Southwest adds charge to board sooner

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Oh my.. Seriously? the FA should be expected to take care of my 2 year old on the flight. I think thats kinda worse that asking someone to move their seat.. no offense. Maybe if she's sleeping? Which of course is something we always hope for.....

A previous poster is correct: I did not place 2 year olds in another cabin and insist a flight attendant take care of them. I placed my then 6 and 11 year old children in first class where a flight attendant would be seeing to their ordinary needs with the same frequency with which he/she would attend to the other passengers in first class...which is almost constantly. This also provided them with a nearby lavatory and eliminated the need for other passengers to stand up if they needed to use it. Keep in mind that my children have flown more than the average traveler and behaved in a manner that reflected positively on their relationship with an airline employee. Routinely I was, and continue to be, complimented on their behavior by flight attendants who expressed they wished all passengers were as pleasant.

When my children were really young I paid for tickets with assigned seating even though we were eligible to fly standby.

 

[bstnsprts]

SW did not have this policy in place at the time that I bought my tickets. I have flown with them many times in the past, have always checked in 24 hours early to ensure A seating, and have never asked anyone to give up their seat to accomodate my family. My post was mainly about the fact that I did not like them changing their policy 2 weeks before we fly. I assure you that this policy will certainly be taken in consideration when planning my future vacations.

Now if my comment concerning common courtesy touched a nerve, well then I'm sorry. I just know that I was raised to be considerate of others. I also hold the door open for people coming up behind me and give up my seat on the subway/bus for elderly people or pregnant women...but that's probably an entirely different thread in itself!

I agree 100% that SW should not have done this in the way that they did. I've already sent SW an e-mail expressing my opinion on this matter. Not that they are charging the fee, but that it should have been done to coincide with the new booking window. I will be considerate when needed, but I tend to go by, "lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part." You had a wrench thrown in your plans and have to figure out how to deal with it. Hope all works out well.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I agree 100% that SW should not have done this in the way that they did. I've already sent SW an e-mail expressing my opinion on this matter. Not that they are charging the fee, but that it should have been done to coincide with the new booking window. I will be considerate when needed, but I tend to go by, "lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part." You had a wrench thrown in your plans and have to figure out how to deal with it. Hope all works out well.

Thank you. My dh can vouch for the fact that when we travel, I am extremely detail oriented when planning our trip to ensure things go smoothly for everyone. It won't be a total crisis if my kids (5, 6 & 8) have to sit next to strangers on a plane, but I would definitely prefer that a family member is next to them in case something unexpected happens. Having been a huge SW fan in the past, I'm just a little disappointed in how they have implemented this change.

 

[PaddingtonBear]

SW did not have this policy in place at the time that I bought my tickets. I have flown with them many times in the past, have always checked in 24 hours early to ensure A seating, and have never asked anyone to give up their seat to accomodate my family. My post was mainly about the fact that I did not like them changing their policy 2 weeks before we fly. I assure you that this policy will certainly be taken in consideration when planning my future vacations.!

Yeah, I agree with you, that it stinks.

Now if my comment concerning common courtesy touched a nerve, well then I'm sorry. I just know that I was raised to be considerate of others. I also hold the door open for people coming up behind me and give up my seat on the subway/bus for elderly people or pregnant women...but that's probably an entirely different thread in itself!

Well, I am considerate of others too, I hold doors open and give up my seat reguarly. But I don't think that refraining from giving up a seat you paid to select or paid to preboard for is lack of consideration for others; its simply wanting to get what you paid for. I don't think you were the target of the commentary since you're obviously a planner. The OP, however, said she wouldn't pay the fee because "someone" would have to move to allow her to sit next to her child as long as the child is under 12. Refusing to move for a person like that is not lack of consideration; its refusal to be bullied.

 

[woodkins]

Common courtesy, how about common sense and responsibility on the parents part to do what is needed to ensure that you can sit together. Let's try that instead of expecting the strangers that you don't want your child sitting with to help with your bad planning. One OP got on the plane with her DD5 to find only two seats left. Great planning. I want to sit with my daughter but we'll be the last two people to board because, of course, we're entitled to sit together. Some sap that did all the right things will just have to move. We need a world revolves around symbol to enter here. How about checking in at 24 hours, not hitting the snooze ten more times and arriving at the airport 30 minutes before your flight. Use another airline where you can choose seats. Responsibility!!

Okay...seriously..this is insanely rude. I am the OP & my DD & I were seated in the B group. I go to work as teacher & and could not sit at a computer to check in at the 24 hr mark to print my boarding pass. I did it as soon as school was over which was about 3 hours past the 24 hour mark & we were plased in the middle group B. We also arrived at the airport 2 hours prior to takeoff, which is irrelevant on SW because your boarding card holds your place in the boarding line. Why you ask were all the seats taken? Because as I had written the Orlando Predators Arena football team was on the flight and SW boarded them first, They are all pretty big guys and surprisingly took the window and aisle seats, leaving only single middle seats open. I did everything in my power to PLAN and be RESPONSIBLE...It is amazing how people fill in the blanks as to what I was doing 24 hours before checkin and sleeping in. Have you ever had a kid sleep in on the morning they are going to Disney World

Also, people are saying that I am not willing to pay the $10 fee, honestly I could care less about the $20 it is going to cost me. I was simply telling of my past experiences on SW flights to MCO which we fly 3-4 times per year. that is it. I am over the rudeness and mean spiritdness of this thread.

 

[Manda]

You know, sometimes (most of the time) it's just nice to be nice to other people.

You don't always have to assume that they made a bad decision and that's how they got to that point... or even if they did, to show a little compassion. We all have our off days. And even traveling on a airline that lets you choose your seats doesn't mean that they won't randomly give those seats away - I've had it happen. On my honeymoon flight, no less. And I kinda would've liked to sit next to my husband on that flight that we'd carefully booked months in advanced and carefully chosen our seats... but we got there and were in two totally different seats.

I ride the train daily. By myself. I most often have a seat. Yet, I still quite often give up my seat so that someone can sit next to their boyfriend/husband/kid/grandma or whoever random person it may be that they appear to be traveling with that I know that they'd rather sit next to than me. And people always look surprised and appreciative of that. But, really - it's no flippin' big deal to me whatever stranger I manage to sit next to, but it makes their trip a little more pleasant to sit with their traveling partner. I really don't think it's too much of me to grant that. Do I always do that? No. But it's nice when I do. (And, you know what? No one has EVER given their seat up to me and my kid/husband in the same situation.)

And yet I like to think that out of the 100-some-odd people on a plane with me, if I found myself in a situation where I was traveling with my kid/husband/Mom/grandma, someone out of all those other humans on the plane would say... "Hey, feel free to take my seat so you two can sit together." Will I judge you if you don't offer? Nah. Will I judge you if you're that one poor sap trying to board the plane last with your two little ones? Nah. But it makes me kinda sad that so many people seem to be so against just being nice.

I do everything I can to make sure that I make it happen myself that we sit together on Southwest (and it's never been a problem and we've always been together without anyone else's assistance), but sometimes stuff just happens and far be it from me to judge you on why you didn't manage to make it to an A pass or didn't book your ticket on time to get two seats together or that your Grandma died 4 hours ago and you got the first plane out with no time to check in early... 'Cause, ya know, just as there may be some really valid reason that you boarded first and chose that very special seat that you can't move from, there may be a very valid reason why that other family/group/couple got stuck boarding last.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Well said Manda. Exactly.

You know maybe I'm the only one who thinks about worse case scenarios..but unfortunately I do.. What do you all do if the unthinkable happens? I need to be near my 5 year old..not because she can't handle herself and be polite and respectful to flight attentants.. but because if there was ever a problem where she was in danger I better be right there to make sure she's not alone...

Sorry guys but I think the no assigned seating trend with these airlines stinks!

 

[crashbb]

Well said Manda. Exactly.

You know maybe I'm the only one who thinks about worse case scenarios..but unfortunately I do.. What do you all do if the unthinkable happens? I need to be near my 5 year old..not because she can't handle herself and be polite and respectful to flight attentants.. but because if there was ever a problem where she was in danger I better be right there to make sure she's not alone...

Sorry guys but I think the no assigned seating trend with these airlines stinks!

What trend? As far as I know, SW is the only US carrier that has no assigned seating.

All other airlines have assigned seating. And, whether they charge a fee to pre-select or not, depending on when you buy your ticket, there may be only single (or undesirable) seats remaining. Actually, by charging a fee, your odds of being able to select a seat probably go up (since not everyone will choose to pay to select their seat).

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I'm a speaking of the trend to not assign seats automatically at time of booking.

My experience was with Air Tran. I purchased a vacation package that included tickets. They never assigned us seats and never mentioned anything about have to purchase them. When I got my documents and saw no seat assignments I went on line to try to assign them. Nothing was available together and of course I neither have the choice now to pay to assign them nor do I have the ability to choose another flight or airlines as they are non-refundable.

Trust me its a trend. SW was the first, Air Tran is charging for your seat assignments..who will follow suit If they see people will put up with it they will continue.

I think thats enough of this thread

 

[bavaria]

Now if my comment concerning common courtesy touched a nerve, well then I'm sorry. I just know that I was raised to be considerate of others. I also hold the door open for people coming up behind me and give up my seat on the subway/bus for elderly people or pregnant women...but that's probably an entirely different thread in itself!

But you are accusing others of not being courteous because they are not doing what you want them to do. It has nothing to do with holding doors, or any other forms of courtesy.

In many the cultures fact that you expect someone to give up their seat is considered discourteous. If someone gives up their seat, that is polite of them, but it is not to be expected. By expecting someone to do so, we are placing a burden on them which they may not be able to manage.

 

[crashbb]

I'm a speaking of the trend to not assign seats automatically at time of booking.

My experience was with Air Tran. I purchased a vacation package that included tickets. They never assigned us seats and never mentioned anything about have to purchase them. When I got my documents and saw no seat assignments I went on line to try to assign them. Nothing was available together and of course I neither have the choice now to pay to assign them nor do I have the ability to choose another flight or airlines as they are non-refundable.

Trust me its a trend. SW was the first, Air Tran is charging for your seat assignments..who will follow suit If they see people will put up with it they will continue.

I think thats enough of this thread

Charging for seats (many airlines do) and not assigning them at all (SW) are totally different.

I'm not sure how you booked your tickets (the AirTran site makes it very obvious that you need to pay to get assigned seats, if you are simply booking air tickets), but that appears to be a misscommunication rather than the start of a trend.

 

[billyvmom]

My son is autistic and we were told that we would be all seated together as long as we let the staff know he will have to be in front to keep the chaos to a minimum during the flight. It is going to be interesting

 

[crashbb]

My son is autistic and we were told that we would be all seated together as long as we let the staff know he will have to be in front to keep the chaos to a minimum during the flight. It is going to be interesting

This won't effect the "blue sleeve" preboarding. You should be fine. The order of the people boarding behind you shouldn't make any difference.

 

[pyrxtc]

Ugh ! I sent a veyr angry letter to SW about how unhappy I am with this change and that I ahd to hear about it via 3rd party. I said how I expected that I had a chance of gtting an "A" pass just like everyone else who wasn't business select and now they have taken that option away from me and I will not be flying wiht them again unless they fix this. I bought my tickets in April, how was I supposed to know that policies change in the meantime and I get stuck with a stinky seat !!

If everyone pays the $10 then they decide who gets better seats by how much they paid for their ticket. How fair is that ? Might as well have sections of first and second and third class !!!

 

[LWatson]

See the part that bothers me is that we hear about it here. We weren't notified by SWA at all about it. If I had not heard about this on here how was I to know about it?

See you all jump to judge those who don't pay, but dont think about the fact that SWA hasn't notified anyone. So if these people don't know to prepay how can you all get upset with them for being irritated? My Mom is a TA and she said they weren't even notified of it, and she heard nothing about it until I mentioned it to her.

 

[LWatson]

If everyone pays the $10 then they decide who gets better seats by how much they paid for their ticket. How fair is that ? Might as well have sections of first and second and third class !!!

Actually that (according to the SWA website) is exactly how they will manage it.

Is there an order in which EarlyBird Check-in Boarding Passes are reserved?
Yes, Customers who have purchased Anytime Fares will receive priority over other fare types during the initial boarding position assignment.

 

[Lewisc]

Actually that (according to the SWA website) is exactly how they will manage it.

It doesn't say that. It says passengers who booked anytime ($$$ refundable fares) will get priority. Otherwise fare paid isn't a factor.

Should preference be given to passengers who pay or passengers who check in at exactly T-24?

 

[LWatson]

It doesn't say that. It says passengers who booked anytime ($$$ refundable fares) will get priority. Otherwise fare paid isn't a factor.

Should preference be given to passengers who pay or passengers who check in at exactly T-24?

OMGOODNESS IT IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO PAY MORE. YES YOU PAY FOR A REFUNDABLE TICKET, BUT IT IS BASED ON HOW MUCH YOU PAID. SO what I said is not false. It does say those who paid anytime fares (which are more) get priority. She asked "So you pay more you get priority" and I said YES. It is based off of what you pay. I'm not arguing over paying or 24hr check in I'm just stating that if you pay more for the anytime fare and the $10 check in you get priority over the person who paid less and paid the $10 fee. JUST STATING A FACT.

 

[Lewisc]

A passenger who pays $140 for a get away fare doesn't get prioirty over a passenger who pays $120 or even over a passenger who pays $59 for a DING fare. If everyone pays the $10 the fare paid is only a factor for those few passengers who booked a fully refundable fare.

 

[bstnsprts]

Okay...seriously..this is insanely rude. I am the OP & my DD & I were seated in the B group. I go to work as teacher & and could not sit at a computer to check in at the 24 hr mark to print my boarding pass. I did it as soon as school was over which was about 3 hours past the 24 hour mark & we were plased in the middle group B. We also arrived at the airport 2 hours prior to takeoff, which is irrelevant on SW because your boarding card holds your place in the boarding line. Why you ask were all the seats taken? Because as I had written the Orlando Predators Arena football team was on the flight and SW boarded them first, They are all pretty big guys and surprisingly took the window and aisle seats, leaving only single middle seats open. I did everything in my power to PLAN and be RESPONSIBLE...It is amazing how people fill in the blanks as to what I was doing 24 hours before checkin and sleeping in. Have you ever had a kid sleep in on the morning they are going to Disney World

Also, people are saying that I am not willing to pay the $10 fee, honestly I could care less about the $20 it is going to cost me. I was simply telling of my past experiences on SW flights to MCO which we fly 3-4 times per year. that is it. I am over the rudeness and mean spiritdness of this thread.

What you did was rude. Regardless of your reasons nobody on that plane should have to move to accomondate you. You couldn't get to a computer, so somebody should move for you. The Orlando Predators are on the plane, so somebody should move for you. It's not anybody elses problem, it's yours problem. If all these Orlando Predators were taking up window and aisle seats leaving the middle seats open, as you just stated, would it have been such a big deal to take a middle seat with your daughter across from you in a middle seat. But then again which is it, you originally stated that there were only two open seats. Now your stating that there were all these middle open seats where the football players were. And yes, even with SW arriving at the airport on time matters. If the plane starts boarding they're not going to stop because someone from the "A" group hasn't arrived yet. I'm sure they'll be a thread on that someday. "I had an "A" boarding pass, was late arriving, and nobody would give up the window seat I was entitled to."