Just venting - SWA - Seat Savers

[goofy4tink]

It all comes down to using common sense and courtesy. If you need just one seat, and that would be my limit, then make it the middle seat. And head towards the rear of the plane. If you get an early boarding slot....say, A23, don't plop down in row 2 and try to save two rows for your later arriving party! Even if you only want one seat saved, you still should head to the further back areas..that's only fair. Sure, you may have paid for EBCI, but so did those behind you...and they are much more entitled to that seat, even the middle seat, in the rows in front of the wing. They may have paid for EBCI because they have a connection, or need to get off the plane quickly for another reason.

I would have an issue with someone that sat in row 4, and took the middle and window seats, saving the aisle for a late comer. Would I 'fight' someone for it? Nope. But someone else might. So, if you want the entire row, but only two of you are boarding early, save the middle seat! Or, again, move to the back.

 

[shamrock30]

I doubt many people have an issue with that kind of seat saving. I have done the same thing. My dd and I were traveling together. Dh said he wasn't going with us. But, of course, he changed his mind a month later. So, like you, we were now on two different reservations. Dd and I got A26 and 27, dh got B35 or so. I took the aisle, dd took the window. When dh finally boarded, I just moved over to middle seat.

DH and I sometimes have separate reservations, and we do the same thing--save one middle seat towards the back of the plane. It doesn't seem to be much of an issue because at worst, one of us boards with an "A" and one with a "B". We're both always seated before the dreaded "Take any middle seat" announcement.

 

[jimgpayne]

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.

If you knew when you boarded the plane that your entire family wanted seats together then you should have paid the fees that everyone else pays for that privilege.

You said your family was split into two groups. Therefore you *OBVIOUSLY* didn't plan properly when you checked in.

If you are taking something something from someone that they paid for (in this case you tried to withhold a seat when the man had paid money to be able to choose that seat and you did not)..... then you are effectively stealing from the man; by taking something he paid for away from him.

This is just rude and crude behavior (as others have already chimed in about). By doing so, you are providing a poor role model for the very children you are bragging about.

You said "they annoyed him by laughing at their movies the whole way".... Only when someone pointed out that such activity was annoying in general did you come up with the bathroom every 30 minutes comments.

Personally, I hope that I never encounter you and your seat stealing (pardon me, seat saving) family.... If I do; I can guarantee you I will grab the seat in a heartbeat.

By trying to state your case; you've just reinforced the whole point of this thread: seat savers can be amongst the lowest forms of intelligent life on this planet.

 

[pamjb]

If you knew when you boarded the plane that your entire family wanted seats together then you should have paid the fees that everyone else pays for that privilege. You said your family was split into two groups. Therefore you *OBVIOUSLY* didn't plan properly when you checked in. If you are taking something something from someone that they paid for (in this case you tried to withhold a seat when the man had paid money to be able to choose that seat and you did not)..... then you are effectively stealing from the man; by taking something he paid for away from him. This is just rude and crude behavior (as others have already chimed in about). By doing so, you are providing a poor role model for the very children you are bragging about. You said "they annoyed him by laughing at their movies the whole way".... Only when someone pointed out that such activity was annoying in general did you come up with the bathroom every 30 minutes comments. Personally, I hope that I never encounter you and your seat stealing (pardon me, seat saving) family.... If I do; I can guarantee you I will grab the seat in a heartbeat. By trying to state your case; you've just reinforced the whole point of this thread: seat savers can be amongst the lowest forms of intelligent life on this planet.

I would love to know where the seats camandjacksmom sat in? In front of the wing? There are always plenty of seats behind the wing before the B group boards.......sooooooo move towards the rear of the plane and there is plenty of room.......plus you are closer to the bathroom........ Ahhhh, yes......the all about me society!

Oops....forgot to put my flameproof suit on

 

[stitchlovestink]

I would love to know where the seats camandjacksmom sat in? In front of the wing? There are always plenty of seats behind the wing before the B group boards.......sooooooo move towards the rear of the plane and there is plenty of room.......plus you are closer to the bathroom........ Ahhhh, yes......the all about me society!

Oops....forgot to put my flameproof suit on

How do you figure this puts you closer to the bathroom? There's a bathroom in the front of the plane as well. Bathrooms aren't only in the back of the plane.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

How do you figure this puts you closer to the bathroom? There's a bathroom in the front of the plane as well. Bathrooms aren't only in the back of the plane.

Also many planes have bathrooms in the center of the plane as well (not Southwest).

 

[DebbieB]

How do you figure this puts you closer to the bathroom? There's a bathroom in the front of the plane as well. Bathrooms aren't only in the back of the plane.

Off topic but I wanted to comment. I try not to use the bathroom on planes (gross) but I don't understand why SW only has 1 bathroom in the back, most 737's have 1 in the front and 2 in the back. Plus it's the smallest I've ever been in. I assume to put more passenger seats on the plane.

 

[Turbanator]

It would be nice if they made the toilets a little larger. Though that may mean more members of the mile high club

 

[stitchlovestink]

Off topic but I wanted to comment. I try not to use the bathroom on planes (gross) but I don't understand why SW only has 1 bathroom in the back, most 737's have 1 in the front and 2 in the back. Plus it's the smallest I've ever been in. I assume to put more passenger seats on the plane.

I prefer not to use public restrooms of any sort! LoL But unfortunately have been placed in the position where I basically had no choice but to use the restroom on the plane. I was traveling solo and traveling on my ECV and someone was very thoughtlessly taking Forever (20+ min) in the only handicap stall in the airport restroom. I couldn't leave my belongings unattended, so I was very limited on what I could do. I finally had to give up waiting for the stall at the terminal and decided I had better use the one on the plane. Not a thrilling experience! LoL

 

[madatmama]

As the mom of three young children I can't imagine ever choosing to seat my kids in a different row without a parent. If, God forbid, there was an emergency I would want someone they knew next to them to help them and reassure them. Being able to watch a movie together wouldn't rank anywhere on my list of priorities in this situation. Curious as to how other posters feel about this. Is it common to let elementary aged children sit without an adult when there are other options?

 

[stitchlovestink]

As the mom of three young children I can't imagine ever choosing to seat my kids in a different row without a parent. If, God forbid, there was an emergency I would want someone they knew next to them to help them and reassure them. Being able to watch a movie together wouldn't rank anywhere on my list of priorities in this situation. Curious as to how other posters feel about this. Is it common to let elementary aged children sit without an adult when there are other options?

I think you raise an excellent point! One that I thought very much about when my children were young. At first, SW didn't exist to the best of my knowledge as an option for us, we had to use Delta. And then even when they first were an option, Air Tran was cheaper. By the time I switched to SW my kids were teens (or the younger was close).
But anyway, I would never want to have to depend on a stranger to help my child. Also and I don't mean this to be rude (and someone on here is going to take it that way,) but in a TRUE emergency, I really don't want to be responsible for trying to help someone else's child. I have my own medical issues that make things complicated for me...let alone taking responsibility for another. God forbid, I don't want anything happening to anyone! But that's why I think it's best for kids and parents to sit together. That's why I don't get why people grumble about a mom saving the middle seat for her 'second child' if she did family boarding with just one younger child. I mean really? It's that wonderful coveted highly sought after middle seat!! So that puts mom and 2 kids in the same row and everyone is probably safest this way!!
So many opinions on this matter. But it does come back to the point that no seat assignment is 100% guaranteed on ANY airline and if you really believe it is, you are fooling yourself. Try arguing that with the FA's or captain and see if it gets you that seat? I bet more than likely it gets you removed from the plane!

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's why I don't get why people grumble about a mom saving the middle seat for her 'second child' if she did family boarding with just one younger child. I mean really?

She didn't do Family Boarding; neither child qualified. She attempted to effectively have her entire party acquire seats with the lower boarding group.

The realistic and sensible way to keep your party together on SWA when you have separate boarding groups is, as described repeatedly throughout this thread, all board together in the highest group.

 

[smidgy]

How do you figure this puts you closer to the bathroom? There's a bathroom in the front of the plane as well. Bathrooms aren't only in the back of the plane.

I have never ridden SW, but every airline I have ridden, they announce that the fron bathroom is for first class only.

That's why I don't get why people grumble about a mom saving the middle seat for her 'second child' if she did family boarding with just one younger child. I mean really? It's that wonderful coveted highly sought after middle seat!!

she didn't save the middle seat. she tried to save the aisle seat. the man got on, saw an aisle seat near the front of the plane, and grabbed it.

That was my mistake I put child one by the window and I sat in the middle to make it easier to get child 2 settled and of course he has to sit down! Ever since then we have gone to this and the boys can sit together!

 

[stitchlovestink]

I have never ridden SW, but every airline I have ridden, they announce that the fron bathroom is for first class only.

she didn't save the middle seat. she tried to save the aisle seat. the man got on, saw an aisle seat near the front of the plane, and grabbed it.

They have never announced that on any Air Tran flight I was ever on. And I bet you if a passenger with disabilities was told to use a rest room further away... Hmmm.... I'm not so sure they could get away with doing that if it presents a problem for that traveler to get to that restroom.

And my post wasn't aimed specifically at any ONE poster. But the general attitude of this board is NO seat saving of any kind, which I happen to Disagree with in certain circumstances.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Anyone can disagree - but it doesn't seem any of the posters here own an airline. They make the rules. I didn't fly USAirways a couple of years ago because while they could guarantee me a seat cl o se to the front of the plane, the reservationist couldn't get authorization for me to use the front bathrooms.

 

[TDC Nala]

As long as the flight attendants allow seat saving (and apparently they do) it's going to happen. Only thing I ran into was two guys on a flight to Vegas trying to save the middle seat in the exit row so it would remain empty and they could have the whole row to themselves. As if they thought that would work.

 

[TDC Nala]

I fail to see how someone taking an open seat on SW makes him a jerk - it is open seating. How does that make him a jerk?

When flying we all need to be considerate of each other - this includes not letting children annoy/disturb other flyers. I frankly have more of an issue with that than some guy picking an aisle seat which he had every right to pick.

I'm sure the poster thinks he's a jerk because the guy refused to move after she said she was saving the aisle seat for her child and they expected to have the whole row.

Of course it's his choice to refuse to move. Should have made it more clear that you were saving that seat, but even if you did and he chose to sit there, he gets to stay if he wants to. I'm not sure that makes him a jerk though. I'm assuming Mom asked him to move, because otherwise how would he have known there was another child boarding later.

I had an aisle seat once on SWA, near the front, and the middle empty, when a couple boarding much later than I did came up and the guy says "We're married. You'll have to move." Do you think I did? No.

There were seats for them together in the back of the plane, but apparently they wanted the front. If they'd even bothered to be nice about it, they might have gotten them.