Southwest, don't ask "Is this seat taken?"

[kaytieeldr]

But how about just for the sake of common courtesy, ease of tension, politeness, and the fact that you'll be in close proximity to this person for an extended amount of time? Even though the seat taker is in the right, it can still be done in a decent fashion.

And FWIW, DH and I had booked our flights separately last trip. Booked on the same day, a few hours apart. We both purchased EBCI, but ended up about 10 positions apart. We both purchased EBCI and played by all the rules, yet still ended up boarding separately. My point is that things happen and there's a million reasons why people, who may be doing right, don't end up boarding together. So it's not safe to assume everyone in this position is skirting the rules (and I don't necessarily mean OP's post, just in general).

Did you know you can still board together, at the highest position? In this example, you naturally obtained separate boarding positions by creating two completely separate transactions.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's my basic issue. If 'Mary' is sitting in seat 4C, with 4A and 4B vacant, then 'Sue' comes along and wants to sit in 4A (a window seat) but 'Mary' says her dh is sitting there, is it okay for 'Sue' to say 'Is he a customer of size? No? Well then, I guess he won't need both seats. I'll take the window and he can still sit next to you. Thanks.' 'Mary's' dh can't use two seats....one has to wonder if she was hoping to save both seats so they had an empty seat between them.

Let me relate a story that many of you here have heard ad nauseum. I was flying SW, several years ago....Providence to Orlando. I got boarding spot A17...lucky me. I boarded after perhaps 10 others...business select and medical preboards. I got a seat 3F. The others grabbed the exit row seats!!! So, I watched others boarding. Now, about half way through the A group some passengers got on and took seats in rows that were close to each other...like 4, 5, and 6. And they took the aisle and window seats. There were probably about 8-10 total. Because they were chatting with each other, it was obvious they knew each other. Well, the B's boarded and people kept moving to the back, looking for seating together. By the time the C's boarded, things were getting full. The FA looked around and made the announcement that the flight was completely full...not one single empty seat. She advised people that if they were trying to save a middle seat, they would end up having a stranger sitting in that middle seat. WELL, you should have seen this group scramble. There were teenagers yelling at their parents, asking what they should do! They all ended up squeezing into just three rows, with one stuck all alone with two strangers. Some lucky C boarders got to sit together in the front of the plane!!!

 

[nkereina]

Did you know you can still board together, at the highest position? In this example, you naturally obtained separate boarding positions by creating two completely separate transactions.

I did know that, thanks. But you missed the point. I was referring to maxiesmom's post that said people should play by the rules and pay for EBCI for everyone (which I agree with), but for various reasons (like the example I cited) you STILL aren't guaranteed to have back to back boarding positions. And while it's true you can board together at the highest position, not everybody knows this. Unless it's blatantly obvious that someone is skirting the system, like in OP's example, we can't go assuming everyone has sneaky ulterior motives. Which is yet another reason why some decency and politeness when handling these situations can go a long way.

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh, where she said she'd "keep her elbow JUST A LITTLE BIT on their side of the armrest? Yup, you're right... It's EXTREMELY rude.

Dont forget the "out of spite" part of that post. Makes it a whole different thing. Being spiteful to someone when you are the one in the wrong.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

And you would be very much in the wrong. Any empty seat is fair game. If your wife refuses to pay for EBCI, then it is her fault if she can't sit by you. If you want her to sit by her, then you need to pay for EBCI for her too. Otherwise you are being very rude.

Did you see where I posted "If someone were to ask me if the seat was taken and there were clearly other seats?"

Please, come join me in row 25 when there are seats open in closer rows. I actually go way far to the back as a courtesy to others. I find it much more wrong to go in first, and "save" aisle 3, 4, and 5 than it is to go to aisle 25 and "save" the middle seat.

I love how you feel the need to blame someone, my wife, and call people rude. Get a life.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

Dont forget the "out of spite" part of that post. Makes it a whole different thing. Being spiteful to someone when you are the one in the wrong.

Where is the ignore button on these boards? I cannot converse with people that cannot read, jump to conclusions, and are over-the-top dramatic.

 

[supersnoop]

It's common courtesy to ask if a seat is taken. It's also common courtesy to not "save" a seat. There's not a rule either way.

But, if I can tell that the people sitting in the aisle and window seat are together, and only middle seats are left, I'm going to ask for that middle seat, because, odds are, I'm going to end up with the aisle when they squeeze together.

 

[jhaig]

So if the three of us have purchased EBCI, we in theory should have no problem sitting together and worrying about seat-saving and elbows right?

 

[nkereina]

So if the three of us have purchased EBCI, we in theory should have no problem sitting together and worrying about seat-saving and elbows right?

Right. Whether you get on in the As or Bs, you'll be on early enough where you can get a row together.

 

[jhaig]

Right. Whether you get on in the As or Bs, you'll be on early enough where you can get a row together.

Sorry for my ignorance but this will be our first experience flying SW. What's the difference between A's and B's with ECBI?

 

[ArmchairDetective]

Sorry for my ignorance but this will be our first experience flying SW. What's the difference between A's and B's with ECBI?

I've never seen EBCI into the B's. Business will board (typically A1-15 if they are all filled) and then EBCI boards. Following them, the family boarding, and then B group, C, and D group. I never fly in/out of MCO without EBCI as there are so many kids and so many families coming and going from MCO. Instead of one parent boarding with a baby, you will typically see both parents, all of their kids, grandmas and grandpas. EBCI gets you ahead of those folks.

 

[nkereina]

Sorry for my ignorance but this will be our first experience flying SW. What's the difference between A's and B's with ECBI?

EBCI will check you into your flight 36 hours ahead of time and will assign you a boarding number, which will be the position in which you board. A1-60 boards first, followed by family boarding, then B1-60, and finally C1-60. Depending on how many people purchased EBCI in your flight, you can expect to be assigned a number in the A1-60 range or possibly in the low-mid B's. Either way, you should be good. It's the high B's and C's where things start to become questionable as far as seats together go, and it also depends on how many preboards and family boards there are. On a trip to Florida, there can be a lot of each.

 

[nkereina]

I've never seen EBCI into the B's.

It's happened to us twice. I think EBCI is becoming more commonplace now, so I'd expect it to happen more and more.

 

[nkereina]

EBCI gets you ahead of those folks.

Not guaranteed. Not trying to argue, I just don't want to give PP false expectations. I think Southwest sells EBCI as a convenience of checking you in so you don't have to remember to, as opposed to a means of getting a good boarding position. They won't make any warranties on that.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

It's happened to us twice. I think EBCI is becoming more commonplace now, so I'd expect it to happen more and more.

Wow. That's crazy. Thanks for the info. PP, I've never received an EBCI not in the A group, but it appears that it can happen.

http://crankyflier.com/2009/09/04/the-good-and-bad-of-southwests-earlybird-check-in/

 

[maxiesmom]

If someone were to ask me if the seat was taken and there were clearly other seats, I would say that I wanted my wife to sit there. If they threw a fit, I'd likely move to the middle seat, move my kid to the window, and keep my elbow just a little bit on their side out of spite.

I'm not being dramatic. I'm only responding to what you have posted you would do. And imho what you would do to someone who dares take the empty seat next to you is rude. If you all want the best chance to board and sit together, pay for EBCI for everyone. Not just part of your family.

 

[katallo]

We have had B's twice, low B's but.... even with that we sat together.

 

[ArmchairDetective]

It's happened to us twice. I think EBCI is becoming more commonplace now, so I'd expect it to happen more and more.

We have had B's twice, low B's but.... even with that we sat together.

Do you guys usually only fly Southwest?

We fly SW when the times are good, the fare is non-stop, or if the fare saves us a ton of money. We sometimes find that, when you add in the EBCI fee, they're about the same price as other carriers.

And, on other carriers you can choose your seat and not worry about all of the aforementioned.

Sometimes, though, SW fares are too good to pass up.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Did you see where I posted "If someone were to ask me if the seat was taken and there were clearly other seats?"

Please, come join me in row 25 when there are seats open in closer rows. I actually go way far to the back as a courtesy to others. I find it much more wrong to go in first, and "save" aisle 3, 4, and 5 than it is to go to aisle 25 and "save" the middle seat.

I love how you feel the need to blame someone, my wife, and call people rude. Get a life.

Sitting toward the back of the plane still doesn't excuse infringing on other passengers' space because they choose the seat adjacent to you - especially on Southwest, which enforces the policy that each passenger is entitled to their complete seat.

I've never seen EBCI into the B's. Business will board (typically A1-15 if they are all filled) and then EBCI boards. Following them, the family boarding, and then B group, C, and D group. I never fly in/out of MCO without EBCI as there are so many kids and so many families coming and going from MCO. Instead of one parent boarding with a baby, you will typically see both parents, all of their kids, grandmas and grandpas. EBCI gets you ahead of those folks.

EBCI does assign boarding positions in the B zone.
Ther is no D, or at least there hasn't been. With the new larger planes coming, it's still unlikely but could change.
Gate Agents are supposed to restrict family boarding to just immediate family.

 

[katallo]

Since the merger with Air Tran they are our only nonstop. Honestly I wouldn't have an argument about a seat. If our group doesn't sit together we are always close.