Anyone have SW make you give up EBCI seat?

[GrnMtnMan]

SWA rules state that the first person who gets their butt in that seat gets the seat.

Can you point me to these rules? I actually went to SWA's website and they explain the boarding process, but didn't see a policy specific to 'seat occupancy', but I could have missed that.

In any case, if a parent was unable to sit next to a young child (who would be be incapable of attaching his/her own oxygen mask) then said parent would have to involve the flight crew. I'm sure there's circumstances where SWA will remove the parent and child from the flight, but I suspect there's just as many circumstances where the flight crew requests seat movement for the sake of safety. And if people are disobedient of a flight crew, even in this circumstance, they are likely to be removed from the flight.

 

[luv2sleep]

Can you point me to these rules? I actually went to SWA's website and they explain the boarding process, but didn't see a policy specific to 'seat occupancy', but I could have missed that.

In any case, if a parent was unable to sit next to a young child (who would be be incapable of attaching his/her own oxygen mask) then said parent would have to involve the flight crew. I'm sure there's circumstances where SWA will remove the parent and child from the flight, but I suspect there's just as many circumstances where the flight crew requests seat movement for the sake of safety. And if people are disobedient of a flight crew, even in this circumstance, they are likely to be removed from the flight.

I would hope so!

Seriously, maybe some of you don't have children. If you did you could understand the concern when you are faced in this situation no matter how hard you tried to not be in it.

 

[Autumnslight]

Can you point me to these rules? I actually went to SWA's website and they explain the boarding process, but didn't see a policy specific to 'seat occupancy', but I could have missed that.

In any case, if a parent was unable to sit next to a young child (who would be be incapable of attaching his/her own oxygen mask) then said parent would have to involve the flight crew. I'm sure there's circumstances where SWA will remove the parent and child from the flight, but I suspect there's just as many circumstances where the flight crew requests seat movement for the sake of safety. And if people are disobedient of a flight crew, even in this circumstance, they are likely to be removed from the flight.

I also went to Southwest's website, to look for any official seating policy. All I could find were a lot of statements about how there is no guaranteed seating, even if you have A status or EBCI. I'm taking that to mean that ultimately the airline and flight crew has the final say on seating, based on what they feel is safest for the individuals onboard the aircraft.

The oxygen mask issue is a really good point that I hadn't even thought about. Unlikely that you'd need it, but can you even imagine if a kid was sitting without their parents and couldn't get it on without help? Yikes!

 

[mb187143]

From SW's Website:

"How does the boarding process work?
You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in. Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate. Numbered posts in each of our gate areas indicate where to line up. When your boarding group is called, find your designated place in line and board the aircraft in numerical order with your boarding group.

Do I have an assigned seat?
No. At Southwest Airlines, we believe the best way for you to like where you sit is to allow you to sit where you like. Once onboard, simply choose any available seat, stow your carryon items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and relax. We’ll take care of the rest."


Choose any available seat, to me, means a seat without a body in it. I would assume that like on all airlines, the FAs have the ultimate authority to make decisions to ensure passenger safety. It is entirely up to them to determine if a parent sitting in a separate row from their child who is above the age for unaccompanied minors (age 5+) meets that criteria. I have found that FAs on Southwest tend to take the path of least resistance. On my SW flight from Houston to Newark last week, the flight was full and the FAs were not assisting a parent and child trying to find two seats together. The child was about 7-8 years old and they were among the last to board. The FA pointed out two single seats, 3 rows apart on the same side of the plane, and requested that the mom and son take those so that we could push back on time. Mom didn't like it but the son couldn't have cared less. She didn't put up a fight though, just went with it and we made our way to NJ on time.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I also went to Southwest's website, to look for any official seating policy. All I could find were a lot of statements about how there is no guaranteed seating, even if you have A status or EBCI. I'm taking that to mean that ultimately the airline and flight crew has the final say on seating, based on what they feel is safest for the individuals onboard the aircraft.

I just scanned the SWA contract of carriage for mentions of seating, and didn't see anything relating to physical seat occupancy trumping flight crew requests.

The oxygen mask issue is a really good point that I hadn't even thought about. Unlikely that you'd need it, but can you even imagine if a kid was sitting without their parents and couldn't get it on without help? Yikes!

Flight crews are first and foremost safety officers. If the cabin depressurized and a child suffocated because 12C didn't want to move from a primo seat, they'd be pretty devastated. And probably fired. And likely sued. And possibly charged with criminal negligence.

Hence the real-world where flight crews make pretty big efforts to rearrange the non-guaranteed seating to accommodate all the customers who purchased tickets on the flight, as safely as possible.

 

[DCbride]

Four of us flew with EB. Had the seats we wanted- 3 across with DH across the aisle. C boarding was almost finished and a lady sat in middle seat next to DH. She had a cat in a carrier. DH is epi pen needed allergic to cats. Flight attendant found a man in the back willing to switch with DH. They didn't make cat woman move. They did give the guy who switched free drinks, which was nice. But, yes we paid and yes he moved.

 

[goofy4tink]

Four of us flew with EB. Had the seats we wanted- 3 across with DH across the aisle. C boarding was almost finished and a lady sat in middle seat next to DH. She had a cat in a carrier. DH is epi pen needed allergic to cats. Flight attendant found a man in the back willing to switch with DH. They didn't make cat woman move. They did give the guy who switched free drinks, which was nice. But, yes we paid and yes he moved.

That is disappointing to say the least. I know that the one time I flew with a cat, I booked a seat (delta) that had no one near me....didn't want to bother any one. I watched the plane seating and I was fine, up until the night before I was to fly. I found I was surrounded by passengers even though the far rear was still empty. When I got to the gate the next day, I asked to be moved to an area with few other passengers I explained that I had a cat......that I paid an addtl amount for (around $80!). The gate attendants response was....'Don't you like people? Do you have an issue?' Geez. I to,d her I had a cat, again, and I didn't want the at to bother anyone, especially if they were allergic. I was able to change my seat to one two rows from the back, with no one behind me or beside me. There was a couple right in front of me so I asked if they had any cat issues. They didn't. So all was fine.
I can't understand why the FA didn't move the woman with the cat instead of your dh. That really isn't fair.

 

[maxiesmom]

I just scanned the SWA contract of carriage for mentions of seating, and didn't see anything relating to physical seat occupancy trumping flight crew requests.
Flight crews are first and foremost safety officers. If the cabin depressurized and a child suffocated because 12C didn't want to move from a primo seat, they'd be pretty devastated. And probably fired. And likely sued. And possibly charged with criminal negligence.

Hence the real-world where flight crews make pretty big efforts to rearrange the non-guaranteed seating to accommodate all the customers who purchased tickets on the flight, as safely as possible.

I don't buy it at all. Even in the pre flight instructions they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping anyone else. I can't think of a single human being who would just sit there and refuse to help a child. No way would anyone be sued for not moving passengers around. Kids sit away from their parents fairly often without drama.

And I have been on flights where it was obvious families were split up. and the FAs asked, but didn't go on and on trying to move people around. If you cannot sit away from your child, or even take the chance of it happening, don't fly Southwest. It is only one airline out of many.

 

[Sheilby]

OK, cats on planes are a whole new thing to me. I thought animals rode in cages in the cargo hold? If you travel with a cat is it on your lap? If it's in a cage, where do you put the cage? Sorry curiosity is getting the best of me. That and the fact that I am beyond allergic to cats. My eyes swell shut, I get hives and my breathing gets heavy. I have to swallow lots of Benedryl at that point which puts me to sleep for a LONG time. Never thought about having to deal with sitting next to a cat. I'm allergic to dogs too, but not as severely.

 

[Gracie09]

I don't buy it at all. Even in the pre flight instructions they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping anyone else. I can't think of a single human being who would just sit there and refuse to help a child. No way would anyone be sued for not moving passengers around. Kids sit away from their parents fairly often without drama.

And I have been on flights where it was obvious families were split up. and the FAs asked, but didn't go on and on trying to move people around. If you cannot sit away from your child, or even take the chance of it happening, don't fly Southwest. It is only one airline out of many.

I agree. If we go by the pp's logic there would be no unaccompanied minors because who would take care of them in an emergency. We rarely fly sw now because we like assigned seats. It makes life easier for us as a family. Do I sometimes pay more yes, but dh is 6'7" so we pretty much always go with extra leg room seats for him anyway. It's just part of our lives.

 

[Autumnslight]

I agree. If we go by the pp's logic there would be no unaccompanied minors because who would take care of them in an emergency. We rarely fly sw now because we like assigned seats. It makes life easier for us as a family. Do I sometimes pay more yes, but dh is 6'7" so we pretty much always go with extra leg room seats for him anyway. It's just part of our lives.

Most airlines charge extra for unaccompanied minors because they then put someone on the flight crew in charge of taking care of the minor to some extent. That's a very different situation from a child unexpectedly being seated apart from their parent. Again, some kids are old/mature enough to be totally fine in that situation, but others are not.

 

[DebbieB]

OK, cats on planes are a whole new thing to me. I thought animals rode in cages in the cargo hold? If you travel with a cat is it on your lap? If it's in a cage, where do you put the cage? Sorry curiosity is getting the best of me. That and the fact that I am beyond allergic to cats. My eyes swell shut, I get hives and my breathing gets heavy. I have to swallow lots of Benedryl at that point which puts me to sleep for a LONG time. Never thought about having to deal with sitting next to a cat. I'm allergic to dogs too, but not as severely.

They have to be in a carrier and the carrier has to fit under the seat. They are not supposed to be taken out of the carrier during flight.

I was at LAX a couple of weeks ago and a little dog was in the ladies room, the owner was trying to get it to "go" on a pad on the floor. I'm sure they were carrying it onboard in a carrier.

 

[DCbride]

OK, cats on planes are a whole new thing to me. I thought animals rode in cages in the cargo hold? If you travel with a cat is it on your lap? If it's in a cage, where do you put the cage? Sorry curiosity is getting the best of me. That and the fact that I am beyond allergic to cats. My eyes swell shut, I get hives and my breathing gets heavy. I have to swallow lots of Benedryl at that point which puts me to sleep for a LONG time. Never thought about having to deal with sitting next to a cat. I'm allergic to dogs too, but not as severely.

The car was in a soft sided bag. The lady just asked if the middle seat was taken and slid the bag under the seat in front of her. DH started the wheezing cough so for some reason I asked the lady if she had a cat. I can't imagine if DH was sitting in the seat above the cat how we would have found out. And I get that she paid extra for the cat (more than DH paid for EB). SW did tell DH that he should carry his epi pen in the future. (He checked it)

 

[NotUrsula]

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.

On occasion it does. The only situation in which the FA has the authority to force a specific seat to be vacated is when a carseat is involved, because there are FAA rules on where they may be placed. (Which is why carseats may sometimes be preboarded on continuing flights rather than boarded between Groups A and B; they don't want to take the risk that none of the remaining seats will be legal for a carseat.)

I've never seen bribery fail to work, and the FA's do resort to it if banking on the kindness of strangers doesn't do it. The opening gambit is usually 2 or 3 drink coupons, and if that doesn't work, the next incentive is normally free RR miles.

 

[Sheilby]

The car was in a soft sided bag. The lady just asked if the middle seat was taken and slid the bag under the seat in front of her. DH started the wheezing cough so for some reason I asked the lady if she had a cat. I can't imagine if DH was sitting in the seat above the cat how we would have found out. And I get that she paid extra for the cat (more than DH paid for EB). SW did tell DH that he should carry his epi pen in the future. (He checked it)

I am not a pet person and I would freak out if I had to sit next to an animal for an entire flight.

 

[JessB320]

What if you did and you are still separated from your child?

Then you deal with it. I have been separated from my kids by a couple rows when no one wanted to switch, even with the offer of free drink vouchers. Kids were 5 and 6 at the time. Our first flight was late and we barely made our second flight, making the plane basically totally full when we arrived. I didn't make a big deal about it, told the kids they were to behave and we got seated. They were fine, I was fine we all survived!

 

[bumbershoot]

OK, cats on planes are a whole new thing to me. I thought animals rode in cages in the cargo hold? If you travel with a cat is it on your lap? If it's in a cage, where do you put the cage? Sorry curiosity is getting the best of me. That and the fact that I am beyond allergic to cats. My eyes swell shut, I get hives and my breathing gets heavy. I have to swallow lots of Benedryl at that point which puts me to sleep for a LONG time. Never thought about having to deal with sitting next to a cat. I'm allergic to dogs too, but not as severely.

Big animals are put in the cargo hold, and honestly it's a nightmare. Even back in the late 60s it was awful; my mom had to bring our malamute out to FL when she was pregnant with me and her dad died, because my male parent REFUSED to watch the dog. And the airline misplaced our dog for half a day.

Bet you've been on a plane with a cat before and didn't know it. Since you didn't know could be on planes, but they are taken on planes.... Ever have a random reaction to "nothing"?

 

[luv2sleep]

Then you deal with it. I have been separated from my kids by a couple rows when no one wanted to switch, even with the offer of free drink vouchers. Kids were 5 and 6 at the time. Our first flight was late and we barely made our second flight, making the plane basically totally full when we arrived. I didn't make a big deal about it, told the kids they were to behave and we got seated. They were fine, I was fine we all survived!

Yeah well some of us have special needs kids and that would have never worked. You are blessed and fortunate to have such easy kids.

 

[mmbl]

Southwest doesn't have any policy about not letting young children sit by themselves; not sure why you think this is true.

They also cannot "force" you to give up your seat.

Orlando is a big convention town; many flights have few to no children. I'm not sure why so many people think all flights to MCO are filled with kids.

We fly DFW-MCO a lot and there are always tons of families with kids! Always!

 

[JessB320]

Yeah well some of us have special needs kids and that would have never worked. You are blessed and fortunate to have such easy kids.

Well then I guess you always have the option to wait for the next flight. My point was that I don't think it is the responsibility of total strangers on a flight to accommodate me or anyone else. Also, please don't make assumptions about how "easy" my kids are.