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

kaytieeldr · Feb 28, 2015

lost*in*cyberspace said:
I was wondering if I might have missed your point, but apparently I didn't.

People should spend more time worrying about themselves and less about what others do, especially if it isn't affecting them. I suggest that you fly an airline with assigned seating in the future to avoid what appears to be such an immense aggravation to you.

By the way, you're wrong; Southwest doesn't have a policy against saving seats.

More accurately, Southwest doesn't have a policy about saving seats. A passenger can tell 50 people a seat is taken, but on Southwest any one of those intermediate passengers may sit in that or any other available seat.

nkereina · Feb 28, 2015

It's an assumption on OPs part, but if in fact the woman's husband didn't pay for EBCI while she did to try and skirt the system, then I agree the woman should have taken a seat more towards the back to avoid the inevitable "is this seat taken", and maybe be a little more inconspicuous about. Ideally they would have paid for both, but at the very least, sit in the back.

I agree with a PP that I'll still continue to ask if a seat is taken because I'm not about to separate a family or spend the next few hours next to a stranger who's annoyed with me. I'd rather keep moving to the back and have a drama free flight. There's clearly enough seats on the plane for everyone who's boarding. Traveling is stressful enough without worrying about that too. And for someone to worry about this so much when it didn't affect them is even crazier. Don't sweat the small stuff! Save yourself the trouble.

seashoreCM · Feb 28, 2015

It does not make sense to, just on principle, sit between two strangers wishing to save the middle seat for someone of their choice.

It does not make sense to unnecessarily sit between two others you don't really want to sit next to and also who really don't want to sit next to you.

If one of them wanted to look out the window and either or both of them gets up often to use the rest room, etc., you would have to do all of the accommodating.

They will have satisfied being polite by orchestrating a seat switch for their choice of you of the two of themselves, and they can do that orchestration very easily by suggesting that you change places with the third member of their family who wanted to sit between them but whom you beat to that middle seat.

kaytieeldr · Feb 28, 2015

It makes sense if the seat is near the front of the plane and you need to exit quickly for a connection, appointment, reservation, etc.
It makes sense if you fel claustrophobic sitting toward the back of the plane.

MaryKatesMom · Mar 1, 2015

When the husband sat down he started to say something like "See?" but she shushed him and I was reading a darn good book so I didn't care.

I'm sure the people that have done this before are probably unhappy that now others will be doing increasing the odds that SW might not be happy with the lost revenue and act. Or that other passengers might define "take the first empty seat" as "take the first empty seat" and not ask.

To the PP who's wife does that, if the plane isn't full and you aren't toward the front, you're probably fine. Middle seats in the back are the last to go. I've been on flights where passengers have stretched out napping in entire rows. Oh to be traveling during low season!

However, I want to be together up front and I'm willing to pay for it. Nothing wrong with that.

MaryKatesMom · Mar 1, 2015

We were already seated and she came on with two overheads and a purse. That is what caught my attention. She threw one on the seat, loaded the first then the second in the overhead. He of course boarded with no bags.

goofy4tink · Mar 1, 2015

MaryKatesMom said:
We were already seated and she came on with two overheads and a purse. That is what caught my attention. She threw one on the seat, loaded the first then the second in the overhead. He of course boarded with no bags.

And here is a basic problem. This woman was allowed to board with too many bags...she should have been asked to gate check one. I am somewhat dismayed that the gate attendants allowed her to board with a baggage overage! A purse and a carryon...that's what you're allowed to board with.
If someone wants to pay for EBCI for just one person, then they need to head to the rear of the plane and save a seat back there...it's the considerate thing to do. But, you can't mandate consideration!! Some people are just going to be rude.

I'm surprised that anyone wanted to actually sit in that middle seat. At least that early in the boarding process. Now, if there were two passengers, flying together, then I can see them wanting the window and the middle. And they would have been within their rights to take both those seats...regardless of what the woman said. An empty seat is an empty seat. No butt in it, it's available. It's up to each person to decide how much of a ruckus they want to cause in order to sit in that seat.

OrangeCountyCommuter · Mar 1, 2015

Must have been a lot of "not frequent flyers" on OPs flight because business travelers don't ask, they just sit. Then we put on our headphones and ignore hysteria....

Saw it just a few weeks ago on Houston to Atlanta..... Man sat in seat and woman said "my husband is sitting" there. Man's response was 'is he on the plane" Her, no he hasn't boarded yet. Man "well I am sure he will find a seat" He then basically climbed over the woman and took the window seat LOL! She complained to FA but got no where (and her DH did get to sit next to her, he was just in the middle seat LOL!)

And I agree the gate agent SCREWED UP! The woman should have been stopped at boarding with too many pieces of luggage!

siskaren · Mar 1, 2015

OrangeCountyCommuter said:
Saw it just a few weeks ago on Houston to Atlanta..... Man sat in seat and woman said "my husband is sitting" there. Man's response was 'is he on the plane" Her, no he hasn't boarded yet. Man "well I am sure he will find a seat" He then basically climbed over the woman and took the window seat LOL! She complained to FA but got no where (and her DH did get to sit next to her, he was just in the middle seat LOL!)

Are you saying that the woman was sitting in the aisle seat and was trying to save the window seat for her husband? Was she planning on nobody taking the middle seat?

nkereina · Mar 1, 2015

OrangeCountyCommuter said:
Saw it just a few weeks ago on Houston to Atlanta..... Man sat in seat and woman said "my husband is sitting" there. Man's response was 'is he on the plane" Her, no he hasn't boarded yet. Man "well I am sure he will find a seat" He then basically climbed over the woman and took the window seat LOL! She complained to FA but got no where (and her DH did get to sit next to her, he was just in the middle seat LOL!)

In this scenario, I don't understand why the man would want to sit next to a woman who obviously is not fond of him at this point and now has to sit away from her husband for the duration of the flight as a direct result of the man's actions. I get the no seat saving rule and that the man was within his rights, but common courtesy for me would be for the man to take the next middle seat he stumbled across. I'd much rather do that than have to deal with a pissed of woman elbow to elbow with me for 3 hours, or however long.

jperrot1 · Mar 1, 2015

MaryKatesMom said:
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."

1 100% agree with you on this one. If you fly Southwest, you better pay your early boarding fee or..... too bad, so sad. That was one rude and dishonest person. And it doesn't matter to me the reason her family wasn't on board, even if they paid for early boarding.... which I'm sure they didn't. But they didn't board at the time they might have been able. The rules are the rules. I say to that lady, you don't like it. don't fly Southwest, as there are plenty of airlines with reserved seating systems. I don't like when people don't play by the rules and it effects others. I don't usually post in a "negative" way but op, you got my attention on this one.

jperrot1 · Mar 1, 2015

maxiesmom said:
And you would be very much in the wrong. Any empty seat is fair game. If your wife refuses to pay for EBCI, then it is her fault if she can't sit by you. If you want her to sit by her, then you need to pay for EBCI for her too. Otherwise you are being very rude.

Ditto.

jperrot1 · Mar 1, 2015

maxiesmom said:
I don't think it is printed out anywhere. But the policy is you are to chose from any open seat. And the FAs won't side with a seat saver if someone else wants to take the seat they are saving. Not to mention, it is totally tacky to pay for one EBCI and then try to save seats for others.

Yep. That is how Southwest operates boarding. And I might add, if you don't like it, just choose another airline, or pay the (small) fee for early boarding.

sam_gordon · Mar 1, 2015

maxiesmom said:
And you would be very much in the wrong. Any empty seat is fair game. If your wife refuses to pay for EBCI, then it is her fault if she can't sit by you. If you want her to sit by her, then you need to pay for EBCI for her too. Otherwise you are being very rude.

Sorry, I disagree. "Very much in the wrong" and "very rude"? Absolutely not (based on the PP's post). If I'm with a party of three, two people get on and take the window and aisle seats (leaving the middle open for pax #3), yes, I'm going to say I'm hoping 'x' will sit there. If someone REALLY wants to sit in that row, how is it rude or wrong to move from the aisle to the middle to give the other passenger the aisle seat?

sam_gordon · Mar 1, 2015

seashoreCM said:
It does not make sense to, just on principle, sit between two strangers wishing to save the middle seat for someone of their choice.

It does not make sense to unnecessarily sit between two others you don't really want to sit next to and also who really don't want to sit next to you.

If one of them wanted to look out the window and either or both of them gets up often to use the rest room, etc., you would have to do all of the accommodating.

They will have satisfied being polite by orchestrating a seat switch for their choice of you of the two of themselves, and they can do that orchestration very easily by suggesting that you change places with the third member of their family who wanted to sit between them but whom you beat to that middle seat.

kaytieeldr said:
It makes sense if the seat is near the front of the plane and you need to exit quickly for a connection, appointment, reservation, etc.
It makes sense if you fel claustrophobic sitting toward the back of the plane.

Sorry, kaytiee, read what seashore wrote again... he said it doesn't make sense to sit between two strangers "just because". If you have a valid reason (need to get off the plane quick, claustrophobic, etc), then I can see it.

nkereina · Mar 1, 2015

sam_gordon said:
Sorry, kaytiee, read what seashore wrote again... he said it doesn't make sense to sit between two strangers "just because". If you have a valid reason (need to get off the plane quick, claustrophobic, etc), then I can see it.

Agreed. And if someone is trying to hold a seat in the front for someone who hasn't boarded yet, and someone else gets on the plane that wants to sit on the front because of a quick layover, claustrophobia, etc, he or she can still be polite about it. They don't have to get snarky and barrel over the person on the aisle to prove a point. A simple "I have a quick layover, and really need to get off first, so sorry sir but I'm going to have to take this seat" would probably go a little further and ease the situation rather than a "sorry not sorry" type of attitude. No matter how wrong the seat holder may be.

maxiesmom · Mar 1, 2015

sam_gordon said:
Sorry, I disagree. "Very much in the wrong" and "very rude"? Absolutely not (based on the PP's post). If I'm with a party of three, two people get on and take the window and aisle seats (leaving the middle open for pax #3), yes, I'm going to say I'm hoping 'x' will sit there. If someone REALLY wants to sit in that row, how is it rude or wrong to move from the aisle to the middle to give the other passenger the aisle seat?

You seem to be forgetting Armchairdetective's post about keeping their elbow over on the other seat out of spite. That is the post I quoted. And yes, that is very rude behavior.

If any party of 3 wants to sit together, then all 3 should pay for EBCI. Not try to game the system, or guilt or bully other passengers from taking an empty seat, even if it is a middle seat. They shouldn't have to explain why they want the seat. It is empty, it is fair game.

nkereina · Mar 1, 2015

maxiesmom said:
You seem to be forgetting Armchairdetective's post about keeping their elbow over on the other seat out of spite. That is the post I quoted. And yes, that is very rude behavior.

If any party of 3 wants to sit together, then all 3 should pay for EBCI. Not try to game the system, or guilt or bully other passengers from taking an empty seat, even if it is a middle seat. They shouldn't have to explain why they want the seat. It is empty, it is fair game.

But how about just for the sake of common courtesy, ease of tension, politeness, and the fact that you'll be in close proximity to this person for an extended amount of time? Even though the seat taker is in the right, it can still be done in a decent fashion.

And FWIW, DH and I had booked our flights separately last trip. Booked on the same day, a few hours apart. We both purchased EBCI, but ended up about 10 positions apart. We both purchased EBCI and played by all the rules, yet still ended up boarding separately. My point is that things happen and there's a million reasons why people, who may be doing right, don't end up boarding together. So it's not safe to assume everyone in this position is skirting the rules (and I don't necessarily mean OP's post, just in general).

kiddo76 · Mar 1, 2015

I just purchased 2 flights on SW and purchased EBCI for both. It never even crossed my mind to pay for only one. That's tacky. If we bought our flights separately and ended up with different boarding numbers, we would just board together using the higher number. When I board, if I see an empty seat I don't even ask if it's taken, I just sit down. I guess that makes me rude.

sam_gordon · Mar 1, 2015

maxiesmom said:
You seem to be forgetting Armchairdetective's post about keeping their elbow over on the other seat out of spite. That is the post I quoted. And yes, that is very rude behavior.

Oh, where she said she'd "keep her elbow JUST A LITTLE BIT on their side of the armrest? Yup, you're right... It's EXTREMELY rude. :cool:

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

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