Southwest!!!

[hsmamato2]

I usually book one ways..and book EBCI for the trip home,as I'm so busy while on vacation I'd forget otherwise.....and I saw quite a few women who had over-large carry ons,who had to ask complete strangers to lift their overstuffed/heavy bags up and down for them.... just check it if you can't lift it folks.... you still can stash a smaller bag under the seat for your accessible stuff (you can't easily get into an overhead bin while flying anyway,so why not check stuff?) but I digress....I love SWA!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Well technically, I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. So I shouldn't bring a carryon suitcase on board since I'm not capable of lifting it? Sorry but I need my carry on bag just as much as everyone else.

You can bring a carry on with you that fits underneath the seat in front of you. It is not the FAs job to help you with your luggage. Others may help you if asked, but what would you do if no one offered? Hurt yourself? That would not be good.

 

[stitchlovestink]

You can bring a carry on with you that fits underneath the seat in front of you. It is not the FAs job to help you with your luggage. Others may help you if asked, but what would you do if no one offered? Hurt yourself? That would not be good.

Well actually when I specifically asked SW this question because I am legally declared disabled, SW said it was the duties of the Flight Attendants to assist me with ANY and ALL needs I had Including my luggage but we could debate that until the cows come home. They, as in SW, said that if I would need that assistance that should be done as a pre board so they can take care of that before 'the rush'. And this was from a supervisory level in person.... not Joe School on the phone. I also talked to DD's friend's father who is a SW pilot and he agreed. He said they are responsible for helping with that...technically any passenger who asks for help, but Definitely a disabled passenger. So I guess if you don't agree, we will have to agree to disagree. because I am going with what SW says!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Well actually when I specifically asked SW this question because I am legally declared disabled, SW said it was the duties of the Flight Attendants to assist me with ANY and ALL needs I had Including my luggage but we could debate that until the cows come home. They, as in SW, said that if I would need that assistance that should be done as a pre board so they can take care of that before 'the rush'. And this was from a supervisory level in person.... not Joe School on the phone. I also talked to DD's friend's father who is a SW pilot and he agreed. He said they are responsible for helping with that...technically any passenger who asks for help, but Definitely a disabled passenger. So I guess if you don't agree, we will have to agree to disagree. because I am going with what SW says!

Absolutely not true. FAs are not required to assist passengers with putting their items in overhead bins, except for those with disabilities, and they definitely aren't required to assist a disabled PAX with ANY and ALL needs. See:

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/382short.pdf

See Section 382.39.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Absolutely not true. FAs are not required to assist passengers with putting their items in overhead bins, except for those with disabilities, and they definitely aren't required to assist a disabled PAX with ANY and ALL needs. See:

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/382short.pdf

See Section 382.39.

That may be the law...but that doesn't mean SW doesn't have a different policy. They can offer BETTER than what is required. But I know what I was told by whom (their title and position) but you are never going to believe me so I will not argue it with you. We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[goofy4tink]

Oh please....there is a vast difference between a FA helping a disabled person stow an appropriately sized bag and helping an able bodied person stow an obviously oversized bag in the overhead bin! I think you would be hard pressed to see a FA say no to helping a disabled person with their carry on bag.
Now....I would assume that the disabled person wouldn't have a huge carry on bag. If a passenger is unable to reach overhead, it might be wise to use a smaller carry on that fits beneath the seat. Just in case.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Well actually when I specifically asked SW this question because I am legally declared disabled, SW said it was the duties of the Flight Attendants to assist me with ANY and ALL needs I had Including my luggage but we could debate that until the cows come home. They, as in SW, said that if I would need that assistance that should be done as a pre board so they can take care of that before 'the rush'. And this was from a supervisory level in person.... not Joe School on the phone. I also talked to DD's friend's father who is a SW pilot and he agreed. He said they are responsible for helping with that...technically any passenger who asks for help, but Definitely a disabled passenger. So I guess if you don't agree, we will have to agree to disagree. because I am going with what SW says!

Contrary to what you believe, flight attendants are not required to assist with your bags. I have been on many airlines and have seen FAs tell pax no when asked for help.

I suggest you pack a small bag that you can actually handle.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Contrary to what you believe, flight attendants are not required to assist with your bags. I have been on many airlines and have seen FAs tell pax no when asked for help.

I suggest you pack a small bag that you can actually handle.

I really don't care to argue this point with someone who apparently is not at all familiar with the ACAA because you are absolutely incorrect. Please refer to the ACAA....There is even a section to report them for refusal!

5. Assistance in loading and retrieving carry-on items, including mobility aides and other assistive devices stowed on board in accordance with 382.41

 

[stitchlovestink]

Absolutely not true. FAs are not required to assist passengers with putting their items in overhead bins, except for those with disabilities, and they definitely aren't required to assist a disabled PAX with ANY and ALL needs. See:

http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/382short.pdf

See Section 382.39.

Lost*in*cyberspace...
Okay I stand corrected from the standpoint of being a LITERAL any request. After reading your copy (I have a slightly different document. ..Mine might be older) I just couldn't Even Fathom someone making some of those types of requests from a perfect stranger! I was speaking of the more standard requests. All of those intensive things should be handled by a travel companion and that is probably why SW is so good about making sure they are seated together.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I really don't care to argue this point with someone who apparently is not at all familiar with the ACAA because you are absolutely incorrect. Please refer to the ACAA....There is even a section to report them for refusal!

5. Assistance in loading and retrieving carry-on items, including mobility aides and other assistive devices stowed on board in accordance with 382.41

Apparently you do

I am familiar with the rules and regs, and what you are quoting has to do with personal items directly related to the disability. It lays out how an airline has to assist with a wheelchair, breathing devices, etc.

I am confident that SW will assist you - but wanted you to be aware it is not mandatory so you might think about what you are taking on board.

 

[goofy4tink]

Technically, these documents say nothing, that I can see, about stowing regular carry on bags...just various devices, such as wheelchairs.
BUT...I have a hard time believing that if a passenger needs assistance, stowing their bag in the overhead bin, a FA would refuse them. I have seen FAs doing this, I have never seen one refuse a passengers request...especially a disabled one. Of course, those disabled passengers had preboarded...I'm not sure how the FA would react if it was a regular boarded passenger, with an oversized bag.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My parents both have heart & lung problems. They have trouble walking long distances so in the airport they get wheelchair assistance. They don't need help boarding the plane because they've had time to sit at the gate and from there it's a short walk onto the plane.
Still, they only get help for the things they have to do but can't. They bring oxygen generators onboard but not some big heavy carry on that they can't lift. Sure, they could get help and I can't imagine a FA not helping if they had one but they know they are limited in what they can do. Some things you MUST do to fly, as in get to the gate. No one HAS to carry on a big bag. It's not a requirement of flying.
They try to keep things as simple as possible so as to not have to ask for more assistance than they already have to.

 

[JanaDee]

Well technically, I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. So I shouldn't bring a carryon suitcase on board since I'm not capable of lifting it? Sorry but I need my carry on bag just as much as everyone else.

If you can't lift it above your head, no, you shouldn't carry it on. Use a smaller bag that fits underneath the seat in front of you.

 

[TDC Nala]

Well technically, I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk. So I shouldn't bring a carryon suitcase on board since I'm not capable of lifting it? Sorry but I need my carry on bag just as much as everyone else.

If you can't lift it, do you expect someone else to lift it for you? How do you manage that? I've had people (usually men) offer to help with my luggage (and they are just being nice, because mine isn't heavy) but I couldn't imagine going onboard and asking someone else I didn't know to lift it for me.

I don't know if flight attendants will do that or not. I'm sure a lot of them will but some may not as I think some airlines don't allow them to lift passengers' luggage.

 

[DawnM]

I wish I could report that we had a very pleasant trip on our last trip.

Seat saving was rampant.

I was fine with not sitting together IF those behind me also didn't get to sit together. However, it seemed people paid for ONE person in their party to get A level seating so that they could hoard seats for their friends and family with C boarding.

It made me furious and I didn't know you could even do that until I talked to the flight attendant and she did nothing. She finally told me that it is allowed.

The savings made it worth it overall, but people are crazy.

 

[jayhawk74]

While the F/As won't stop someone from saving a seat they also won't stop someone from sitting in a seat that a person is trying to save for someone else.

 

[taterheads]

I wish I could report that we had a very pleasant trip on our last trip. Seat saving was rampant. I was fine with not sitting together IF those behind me also didn't get to sit together. However, it seemed people paid for ONE person in their party to get A level seating so that they could hoard seats for their friends and family with C boarding. It made me furious and I didn't know you could even do that until I talked to the flight attendant and she did nothing. She finally told me that it is allowed. The savings made it worth it overall, but people are crazy.

I'm not a nasty person but we're going to WDW via SW in February and payed for EBCI for our family of four to help ensure at least one parent gets to sit with each of our children. I hate to say it but if seat savers were trying to keep me apart from my child, I'd apologize for taking the seat but let them know we'd paid for the seat via EBCI so we could sit together and suggest they do the same next time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

They have no policy regarding seat saving but their policy is that any empty seat is there for the taking. If the seat saving bothers you, just hop in an empty seat near the front and if others gripe, the FA would stand by you since you have every right to that seat.
Personally, I wouldn't, but just saying you have every right to do so.

 

[taterheads]

They have no policy regarding seat saving but their policy is that any empty seat is there for the taking. If the seat saving bothers you, just hop in an empty seat near the front and if others gripe, the FA would stand by you since you have every right to that seat. Personally, I wouldn't, but just saying you have every right to do so.

I wouldn't take someone's saved seat unless there wasn't a choice but if seat saving was to the level that I couldn't sit with my child even though we paid for EBCI, I'd do it. I don't think people should be considered rude for using the EBCI they paid for, it seems like to me the rudeness is in people who are unwilling to pay and therefore would have one person pay and try to save umteen seats and keep kids apart from their parents who did pay out $100 each way to properly ensure their seats to the best of their ability.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I wouldn't take someone's saved seat unless there wasn't a choice but if seat saving was to the level that I couldn't sit with my child even though we paid for EBCI, I'd do it. I don't think people should be considered rude for using the EBCI they paid for, it seems like to me the rudeness is in people who are unwilling to pay and therefore would have one person pay and try to save umteen seats and keep kids apart from their parents who did pay out $100 each way to properly ensure their seats to the best of their ability.

I agree. I don't have the brass ones to only buy EBCI for part of my family & save seats though I see it every time. Probably is even worse now since they raised the price.
I would confront too if I felt I had to but so far we've had a choice of plenty of empty seats, usually over the wing but that's fine.
Most times I only buy EBCI for our return flight and do t-24 for our departing flight and even without EBCI we have a great choice of seats. I think I've only gotten a B group BP back before the days of EBCI when we were in Niagara Falls and lost track of time. Even with say, B30, we still had plenty of seats to choose from.
I try not to get feisty unless I feel I'm between a rock and a hard place.

It bothers me when I see it but I know karma with come back to them and at some point they'll be wondering why they have such "bad luck."