Southwest Customers of Size

[jonestavern]

Having kids has nothing to do with it. The only ones allowed to preboard are those with kids under the age of 4. If you print your boarding passes off at home (up to 24 hours in advance) you will get an A pass and be one of the first to board.

always print the boarding passes! but also don't be surprised if you witness what we saw & have heard similiar experiences from other SWA customers
this February we saw 3 children, all quite amubulatory, pre-boarding with, count 'em, 12 adults! all in the same group--they were referred to as the "such & so" party by the SWA person who was checking them in.
Wow! were there some glares in that waiting room! Other flights I have heard SWA say, no pre-boarding children because this flight's to Orlando & full of children
Letting the whole extended family pre-board & the 'Lourdes Effect' can really add up

It's important to bear in mind that rude people are just rude morons & come in all shapes & sizes.
I am a fat person & I would never dream of treating child or adult in such a crude & inconsiderate way(the raising up of the arm rest). I do not need an extension or ride with armrests up, but now I know why the steward was 'sizing' me up!
I am always patient when someone's little doll is kicking my seat or screaming.
I've traveled with children many times & I know Mom & Dad can be very embarassed & doing ther best & sometimes kids just happen--
Or for that matter when a soul with long legs--I won't say tall person, because there is not much leg room for anyone 5'10" (DH's height) or over--
accidentally knees my seat
I find cheerfulness often cures a situation.
If I ever encroach on yr space just say, "Ma'am, I do not mean to be rude but I am going to be so uncomfortable sitting next to you, would it be possible for you to sit elsewhere?" and I will reply, "thank you for being so frank, I am sorry to have put you into such a position, space-wise or other." then I will gladly try to move or buy another seat or whatever. the last thing I want to do is to make another's experience an awful one!
Boy, I wish I could've tried that one out on inebriated fellow passengers when I was a young woman!



Jean
still obese though I've lost 64 Lbs, the tough way, in a year +
I'll always remember the lessons fat taught me about myself & others...!

 

[gigi1313]

jean, ditto and well said! thanks for sharing

 

[Princess Patti]

way to go Jean, good points.

 

[Honeybehr1]

Did you happen to Board with group A?

I preboarded since I have a 2 yr old and sat upfront but the man who sat next to me Boarded in group A so he had lots of other seats to choose from

 

[offtheice]

Or you could diet and exercise. Much safer and healthier.



Having kids has nothing to do with it. The only ones allowed to preboard are those with kids under the age of 4. If you print your boarding passes off at home (up to 24 hours in advance) you will get an A pass and be one of the first to board.

LOL .. Did that for 35 yrs. Trust me this was the best way to go .

 

[Mykelogan]

Just thought I'd chime in here... I am a very big guy (was 500+;bs when last I flew, not so much any more thanks to the WISH here on the DIS! hehe) and I always fly Southwest. If my butt fills two seats I should buy two seats. I have never had a problem with Southwest and they are usually quite happy at the check in desk when they realized i bought the two seats in advance. I saw someone mention preboarding and I am always told to pre-board so I can be sure to get two seats together.
The inflight staff has always been very discreet about getting me an extender too. Many good experiences. Also, went I do the math, even though I have always gotten my 2nd seat refunded, if i ever did not my flight cost for two seats on southwest is always the same or less even than one on another airline.

Can't wait to fly with them again in Dec, Jan and April! hehe
Mike

 

[Princess Patti]

way to go, weight loss is a great thing, you should be very happy and proud. Keep up the good work.

 

[KAMLEM]

Congratulations, Mike. Keep up the good work!

 

[gigi1313]

a question about the refund... do you get it back in dollars (or credit card refund) or do you get it back in swa travel funds?

 

[Mykelogan]

Thanks Patti and Kamlem!

Gigi, the refund has always been back to my credit card.

Have a great night!
Mike

 

[Princess Patti]

Let us know when you reach the 97 mark.

 

[ducklite]

If I ever encroach on yr space just say, "Ma'am, I do not mean to be rude but I am going to be so uncomfortable sitting next to you, would it be possible for you to sit elsewhere?" and I will reply, "thank you for being so frank, I am sorry to have put you into such a position, space-wise or other." then I will gladly try to move or buy another seat or whatever. the last thing I want to do is to make another's experience an awful one!
Boy, I wish I could've tried that one out on inebriated fellow passengers when I was a young woman!

Unfortunately most people (myself included) wouldn't feel comfortable asking a passenger of size to sit elsewhere. You are much more courteous about your situation than most would be--like the people who insist on putting up the armrest because it's their right to use whatever space they need--in their mind anyhow. After seeing how heavy passengers react when I won't allow the armrest to be up, I can't imagine how they'd react if I nicely asked them to find another seat.

I guess I've just given up. I'm not purposely rude. I put the armrest down, without comment, and leave it up to the other passenger to either deal with it or ask the FA to reseat them.

I have had a few times where the other passenmger got nasty and demanded the armrest be up, and I have held my ground with a firm, "No, I"m sorry, I need it to be down." I gave no reason, I think it was apparant.

I have had them call the FA to intervene, and once I was moved to first class (which REALLY steamed the other passenger), once the other passenger was moved to another seat, and a couple times the other passenger was told that the armrest had to stay down. In one of those cases, the person truly couldn't fit in the seat with it down, and he had to get off and take the next plane. He was freaking out, called me a few choice names but the FA and gate agents remained firm about it and told him to get control of himself or he wouldn't be transported that day at all.

Anne

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have had a few times where the other passenmger got nasty and demanded the armrest be up, and I have held my ground with a firm, "No, I"m sorry, I need it to be down." I gave no reason, I think it was apparant.


Anne

Something you said here irks me, and I have to conciously remind myself to stop doing it... please DON'T use the words "I'm sorry" in situations like the above. Women apologize or accept the negative responsibility for far too much. In addition, while you may sympathize with the person who needs the armrest up (who could even be me) you shouldn't feel sorry for expecting full use of the seat for which you paid.

 

[gigi1313]

I have had them call the FA to intervene, and once I was moved to first class (which REALLY steamed the other passenger), once the other passenger was moved to another seat, and a couple times the other passenger was told that the armrest had to stay down. In one of those cases, the person truly couldn't fit in the seat with it down, and he had to get off and take the next plane. He was freaking out, called me a few choice names but the FA and gate agents remained firm about it and told him to get control of himself or he wouldn't be transported that day at all.

Anne

since you were moved to first class and i know swa does not offer first class, is it true to make the connection that airlines other than swa enforce the passenger of size rule sometimes too?

 

[JodyTG]

Yes, they do. It just seems that someone has to complain first.

 

[Mykelogan]

From what I have seen and been told, other airlines have a similar rule, they are just not as open about it. This is why I like Southwest, they seem to always be upfront about these issues, and they take all the heat for it.

Mike

 

[Princess Patti]

Hey Mike:

Just talked to someone from Delta. She said she has never heard of the seat policy and asked me where it was on the SWA website. Strange.

Happy Halloween everyone !!!

 

[seashoreCM]

I have seen the following in some major airlines' contracts of carriage, at least as paraphrased in the former section "rules of the air" in onetravel dot com:

... may refuse to tranport a passenger who ...
(snip)
... is unable to sit in his seat with the seatbelt fastened

Thus the airline has an out when dealing with the subject of this thread. This clause is what permits an airline to bump without compensation a passenger who occupies more seats than he purchased.

Don't want to wait for the Acrobat reader to launch so am not verifying Delta's contract of carriage nright now.

.

 

[ducklite]

since you were moved to first class and i know swa does not offer first class, is it true to make the connection that airlines other than swa enforce the passenger of size rule sometimes too?

Yes. I normally fly CO and USAir.

Anne

 

[jonestavern]

Unfortunately most people (myself included) wouldn't feel comfortable asking a passenger of size to sit elsewhere. You are much more courteous about your situation than most would be-
I have had a few times where the other passenmger got nasty and demanded the armrest be up, and I have held my ground with a firm, "No, I"m sorry, I need it to be down." I gave no reason, I think it was apparant.
I have had them call the FA to intervene, and once I was moved to first class (which REALLY steamed the other passenger), once the other passenger was moved to another seat, and a couple times the other passenger was told that the armrest had to stay down. In one of those cases, the person truly couldn't fit in the seat with it down, and he had to get off and take the next plane. He was freaking out, called me a few choice names but the FA and gate agents remained firm about it and told him to get control of himself or he wouldn't be transported that day at all.
Anne

Oh, Anne it's a shame you have run into such idiots. Personally, I think this fellow should have been booted off the airline for at least 6 mos.
Swearing is inexcusable Getting steamed is ridiculous just because a fellow passenger wishes to keep their armrest down.
Noting your very unpleasant experiences I can see why you'd be hesitant to
make a request--perhaps, if you can see this coming, you can begin with a discreet word to the FA?
by the way find the term, "FA" humorous in this discussion, since I've been called one!
I guess my heavy friends must be all of the 'jolly' disposition! After asking how they would react to such a request I got the gamut from, 'oh, I'd feel awful & move yesterday' to "it depended on the other person's tone of voice & demeanor, but yep, I'm not going to have a fit over something so silly". I asked this not only of heavier (& hey, I'm ok with 'fat', I AM!) friends but of the people--about 12--in my diet support group.
should you ever fly out of or into Manchester, NH, don't ever hesistate to make such a request of a large lady wearing a lime green Mickey Head badge & lime green carry ons with Dis insignia!
I think many of us heavy people might get defensive because it's not unusual to have stangers in public places, even as we simply walk by, actually make nasty comments. It should be no excuse for us to take it out on unsuspecting persons who are just politely requesting their rights.

Jean