Just venting - SWA - Seat Savers

[B&WMickey]

If I were in charge I'd make saving seats on SWA a felony punishable by life in prison with no chance for parole.

Thankfully for my family the seat savers we saw didn't affect us but it's still irks me because people like myself and many others do everything we have to so we are in one of those early boarding groups. Then, only to get on the plane and find one person holding a cluster of seats for people who weren't diligent enough to check themselves in earlier.

 

[ToddyLu]

Yep saw it a couple of times on our trip back going last month. Geez, spend the 12.50 and get EBCI if it is that important. At least one older passenger told them (young adults saving seats) in a raised voice that saving seats on a SW flight was not cool or allowed. DH and I get EBCI both ways. I feel your pain...SW is who we fly to MCO always since it is non stop.

 

[Mousemom234]

...punishable by life in prison with no chance for parole....

Nope - too lenient Make them ride ON the plane - not IN it.
But seriously, this is why we've switched to JetBlue for most of our trips to WDW. SW is at a closer airport, and the parking fees are less, but the overall value is worth the trouble. And sometimes JB is actually cheaper, being in a different state, with different school breaks.
We used to love SW, but it's gotten terrible lately. When the B group boarding ends up with me having to sit 6 rows away from DH (who's almost considered a 'passenger of size'), I'd much prefer to be able to select our seats in advance, and not even have to deal with seat savers and other idjits.

 

[seashoreCM]

Face it. If you are alone, you don't want to be next to the seat saver, who also does not want to be next to you.

However if there are two of you then you can usually just take two seats some single person wants to save.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If I were in charge I'd make saving seats on SWA a felony punishable by life in prison with no chance for parole.

Thankfully for my family the seat savers we saw didn't affect us but it's still irks me because people like myself and many others do everything we have to so we are in one of those early boarding groups. Then, only to get on the plane and find one person holding a cluster of seats for people who weren't diligent enough to check themselves in earlier.

Just take the seats...

Happens all the time. Then you can watch the whiners run to the FA and act like the world is coming to an end. And watch the FA just say "sorry" LOL!

It's some of the best entertainment in the sky.

 

[camandjacksmom]

Just take the seats...

Happens all the time. Then you can watch the whiners run to the FA and act like the world is coming to an end. And watch the FA just say "sorry" LOL!

It's some of the best entertainment in the sky.

Yeah I had a guy do that to me because my family was spilt I had one child with me in one group and my husband had the other one in another. The jerk insisted on not letting me save the seat for my 7 year old claiming snooze you loose. I said no problem you can sit with an 11 year old and 7 year old by yourself because I got one video player and they want to sit together! I sat one row behind and laughed as my children annoyed the crap out of him by laughing at their movies. When he tried to switch seats with those around us who saw his actions they were like snooze you loose! THAT was the best entertainment I have ever seen for a 5 hour flight to California! Be careful who you choose to make a point to because this momma doesn't mind subjecting you to my little terrors if you want a seat that bad!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I sat one row behind and laughed as my children annoyed the crap out of him by laughing at their movies . . .

{FLAME PROOF SUIT IN PLACE}
1) Got it.
2) You and the family were just as rude as he was.
3) Maybe even worse, because it probably annoyed other passengers.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK INTO DRAWER}

 

[Allison]

Yeah I had a guy do that to me because my family was spilt I had one child with me in one group and my husband had the other one in another. The jerk insisted on not letting me save the seat for my 7 year old claiming snooze you loose. I said no problem you can sit with an 11 year old and 7 year old by yourself because I got one video player and they want to sit together! I sat one row behind and laughed as my children annoyed the crap out of him by laughing at their movies. When he tried to switch seats with those around us who saw his actions they were like snooze you loose! THAT was the best entertainment I have ever seen for a 5 hour flight to California! Be careful who you choose to make a point to because this momma doesn't mind subjecting you to my little terrors if you want a seat that bad!

Honestly, there might be some difference of opinion as to who was the jerk in this situation. Not saying that is what I think but there probably isn't a consensus.

 

[Disneylover99]

Honestly, there might be some difference of opinion as to who was the jerk in this situation.

 

[ocspartan]

Honestly, there might be some difference of opinion as to who was the jerk in this situation. Not saying that is what I think but there probably isn't a consensus.

Why is there a question? So the guy who insisted on taking a seat to split a family only to find out he didn't want to sit next to kids?

Didn't sound like the kids were doing anything out of the ordinary, laughing along with a movie.

Are you suggesting the mom was the jerk? Why bc they couldn't afford a second video player, kinda lost here.

Anyways if you don't like seat saving then sit down? But don't be surprised if its not the most comfortable ride next to someone you just pissed off. Why I don't fly southwest.

 

[camandjacksmom]

{FLAME PROOF SUIT IN PLACE}
1) Got it.
2) You and the family were just as rude as he was.
3) Maybe even worse, because it probably annoyed other passengers.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK INTO DRAWER}

No not rude my kids come first and I'm not choosing which of my children is more deserving to watch a movie on a five hour flight! And other passengers weren't annoyed they actually gave up a seat so my husband could sit with me! Did you not miss the part where the man asked to change seats with nearby passengers to only be told sorry snooze you loose!

 

[camandjacksmom]

Honestly, there might be some difference of opinion as to who was the jerk in this situation. Not saying that is what I think but there probably isn't a consensus.

I'm a jerk because I gave my seat to my child so he could sit with his bother and watch their movies to entertain them and keep them quiet on a five hour flight. And when mister I have every right as you to sit here gets upset because they are children laughing at the movie causes me to laugh?? I call that karma!!

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm a jerk because I gave my seat to my child so he could sit with his bother and watch their movies to entertain them and keep them quiet on a five hour flight. And when mister I have every right as you to sit here gets upset because they are children laughing at the movie causes me to laugh?? I call that karma!!

Well, if you are trying to save seats because you didn't buy EBCI and then you laugh at someone else's misery for sitting by your children, I would consider that to be "jerk-like" behaviour.

 

[Allison]

I'm a jerk because I gave my seat to my child so he could sit with his bother and watch their movies to entertain them and keep them quiet on a five hour flight. And when mister I have every right as you to sit here gets upset because they are children laughing at the movie causes me to laugh?? I call that karma!!

I didn't say I thought that but that you should be ready for some difference of opinion.

 

[CarolMN]

If seat savers would just move to the back half of the plane, there would be way less upset from the other passengers - and the saved seats would be a LOT easier to defend!

 

[StacyMarie]

If you don't purchase EBCI or check in at the 24 hour window, I have NO sympathy for you. Also, if you are saving seats for the rest of your party and it happens to be seats that my family wants with our EBCI, I have NO problem taking them. Go ahead, let the FA know and see where it gets you. Does that make me a jerk for not giving up my seat that I paid EBCI for, maybe in your eyes but when I pay for something for my entire family to ensure a better chance for us to sit together and you don't and you still expect me to move, I'll just smile and put on my headphones!

 

[bumbershoot]

3) Maybe even worse, because it probably annoyed other passengers.

Agreed.

When my son is watching something while in public, if his laughter becomes obnoxious, he is told to quiet down. On a plane I want EVERYONE to be quiet and use nice, inside voices. If my son were annoying someone sitting next to him, my son would be told to stop, and if he did not, he would not be allowed to use whatever was causing him to be annoying.

OP says it didn't annoy others, but it DID annoy at least one person. One person who simply wanted a seat on a plane and took the seat that he was totally allowed to take.

It's not his business as to whether a family is prepared for their flight or not. A parent was with each child, and solo travelers don't have to be interested in how you had planned to entertain them.

You could have had you and DH sit next to him, but you chose to punish him by having your kids sit there; after all, you did call them your "terrors", after all. You knew what you were doing.

No not rude my kids come first and I'm not choosing which of my children is more deserving to watch a movie on a five hour flight!

And so now I assume you are more prepared for flights, especially since your kids are on the older side, and you have two video-playing devices? I hope so, and if so, good for you! Awesome to be prepared for the things that can happen while flying, and for the number of people you have in your family.




This just really drives me up the wall, because you COULD have been sitting next to my brother. Now, he wouldn't have taken that seat, not on a bet, because he likes two kids in this world and wouldn't ever choose to sit next to others. But he (and his wife) both travel for work, and when they are traveling they just want to SIT DOWN. They want to sit and have their noise cancelling headphones on and zone out and relax. SIL especially works horribly long hours and needs the time to recoup. They are also two of the MOST generous people in the universe, two of the most loving and wonderful people, but when they are traveling for work they just want to sit and be calm. And if it weren't for the *choosing to sit next to a kid* thing, it could have been one of them that you did that to. Makes me sad.

There is no seat-saving policy on SW. That goes both ways; the FAs might not get involved either way. Why not go with the way that it's not allowed, so you don't do it?


And I really hope you got a second device. Or maybe bring a book for one of them the next time or something. The Percy Jackson series is quite good, in case they haven't gotten to it yet.

 

[camandjacksmom]

Agreed.

When my son is watching something while in public, if his laughter becomes obnoxious, he is told to quiet down. On a plane I want EVERYONE to be quiet and use nice, inside voices. If my son were annoying someone sitting next to him, my son would be told to stop, and if he did not, he would not be allowed to use whatever was causing him to be annoying.

OP says it didn't annoy others, but it DID annoy at least one person. One person who simply wanted a seat on a plane and took the seat that he was totally allowed to take.

It's not his business as to whether a family is prepared for their flight or not. A parent was with each child, and solo travelers don't have to be interested in how you had planned to entertain them.

You could have had you and DH sit next to him, but you chose to punish him by having your kids sit there; after all, you did call them your "terrors", after all. You knew what you were doing.

And so now I assume you are more prepared for flights, especially since your kids are on the older side, and you have two video-playing devices? I hope so, and if so, good for you! Awesome to be prepared for the things that can happen while flying, and for the number of people you have in your family.

This just really drives me up the wall, because you COULD have been sitting next to my brother. Now, he wouldn't have taken that seat, not on a bet, because he likes two kids in this world and wouldn't ever choose to sit next to others. But he (and his wife) both travel for work, and when they are traveling they just want to SIT DOWN. They want to sit and have their noise cancelling headphones on and zone out and relax. SIL especially works horribly long hours and needs the time to recoup. They are also two of the MOST generous people in the universe, two of the most loving and wonderful people, but when they are traveling for work they just want to sit and be calm. And if it weren't for the *choosing to sit next to a kid* thing, it could have been one of them that you did that to. Makes me sad.

There is no seat-saving policy on SW. That goes both ways; the FAs might not get involved either way. Why not go with the way that it's not allowed, so you don't do it?

And I really hope you got a second device. Or maybe bring a book for one of them the next time or something. The Percy Jackson series is quite good, in case they haven't gotten to it yet.

They were not loud or obnoxious! They giggled like all children do when shows are funny! The man was annoyed because he had to sit next to children period and the fact they had to go to the restroom every 30 minutes! Again my children come first in my world if they want to sit together then that's what they get! I'm not splitting my children up to make it convenient for a man who as you said has every right to sit there. And no I haven't bought another video player and never will my kids can share! And your right other travelers don't have to worry about what I plan with my kids I do! Hence I gave my seat to my child and they had a wonderful flight while that man got what he wanted that seat regretting he made his choice.

 

[camandjacksmom]

If you don't purchase EBCI or check in at the 24 hour window, I have NO sympathy for you. Also, if you are saving seats for the rest of your party and it happens to be seats that my family wants with our EBCI, I have NO problem taking them. Go ahead, let the FA know and see where it gets you. Does that make me a jerk for not giving up my seat that I paid EBCI for, maybe in your eyes but when I pay for something for my entire family to ensure a better chance for us to sit together and you don't and you still expect me to move, I'll just smile and put on my headphones!

We did check in at our 24 hour window and that's what we got! If you have EBCI you would never run into my family because we always board after you! Isn't the point of EBCI that you board before everyone else? I don't really follow your logic?? I would not expect you to move anywhere I would make it work for my family like I did in this situation! My kids could come sit with you and I could sit close by!

 

[Disneylover99]

We did check in at our 24 hour window and that's what we got! If you have EBCI you would never run into my family because we always board after you! Isn't the point of EBCI that you board before everyone else? I don't really follow your logic?? I would not expect you to move anywhere I would make it work for my family like I did in this situation! My kids could come sit with you and I could sit close by!

I don't get it. If you all boarded together, why did you try and save a seat for your seven year old.