is quite likely we would have been in different rows in all middle seats.

I'm happy to pay for the EBCI since it would be unlikely for us not to sit together but I need to use the facilities at least once/ flight and I've noticed the seat belt sign doesn't turn off on some flights the entire time so I have to make a mad dash for the bathrooms and want to be as close as possible.

I've noticed the seat belt signs don't come off as frequently as they used to although that could just be my nerves.

We've always checked in close to 24 hrs in advance, mostly out of habit but after reading the link, we'll keep doing it.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Wow, should the person save a seat probably not. Could someone ignored her sure, should she have gone further back possibly. Is it possible she went towards from since her husband has issues walking or has health issues, or maybe they are cheap or fell entitled. I have no idea.

Unless the choice of a seat is that or the last seat next to the lavatory I wouldn't want to sit next to her anyway. If it bothered me and I was boarding I would just ask which of the two seats he is taking and take the 3rd seat.

Last I checked those near the front or the back of the plane still land at the same time. I live in a glass house and while you paid your 12.50 for your seat, is there anything that you've done that just maybe irritated someone else. Go through the 10 or less line with 11 items? Not come to a complete stop at a stop sign? Go through a yellow light when you should have stopped? Take 2 samples at Costco? Tell the girl scouts that you already bought cookies when you really didn't. See a person who needed assistance and pretend not to notice them. Been on your cellphone and talk too loud and bother others. How about judge someone on a plane without knowing if there is a more to the story than you know. If there isn't more to the story instead of just blurting out no saving seats like an 85 year old Grandmother without any built in censors, just smile and look at your family and be thankful for the blessings you have. But hey that's just 1 option.

Bless your heart

What? Doesn't sound like you read the whole thread to me. I guess that is why it didn't make your list of irritating behaviors. LOL

 

[nkereina]

On a recent SW flight I was on, the FA was standing in one of the exit rows as everyone was boarding. FA's often do this, so I didn't think much of it. We took the exit row across from her, and I watched multiple people continue past her even though they would have probably liked the exit row. We were about halfway through boarding, and no one had even asked her if the seats were open. Presumably they didn't want to tell the FA to move. Well, lo and behold, two adult women the FA seemingly knew (judging by their conversation) got on and the FA smiled when she saw them, and proceeded to move out of the row and allow them to sit. Clearly, the FA was saving the exit row for her friends

STOP!!! You're killing me here!!!d Get over yourselves.
SW has the fastest turn around time....due to their boarding process. The system works, most have no issue with it. Personally, I can't imagine a world where a single traveler is going to pass by multiple empty seats and go to the rear of the plane in order to take a middle seat between people they didn't know. Just stupid...and it's going to happen. Elbows jabbing people? Don't do it. I'm broad-shouldered as well. I've been seated next to larger men that seem to think both arm rests are theirs, even the one with my tv control on it! Just had to deal with it. Have I saved a seat on SW before? Yep. But, again, I was behind the wing....dh got stuck in the mens room in a huge crowd so missed our boarding slot. There were no issues. No one even looked at that empty seat. They continued on down the aisle. And yes, we all bought EBCI!!!!!

This is a ridiculous discussion. Everyone is making up 'what if' scenarios. And those situations would probably occur, maybe, 5% of the time. Yes, there are rude people. But there are also kind, considerate people.

EBCI? It does not say that you will get a better boarding slot. It says, and this only, that you will get checked in earlier than those not buying EBCI...hence the name...early bird check in!!! If you want to save a seat, go to the back of the plane. Allow those boarding with their entire party to get seats together as they board.

If you all chooses to continue this discussion, please do so without the 'what ifs'. I can make up a multiple of situations that would, in all likelihood, never happen but would certainly prove my point. If the 'snarkiness' continues, this will be closed. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation.

The what-if scenarios are relevant though when they can and do occur often, especially since others are making blanket statements about what is overtly right and wrong. I think said scenarios are more to prove you can't judge a book by it's cover.

 

[ibob52]

 

[goofy4tink]

On a recent SW flight I was on, the FA was standing in one of the exit rows as everyone was boarding. FA's often do this, so I didn't think much of it. We took the exit row across from her, and I watched multiple people continue past her even though they would have probably liked the exit row. We were about halfway through boarding, and no one had even asked her if the seats were open. Presumably they didn't want to tell the FA to move. Well, lo and behold, two adult women the FA seemingly knew (judging by their conversation) got on and the FA smiled when she saw them, and proceeded to move out of the row and allow them to sit. Clearly, the FA was saving the exit row for her friends



The what-if scenarios are relevant though when they can and do occur often, especially since others are making blanket statements about what is overtly right and wrong. I think said scenarios are more to prove you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Well then....that sure changes things, doesn't it! It's actually kind of funny! I was on one SW flight that had an older couple preboard, as medical preboards. I was lucky enough to have A16 on that flight, with only 2 people boarding before me. Well, as I boarded the plane, I saw the FA arguing with this older couple. They had headed right to the exit rows, and plopped down, with the middle seat vacant! The FA explained that they needed to be able to help out in an emergency....'well, of course we can do that' said the gentleman, the wife quickly agreed. The FA told them that if they had to board as medical preboards, then they weren't considered able enough to help out....that couple was peeved!!!! They tried arguing with the FA...of course they didn't win the argument. She told them that if they didn't vacate those seats, she would call security and they would be removed from the plane. Well, by this time, there were no two seats together in front of the exit rows...so they had to go about 4 rows behind to find seats together. They had argued so long that the A's had boarded, and the families were boarding!!!

But some scenarios just aren't going to be all that common....I mean seriously, how often do you think someone is going to bypass empty seats in order to go the rear of the plane to take a middle seat between people they don't know? Just isn't going to happen. That's basically the scenario I had in mind.

 

[kamik86]

I haven't read all the posts, only the first two pages but it may not have been an EBCI situation.

I board WAY before my husband all the time. I fly alot for work and am A list preferred. He flies only when we go on vacation and then doesn't get status because he is flying on my points.
Due to this I save the middle seat next to me for my husband (and then sometimes move to it so he gets the aisle) although I have never actually had to tell anyone the seat is taken. I almost always end up with a solo traveler taking the window (or even better sometimes choose a row where the solo traveler is already at the window) and he boards soon enough that the middle seats aren't all being taken yet.

In May I will be doing a flight where there are 4 of us. Mom and Dad will preboard (Mom had double knee replacements and wouldn't be able to walk down with luggage and board at a pace that is at all reasonable to anyone else. Then she would feel flustered because she is holding people up and get worse... easier to preboard her so she doesn't feel rushed) I'll board with A list, My husband will board wherever his 24 hour check in puts him. However I'll sit up front... we have a tight connection in midway. I'm sure I'll be able to once again get my husband next to me, or worst case between my parents.

 

[LisaS]

Mythbusters did an episode on the fastest boarding time. SW's boarding WAS the fastest, but had the lowest "satisfaction" score. There were three other boarding policies that were slight slower (<~1 minutes) with GREAT satisfaction scores.

Where did the satisfaction scores come from, from the people participating in their experiment or from surveys taken in the real world? I fly Southwest almost exclusively now and am very satisfied with the boarding process. If I was experiencing it for the first time as part of an experiment, with a group of other people who were also unfamiliar with the process, it might not feel as orderly and efficient.