Anyone have SW make you give up EBCI seat?

[DebbieB]

It's possible the family with the small child was coming off a connecting flight and boarded late. You can't assume that they didn't buy EBCI.

 

[LisaS]

We've never been asked personally to change seats but have been on flights where the flight attendant made an announcement that she needed a volunteer to move so a late-boarding mom and child could sit together. It usually takes a few pleas from the FA before someone gets up.

We purchase EBCI and have always been able to sit together, even when we got low B boarding positions. There is still a risk of not getting seats together if, for example, you do not have a non-stop flight and your initial flight is delayed. You could end up getting to the gate for your connecting flight after your boarding group is already on board and could find yourself among the last to board the plane.

Unfortunately, even if you book an airline with assigned seating you're not guaranteed to sit together. We've lost our assigned seats once or twice and were split up. Another time we were very late boarding a connecting flight due to a long delay on our first leg. We ran to the next gate and were the last two people to board and then discovered someone was sitting in my assigned seat. I guess my window seat with the empty middle seat next to it was too tempting, even though they hadn't closed the door the plane yet! The FA yelled at me to go find another seat because they were ready to take off. I told DH to take his assigned middle seat and I had to go most of the way to the back of the plane to find somewhere to sit.

 

[seashoreCM]

But is the airline willing to sweeten the pot?

Perhaps some free snacks or meals. Perhaps a voucher towards a future flight. Maybe just some extra pampering to improve my security and comfort.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been on a SW flight where the FA announced that the plane would not pull back from the gate until a mother was able to be seated with her child. It was not a connecting flight...it originated in Providence. This was before EBCI came along. Well, there was a woman walking around at the gate with her young son. She would disappear for a bit and then appear again. We started boarding....A's boarded, which I was part of. Then the B group. Finally the C's came on. We were doing great. They were almost ready to close the door when this woman boarded, with her ds. She wasn't able to find two seats together, so she went to the FA. The FA made the announcement and no one moved...not one person. I was with my dd and wanted to sit with her. Well, 5 minutes went by. The FA made the same announcement, adding that we weren't leaving until the mother and child were seated together! Hugely annoying. An older couple finally offered their seats and were then split up. And that mother? She asked if there were two seats closer to the front!! Yes, she asked that.
My issue? That mother wandered around, for whatever reason, and got on that plane, expecting to be seated with her ds. Even if people had to move. If you really have to be seated with your child, then don't book with an airline that uses open seating. I boarded with my group. I did what was expected of me. Why should I have to move for someone that didn't do what was necessary?

To the OP.....if you buy EBCI, you should be fine. SW doesn't force anyone to move. They just kind of forcefully look for volunteers!

 

[gmeh1]

I think it's more the idea that the PARENT should have done everything and anything while booking that flight and then while checking in for that flight to ensure the safety and security of *their own child*, rather than hope that someone else, totally unrelated to the child, will do what the parent did not.

I completely agree.

 

[kamik86]

On longer flights I always want an aisle seat, on shorter flights I Just won't sit in the middle unless I was late boarding (only had to do it once with a late connection).

They have made that announcement before but I won't move for them. Sometimes others are nicer and will but I won't take a middle seat just so someone that didn't plan ahead can have two together. Even if theres was a connection... I sometimes take tight connections because I don't want to spend any longer traveling then I have to... but I know the risks. I know that might mean a middle seat. If I was flying with a child I MUST sit next to I wouldn't be taking that tight of a connection.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I've been on 2 SWA flights where flight attendants have announced that they won't close the doors until somebody changed seats to allow a child to sit with a parent. Once was before EBCI and once was after. Both originated in Manchester NH which is an airport that is never a continuation from another city and never a stop over between cities so everybody was starting at that location. I know first hand it happens.

I don't buy the special needs arguement. No I'm not saying I don't think it's a real need I'm just saying it's the responsibility of the PARENT to make sure that the child is seated with a parent. I have an autistic child so I'm not pointing fingers at others. I know my DD HAS to sit with me just in case a meltdown begins (our most recent trip was a close call and if I wasn't next to her it could have been a serious problem). I purchase EBCI. I know I'm flying out of an airport where nobody is coming from a connecting flight so I know the plane won't already be half full when I get one. Even if I get a B boarding position using EBCI we'll still get seats together or at least that's been my experience at this airport. I don't expect other people to take care of my needs for me. I take care of my needs.

I don't understand why people assume it's the responsibility of strangers on an airplane to take care of their needs. That's exactly what you're saying if you say that people should put the needs of the child who isn't with their parent above their own need as an adult. What about the responsibility of the parent? The parent is the person who chose to fly with their child and who chose to not pay a little extra to have the best chance possible of sitting beside their child. It's not my fault if they didn't do that.

As I said, I do pay for EBCI every time. I have to sit with both of my kids (my other one has ear problems and I'm the only person who seems to be able to get her ear plugs in right; we need to work on her being able to do it herself but right now she can't). DH doesn't actually have to sit near us but we want him to. I pay for EBCI for him as well so he'll be across the isle from me and so he has an isle seat for his long legs. Why should he have to move from his isle seat beside us just because somebody else did not choose not to take care of their own needs? Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

If somebody was really nice and offered an explaination that they had a bad connection or some other kind of extenuating circumstance then I'd probably encourage DH to swap seats because the people had actually tried to take care of their own needs but things sometimes happen beyond your control and I would hope for that kind of kindness in a similar circumstance. It's good to be nice but I also don't want to feel taken advantage of. No, nobody owes us an explaination but we don't owe anybody the kindness of switching seats so if you want something from me then offer me at least that.

ETA: I won't book flights with tight connections. I won't take that chance. But, that's just one of the many things I do to ensure that we have seats together like we need (again, need, not just want). It's my responsibility.

 

[kamik86]

I wonder if it ever happens that no one volunteers... I wonder if the flight attendants and pilots will REALLY take the hit of having a late flight for something that isn't against policy.

I mean when I fly most of the time I am on work time... I prefer to get there early and be able to relax but not enough to be ok with being forced into a middle seat so I would just be staying.

 

[luv2sleep]

I have a young child. I can't believe people would rather a 2, 3, 4, 5 year old, etc. sit alone than switch seats. Wow. Some of these responses at really disheartening.

 

[gmeh1]

I've been on 2 SWA flights where flight attendants have announced that they won't close the doors until somebody changed seats to allow a child to sit with a parent. Once was before EBCI and once was after. Both originated in Manchester NH which is an airport that is never a continuation from another city and never a stop over between cities so everybody was starting at that location. I know first hand it happens.

I don't buy the special needs arguement. No I'm not saying I don't think it's a real need I'm just saying it's the responsibility of the PARENT to make sure that the child is seated with a parent. I have an autistic child so I'm not pointing fingers at others. I know my DD HAS to sit with me just in case a meltdown begins (our most recent trip was a close call and if I wasn't next to her it could have been a serious problem). I purchase EBCI. I know I'm flying out of an airport where nobody is coming from a connecting flight so I know the plane won't already be half full when I get one. Even if I get a B boarding position using EBCI we'll still get seats together or at least that's been my experience at this airport. I don't expect other people to take care of my needs for me. I take care of my needs.

I don't understand why people assume it's the responsibility of strangers on an airplane to take care of their needs. That's exactly what you're saying if you say that people should put the needs of the child who isn't with their parent above their own need as an adult. What about the responsibility of the parent? The parent is the person who chose to fly with their child and who chose to not pay a little extra to have the best chance possible of sitting beside their child. It's not my fault if they didn't do that.

As I said, I do pay for EBCI every time. I have to sit with both of my kids (my other one has ear problems and I'm the only person who seems to be able to get her ear plugs in right; we need to work on her being able to do it herself but right now she can't). DH doesn't actually have to sit near us but we want him to. I pay for EBCI for him as well so he'll be across the isle from me and so he has an isle seat for his long legs. Why should he have to move from his isle seat beside us just because somebody else did not choose not to take care of their own needs? Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

If somebody was really nice and offered an explaination that they had a bad connection or some other kind of extenuating circumstance then I'd probably encourage DH to swap seats because the people had actually tried to take care of their own needs but things sometimes happen beyond your control and I would hope for that kind of kindness in a similar circumstance. It's good to be nice but I also don't want to feel taken advantage of. No, nobody owes us an explaination but we don't owe anybody the kindness of switching seats so if you want something from me then offer me at least that.

ETA: I won't book flights with tight connections. I won't take that chance. But, that's just one of the many things I do to ensure that we have seats together like we need (again, need, not just want). It's my responsibility.

Well said!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have a young child. I can't believe people would rather a 2, 3, 4, 5 year old, etc. sit alone than switch seats. Wow. Some of these responses at really disheartening.

No, you misunderstand what we are saying. We don't think a youngster should be seated alone. But we do say that if a parent has a young child they need to do what needs to be done so that they can sit with their child. SW tends to be a cheaper airline to fly, so a lot of families like to use it. BUT.....you do have to know how boarding and seating work. If you can't (or just don't want to) take the chance that you may not be seated with your child, then don't book SW. Pay a little more and get assigned seating.
It is not fair to expect someone to give up the seat they chose in order to allow you to sit with your child. It is NOT my responsibility. It IS my responsibility to take care of doing what needs to be done for my own children though.

 

[gmeh1]

I have a young child. I can't believe people would rather a 2, 3, 4, 5 year old, etc. sit alone than switch seats. Wow. Some of these responses at really disheartening.

Someone with a child under 5 (I believe) preboards with family boarding. Actually, they would not be sitting alone, someone would be there, just not the parent.
Disheartening, perhaps, but, honest. Some of us believe in taking responsibility for our kids and not expecting someone else to do it for them.
There are circumstances beyond control at times, however, most of the time it is lack of planning and the assumption that someone will step up and take over for someone else's lack of planning.

 

[gmeh1]

No, you misunderstand what we are saying. We don't think a youngster should be seated alone. But we do say that if a parent has a young child they need to do what needs to be done so that they can sit with their child. SW tends to be a cheaper airline to fly, so a lot of families like to use it. BUT.....you do have to know how boarding and seating work. If you can't (or just don't want to) take the chance that you may not be seated with your child, then don't book SW. Pay a little more and get assigned seating.
It is not fair to expect someone to give up the seat they chose in order to allow you to sit with your child. It is NOT my responsibility. It IS my responsibility to take care of doing what needs to be done for my own children though.

 

[winterwhite]

I'm A List Preferred on SWA-- earned through flying, not through points.

Anyway, I earned my status and it usually puts me in the A16-25 range on pretty much every flight.

I usually sit in the exit row, in which case kids are not a problem because they aren't allowed in exit rows, but when I am with DBF, I choose the seats we have for a reason.

I've been on a couple flights where an entire extended family, mom, dad, grandma, what feels like 8 million shouting kids gets on, and you can bet that no one feels like moving when they demand two whole rows to themselves.

Anyway, I have specific circumstances where I will move seats-- if the seat being offered to me is better than the one I chose (almost never happens), if you're super tall and I'm in the super exit row seat and you want me to take the middle and you're nice, or if someone offers me a drink or $$ and I'm feeling generous.

Your inability to plan is not an emergency on my part, so short of being forced by the flight attendant, I will not give up my primo seat for them to sit together. Tough nuts. Don't fly Southwest if you can't deal with the seating arrangements. When I have kids, they'll either board with me with my status or we'll buy the seats we want on another carrier.

 

[Fairyjen1]

I have a young child. I can't believe people would rather a 2, 3, 4, 5 year old, etc. sit alone than switch seats. Wow. Some of these responses at really disheartening.

I believe 4 and under you get to do family boarding. Not that it's a guarantee either.

I didn't say I wouldn't switch, only that we want to sit together. We are fine with the back of the plane so if you were offering two seats together (even across an aisle) we might be persuaded. I'm fine with a middle seat as long as it's next to my BF. I wouldn't be cool with both us sitting separate unless you offered to pay me the 25$ I paid to increase our chances of sitting together. Call me a big meany if you must. I do realize EBCI is no guarantee, but if we had already boarded and were already sitting together I'm not moving unless I'm compensated or the seats offered are also together.

I see often on here where people ask if they should buy EBCI for their family and people will say, no need, check in at 24 hours and if that doesn't work the flight attendants will make someone switch. I was curious how often that really happened.

 

[Autumnslight]

Your inability to plan is not an emergency on my part, so short of being forced by the flight attendant, I will not give up my primo seat for them to sit together. Tough nuts. Don't fly Southwest if you can't deal with the seating arrangements. When I have kids, they'll either board with me with my status or we'll buy the seats we want on another carrier.

See, this is where I see it from a different angle. Yes, parents should plan properly and be responsible. But sometimes, despite doing all the "right" things, there are circumstances beyond your control.

Regardless of whether someone planned "properly", if you're the one potentially giving up your seat, then that means you stand a good chance of being the person who's sitting next to a child with the parent elsewhere on the plane if you don't move. And if that child freaks out, or gets sick, or is just plain annoying or badly behaved without their parent there, then you're going to be miserable in your "primo" seat for possibly hours on end. If it were me, I'd rather just move than take the chance of having to deal with someone else's kid. My own are enough to handle!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

1. The whole spiting people for not planning ahead thing is really annoying me. I know several of the posters on here are much nicer than they are coming across in this discussion...

Scenario: I flew Southwest, with my then 1 year old, to my father's funeral. Literally. Purchased ticket at 11 PM for 7 AM flight the next morning. How was I suppose to plan ahead for that? (Southwest was quickest way of getting there to be with my family)

My point is, you often have have no idea why a family is traveling nor why/what/when/how they purchased their tickets and received their boarding number.

2. Novice flyers who don't do the research to understand the boarding process, board late, and expect the world to move to their whim are donkeys. Does that mean you turn into a heartless misanthrope and not make the reasonable accommodation you might have made had the true story behind the person's lateness been point 1?

3. Open seating works both ways. Its not your seat, its SWA's seat. You didn't buy a a guaranteed seat assignment. You want a guaranteed seat assignment: charter a flight.

 

[luv2sleep]

1. The whole spiting people for not planning ahead thing is really annoying me. I know several of the posters on here are much nicer than they are coming across in this discussion...

Scenario: I flew Southwest, with my then 2 year old, to my father's funeral. Literally. Purchased ticket at 11 PM for 7 AM flight the next morning. How was I suppose to plan ahead for that? (Southwest was quickest way of getting there to be with my family)

My point is, you often have have no idea why a family is traveling nor why/what/when/how they purchased their tickets and received their boarding number.

2. Novice flyers who don't do the research to understand the boarding process, board late, and expect the world to move to their whim are donkeys. Does that mean you turn into a heartless misanthrope and not make the reasonable accommodation you might have made had the true story behind the person's lateness been point 1?

3. Open seating works both ways. Its not your seat, its SWA's seat. You didn't buy a a guaranteed seat assignment. You want a guaranteed seat assignment: charter a flight.

Completely agree!

 

[luv2sleep]

See, this is where I see it from a different angle. Yes, parents should plan properly and be responsible. But sometimes, despite doing all the "right" things, there are circumstances beyond your control.

Regardless of whether someone planned "properly", if you're the one potentially giving up your seat, then that means you stand a good chance of being the person who's sitting next to a child with the parent elsewhere on the plane if you don't move. And if that child freaks out, or gets sick, or is just plain annoying or badly behaved without their parent there, then you're going to be miserable in your "primo" seat for possibly hours on end. If it were me, I'd rather just move than take the chance of having to deal with someone else's kid. My own are enough to handle!

Also agree!

 

[clanmcculloch]

1. The whole spiting people for not planning ahead thing is really annoying me. I know several of the posters on here are much nicer than they are coming across in this discussion...

Scenario: I flew Southwest, with my then 2 year old, to my father's funeral. Literally. Purchased ticket at 11 PM for 7 AM flight the next morning. How was I suppose to plan ahead for that? (Southwest was quickest way of getting there to be with my family)

My point is, you often have have no idea why a family is traveling nor why/what/when/how they purchased their tickets and received their boarding number.

2. Novice flyers who don't do the research to understand the boarding process, board late, and expect the world to move to their whim are donkeys. Does that mean you turn into a heartless misanthrope and not make the reasonable accommodation you might have made had the true story behind the person's lateness been point 1?

3. Open seating works both ways. Its not your seat, its SWA's seat. You didn't buy a a guaranteed seat assignment. You want a guaranteed seat assignment: charter a flight.

Point 1 IMO is extremely valid. That's why I said that if the person was nice and offered some kind of explaination (extremely brief without details but something) then I'd encourage my DH to switch. Without an explaination, nope, not going to happen. If you're asking for kindness from strangers then it goes both ways. Be kind with your request and most people will be kind in return. No I have no way of knowing who's telling the truth vs who's lying with their explaination but I'd definitely go with the assumption that the person is telling the truth and I'd want to help if I could.

Point 2 doesn't cut it for me. If I'm paying a lot of money for something I'm researching how it works. If others don't do that then it's not my fault or my problem.

Point 3 isn't a valid arguement. That space doesn't belong to the person with the child who wants the seat either. SWA rules state that the first person who gets their butt in that seat gets the seat. If the parent with the child wants a guaranteed seat assignment then that person can charter a flight.