SWA seating question???

[mimomlile]

My DH and I have flown Airtran out of Flint many times. Now that it is SWA, I am really hesitant because of the " no seating assignments" policy. He is 6'6" and all leg. He just refuses to come unless he can sit business class or exit row. He hates flying anyway, so there is no way he'll put himself (and his knees) through the torture of regular seats. I am not willing to paying upwards of $600 for one person's ticket so business class is not an option for us.

Is there ANY way to buy seats? What is the best way to get earliest boarding? We have lots of time before his next trip so is there a cc I should rack up points on? ;-)

 

[DebbieB]

My DH and I have flown Airtran out of Flint many times. Now that it is SWA, I am really hesitant because of the " no seating assignments" policy. He is 6'6" and all leg. He just refuses to come unless he can sit business class or exit row. He hates flying anyway, so there is no way he'll put himself (and his knees) through the torture of regular seats. I am not willing to paying upwards of $600 for one person's ticket so business class is not an option for us.

Is there ANY way to buy seats? What is the best way to get earliest boarding? We have lots of time before his next trip so is there a cc I should rack up points on? ;-)

There's no way to guarantee it. You could book Business Select to get earlier boarding but even then there's no guarantee you will get exit row. You could ask at the gate if A1-A15 is full, you can upgrade for $40.

 

[rwdavis2]

My DH and I have flown Airtran out of Flint many times. Now that it is SWA, I am really hesitant because of the " no seating assignments" policy. He is 6'6" and all leg. He just refuses to come unless he can sit business class or exit row. He hates flying anyway, so there is no way he'll put himself (and his knees) through the torture of regular seats. I am not willing to paying upwards of $600 for one person's ticket so business class is not an option for us.

Is there ANY way to buy seats? What is the best way to get earliest boarding? We have lots of time before his next trip so is there a cc I should rack up points on? ;-)

You cannot buy a seat assignment on Southwest. There's no way to guarantee that he can get an exit or front row seat.

Otherwise I would get a United card from Chase. The initial set of miles may be enough for a ticket. You can then book a seat and pay extra for "Economy Plus" ~ $50-$75 or so per one way). If he gets the exit row with this he'll have more room than he can use.

 

[LisaS]

You cannot buy a seat assignment on Southwest. There's no way to guarantee that he can get an exit or front row seat.

I agree. Passengers in wheel chairs board first and usually take the first couple of rows. Business Select passengers often grab the exit rows. If the flight originated elsewhere and connects through the OP's airport, many of those who are staying on board move to the prime seats before those at the gate even get on board. I've read on flyertalk that the FAs often try to prevent continuing passengers from grabbing the exit row seats so that they are kept open for the Business Select passengers waiting to board but even then, if you aren't at the front of the A group, exit row seats will be taken by those who are.

 

[mimomlile]

I agree. Passengers in wheel chairs board first and usually take the first couple of rows. Business Select passengers often grab the exit rows. If the flight originated elsewhere and connects through the OP's airport, many of those who are staying on board move to the prime seats before those at the gate even get on board. I've read on flyertalk that the FAs often try to prevent continuing passengers from grabbing the exit row seats so that they are kept open for the Business Select passengers waiting to board but even then, if you aren't at the front of the A group, exit row seats will be taken by those who are.

That's what I was afraid of...I guess when DH flies, we'll be driving to DTW to get on Spirit again. I have no problem paying for a seat if I know it will be a sure thing and keep him happy.

 

[LisaS]

That's what I was afraid of...I guess when DH flies, we'll be driving to DTW to get on Spirit again. I have no problem paying for a seat if I know it will be a sure thing and keep him happy.

It must be really uncomfortable for people as tall as your DH to fly these days, especially since some of the airlines have been cramming even more rows of seats into the same planes. They should keep the first row open for people over a certain height!

 

[jhoannam]

if it is a AirTran flight you can still pick seats.

 

[mimomlile]

It must be really uncomfortable for people as tall as your DH to fly these days, especially since some of the airlines have been cramming even more rows of seats into the same planes. They should keep the first row open for people over a certain height!

Wouldn't that be great?!! I still wouldn't care if we had to pay extra for it, I just want to know it is available. It is one of those things that can make or break a trip. He has gotten some nasty bruises on his knees. He'll stay home before he sits in a regular seat. He won't ride a ride if he can't sit down somewhat comfortably. It just won't happen.

 

[mimomlile]

if it is a AirTran flight you can still pick seats.

I have no SWA flight scheduled. Just looking into it as a possibility for a future trip.

 

[Disneyliscious]

OP I feel your pain. My bf is 6ft 7in and we have only ever flown Frontier in the past because of being able to choose seats (we dont use credit cards so the perks of those aren't an option).

But recently Frontier has changed their entire pricing structure and what was supposed to make it more economical for the flyers actually ended in the same flights nearly doubling in price. Plus, every time we have flown we have had to send in a request to get our mileage credits. Its such a pain. I am now looking for a new airline to use but being able to actually choose a seat seems limited to Frontier still (unless you have an airline credit card or are a really frequent flyer). I am just not happy with Frontier at all at this point.

I flew SW one time and was in C43 to board. When I got on, all of the front rows were taken (this was in San Fran). We changed planes in Chicago and when I got on the new plane none of the front rows were taken and the plane was probably half full already. This was about 9pm at night though. So you just never really know.

Its honestly sad that there isnt some kind of accommodation for people who are abnormally tall. Its not a disability by any means but the world we live in just doesn't "think" about really tall people. Its not like they can change their lifestyle to shorten themsleves (and honestly, we wouldn't want them to ). I agree with you. Im willing to pay a fee to get the seat, just give me the darn option to do so.

 

[Gracie09]

Dh is 6'7" all leg. Once a gate agent for sw let him board with medical preboards but that was many years ago. We dont fly sw unless I am flying solo or with my girls. He says he's too old to cram himself in a seat and it takes a day for his back and knees to recover. We are lucky that we have lots of options. Usually we fly jetblue and he will get the extra leg room seats. We have also had luck with united when we upgrade to first class when we check in. Last time we got first class seats for $60 a person each way (on top of our coach fares). Usually we can snag at least one seat like that for him. It does suck though. If you are overweight you can get two seats for free but if you are tall there is nothing they will do for you

 

[kaytieeldr]

The second seat free on Southwest is as much or more a courtesy to the wide passenger's seat mates.

 

[seashoreCM]

If any part of your body (including shoulders or knees) would extend into the next seat then you are expected to use the Customer Of Size procedure provided by the airline.

Once in a blue moon a crew member will contest your possession of the second seat but it behooves him to drop the issue when he sees you sit down with your legs extended sideways. For a later arriving passenger finding no other seat could (should) complain and resolving that could be time consuming as was the revoking the second seat you had previously booked.

 

[nkereina]

I am not willing to paying upwards of $600 for one person's ticket so business class is not an option for us.

Southwest doesn't have business class. It's all the same class, however purchasing "business select" tickets will get you in the first boarding section A1-15. Of all the times I've flown with Southwest, there's only been a handful of people boarding in this section. They usually snag the first row or the exit row. Last time I flew in November, the flight was sold out but we boarded around A20 and managed to get two exit row seats together. I think we were lucky.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . there is no way he'll put himself (and his knees) through the torture of regular seats . . .

As a frequent flier (over 4½ million air miles, so far):
1) SWA does not have a biz-class
2) All seats are the same.
3) If you BUY business-select, you can board with the very first group.
4) You *should* be able to get an exit row.
. . . same width/depth size seat
. . . better legroom
5) BUT, this is definitely not guaranteed.
6) Ever.
7) So, it is a matter of paying for the privilege of trying to get the seat. *

* My biz associates have HAD to do SWA when that is all I would cover,
and only a couple of times did they complain about not getting an exit
row after paying the much higher Business Select fare.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

if it is a AirTran flight you can still pick seats.

You can only select AirTran seats in advance (before check-in) for a fee.

 

[mimomlile]

There is no we could fly SWA as a family then because a "probably" or "maybe" just won't cut it.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.

 

[mimomlile]

There is no way we could fly SWA as a family then because a "probably" or "maybe" just won't cut it.

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.