SW "A" Line & "Unattended" Luggage

[inkkognito]

Had a weird experience on my SW flight today from MCO to MDW. I was first in the A line (yes, I am one of those people who sees no difference between sitting in a chair or on the floor in the A corral...besides, it usually gets me an exit row). A man came up, said, "Mind if I put this here?", and plopped his luggage behind me. I had a mouth full (I was eating a sandwich), so all I could do was mumble, but I wanted to say something to the effect of "Do what you want, but I'm not taking responsibility for it." But he went off to buy some food and then wandered off somewhere. Meanwhile, another woman came and plopped her bag in front of his, also saying, "Mind if I put my bag here?" like I was the guru of A Line Luggage or something. Having finished my sandwich, I said, "I'm not taking responsibility for anyone's bags." She just left it and disappeared off somewhere. Later, a woman joined the line; she asked if the bags were mine, and I said, "Some people just left them here." She said, "Isn't that unattended luggage?" I said, "Yep, as far as I'm concerned," so she just bypassed the bags and got behind me. Eventually the absent bag owners showed up and, realizing that another passenger had gotten ahead of them, both parties got their butts into line.

Has anyone else ever had this experience? If so, what did you respond to the person? I wouldn't mind if someone in line maybe asked me to watch their bag for a minute while they ran to the restroom, but I'm not going to watch bags for people who want to be at the front of the A line but who are too darned lazy to stay there. I've had people leave bags before, but they've never said anything to me...and I noticed that other passengers just tend to push them out of the way and get in line in front of them.

Barb

 

[dthogue]

Aren't you supposed to report unattended luggage to airline staff?

 

[brandt79]

I watched this happen in the "B" line once (like that really matters at that point). A man had placed his suitcase behind the girls at the front of the line, and then proceeded to sit in a chair in the gate area a few feet from his suitcase. I didn't think much of it since he didn't leave, but an hour later when he finally got up to join his luggage, and there was quite a long line behind him, the man directly behind him got into a huge argument telling him if he's too lazy to sit with his bag he should go to the end of the line, etc. But I have seen what you're talking about - often because I, too, try to get an exit row so I sit at the very front of the A line on the floor, but people will always leave their bags and head off to get food, browse the gift shop, etc. No one behind them has ever said anything, but I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later. But you're right, it's unattended luggage. I should've reported them.

 

[debden]

We just got back from Orlando and we were sitting at the airport and a few people came over and set their bags in line A and walked away. Now what kind of crap are people pulling?? Put your bags down in line A and your spot is saved? This is getting rediculous. Southwest needs to do something about people who are using this tactic to be first in line without having to stay with their luggage. That's against airline regulations and needs to be addressed.There were a few Southwest Agents in the area who saw this and did nothing.
Has anybody else seen this while waiting to board a flight?
Debbie

 

[inkkognito]

I noticed that the second woman who pulled this trick shoved her bag as close as possible to me (and ahead of the guy who had already put his bags there) so it looked like the bag was mine. She is the one who I told that I was taking NO responsibility for the bag. It backfired on her because when a woman joined the A line (and stayed there) she couldn't get to her bag without pushing in front of the woman. Rather than do that, she got in line a couple of people back and just picked up the bag as she passed it during boarding. If people leave bags near me and an airport employee asks, I have no qualms about saying, "I don't know, someone just left it here." I'm guessing that by asking me, "Can I leave my bag here?" the two lazy people thought they were creating an implied "social contract" that I would speak up for them. Not me! That's why I made it clear to them that I was NOT taking responsibility. Sure, I'll be happy to watch your unattended luggage in this post-9/11 era.

 

[SB in KY]

I say a live person beats an unattended bag any day....people ought to just move the bags back as they enter the line and then when Joe Doe returns from his shopping trip his bag will be waiting for him where he belongs....at the end of the line!!

Personally, I am the person that hates to stand in lines to board on SW (and I would rather walk home than sit on the airport floor while waiting to board!!) so I just sit in my nice chair and join the end of the A line to board....my choice... but it drives me nuts to see people plop their bags in line and then go sit down or shop or whatever and then they return at the last minute and want to hop in line in front of all those people that have been patiently waiting there for 45 minutes...

Last week I was sitting there waiting on a flight in ST Louis and a guy did that...he couldn't get through the crowd to get to his bag at the front of the line and no one would let him through....so he goes to the gate agent to complain that no one would let him get back to "his place" in the line...so the agent walks over and asks the people in the front to hand out the guy's bag and then he directs the man to the end of the line!!! The guy is totally ticked but everyone in line started clapping!!

It was a moment that should have been on Airline!!

 

[NotUrsula]

Oh, lazy people have been trying it for years, but frequent SWA fliers ignore them and their debris. The rule is that you only insure the place in line if your tush is actually in the space; same as rights to the seat once you get on the plane.

They can dump their stuff there, but there is no guarantee it will still be there when they get back from wherever they wander. At my home airport, the line just shoves the stuff to the side, and there is no way that the owner gets to break into the line.

I will make exceptions for potty breaks, and I don't mind if a parent stakes a spot and is later joined by another parent and a couple of kids. Kids get antsy in lines, and they are likely to bump into other people if they have to stay in one place too long; letting nuclear families do this is self-preservation, IMO.

EDITED to point out that the poster above me proves my point: St. Louis is my home airport.

 

[inkkognito]

NotUrsula, you make a good point. I have no problem with one person holding a spot in the line for the rest of their party. My husband and I sometimes do that ourselves; he'll stand in line while I find an outlet so I can work on my laptop. The irony is, the woman who plopped the second bag was part of a couple, as I noticed later when they finally joined the line "in person." If they want to be one of the first on board, at least one of their lazy selves can make the "supreme effort" to stay in line. The other person was a lone traveller; I could have had some pity if he'd left temporarily to go to the restroom, but at various points during the wait I saw him walking around eating ice cream, wandering around the gate area, and sitting down watching television (far off from the line).

 

[inkkognito]

Oh, and SB, while I understand your point of preferring to just sit and wait rather than joining the A line early, I've learned a trick to make my wait more comfy...I bring a "butt pillow," lean against the rail with a sweatshirt for a cushion if needed, rest my legs on my luggage bag, and settle in with some lunch and a good book or DVD. The woman in line behind me found my little set-up quite amusing (it was like painting "I travel SW way too much" on my forehead). More comfy than the many times that I've been sitting in a chair next to or behind a sugar kid who rattled my teeth out with their constant jumping and kicking!

Better yet, the first woman in the pre-board line set out a blanket and had an actual picnic with the kids! Early line groups of picknickers seem to be very common in Orlando, although not Chicago (probably because of space/gate set-up).

Barb

 

[DVC-Don]

Saw that happen in BWI once but, a SW employee saw it and grabbed the unattended and started yelling out "Who's bags are these??" When the owners appeared to claim then they got chewed out and were told next time security would be called as it as against the law to leave the bags unattended. I loved it.

 

[vossjemi]

Wow, I can't believe the nerve of some people. Our recent DCL cruise/WDW trip was our first time flying SWA. We got online and got our A passes, but we had young children so were able to preboard. Upon our arrival at Kansas City airport, everyone was sitting in orderly fashion in the seats (noone in lines at all) until the gate agent called for all preboards. Very cordial and nice. I thought great.

When leaving Orlando, we got to the airport 1 1/2 hours prior to departure. There were already about 20-30 people sitting on the floor by all the queqes (sp?). Even preboard had a huge line. I was shocked. We thought we weren't about to go stand in some line for 1 1/2 hours so took our seats in real chairs. Plus our young children needed some room to play, color, etc....When the gate agent announced it was almost time for preboards, we went ahead and got in line. By this time, the line was very very long. Far longer than any other line. And most of them in fact arrived after us, but what can you do? My kids enjoyed their free time better I think. Anyway, the gate agent made an announcement that to her it clearly seemed like the preboard line was way too long. She stated the rules and said that without pointing any fingers she knew many in the line weren't supposed to be there. Did one person move over? nope.

My parents were with us and had A passes. They took their places at the end of the A line like they were supposed to (they weren't sitting on the floor either!) When we got onboard, we needed 2 rows for our family of 4 and had no problem finding seats up front. It seemed forever before my parents boarded, but most people w/out kids headed to the back...I don't blame ya! ha ha. Anyway, my parents were able to sit with us no problems. I guess it just kind of shocked me the way all these people sat in line. I never expected that.

 

[inkkognito]

Sitting (or standing) in line early is very, very common in Orlando. The earliest I've ever seen it start is almost 1 1/2 hours ahead of time...that's too early, even for me. I had moseyed over to the gate to make sure it was the right one before heading off to get some food. There were people in line for Orlando already!! I ate over by the food outlets, and when I returned, the lines had expanded even more and there was still an hour to go. That was probably the farthest back that I've ever been in the A line; usually I get there an hour ahead and am within the first three to five people.

vossjemi, usually when pre-board abuse happens, they crack down HARD in Orlando. I've seen many, many times when they kick people out of the pre-board line; better yet, they make 'em go to the BACK of their original lettered line. I always love that...mwwwa haaa haaa!

Barb

 

[Servants of Evan]

I would hope that any unattended luggage would be treated like the escaped sock in Monsters, Inc.

"Ack, a suitcase not attached to an owner!" Scores of security guys come running, throw a shell overtop and bolt it down -- then whoomp, the explosives go off. No problem remains!

Servants of Evan

 

[Pinnie]

I am a frequent flyer on SWA and I have seen the ones that have TRIED to pull a stunt like that in line by leaving the luggage and taking off. I frequently fly alone and am willing to get on the plane at the END of the A line and rarely get a bad seat and even can snag an EXIT row if I am at the beginning of the B line at MCO because of the FAA rules about NO ONE under 15 can sit there!

Last summer someone pulled the "My carry on is holding my place" stunt at DTW and another passenger gave it to the agent at the desk. I am willing to watch someone's stuff while they go to the restroom, of course, but don't think that saving a spot near me and disappearing will work with me!!!!

pinnie