Southwest Early Bird Etiquette

[Tink-aholic]

Hi All -

I have a question that I have searched to see if it has been asked and I didn't find it: if a family is traveling on Southwest, is it poor form to pay for one person to have the Early Bird check in and have that person save seats? I would still check in at the 24 hour mark, so we wouldn't (hopefully!) be that far behind...but there are three of us and we would like to sit together.

 

[rszdtrvl]

Personally, I think it is bad etiquette.

DH and I both paid for EBCI on our last trip. Happily.

 

[dzorn]

Hi All -

I have a question that I have searched to see if it has been asked and I didn't find it: if a family is traveling on Southwest, is it poor form to pay for one person to have the Early Bird check in and have that person save seats? I would still check in at the 24 hour mark, so we wouldn't (hopefully!) be that far behind...but there are three of us and we would like to sit together.

Considering your are not suppose to save seats.

Denise in MI

 

[Danibelle]

You should buy the same number of EBCI as the number who wants to board together. 3 travelers = 3 EBCI.

 

[Jestocost]

Considering your are not suppose to save seats.

Denise in MI

Well, who knows. I've tried to find a policy one way or another and there just isn't one. The only policy is that you can take any open seat once you board. They don't really define what an "open" seat is, however.

I would argue that unless there's a person in it, it's "open," but practically speaking few people are going to initiate a confrontation over a seat that somebody has a coat or bag in unless there are a ton of seats being saved or very few seats left. As a result, seat saving usually works. I've even seen one medical preboard passenger and a companion save the entire front two rows on both sides for their party boarding later and nobody said or did a thing about it.

In the end, how the individual FAs choose to handle it is how it gets handled. I've seen some crack down on any seat saving and others let things like the example I mentioned earlier go unchallenged.

I would consider it bad form to have one passenger use EBCI and save seats, FWIW.

 

[Tink-aholic]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. That's why I ask here -- rather than either try it and be scolded or confronted or NOT try it if that is what is the norm.

I appreciate the candor.

 

[tjmw2727]

I am starting to see "what I think" is a bit of this. Flew SWA last Thursday and Today. Paid for EBCI, myself and 2 dd's - got boarding numbers in the A 30's each time.

Before EBCI we could board in the 20's, 30's and even early 40's and find a row of seats in the first 15 or sow rows, usually the first 10.

Now - it seems that with early 30 A's we walked past row after row of seats with one person in the asile and bags and coats in the middle aisle. I admit its frustrating to have paid $30 vs their $10 but we just walked back to the mid 20's and sat in our row of 3.

It will be interesting to see if SWA takes a stance on this or not.

 

[sam_gordon]

I am starting to see "what I think" is a bit of this. Flew SWA last Thursday and Today. Paid for EBCI, myself and 2 dd's - got boarding numbers in the A 30's each time.

Before EBCI we could board in the 20's, 30's and even early 40's and find a row of seats in the first 15 or sow rows, usually the first 10.

Now - it seems that with early 30 A's we walked past row after row of seats with one person in the asile and bags and coats in the middle aisle. I admit its frustrating to have paid $30 vs their $10 but we just walked back to the mid 20's and sat in our row of 3.

It will be interesting to see if SWA takes a stance on this or not.

Let me preface this by saying I don't fly SW, but I don't understand your complaint...

You're a group of three. You want to sit together. SW planes are 3 & 3 (three seats - aisle - three seats), right? The first 20+ rows had 1 person in each row on each side of the aisle. Why does it matter whether they were saving seats or not? You wouldn't have found three together whether they had all purchased EBCI or not.

I think what you ran into is more that people are more knowledgeable and you have more people taking advantage of EBCI than simply checking in at the 24 hour mark.

 

[mrsstats]

I've even seen one medical preboard passenger and a companion save the entire front two rows on both sides for their party boarding later and nobody said or did a thing about it.

I saw the same thing happen. I wrote to SW and they told me that have no policy on saved seats. I just dont think it is fair to charge for EBC and then have others that did not pay save seats. I buy for me and my DH

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Let me preface this by saying I don't fly SW, but I don't understand your complaint...

You're a group of three. You want to sit together. SW planes are 3 & 3 (three seats - aisle - three seats), right? The first 20+ rows had 1 person in each row on each side of the aisle. Why does it matter whether they were saving seats or not? You wouldn't have found three together whether they had all purchased EBCI or not.

I think what you ran into is more that people are more knowledgeable and you have more people taking advantage of EBCI than simply checking in at the 24 hour mark.

Front seats are more desirable than rear seats. That's why it's a rude thing to do.

 

[tjmw2727]

Let me preface this by saying I don't fly SW, but I don't understand your complaint...

You're a group of three. You want to sit together. SW planes are 3 & 3 (three seats - aisle - three seats), right? The first 20+ rows had 1 person in each row on each side of the aisle. Why does it matter whether they were saving seats or not? You wouldn't have found three together whether they had all purchased EBCI or not.

I think what you ran into is more that people are more knowledgeable and you have more people taking advantage of EBCI than simply checking in at the 24 hour mark.

I would have found 3 seats togeher more to the front of the aircraft. At the least I would have had a better idea of what my A31 position really meant becuase if those families had all purchased EBCI ahead of me my number would probably have pushed back to a low B.

Without seat saving my 31,32 and 33 would mean that I was actually chosing seats after the 30th person. Now we have 20 people holding places for 2 and 3 others instead. So my A31 still gets me three seats together but is equal to maybe an early B used to be. It also cost me more for the privlege - of a higher number "virtual" boarding spot.

I watched the seats fill in so this wasn't just random single travelers - but famlies who paid for one EBCI and then checked the rest in at T24 knowing that they could save seats.

IMHO SWA is actually selling less EBCI by allowing seat saving.

 

[seashoreCM]

You can always get away with buying the early bird check in for two out of three. The two boarding first would sit in the aisle and window seats.

Proper etiquette dictates swapping seats with a stranger in the middle if you want to be intimate with the person on the other side. However it is perfectly acceptable to make the swap using the seat finally snagged by your third intended seatmate who did not succeed in beating the stranger now between you to said middle seat between you, instead of relinquishing either the aisle or window seats the first two of you took. This wrinkle is not that likely to happen because the middle seats between two seated persons are last to be taken.

Meanwhile it is not safe to buy EBCI for just one out of three. Any group of two can grab the other two seats in a row that one person tries to save.

 

[Leigh123]

i would equate this to going to a buffet paying for one meal and all three of you eating. Why should your family get a buy one get 2 free....if you all want to use the service you should all pay for the service period no debate.....

 

[goofy4tink]

We have saved seats on occasion with SW. But there were three of us flying and two of us boarded together and dh boarded later. So, only one seat was saved.
I'm not sure how I feel about this one. If I have paid for EBCI, and it's my dd and I flying, then yeah, I'm going to be a bit peeved that I now have to go behind the wing to find two seats together, while passing by many rows with obviously saved seats. That's not fair. And SW rarely says anything about saved seats. I have heard them announce on a few flights that it is a full plane, so there will be no empty seats. That's when you see people start moving around.
A lot of times, what you think are 'saved' seats are, in reality, seats that someone is putting coats on in order to give the appearance that someone is sitting there. Then, once the door closes, they remove the coats, and they now have an empty seat next to them.
I would actually like to have SW start enforcing a 'no saving seats' policy. It was one thing when it was a level playing field. But, once you have people paying addtl to board earlier?? Not fair for one person to pay for EBCI and then save multiple seats for those not paying.

 

[sam_gordon]

Front seats are more desirable than rear seats. That's why it's a rude thing to do.

I get that. That's not my point.

I would have found 3 seats togeher more to the front of the aircraft.

Um, no you wouldn't. You would have gotten more forward seats only if all those in front of you DIDN'T get EBCI. You had a party of three, right? So you needed an entire empty row for you all to sit together. If someone is sitting in an aisle seat, it doesn't matter if they were saving one seat, two seats, or travelling alone, you couldn't sit in that row and all be together. If you were a party of two, I'd agree with you.

At the least I would have had a better idea of what my A31 position really meant becuase if those families had all purchased EBCI ahead of me my number would probably have pushed back to a low B.

OK, so you get a low B. What difference would that have made to you? You would have known you'd be sitting further back? That makes a difference how?

Without seat saving my 31,32 and 33 would mean that I was actually chosing seats after the 30th person. Now we have 20 people holding places for 2 and 3 others instead. So my A31 still gets me three seats together but is equal to maybe an early B used to be. It also cost me more for the privlege - of a higher number "virtual" boarding spot.

I watched the seats fill in so this wasn't just random single travelers - but famlies who paid for one EBCI and then checked the rest in at T24 knowing that they could save seats.

And again, let's say for the sake of argument there was no seat saving going on. A1-30 (and 1-15 is saved for elite travellers or something) are all travelling by themselves. They all take aisle seats in rows 1-15 (two aisle seats in each row). The first row that would be totally empty and your party could all sit together is row 16. So why does it matter whether they saved seats or not? Even if no one was saving seats, your party wouldn't be able to sit together because there were only two seats available in each row (on either side of the aisle).

IMHO SWA is actually selling less EBCI by allowing seat saving.

They are selling less EBCI by allowing seat saving, but my opinion is more people are taking advantage of EBCI than have in the past. That's why your posted experience doesn't match up with past trips.

 

[kamik86]

As someone who travels alone often I would have no problem taking one of those seats with a coat or bag and no one sitting there. Most of the flights I have been on during preboarding say any open seat as "Any seat that doesn't already have someone sitting in it."

If I'm traveling with my DH however I'm generally on a direct flight and not in nearly as much of a hurry (as that would be a vacation and not business) so I would go about 3/4 of the way back or just behind the wing and take a full row with the middle seat open. I think this is the best chance on a non-full flight for an empty middle seat (Some will take the first empty seat they find once they hear they are all middles, others go all the way to the back like they are hoping the FA is wrong.

However when you first got on you may find that I have a coat next to me still. I generally will put my coat or bag on the seat, put my big bag up above me. Then get in and go to the end seat. Once I"m in the seat I will then move my stuff but by then a few people have passed me.

 

[mjplantz]

As a very frequent SW flyer I would say this is definitely bad etiquette. For those who have indicated they have 'saved' seats in the past, I think it safer to say that you made it more challenging/uncomfortable for someone to find a seat by whatever means you used to 'save' the seat.

If another passenger challenged you for the seat the FA would agree that they have a no saved seat policy. A similar situation can occur with Business Select customers especially for the coveted exit row seating. I have many times approached the aisle as A3 or 4 to have the seats already covered in a book, kindle, bag whatever. Upon inquiring the person would say I am saving for whoever. My response is always the same... I'll just take the aisle one here then and you can figure out the rest. Since its early boarding the FA is always right there and they always says yep thats right no saved seats.

On multiple occasions I have seen people try to do this and it results in very uncomfortable confrontations.

Sorry for the semi-rant but it is a per peeve for me. The rules and policies are what they are, while none of us may like the fact that EBCI is making it harder to get early boarding positions, you have to adjust what you do also. Either purchase the EBCI or deal with what happens when you don't. I tell my friends to think of it as the SW bag fee or just assume your ticket is $10 more each way than the posted price, then you eliminate the issue. As travelers we must realize that SW is not the same company it was 15, 10 even 5 years ago and their strategy and size is much different. If they work for you, great, if not fly an airline where you can select your seats and eliminate the stress or potential attempts to circumvent rules and policies to suit you and your family at the expense of others. Having traveled with young kids for many years I understand the anxiety that comes with it, but we always did what we could to control the situation and not put that burden on others. To me that extra $20 is far worth it.

 

[tjmw2727]

Ok I am not going to argue with you especially becuase you don'f fly SWA and I am sick of having my post picked apart.

I know I am not explaning my position well but the flyers in front of me were not single flyers. Single flyers take the window or aisle and will sit with a stranger leaving the middle seat open to be closer to the front. These folks took the aisle and saved the middle window.

Yes I would have liked to know my true boarding position - I think anyone would. Going in with B10 you have very different expectations than A 30 in terms of where you sit and if you are going to be able to sit together.

FWIW my past trips have been with EBCI as we fly almost monthly. Per your last sentence my most recent experience with EBCI is not different because more folks are using EBCI but because more folks are abusing it IMHO.

At the end of the day I got what I paid for, our flight left on time, arrived early and we sat together. The price was reasonable even with EBCI. It simply bothers me that I paid $30 to sit with my kids and at least 10/12 families that I saw only paid $10.


QUOTE=sam_gordon;45234537]I get that. That's not my point.

Um, no you wouldn't. You would have gotten more forward seats only if all those in front of you DIDN'T get EBCI. You had a party of three, right? So you needed an entire empty row for you all to sit together. If someone is sitting in an aisle seat, it doesn't matter if they were saving one seat, two seats, or travelling alone, you couldn't sit in that row and all be together. If you were a party of two, I'd agree with you.

OK, so you get a low B. What difference would that have made to you? You would have known you'd be sitting further back? That makes a difference how?

And again, let's say for the sake of argument there was no seat saving going on. A1-30 (and 1-15 is saved for elite travellers or something) are all travelling by themselves. They all take aisle seats in rows 1-15 (two aisle seats in each row). The first row that would be totally empty and your party could all sit together is row 16. So why does it matter whether they saved seats or not? Even if no one was saving seats, your party wouldn't be able to sit together because there were only two seats available in each row (on either side of the aisle).

They are selling less EBCI by allowing seat saving, but my opinion is more people are taking advantage of EBCI than have in the past. That's why your posted experience doesn't match up with past trips.[/QUOTE]

 

[luvmy2babies]

I would say it is not a good idea, but then I paid $60 for it ($30 each way) for my crew. I travel alone with my children so we all have to board together. It’s all EBCI or no EBCI for us.

I just wouldn't risk it. Too much pressure on the one person who has it. You don't want to start a trip off with an uncomfortable confrontation.

 

[mims6219]

As the spouse of an A-list traveller who is given preferred boarding, I would be upset if he were not allowed to save a seat for me when we are travelling together. I currently fly free on a companion pass and purchase EBCI but I am still anywhere from a few to 30 people behind him in line.