People trying to beat you off the plane

[DMRick]

Fair enough -- price over service, regardless the ramifications. I guess I can intellectually understand that, even if I cannot identify with it.

Luckily we feel we get both...you added "the ramifications", not me LOL, and that wasn't what I said. I don't feel there are any in any case. We've always sat together, even on full planes. I've been on many other airlines, just to find the "assigned" seat was no longer mine. 11 of us went to Ireland and only 2 of us still had our original seats..the rest were spread all over the plane. Lucky for my grands, people were willing to switch.

 

[DMRick]

In my expeince Spirit has as good of prices, better schdule (non stop from DTW many times a day) and better policies (electronitc tickets, can set your seats on line, ) then SW anyway. 49 is good, but I paid 69 and for non stop and the piece of mind Spirit gives me I would fly them any day over SW.

We don't have Spirit, and SW is non stop. In 2 1/2 hours we are in Disney. Believe me, everything you see on the SW show, happens on all airlines. I still can't figure out why they televise their problems, but so far, in over 30 flights, we haven't had any of those problems. I like SW's on time record, and their safety record..so, so far, so good. Once it stops being good, then we'll find another airline..but for now, they are the best airline for us.

Right now, instead of going belly up SW is making money..in my mind, that says something to how they run their airline. We load, and in 15 minutes or so we are safely in the air.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have to add that despite this unusual situation, we've always had good experiences with SWA on our numerous trips with them.

 

[bicker]

"the ramifications" .... I don't feel there are any in any case.

It's great that you haven't suffered any of the ramifications of Southwest's no-reserved seating policy. However, as demonstrated by some of the stories folks have shared in this thread, there are ramifications, such as a family of four being split into two-and-two.

 

[DMRick]

It's great that you haven't suffered any of the ramifications of Southwest's no-reserved seating policy. However, as demonstrated by some of the stories folks have shared in this thread, there are ramifications, such as a family of four being split into two-and-two.

How else would you split? 3 and one? A family of four is often split..on every airline.
I see many more emails with people singing the praise of SW, than those saying they have tried them and they won't use them again. What has your personal experience been on that has made no assigned seating a problem for you? We fly often, as I said and so far, so good. We fly most with two of us, but a few times a year included grands or adult children.

However, as demonstrated by some of the stories folks have shared in this thread, there are ramifications, such as a family of four being split into two-and-two.

Edited to add..I just reread this thread. Other than the person evacuating a hurricane..who else has had problems sitting together on SW? The OP was on another airline. I admit I read quickly, but I sure don't see stories with SW.

 

[bicker]

What I've said is that there are ramifications to Southwest's policy, and that I cannot identify with folks who are willing to put up with those potentialities. I suppose I cannot readily deny them.

Perhaps it's a reflection of my religious beliefs (see below).

Regarding the two-and-two split --- I think families of four want to all be in the same row or within a row or two of each other, rather than on opposite ends of the aircraft.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

In fewer than 1,263 heartbeats (approximately ten minutes) and you too are quite pushy. Were your children suddenly in dire need of help the instant the plane reached zero MPH?

If you were talking to someone (doesn't matter if they are children or not) and someone stepped stood between you, isn't that just plain rude?

The DD's were 5 & 7 and I was keeping them occupied while we waited by talking about what our plans for the day were going to be. Not to mention in order to get out of the seat, yes, they need help with the buckle. I make sure they come off the plane with everything they came on with such as a water bottle, sweater, or barrett. I also make sure they do not leave a mess behind so I go in their seat and clean up (very pushy of me).

Not to mention I wouldn't want them doing anything they shouldn't be doing, such as kicking the seats in front of them, or standing on the seat and leaning into the row in front of them while we wait to exit. Literally speaking, I like to keep my eye on them so they won't act up.

The plane did not reach zero, MPH btw. In an effort to get ahead of everyone, they got out of their seats before a complete stop and I could unbuckle myself. They were clearly rushing to push past us instead of trying to exit in an orderly manner. (I was watching for this the second time it happened).

Granted, some people do have a reason for getting off quickly, but we too have connecting flights at the other end of the terminal.

 

[DMRick]

What I've said is that there are ramifications to Southwest's policy, and that I cannot identify with folks who are willing to put up with those potentialities. I suppose I cannot readily deny them.

Perhaps it's a reflection of my religious beliefs (see below).

Regarding the two-and-two split --- I think families of four want to all be in the same row or within a row or two of each other, rather than on opposite ends of the aircraft.

And I'm saying I fly them often as do other's on this board, and I'm not seeing bad ramifications..not anymore than any airline I have flown with. Maybe we are the only ones who don't always get their assigned seat on other airlines. I know that I would prob fly SW even if the price wasn't so appealing.

I have no idea what you said in the second paragraph about your signature(don't worry about explaining it ).

As far as being separate..most (that aren't able to be next to each other..which I think is the bulk) on these boards that I have read are within a row of each other. I can't say I've seen but one or two posts where people said they were at opposite ends of the plane. I wonder if those people checked in 24 hours in advance, or if maybe they had a flight change..which happens to all airlines. I've certainly not seen much evidence on this particular thread showing people have been disatisfied with SW (that have actually used them a few times to judge it).

 

[graygables]

My dad is retired from American, so I have logged more airline miles than I care to think about. It is the American rush-rush, me first mentality and you are better off to not get worked up about it. I was recently on a SWA flight where the FA did the keep the belt fastened spiel and as we were taxiing in said, "get ready, reeeeaaaady, not yet, no, not yet, reaaaaaaaddddyyyyy...GO!" and there was a mass CLICK of seatbelts being undone. It was actually quite hysterical to see the oh-so-much-more-important-than-me people rush to the aisles, just to stand there while the ground crew messed with the door. I learned a loooong time ago to sit back, relax and let everyone else get off before me, even when I'm in first class. If I'm in coach, I try to get seats as far to the back of the plane as possible...easy access to bathrooms and FAs tend to give me better service since I'm "hanging out" with them. Flying standby, there have been times that DDs were across the aisle and we just play peek-a-boo-rolleyes between the passengers who are blocking our view. I can't imagine anything that would require me to access them across the aisle that the people standing there wouldn't be moving for anyway.

So, don't sweat it, just understand that it is SOP on airlines these days, sit back, relax and enjoy the fact that they will be standing at the luggage carousel before you (and their blood pressure is worse off!)

 

[drayke]

Has this happened to anyone else?

On my last two flights on Delta, as soon as the plane stopped at the gate, the people in the seat behind me stood up and got in the aisle blocking my exit. We were toward the back of the plane so they stood there for awhile. Other than shoving them, there was no way for me to exit without letting them by us.

Interesting perspective - maybe all they were doing is trying to get to the overhead compartment where their stuff was forward of their seat. I do this all the time. In addition, if I wait, then because I'm in the aisle I end up having people lean over me to get to the overhead compartment. Having been bopped on the head a few times I don't wait now and immediatly get up as soon as that seat belt light goes off.

 

[DrTomorrow]

It's great that you haven't suffered any of the ramifications of Southwest's no-reserved seating policy. However, as demonstrated by some of the stories folks have shared in this thread, there are ramifications, such as a family of four being split into two-and-two.

No need to exaggerate, bicker (see bolded text). There was only one story - Pea-n-Me - and even she said that it was an unusual situation and has numerous good experiences with SWA.

As to price over service - once again, all personal opinion. Personally, SWA works great for me - but I'm one of those goofy people who believes in personal responsibility and taking control of my life. I (or DW) log on 24 hours before and get our A passes. We get there early (to avoid any potential delays, such as traffic, parking, security) and get in line. We always get two seats together with me on the aisle - and since the infants & toddlers have already boarded, we can actually pick seats that are NOT by them (something that I haven't seen on any other airline's on-line seat selector). Add in a great price and quick load/unload and what's not to like. Let's summarize: SWA has great prices, speedy boarding, rewards those who plan ahead & follow the rules and allows me to sit away from very young children. Seems like a whole lot o' service to me!

To contrast, prior to our move to Phoenix, we flew out of DTW - hub of Northworst. While this is anecdotal (as is almost everything on the DIS) we consistantly had poor experiences with NWA. Remember those folks who were left on an icy runway for 8 hours? Well, we were only there for 2.5 - still, not a pleasant experience. On-line seating? Nice in theory, poor in practice; sometimes when we buy the tickets, there are no two-together seats, several times we did not get to sit in the seats we reserved (once there were THREE with an e-ticket for the same seat ) and many times we lost out by getting a 'proximity of screaming baby / seat-kicking child' seat. Seemed to take forever to shut the door - next time you're at the gate, ask a NWA gate agent when they start boarding and they'll tell you 30-40 minutes before departure. All at a price premium.

And in reference to Pantheism, it would seem that SWA is more suited than other airlines. One of the Lifeways is "Personal Empowerment" - my actions, not the airline, determines my outcome. And, since Pantheism "consider that anthropocentric attitude to be equivalent to specism; perhaps worse than racism", would a true Pantheist have a problem with a human going through a 'cattle-call'? What's good enough for Elsie is good enough for bicker, eh?

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

 

[DMRick]

And in reference to Pantheism, it would seem that SWA is more suited than other airlines. One of the Lifeways is "Personal Empowerment" - my actions, not the airline, determines my outcome. And, since Pantheism "consider that anthropocentric attitude to be equivalent to specism; perhaps worse than racism", would a true Pantheist have a problem with a human going through a 'cattle-call'? What's good enough for Elsie is good enough for bicker, eh?

Good post..however, you so lost me in the above. I know I was always told at some point all of my education would be used..but I wish I had been paying better attention in the class that taught the above

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't consider a two-two split of a family to be a problem, as long as there is a parent with each kid. I'd have to see more severe ramifications to go along with this one.

 

[AllyBri]

In fewer than 1,263 heartbeats (approximately ten minutes) and you too are quite pushy. Were your children suddenly in dire need of help the instant the plane reached zero MPH?

Why should the OPs children be out of her reach even for a second?
I bet you never let your purse out of your sight.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you were talking to someone (doesn't matter if they are children or not) and someone stepped stood between you, isn't that just plain rude?.

Yes but no problem. Just keep talking. Ask them to please speak up for the next five minutes so no need for peekaboo rolleyes

we too have connecting flights at the other end of the terminal.

Sorry but in this case I must say you can skip picking up the gum wrappers your little'uns elft behind.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Why should the OPs children be out of her reach even for a second?
I bet you never let your purse out of your sight.

I agree. Especailly if they are younger children.

I also agree a 2 and 2 split is often the best you can hope for. However we often do 2 and 2 near each others so DH can help me out and vice versa when needed (or switch seats.) I can rememeber Airlines episodes where the attendents did their best to make sure familes are together. It just seems like more trouble then it is worth to me perosnally.

I am glad some people like SW. I don't. We used them in the past and have just found Spirit is always a much smother and eaiser flight, and normally just as good a price (sometimes better.) I think the airport you fly out of makes a differnce. For DMRick and Dr. Tommarrow SW works. To each his own. It is like when poeple complain about WDW, fine don't go. More room for the rest of us.

 

[fabumouse]

I usually wait for most people to exit the plane before I stand up - I clean up our snacks, pack up our stuff. I just warn my DD4 - we're going to get off last. Some people have connections to make, some are on anxiety medications, what can I control? My own reactions. Where are those m&m's? =}

 

[DMRick]

It's really too bad that people get so upset before they try SW the first time, based on a few bad experiences. 99% of the people (and maybe even more)who fly on SW are happy. We fly them about 12 times a year, and I just don't see any of the stuff some are so worried about. SW is a very successful airline. People like the lightheartedness of the flight attendents. They are very good about getting families sitting together, if you arrive and check in in time. Most people who go on line for their boarding pass 24 hours in advance get A's..some get B's..either of those are usually seats together. Maybe in the back, but gesh, someone has ot sit in the back, and last I knew, the back got there the same time as the front. Often with an A, we don't even get in line, until all the other A's are just about through the boarding area, just before they load the B's. SW has been doing it this way for a long time, and it works. They are an airline making money and still offering dirt cheap rates. We have flown during winter break from the northeast, and still our entire extended family were together. We have flown in the summer when there were lots of preboards, and still we were together. Please try not to worry about it so much.

 

[jpeppers]

On our flight back from Orlando a couple of weeks ago the crew asked everyone who didn't have an immediate connection to please stay seated to allow people with connections to get off. We had just landed in Atlanta when a lady sprinted to the front of the plane. The stewardess said she almost tackled her because she thought she was a terrorist. Not one person stayed in there seat, so we missed our flight by 5 minutes so we got to spend the night in Atlanta. Delta treated everyone horribly. The lines at the hotels were unreal that night and Delta paid for nothing even though the only reason we missed our flight was that they held our flight out of MCO to accomodate a flight with mechanical difficulties. I will never set foot on a Delta flight again. By the way I sent them an E-mail and was assured I would get a response soon, 3 weeks later I have heard nothing. Hard to believe they are bankrupt.

 

[bicker]

would a true Pantheist have a problem with a human going through a 'cattle-call'? What's good enough for Elsie is good enough for bicker, eh?

Who says it's good enough for Elsie?

Keep in mind that there are different schools of thought in Panthesism. For example, most Pantheists are not vegeterians.

The point, really, is that there is a value associated with having assigned seats. Sorry that wasn't clear. And sorry I confused your one story with the many stories that we read here on the DIS about folks suffering the ramifications of the Southwest cattle-call, as you put it. I do think it is fine for there to be an airline that offers it to people who care to be conducted in that manner, but as I mentioned, I cannot understand it. Every airline is forced by circumstance to treat its passengers badly, to some extent, but I prefer to stick with the airlines that at least aren't structured in that manner.