SWA Cattle Call Fans ?

[Gary M]

I have flown SWA maybe a dozen times out of the several hundred flights that I have taken. Since I dislike the "cattle call seating" I only fly with them if it is the only non-stop flight to my destination or very much less expensive than other choices. I returned from Las Vegas to Indy yesterday on SWA. Going to Vegas I had the A boarding pass and waited until all the A's had boarded and then got out of my seat before the B's and got an aisle seat in row 14. We had 4 in our group that went to a convention. We went to the Mandalay Bay business center and got our boarding passes 24 hours before our departure. We got one A and three B boarding passes, I got one of the B's.

We get to our departure gate 1 hour and 45 mintes before departure mainly because check-in and security was very fast, even though it is a holiday weekend. At our gate C-12, there was another flight leaving before us. After they loaded-up it was about 45 minutes until our departure. I didn't want the dreaded middle row seat so when about 6 people got in the B corral I got in line behind them. From the entrance to the B corral it was maybe 25 to 30 feet to the waiting area seats. In a couple of minutes this nice couple came up to me and asked if this is the end of the B line and I said yes. A guy seated about 15 to 20 feet behind us hollered at them that the end of the B line is way back behind the seats and that he is in line while in his seat. They looked at me and said they fly SWA all the time and always got in line by standing in line not sitting in a chair. I suggested they stay in line and if things get ugly we'll ask the SWA agents to settle the dispute. The guy hollered to them again and motioned for them move back. I spoke up and told the dude that this is the B line. I was expecting some problems, but he shut up and started putting baggage behind us in the B line.

Since I didn't have to ask the SWA employees the rules can some of the SWA fans tell me can you be in line sitting in a seat 25 plus feet from the corral? I hope not to fly SWA unless they get assigned seats, but I'm just curious about the rules. I think SWA is a great airline except for the cattle call, they are making money and won't miss my business.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Since I didn't have to ask the SWA employees the rules can some of the SWA fans tell me can you be in line sitting in a seat 25 plus feet from the corral?

Of course not. If you aren't standing in line, then you can't save your place from a seat 25 feet away. You did the right thing.

This reminds me of why I do not fly SWA.

 

[TDC Nala]

I really don't care about the Southwest procedure. I refuse to stand in the line before boarding unless I am in the C group, because those lines start forming a LONG time before the plane even arrives. If I go in at the tail end of the A or B group I have not EVER gotten stuck with a middle seat. So, I just stay seated and watch the other folks in line snipe at each other, it's at least some entertainment while waiting.

I don't know what the rules are, but I don't think they should be allowed to use baggage as stand-in line grabbers either. If you want to stand in the line, there should be a body in that line.

 

[mom2missmous]

That luggage in line could techically be viewed as "out of his possession "and hence subject to extra security ?

 

[kaytieeldr]

on the luggage... In my world, placing one's luggage in line means that the luggage gets to board behind the person it's behind in line; the owner, on the other hand, has to board based on his/her physical place in line. Ah, well, I can dream...

 

[dawnj99]

For instance we are a family of 4, dh, me, ds7 and ds5. Would my husband be allowed to stand in line and then the rest of us join him. I don't want to make the boys stand in line for 45 minutes then have to be confined to their seat for more than 2 hours. Are other passengers likely to protest when we join him.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have only flown SWA a few times but no - sitting in an airport seat isn't standing in line to me either! I have been fortunate enough to have A passes so far but unfortunate enough to witness some unpleasant behavior.

Twice at PHI airport I have seen someone put their stuff in line after the first people in line in the B line and go sit down. The gate agent did the "oh lookie lost luggage" act and pretending to alert TSA about abandoned stuff. You never saw someone move so fast LOL and they then stayed in line after that.

Honestly, I don't mind the "cattle call" and after so many frustrating experiences with changed seating on legacy carriers its nice to have things in my hands. I travel as the solo adult with my dd's and more often than not, regardless of when we booked or how much we paid, our seats got separated.

With SWA I go online for an A, arrive early and wait in line if I have to in order to make sure we sit together. I know the drill and what I have to do and its my responsibility. IMHO much better than begging total strangers to move so I can sit with my then 3yo because AA changed our seats.

TJ

 

[Julia M]

For instance we are a family of 4, dh, me, ds7 and ds5. Would my husband be allowed to stand in line and then the rest of us join him. I don't want to make the boys stand in line for 45 minutes then have to be confined to their seat for more than 2 hours. Are other passengers likely to protest when we join him.

I've traveled with 3 kids on SWA. We tend to get in line, and then one adult will take one child somewhere (ie bathroom, to get a snack, etc). The rest of us stay in line. I don't recommend one adult holding the spot the entire time, and then at boarding, have 3 others walk up. IMHO, ages 5 and 7 are old enough to spend some time in line.

Julia

 

[zurgswife]

I think you were right...the dude was wrong

 

[texasthree]

I had heard they were going to change to assigned seat? I wonder if that will ever be true? I havent minded it so far as I have a child under 5 and always preboard. But now that he will be turning 5 I will have to be careful about getting a boarding pass that will ensure we sit together. I wouldnt care if it were 2 adults but I have to sit with my son alteast a few more years!

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

I flew Sat. and the last people to get on the plane was a family of 6. There was enough seats but not together. The mother started to get very upset. I choose to give up my seat rather than hear the fit the mother was just about to throw. the mother was very thankful and it was no bother for me. But I was amazed how no one else offered to budge.


Yes, I know there were things the mother could of done to ensure her family sit together like checking in on line, or arriving earlier to the airport. But it still ticks me off when people won't help other people out. After all what goes around, comes around. When you are nice to others I believe it always comes back 10 times over.


That being said for the OP ( I agree) someones luggage in line is not the same as being in line. If someone want a certain place in line be fair to others and get thereself in that line or get your stuff and keep it with them. It is just a part of being considerate of others.


Kimberly

 

[tmt martins]

I flew Sat. and the last people to get on the plane was a family of 6. There was enough seats but not together. The mother started to get very upset. I choose to give up my seat rather than hear the fit the mother was just about to throw. the mother was very thankful and it was no bother for me. But I was amazed how no one else offered to budge.


Yes, I know there were things the mother could of done to ensure her family sit together like checking in on line, or arriving earlier to the airport. But it still ticks me off when people won't help other people out. After all what goes around, comes around. When you are nice to others I believe it always comes back 10 time over.

Kimberly

I agree that if it was not a problem for you to move then the move is a nice gesture.

But this is no different then those with 5 or 6 that come in a movie 5 mins. before the movie starts ,after you have been sitting in your center seats for 30 mins or more and just expect you to move down 3 spaces so they can sit together .

Lack of planning on their part does not make an emergency on mine.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've said before that on my two hour Orlando flights that I will move for a young child to sit with a parent. I know the parents could have showed up on time but that shouldn't mean that the kid doesn't sit with a parent. I wouldn't want to sit next to the kid and I certainly wouldn't want to sit next to the mother, who will probably be freaking out worse than the kid anyway.

I won't move for adults to sit together.

They are exploring the possibility of going to assigned seating, doesn't mean they will do it. One of Southwest's assets is its quick turnaround time at the gate.

 

[NotUrsula]

Luggage does not hold a place in line, unless it's only for a restroom break, AND if the person behind you agrees to it. Same deal with sitting in a chair at most gates. (I have seen a few situations where there were seats along the window wall facing away from the glass. In those cases, it sometimes is accepted that people in the chairs may be in the "A" line, because if you stood in line there you would have your tush right in their faces. Ask the gate agent if in doubt on these.)

As for kids, they usually do what the adults do: sit on the floor or on their luggage. Very few people stand unless boarding is within 15 minutes. DS has eaten many a pizza with the plate propped on top of his carryon.

 

[TDC Nala]

oh, and once the line reaches back to where my seat is, then I end up in line. That's fine, since I'm giving up the opportunity to be first in line (and I don't really care if I'm first in line or not). Usually once the line reaches me the people coming in later will stand or sit behind me, and I just stay in my chair. The guy who expected the line, which was still in the standing area, to move back to the seating area behind him so that he could keep a space up front was out of line, so to speak. If he wanted the space up front he should get off his butt and stand up front.