Just venting about full flight

[KGK]

Our 6am flight on SW has been sold out for weeks. (I assume it's sold out - no tickets available for any price). Weeks ahead of our trip. Any ideas how we can make the 3 hour flight easier on a packed plane?

I seem to get a lot of full flights-- just never had a plane sell out weeks ahead of time.

 

[goofy4tink]

The vast majority of flights, especially SW, are now either fully booked, or very close to it. I'm not sure how it is any different flying on a full flight vs a not so full flight. I guess it's nice to get an empty seat in your row, but that just doesn't happen very often anymore...especially with SW.

I would either be sure to checkin at the 24 hr mark if you didn't purchase EBCI. Other than that....get to the airport early, have snacks ready to go. Try to not have carryon bags, unless they can go beneath the seat. With SW's no fees for checked bags policy, it does seem that there is less carryon, but better safe than sorry.

 

[Mkrop]

What is the difference btw a full flight and not a full flight?

I agree with the PP, get EBCI or check in at 24hours to assure you get a good boarding pass # and then you can chose where you sit.

 

[vacationclub]

Full flights are the new normal. From a passengers point of view, I'm not sure what the difference is from a full flight to a flight with a few seats open.
3 hours isn't horribly long.

 

[Sandi]

In my experience as a passenger, there is a difference between a full flight and a not full flight. As others have noted though, full flights are the new normal and that's the way it's going to be. Full flights take longer to load and you're clearly not going find an empty seat in your row -- or any row. It's also a harder to get an exit row.

Take the advice of the other posters and remember the flight will eventually be over and you'll be getting off the plane.

 

[backyardponder]

Our 6am flight on SW has been sold out for weeks. (I assume it's sold out - no tickets available for any price). Weeks ahead of our trip. Any ideas how we can make the 3 hour flight easier on a packed plane?

I seem to get a lot of full flights-- just never had a plane sell out weeks ahead of time.

Bring a book, ipod, or whatever you like to use to entertain yourself. Bring a sandwich, sweetroll, or something else to eat. Since it is an early flight, perhaps a bloody mary would make a nice breakfast drink!

Since you are disabled, when you get to the southwest gate, ask for a blue early boarding pass so you can get yourself a choice of seats.

 

[KGK]

Bring a book, ipod, or whatever you like to use to entertain yourself. Bring a sandwich, sweetroll, or something else to eat. Since it is an early flight, perhaps a bloody mary would make a nice breakfast drink!

Since you are disabled, when you get to the southwest gate, ask for a blue early boarding pass so you can get yourself a choice of seats.

Wouldn't do that as I can walk/stand for short periods without trouble. I do have EBCI so I should get a good number.

I remember not so long ago flying SW (and other airlines) with planes that were not full -- it's a much more pleasant way to fly. Flight attendants are less stressed, room to move, no one sitting next to you. Bloody mary sounds good to me!

 

[Lewisc]

Exit rows are considered desirable seats. They're likely to be occupied even if the plane 75% full.

Southwest, like most airlines, are slashing flights which don't generally run almost full, with passengers paying a profitable fare.

The OP wants to "vent" but the reverse is the real problem. The flight doesn't generally go out full and Southwest will discontinue the flight. Maybe discontinue N/S service to MCO.

edited to add most of us would like an empty middle set next to us. Airlines can't make money if only 67% of the seats are filled.

 

[seashoreCM]

Hmmm. Is the probability of an empty seat next to you greater if you sit near the back of the plane?

What if you picked the very last row, sitting window and aisle. If someone needs the third seat, you quickly sit window-middle since the person in the very last aisle seat is more likely to be disturbed by others going up and down the aisle to the rest rooms.

 

[carol-lamb]

I have flown Detroit to Orlando several times a year and I have never been on an outbound or return flight that wasn't full. I sit in my seat and read a little or try and get a little nap in. It's only a little over a two hour flight, so I don't mind it at all.

 

[formill]

So far we have not been on one flight that was not full! We have tried the go to the back of the plane with southwest all it did for us was get us off the plane last- still had to sit with people we did not know!

 

[KGK]

Hmmm. Is the probability of an empty seat next to you greater if you sit near the back of the plane?

What if you picked the very last row, sitting window and aisle. If someone needs the third seat, you quickly sit window-middle since the person in the very last aisle seat is more likely to be disturbed by others going up and down the aisle to the rest rooms.

I like that idea.

As for me venting... just venting. I like SW and want them to be a successful company and fly with full planes. I just don't recall having the flight sold out weeks in advance. SW has not cancelled or changed the availablity of flights from the local airport... in fact they seem to have added.

I’m not claustrophobic or anti-social. Plenty of things to do to keep me busy (most likely sleep). I do dislike the “packed like sardines” feeling. Especially if a “larger” person is next to me – but before anyone jumps on that statement… I’m pooh sized. A small pooh that can easily fit in my own 17 inch seat, but none-the-less, a pooh.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you are flying with someone ie: DH/friend just put the armrest between you up and you won't feel so cramped. That is what we do.

 

[Missy29]

So far we have not been on one flight that was not full! We have tried the go to the back of the plane with southwest all it did for us was get us off the plane last- still had to sit with people we did not know!

I have never been on a flight that was not full either.

 

[backyardponder]

Hmmm. Is the probability of an empty seat next to you greater if you sit near the back of the plane?

What if you picked the very last row, sitting window and aisle. If someone needs the third seat, you quickly sit window-middle since the person in the very last aisle seat is more likely to be disturbed by others going up and down the aisle to the rest rooms.

We usually sit about 2/3 of the way back, keeping the middle seat open between us. The middle seats at the back of the airplane tend to fill up since folks keep moving to the back in hopes of finding an aisle or window, which are usually gone. They then take the middles at the back of the plane since it is tough to reverse direction.

 

[DVC California]

... Any ideas how we can make the 3 hour flight easier on a packed plane?.

 

[KGK]

 

[jdb in AZ]

Be glad it's only a 3-hr flight. We flew 16 hours once (then back) and i thought we'd never get off that plane!

 

[Pikezh638]

I had pretty empty flights last time but I flew out at 6 pm and landed at 12 AM

Was worth the 100$ ticket though

As for making it go by faster, books and music or games.

 

[vacationclub]

Wow, that's a big Corona. Seems like it needs another one on the other wing to balance it out!

Regarding long flights, SW has wifi for $5 now. I took a 4 hour 15 minute flight from Vegas recently...used every drop of battery on my laptop...the trip flew by (sorry for the pun).