I love SWA but....

[jtowntoflorida]

To the poster above that seemed to think I meant that only some of us can save seats... I never said that. I was just pointing out to others that just because someone is saving seats doesn't mean one person bought EBCI and didn't for the rest of the family.



Most of the time when I have seen people attempt multiple rows they end up losing the seats in other rows as someone will just sit in them and its hard to argue after they are sitting. I have also seen many times where the family of 4 sits in two rows (aisles and windows) and then the person at one of the windows scrambles to take the middle when the announcement goes that the flight is full (this I don't mind I just find funny - you could just ask the flight attendant if the flight is full on the way in and save yourself the trouble!)

We're a family of 4 and usually sit 2 and 2, but we put each kid by a window and each adult sits in the middle seat, leaving the aisle open for whoever. On a flight a few months ago, after I got on board I realized that I forgot my phone back in the terminal (it was charging) so I asked if I could leave the plane to go get it. I was sitting next to my 4 year old, and since I had already claimed my seat, I did put his little backpack in the middle seat, thus "saving" it for myself.

We do EBCI and it typically puts us in the mid-As, so I had to excuse myself past most of the passengers that were boarding. I didn't want to be rude a second time (and I already had my seat) so after I grabbed my phone, I just took the spot at the back of the line, so I was the last passenger to board. I was shocked to find not just one but TWO empty seats next to my 4 year old. LOL! Every. single. passenger had avoided the poor kid like the plague. So he and I ended up in the row with the only empty seat on the plane.

I asked my husband whether anyone asked about a 4 year old sitting "alone" on the plane, and he said no. To this day, I wonder what people were thinking? Top of mind, clearly, was "No way I'm sitting by this kid if his own family isn't willing to!"

 

[DebbieB]

Why should anyone be forced to move for someone else? I can not sit in a middle seat which is most likely all that was left at that point. Trust me, you don't want to deal with my possible panic attack in a middle seat so I would not be moving for anyone. Toddler involved or not. I do what I can do to make sure I have what I need.

And someone who just decides to be a jerk and say "I'm going to put my toddler in his car seat in that open seat next to you and you can entertain him while my husband and I have cocktails a few rows back!"? Well, okay then. Please know that the FA would be coming back and getting you every time the child needed something while I put on my headphones and 100% ignored them. People you act like that (or even suggest they should) are the ones least likely to get any help.

I totally agree. One time a mother tried to push me out of my window seat so that her lapbaby could have a seat. All that remained were middle seats. I was going to ask for another seat but when she started making comments, I just put my headphones on and closed my eyes.

SW saves money with open seating because they are not getting calls asking to switch seats because there are only scattered singles left or people not booking because that is all that is left. They do board much faster than other airlines.

 

[keishashadow]

To the poster above that seemed to think I meant that only some of us can save seats... I never said that. I was just pointing out to others that just because someone is saving seats doesn't mean one person bought EBCI and didn't for the rest of the family.



Most of the time when I have seen people attempt multiple rows they end up losing the seats in other rows as someone will just sit in them and its hard to argue after they are sitting. I have also seen many times where the family of 4 sits in two rows (aisles and windows) and then the person at one of the windows scrambles to take the middle when the announcement goes that the flight is full (this I don't mind I just find funny - you could just ask the flight attendant if the flight is full on the way in and save yourself the trouble!)

out of PIT they usually announce whether flight is full or when it's not & we can spread out

On our flight home from MCO in December, a mom dad and two year old boarded last. I'm not sure if they were late or didn't know about family boarding but there weren't three seats together or even two seats together. Plenty of singles were open. The mom started asking people if they would switch "Excuse me sir, would you mind moving to the seat in front of you so I could have two seats together to sit with my toddler" Response: "No, I have to sit at the window". She asked about 5 people, all said no until finally one man offered to move. Her husband sat a few rows away and she sat with her toddler who was extremely well behaved for the flight. This is a prime example of when the FA should have stepped in and made an announcement overhead or helped her find someone to move. It would have been comical to see her say, fine, then I'm going to put my toddler in his car seat in that open seat next to you and you can entertain him while my husband and I have cocktails a few rows back!

Any idea if the family asked a FA to intercede? I've seen FAs step up and announce a free drink or two to person who will move to help out. Usually gets somebody out of their seat quickly

 

[peel]

For the seat saving:

Those people that are saving seats could also be doing so because they are told to. I am a frequent flyer so most of the time I get A16-20 boarding passes. I have actually been the first person to board that wasn't preboarding (although that happens less now that they sell the business A1-A15 spots) However when flying with DH he doesn't get the number with me. So I'm going to save his seat. Now he gets saved a middle seat so most of the time no one cares but occasionally two people show up and think they can take the other two seats in my row. I haven't had to go into a real confrontation on that but if I had to well... which customer would they rather annoy the one with A list preferred status which means I spend ALOT of money with them (well actually my company does but my company will buy my flight with whatever airline I pick). Or the person that takes 1 or 2 vacations a year but bought EBCI for 12 bucks

This post bothers me. In this scenario, you can certainly attempt to save a seat but technically a person who purchased EBCI or anyone who boards before your DH is entitled to sit in it if they really want to because it is not a legitimately filled seat. You may have A List preferred status, but your DH does not, and your status does not entitle him to the same boarding privileges. Your tactic is to hope that no one challenges you, and that if someone does the FA will side with you because you spend more money with them throughout the year. You can avoid a potential problem by boarding further back in line with DH.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This happened to us once on a SW flight with my wife and I not having seats together. She explained to the person next to her that she sometimes does not fly well and suffers from moton sickness which in turn can cause her to vomit. You should see how quickly the person next ot her offered to change seats so we could sit together.

I would have handed her a barf bag and said, "go for it." Trying to bluff someone into moving isn't going to work all the time.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Why should anyone be forced to move for someone else? I can not sit in a middle seat which is most likely all that was left at that point. Trust me, you don't want to deal with my possible panic attack in a middle seat so I would not be moving for anyone. Toddler involved or not. I do what I can do to make sure I have what I need.

And someone who just decides to be a jerk and say "I'm going to put my toddler in his car seat in that open seat next to you and you can entertain him while my husband and I have cocktails a few rows back!"? Well, okay then. Please know that the FA would be coming back and getting you every time the child needed something while I put on my headphones and 100% ignored them. People you act like that (or even suggest they should) are the ones least likely to get any help.

I never said force. Nor do I believe anyone should be forced to move. My point was the FA should have intervened to help resolve the obvious problem. A toddler cannot sit by themselves and at first, the mother was not having any luck with people moving.

Obviously no parent in their right mind would do what I said, I just felt it would be comical because they were going to be out of options pretty quickly. She was asking a guy in a window seat to move to the window seat in front of him. When he said no, she asked someone else. She wasn't rude but you could sense her frustration when she kept hearing no's. I don't really see why people were so adamant on sitting in their exact spot. One person, sure, but five!?!

Any idea if the family asked a FA to intercede? I've seen FAs step up and announce a free drink or two to person who will move to help out. Usually gets somebody out of their seat quickly

They walked all the way to the back trying to find at least two seats together. I believe all the FA's were in the front at that point so no, I don't believe she asked them simply because there wasn't one around.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I would have handed her a barf bag and said, "go for it." Trying to bluff someone into moving isn't going to work all the time.

I would have said "Yea, me too" which is true.

 

[n2mm]

I've seen FAs step up and announce a free drink or two to person who will move to help out. Usually gets somebody out of their seat quickly

Incentives do work! On our last JetBlue flight we were called up and asked to give up our seats for a family and if we did they would upgrade us to the extra leg room seats. "Hell yes". Now that's incentive!

 

[danjoan14]

I would have handed her a barf bag and said, "go for it." Trying to bluff someone into moving isn't going to work all the time.

Not trying to bluff. It's the truth!

 

[goofy4tink]

To the poster above that seemed to think I meant that only some of us can save seats... I never said that. I was just pointing out to others that just because someone is saving seats doesn't mean one person bought EBCI and didn't for the rest of the family.

Most of the time when I have seen people attempt multiple rows they end up losing the seats in other rows as someone will just sit in them and its hard to argue after they are sitting. I have also seen many times where the family of 4 sits in two rows (aisles and windows) and then the person at one of the windows scrambles to take the middle when the announcement goes that the flight is full (this I don't mind I just find funny - you could just ask the flight attendant if the flight is full on the way in and save yourself the trouble!)

That would be me. Devils advocate here......you fly often, so you get a better boarding slot. Your dh doesn't...so he gets a 'regular' slot. Your saving him a seat is the same as someone who paid for EBCI saving a seat for someone that didn't. You are entitled to that seat, not two. The person who paid for EBCI is entitled to one seat, not two. Now...don't get me wrong...I have saved a seat for my dh in the past. He has gotten held up in the terminal and missed his appointed slot...so I took the aisle seat, dd took the window...saving the middle, which I moved to when he arrived. I don't have an issue with saving a seat or two in that one row.

I have seen that situation where one large family spreads out over multiple rows....leaving the middle seat empty. Well, they took up 4 or 5 rows! And when the FA announced that it was a full flight and there were no available seats? Huge scramble to get seated together. Imagine the surprise of those boarding in the high C group that found seats, together, in the front of the plane!

It's really a non-issue if someone saves a seat or two, but don't take up multiple rows. That's just not fair. Why? If Jane Smith pays for EBCI and gets slot A50, and the rest of her family didn't pay for EBCI, so they are now in slots B50+. Jane boards the plane, and takes her seat, lets say 12C, and puts coats or bags on 12A, B, D, E, F. Others board, walking past those seats, even though they also have paid for EBCI. I board, in slot B10, for instance. Well, there are now 5 seats that have been taken by passengers that haven't paid for EBCI....then, if there are a few other passengers that are saving a seat or two in their row, you have yet more seats taken out of 'inventory' by those who didn't 'pay' for them. I'm not sure what the answer is. It doesn't seem to be a huge issue...but it could be. And those that have paid for EBCI are entitled to feel put upon whe. Those that didn't pay for it basically get seats before they do!

 

[DebbieB]

On my last trip, a flight attendant in the front made announcements twice to the flight attendant in the back to hold seats in the last row for a parent with a child (towards the end of boarding). There should be a flight attendant in the back during boarding. All SW planes have at least 3 flight attendants, some 4 (one required for every 50 seats). One has a station at the exit rows to be sure no one under 15 sits there.

 

[DebbieB]

duplicate

 

[pigletto]

In all my times flying Southwest I only once had people save seats. Two people put hats, coats and a few bags in the first three rows.
I didn't say anything but my eyes couldn't have rolled further in my head when I walked by.
This comes up all the time, but if you ask me to move.. it isn't going to happen. Like a previous poster, I am just not a good flyer and a panic attack is a real possibility. I do medicate to fly (prescribed) but I am much more comfortable sitting with my family and toward the front of the plane. If I can research my airline, know the policies and pay for the EBCI then everyone else can too. It isn't my fault if you aren't sitting with your husband or your wife, and my (and everyone else's) flight is going to be a lot less pleasant if I am hyper ventilating . Nevermind that it's embarrassing and why the heck should I have to explain that to someone who's ticked off that I won't move? Don't just assume someone is being a jerk.. they may have a reason for why they won't move.

 

[Kristie911]

My daughter is 3, so I didn't bother to purchase EBCI (I'll be sure to check in on line right at my 24 hour mark though)...because I know we should get to board between A and B groups and we will get 2 seats together, I'm not worried about it. Will all 4 of us get to sit together? It doesn't matter, my hubby and son (10) can sit together somewhere else if they have to. This is the first time my kids are flying ever, so if people take seats all over and there aren't two seats together when we board, and no one will slide over, then they can sit next to my kids and I'll sit somewhere else.

Trust me, they'll be begging me to switch well before the plane leaves the ground!!

And I'll enjoy a nice, child free flight.

 

[Allison]

Why should anyone be forced to move for someone else? I can not sit in a middle seat which is most likely all that was left at that point. Trust me, you don't want to deal with my possible panic attack in a middle seat so I would not be moving for anyone. Toddler involved or not. I do what I can do to make sure I have what I need.

And someone who just decides to be a jerk and say "I'm going to put my toddler in his car seat in that open seat next to you and you can entertain him while my husband and I have cocktails a few rows back!"? Well, okay then. Please know that the FA would be coming back and getting you every time the child needed something while I put on my headphones and 100% ignored them. People you act like that (or even suggest they should) are the ones least likely to get any help.

Yes, the concept of I'll just leave my kid here and you will be begging to change seats wont' work on me. I'll have my headphones and my Ipad and won't be bothered at all.

 

[Lewisc]

Yes, the concept of I'll just leave my kid here and you will be begging to change seats wont' work on me. I'll have my headphones and my Ipad and won't be bothered at all.

The poster you quoted has 2 kinds. I have no doubt one parent will be able to sit next to the 3 year old, even if family mid-boarding is suspended.

The 10 year old is certainly old enough to sit by himself. I agree with your point. I'll be using headphones. I won't be begging to switch. Child is that bad I'll be talking to the FA and suggesting the child be deplaned.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yes, the concept of I'll just leave my kid here and you will be begging to change seats wont' work on me. I'll have my headphones and my Ipad and won't be bothered at all.

Count me in. You start that "blackmail" whine and I will take my chances with your kid. (I figure the kid is a better behaved person then most adults throwing fits LOL. ).

 

[maxiesmom]

My daughter is 3, so I didn't bother to purchase EBCI (I'll be sure to check in on line right at my 24 hour mark though)...because I know we should get to board between A and B groups and we will get 2 seats together, I'm not worried about it. Will all 4 of us get to sit together? It doesn't matter, my hubby and son (10) can sit together somewhere else if they have to. This is the first time my kids are flying ever, so if people take seats all over and there aren't two seats together when we board, and no one will slide over, then they can sit next to my kids and I'll sit somewhere else.

Trust me, they'll be begging me to switch well before the plane leaves the ground!!

And I'll enjoy a nice, child free flight.

I hope you realize that sometimes family boarding is suspended. It is up to the gate agents to decide.

Also, there is nothing funny about implying your kids will be so badly behaved that other adults couldn't stand to be near them. As many other posters have stated, a lot of us travel with headphones. If your kid is throwing a fit it will only make you feel bad, not the person next to them.

 

[jayhawk74]

I hope you realize that sometimes family boarding is suspended. It is up to the gate agents to decide.

I've been a pilot with Southwest for over 20 years so I have talked with a lot of Operation Agents, they are the ones who collect the Boarding Cards at the gates. Everyone that I have talked with, even in Orlando, have told me that Family Boarding is required and can't be suspended. If an Operations Agent doesn't do Family Boarding, and that gets reported, they can get time off with no pay. Remember Family Boarding is those immediate families with a child four or younger and doesn't include Grandparents, Aunts/Uncles, or cousins. Where some passengers think that. Family Boarding has been suspended is when the youngest child is 5 years old. The age of 5 was selected by Southwest to stop Family Boarding because that is the age Southwest allows a child to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor.

 

[DMRick]

I still think you guys are complaining to the wrong people. SW allows the saving of seats. If you are paying to board before others, complain to them. If you get argumentative on the plane, you are the one that will be asked to leave (before the plane takes off of course).
We don't drink alcohol but I do request the drink coupons.. They go a long way in trading seats. Plus when my grands are with us and a little noisy we hand them out around us. I don't know if it's us being generous or all the alcohol but no one complains about the kids or shoots us dirty looks!