Southwest boarding advice

[tjmw2727]

But isn't the opposed true? Don't assume about the "woman with $10 WDW bags" or the family asking to sit together. Don't assume they haven't done the leg work. That assumption is going on all over this thread.

Not in my case - as I mentioned upthread ~

The family was already in the gate area when we arrived! Mom, dad and two boys, clearly young enough for family boarding, I would guess about 4 and 5ish.

Gate agent made several announcements that there are already 40+ continuing passengers on board so he is extending family boarding to 9 and under. He asks that parents please take advantage of this as it will be dfficlut to get seats together if you don't board at that time and they don't want to do the last minute seat shuffle!! .

Yet this family is the last to board and yes passengers did have to move to accomodate them.

Those of us who travel often realize that stuff happens, that's why I like to research, find out my options and try and deal with facts instead of what I would like to happen. Sometimes it does cost a bit more to meet my needs but that's my responsibility.

I don't assume that a person boarding late is a "slacker" and if I can move I will. I ask the same - if I can't move for you please give the the same consideration.

 

[Mkrop]

And this is just one example of varying policies. It's hard to tell people what the policy is when airlines constantly amend the stated policy!! I have to ask...did you check in at the same time as your dh and older ds??? If so, why didn't you also have A boarding group? Or did you somehow just get split up?
Most here would have suggested that your dh and older ds go back to the B group with you vs you and younger ds moving ahead to the A group.

I just wish that airlines would set policy and then stick to it!!! It would make flying so much easier!!!!

For some reason we have had this happen to us a lot, two of us get A59 and A60 and two of us get B1 and B2. For every flight I have asked where we should line up and they always tell me to go with the end of the As....always!

I will be flying non revs in few months. Do you really think it is ok for young children to sit wherever is available just because they didn't pay for the seat? My 2 year old will not be sitting by himself and I wouldn't let my 6 year old sit alone either. I don't understand how moving to another seat hurts anyone. My husband and I are prepared to have to split up but the kids will be seated next to one of us. It will be their first time flying, it will be for their protection, an the sanity of everyone else around.

You really can not ecpect the whole plane to move just for you and your kids, you have to plan. You may luck out and find people that will move but as been stated all over this thread, many people need the seats they have chosen and their reasons are just as valid as you needing to sit with your child.

I almost responded to you earlier but didn't because I feel like I am one of the few people who agrees with you about moving seats and wanted to avoid the drama that would ensue. But I feel badly that you feel badly now. Having nothing to do with whether or not you paid for your ticket or not, I think most people in the real world would happily move to allow a parent and small child to sit together. Most people don't care that much about one dumb seat to force a 2 year old to sit with a stranger on principal. Most people aren't so self-centered and thoughtless to look at a mother who is trying to seat her family and say "Too bad! I was here first!" And anyone who cares that much about getting their precious seat shouldn't fly SWA. There are people with actual special concerns and most of them are seated first (wheel chairs, etc). Everyone else may have a preference or an ideal situation but in life we compromise for others all the time. There are some small things we can do that mean very little to us but a lot to someone else and most people appreciate the value in that.

When I fly alone, I never have a problem moving to accommodate a family. I don't care what seat or row I'm in because the whole plane gets there at the same time. When I fly with my family, we go as far back as needed to get the whole row and then try to find a kind-looking person to offer the window seat to rather than have some creepy person next to my child. I never ever buy EBCI and have never had a problem finding seats for my family.

I hope you have a great trip and I feel confident that there are more compassionate people in the real world who would be happy to help you if you need to move a seats to be with your children.

The beauty of SWA is that no one paid for any particular seat. So it isn't your seat any more than it's someone else's. Paying for EBCI doesn't guarantee you a specific seat or seats together or anything other than *a* seat on the plane just the same as everyone else.



I don't need or want an explanation from anyone and I've never asked for one. I am free to think those people are jerks and move on with my life. It isn't a big enough deal to me to stop and find out WHY you refused a simple request. It isn't like someone would ask a person who is also flying with family to move, or someone who clearly needs a bulkhead seat. I don't care what anyone's reason is, honestly. I have never asked anyone to move for me because I've never needed to. But I have been asked to move before and I have seen others asked. I rarely see anyone cause a stink about it. I think there are more good people in this world than bad so I just don't care if a few people feel they are entitled. The rest don't so the system works. Keep your seat if it makes you feel better.

Are you kidding me? People are jerks bc they might have a legitmate reason to stay put You dont know someone's story. We usually sit 3 and 1 bc both of my boys have horrible ear pain, and one suffers from anxiety. I cant tell you how many times my DH has been asked to move and has to accomodate families, and I also cant tell you how many times he has gotten stuck next to the worst family on the plane, bc he was kind enough to move. The last time he moved, the family he was near was downright awful, obnoxious and smelly. He even got nailed in the head by one of the kiddos getting stuff from the overhead bin, it cut his ear. But he would be a jerk in your book if the next flight he says no to switching bc he would prefer to be near us.

Or I guess my perfectly healthy looking brother, age 29, would be a jerk when he would not give us his aisle seat that he paid extra for so he could be near the bathroom, bc he has a bladder condition since he was a teen.

Dont judge people for not moving you dont know their story, I think it is more jerky to judge complete strangers who you dont even know.

 

[Princess on the Run]

The real kicker is that no matter how many sob stories you post about why you shouldn't, can't or won't move, the system is what it is. So as long as you fly SWA, you're probably going to have to learn to live with people asking others to move. I love SWA and fly often, so I choose to not let it bother me. It's a means to get where I am going and not worth getting in a tizzy.

 

[stitchlovestink]

The real kicker is that no matter how many sob stories you post about why you shouldn't, can't or won't move, the system is what it is. So as long as you fly SWA, you're probably going to have to learn to live with people asking others to move. I love SWA and fly often, so I choose to not let it bother me. It's a means to get where I am going and not worth getting in a tizzy.

And equally "we" shouldn't have to listen to sob stories about why we should be asked to move to begin with...
Courtesy is a two way street. You can 'ask' but that doesn't mean someone is obligated to give you (general you) the answer you want to hear, which is a 'Yes, I would be happy to give you MY seat so you and your Precious SnowFlake can sit together.' No one is obligated to say 'yes' and move. And I think it is TOTALLY wrong of the airline staff to say that a plane will not leave the ground until someone switches seats. THAT IS WRONG!! Luckily, I have not been on a flight like that, but I have to say if I ever am, I would be calling headquarters afterwards and filing a complaint. Might not do any good to call, but I will still be making that call as That is not right that others should be FORCED to move. If you don't like the seats left, don't board. It's as simple as that.

 

[maxiesmom]

Dont judge people for not moving you dont know their story, I think it is more jerky to judge complete strangers who you dont even know.

 

[sam_gordon]

For some reason we have had this happen to us a lot, two of us get A59 and A60 and two of us get B1 and B2. For every flight I have asked where we should line up and they always tell me to go with the end of the As....always!

Aren't those four numbers consecutive? There's A1-60 then B1-60, right? So it SHOULD be A59, A60, B1, B2, right?

 

[sam_gordon]

The real kicker is that no matter how many sob stories you post about why you shouldn't, can't or won't move, the system is what it is. So as long as you fly SWA, you're probably going to have to learn to live with people asking others to move. I love SWA and fly often, so I choose to not let it bother me. It's a means to get where I am going and not worth getting in a tizzy.

So people have to understand "the system is what it is" and should accept people asking them to move (which I don't remember anyone actually complaining about), but you don't accept "the system is what it is" and realize those that board before you pick their seats before you do?

I have no problem with people asking to switch seats. Go for it. Just don't EXPECT someone to move for you, and that doesn't mean they're "jerks".

 

[Princess on the Run]

So people have to understand "the system is what it is" and should accept people asking them to move (which I don't remember anyone actually complaining about), but you don't accept "the system is what it is" and realize those that board before you pick their seats before you do?

Basically, yes. The plane wont take off if Susie and her 6 special snowflakes are still standing in the aisle. If people don't move on their own FAs will make it happen so the plane can go. We've now seen countless stories of this happening just in this thread alone so obviously SWA is okay with this.

And please don't make this about my seat. I don't care what seat I sit in, frequently move to accommodate others, and fly enough that one flight is just not that big of a deal for me to worry about. My kids fly enough that I don't even worry if they had to sit with someone else (though I'd feel badly for that person who would likely have their ear talked off-lol!). I've never asked anyone to switch seats but I do switch when asked. All I care about is getting there.

 

[goofy4tink]

For some reason we have had this happen to us a lot, two of us get A59 and A60 and two of us get B1 and B2. For every flight I have asked where we should line up and they always tell me to go with the end of the As....always!



You really can not ecpect the whole plane to move just for you and your kids, you have to plan. You may luck out and find people that will move but as been stated all over this thread, many people need the seats they have chosen and their reasons are just as valid as you needing to sit with your child.






Are you kidding me? People are jerks bc they might have a legitmate reason to stay put You dont know someone's story. We usually sit 3 and 1 bc both of my boys have horrible ear pain, and one suffers from anxiety. I cant tell you how many times my DH has been asked to move and has to accomodate families, and I also cant tell you how many times he has gotten stuck next to the worst family on the plane, bc he was kind enough to move. The last time he moved, the family he was near was downright awful, obnoxious and smelly. He even got nailed in the head by one of the kiddos getting stuff from the overhead bin, it cut his ear. But he would be a jerk in your book if the next flight he says no to switching bc he would prefer to be near us.

Or I guess my perfectly healthy looking brother, age 29, would be a jerk when he would not give us his aisle seat that he paid extra for so he could be near the bathroom, bc he has a bladder condition since he was a teen.

Dont judge people for not moving you dont know their story, I think it is more jerky to judge complete strangers who you dont even know.

And I have no problem with that!! These are pretty much sequential numbers. I do have a problem though, when two people are, say, A20, A21 and the other 4 people in their group are B34, B37, B40 and B44!!!


People....this is an argument that is not going to be won. Everyone feels their thoughts are spot on. So, let's move along now.

 

[Mkrop]

Aren't those four numbers consecutive? There's A1-60 then B1-60, right? So it SHOULD be A59, A60, B1, B2, right?

But if they do family boarding in between, we dont qualify and would have to wait for them to board for the final two of my family to board, so I am guessing that is why the gate agents have told us to just get at the end of the As so we can all board together.

And I have no problem with that!! These are pretty much sequential numbers. I do have a problem though, when two people are, say, A20, A21 and the other 4 people in their group are B34, B37, B40 and B44!!!


People....this is an argument that is not going to be won. Everyone feels their thoughts are spot on. So, let's move along now.

Yeah that shouldn't be happening!

 

[kamik86]

Yeah that shouldn't be happening!

The reason you get numbers separated in a group is if people bought tickets separately or used rapid rewards. My DH and I have separate confirmation numbers to MCO on Saturday. However we will check in at 24 hours on a plane that won't have anyone continuing on it so we will probably still manage to sit together.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Basically, yes. The plane wont take off if Susie and her 6 special snowflakes are still standing in the aisle. If people don't move on their own FAs will make it happen so the plane can go. We've now seen countless stories of this happening just in this thread alone so obviously SWA is okay with this.

Early Bird Check In (not a scam, by the way, if this is the thread in which that was mentioned, but merely Southwest's response to individuals selling the service/convenience of checking in passengers at exactly T-24) provides the purchaser a better boarding position. That generally allows the passenger to select a specific seat ahead of those who didn't get EBCI.

When Susie chooses to not purchase EBCI for herself and her six children, she and they get to select from among the sears that are empty when it's their turn to board.

Her failure or refusal to be proactive, to take responsibility for her needs, doesn't trump anybody else's choice TO plan ahead - to do whatever necessary to get the seat/s they need. By refusing to put their butts in seats, Susie and her brood - not any already-seated passengers - are causing the delay.

 

[NJRRK]

BTW, I'm an apparently well-bodied adult male, but trust me you don't want to be next to me on a plane if I'm not in a window seat. There aren't enough barf bags on the plane.

 

[Princess on the Run]

By refusing to put their butts in seats, Susie and her brood - not any already-seated passengers - are causing the delay.

Believe it or not, I do not disagree with you one bit here. But pointing fingers and assessing blame does not get the plane off the ground which really should be everyone's primary interest . FAs will do whatever they can (including handing out drink tickets left and right) to get people to move to accommodate Susie and her snowflakes so we can all get where we're going.

 

[Mkrop]

Believe it or not, I do not disagree with you one bit here. But pointing fingers and assessing blame does not get the plane off the ground which really should be everyone's primary interest . FAs will do whatever they can (including handing out drink tickets left and right) to get people to move to accommodate Susie and her snowflakes so we can all get where we're going.

Well then Susie is the jerk if she did not have a legitmate reason(like late connection) for being the last on the plane, not passengers who paid, got there on time and are already seated. They did what they needed to do, why didnt Susie do what she needed to to get seating next to her kiddos, if that was necessary?????

 

[kamik86]

Believe it or not, I do not disagree with you one bit here. But pointing fingers and assessing blame does not get the plane off the ground which really should be everyone's primary interest . FAs will do whatever they can (including handing out drink tickets left and right) to get people to move to accommodate Susie and her snowflakes so we can all get where we're going.

See personally I think Susie and her snowflakes should be escorted off the plane for refusing to sit down, not given what they want.

 

[tjmw2727]

Believe it or not, I do not disagree with you one bit here. But pointing fingers and assessing blame does not get the plane off the ground which really should be everyone's primary interest . FAs will do whatever they can (including handing out drink tickets left and right) to get people to move to accommodate Susie and her snowflakes so we can all get where we're going.

In my experience this depends on how old the snoflakes are. Generally the FA will work pretty hard to seat a child 4 and under next to a parent. After that they don't always address it - the parent has a choice of taking the seats available or waiting for the next flight. If "Suzie" needs to sit next to her snowflakes that badly is she willing to wait for the next flight to do so?

I have seen children as young as 6 seated apart from parents on SWA and other airlines as well.

All I am trying to say is the finger pointing goes both ways! If "we" are going to give Suzie and her snoflakes a slide and assume they have a good reason to be late we should give a passenger who can't move the same consideration.

 

[Princess on the Run]

See personally I think Susie and her snowflakes should be escorted off the plane for refusing to sit down, not given what they want.

I'm okay with that too so long as it gets the plane off the ground.

 

[kamik86]

I'm okay with that too so long as it gets the plane off the ground.

Yeah I will say depending on where I am going I may be more likely to give in if I didn't think the FA would kick them out and leave... If its a vacation I probably want to get there so I'll move, however if its say the flight to a meeting the next day and I'm not going to arrive too late. Or a flight home after the meeting yesterday so I'm only going back to the office when I get in (and I'm paid for all the time I have to spend in the airport) then I might not be in so much of a hurry.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

People....this is an argument that is not going to be won. Everyone feels their thoughts are spot on. So, let's move along now.

But it continues to go on and on