SWA - B28 - seat in last row

[mrsstats]

First this was not a flight from Orlando but one from West Palm Beach to Long Island. We did not purchase EBCI (DH thinks it is a waste of money). There were about 20 wheelchair people who boarded 1st, then the preboards that could walk but had the blue sleeve. Then the A's, followed by family. Which was only 1 or 2. By the time we boarded only open seats appeared to be middle seats. We sat in the very last row. And I think the seats back there are even smaller.

For me, I was not happy and that is the last time I will not purchase EBCI.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

sounds like a lot were already on board before plane got to West Palm. we have been on a flight that had between 45 and 50 already on plane which made a big difference even with an A boarding number. by end of A's most window and some aisle seat were already gone. remember having EBCI does not mean you always get an A and only group you be ahead of would have been the family which you said was only one or two families

 

[mrsstats]

No, there were no people on the plane before we boarded.

 

[DebbieB]

I had B26 in December and got the second to last row. I bought EBCI for both my trips this year.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have found that flights from W Palm Beach tend to have a much higher numbers of passengers that need to preboad. Every time I've flown out of WPalm there have been at least 20+ pre boarders. So many seniors there!!
You figure most of the wheelchair people are going to have at least one companion.
Then add the 'ambulatory' medical preboards with their companions. You could feasibly have 40-50 people preboarding. Then the 60 in the A group. Hopefully no one in 1-15!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We often choose the back.

 

[Yellowjj]

At least a row still existed that you could choose. I really don't get complaints about a airline with a open seating policy. B28 on a 143 seat 737 is a whole 87 people ahead of you or 61% of the entire plane, excluding preboards and family boarding. Be thankful a row was still open.

 

[Minnesota!]

We purposely go to the last row available. I would have been overjoyed in your situation, ha!

 

[focusondisney]

Ugh! Doesn't sound good OP. Hope this convinced your husband about EBCI. We usually fly JB, but occassionaly we do book SW because of flight times. I always book EBCI automatically with our tickets. Have so far always gotten an A boarding pass.

My big question: how many of those medical pre boards waited for everyone else to depart the plane before they got up?? Or did they all make amazing recoveries during the flight so they didn't need the extra time to deplane??

 

[n2mm]

Ugh! Doesn't sound good OP. Hope this convinced your husband about EBCI. We usually fly JB, but occassionaly we do book SW because of flight times. I always book EBCI automatically with our tickets. Have so far always gotten an A boarding pass.

My big question: how many of those medical pre boards waited for everyone else to depart the plane before they got up?? Or did they all make amazing recoveries during the flight so they didn't need the extra time to deplane??

Funny you should mention that. I had one of those miracles on my last flight. A woman about my age, maybe younger at late 50s, with a cane pushed her way to the front of the snowbird line and boarded early (she practically knocked over a few of the passengers who had lined up prior in the medical line). We were in A30 so was watching as they boarded. We actually sat with her in row 2. She was the first one up after landing and ran past us to the luggage pickup. Carried the cane as it never touched the floor. The luggage came and she grabbed those bags like a truck driver. All I could think was "karma".

 

[mrsstats]

I was not really complaining. Just stating what happened and I was not happy with the seat but it was what I expected and proved to me to buy EBCI from here forward. We live 5 minutes from Islip Airport and due the convenience choose not to fly from JFK or LGA.

The wheelchairs did not wait until the plane was empty. They got off in turn like normal. Funny about the cane. When we were waiting to board there was an announcement that someone left their cane at security check in. Guess they didn't really need it.

And before someone jumps on me, I have no problem with people who really need assistance pre-boarding. But just like a handicap sticker, I think you need to prove it.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I have no problem with those needing assistance and one companion pre boarding. I DO have a problem with the entire family boarding with them! There were 10 persons in wheel chairs and their families lined up my last trip, including a six year old who apparently skinned his knee in the airport and his parent and three siblings. 35 people pre boarded. Grateful I got EB I was in low A.

 

[nkereina]

At least a row still existed that you could choose. I really don't get complaints about a airline with a open seating policy. B28 on a 143 seat 737 is a whole 87 people ahead of you or 61% of the entire plane, excluding preboards and family boarding. Be thankful a row was still open.

I don't think OP was complaining about SWA's open seating policy. OP was simply stating their experience without EBCI, and the reason why they will purchase EBCI going forward. Same reasons many of us do.

A contributing factor, I think, is that the folks who did purchase EBCI were in the A category, and some of them may have been the only ones in their family to purchase it. That means when they board, they take a window or aisle and try to keep the middle seats open for their relatives further back in line. I've also seen family take the aisle and window, leaving the middle open, in an effort to deter someone from sitting in the middle seat.

 

[seashoreCM]

I find it hard to blame passengers including family members take window and aisle leaving the middle seat open for the time being.

 

[mrsstats]

I find it hard to blame passengers including family members take window and aisle leaving the middle seat open for the time being.

I don't have a problem with that if that is how you want to sit. My DB and SIL do that but what is how they stay the entire flight. He wants the aisle, she wants the window. But to do it in hopes of keeping the middle open in my opinion is not right. Most flights today are full without ever leaving any spaces open.

 

[nkereina]

I find it hard to blame passengers including family members take window and aisle leaving the middle seat open for the time being.

I'm not saying that was the entire problem in OP's case. But it happens on every flight. If your only option when you get on is a middle seat, try sitting in between two people who are chatting or appear to be together. It's possible one of them will move into the middle seat.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have no problem with those needing assistance and one companion pre boarding. I DO have a problem with the entire family boarding with them! There were 10 persons in wheel chairs and their families lined up my last trip, including a six year old who apparently skinned his knee in the airport and his parent and three siblings. 35 people pre boarded. Grateful I got EB I was in low A.

how you handle this I am traveling with my daughter who is a preboard, I am the only other adult and boys are 4, 7 and8 years old. the oldest boy can not help her so by your requirement the boys are left to board by selves. I do not think airline wants to be in charge of them at the gate

 

[nkereina]

how you handle this I am traveling with my daughter who is a preboard, I am the only other adult and boys are 4, 7 and8 years old. the oldest boy can not help her so by your requirement the boys are left to board by selves. I do not think airline wants to be in charge of them at the gate

I would say if you are the only adult, that's a different scenario. It's when Grandma needs to preboard and her son, daughter-in-law, four grandkids, and cousin Eddie board with her that people have a hard time with. When there's several able bodied adults around, really only one needs to board with the preboard to help get him or her settled.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

I always book EBCI. The $ is worth it to know I've got the best chance to sit with my family. I've been on flights where people didn't, and they start asking people to move. Most people don't pay because their cheap. I think some people who don't really fly often or research their trip, probably don't know what ECBI is.