Unfamiliar With Southwest Seating Assignment Process

[byoung]

Southwest is for me why because I get lower flight costs. That's why I go 3,4,5 times a year. I will go for weekend only trips. Cheaper then gas costs.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

We have a special nick-name for Southwest Airline's boarding process/lack of seating assignments:

THE CATTLE CALL

In all my years of flying I have flown them only once, from IND to MDW when I flew for ATA. Not an enjoyable process as I was in the "C" line. People were standing in the A & B lines for upwards of an hour, as some posters have mentioned. When they became a code-share airline with ATA there was talk of them going to assigned seating, but that was shelved as it was deemed too expensive/too much of a paradigm shift.

I know for a fact that travelers appreciate the security knowing that they have a space on the aircraft via a seat assignment. The A&E television show Airline has shown all-too-many-times what can happen without seat assignments and overbooked aircraft...

 

[dreamalittledream]

Preboarders may not sit in the exit rows, but they otherwise may sit wherever they want to (those using carseats have to follow the placement rules that apply.) .

where can I find the carseat info? I am going to use a seat for the first time on a plane to keep my little wiggle worm in her seat. I never used one with my other DD on 4 flights. She is under 2 but I think it would be best to buy her a seat for an upcoming trip (not to Disney )

 

[NotUrsula]

Rules on carseat placement vary by airline, but the following are pretty much always true, and enforced on SWA:

- No exit row (this one is universal)
- Must be in the window position (this one is pretty much universal as well, as least on a 737)
- Not the row immediately in front of or behind an exit row.

In addition, SWA also is known to enforce a rule that anyone who is responsible for a minor child may not sit in an exit row, so if Dad sits in the exit row and Mom and the kids sit two rows behind him, the FA may force Dad to leave the exit row. The reasoning is that in an emergency, someone with a child on the plane would go to the child rather than stay at the exit and help others out the door.

 

[wee-haggis]

Rules on carseat placement vary by airline, but the following are pretty much always true, and enforced on SWA:

- No exit row (this one is universal)
- Must be in the window position (this one is pretty much universal as well, as least on a 737)
- Not the row immediately in front of or behind an exit row.

In addition, SWA also is known to enforce a rule that anyone who is responsible for a minor child may not sit in an exit row, so if Dad sits in the exit row and Mom and the kids sit two rows behind him, the FA may force Dad to leave the exit row. The reasoning is that in an emergency, someone with a child on the plane would go to the child rather than stay at the exit and help others out the door.

What age do SWA consider as kids?
(ie:kids are not allowed to sit in exit rows)

 

[erikthewise]

A is for Aisle
As good as an Ace
You get a nice seat
And some overhead space

B is for Back
Because that’s where you go
Looking for good seats
You just never know

C is for Center
‘Cause that’s where you’re stuck
The windows and aisles
Are taken -- Oh Pshaw!

 

[NotUrsula]

What age do SWA consider as kids?

The exit row seating rule is not specific to SWA, but is mandated by the FAA. No one under age 15 may sit in an exit row.

 

[Captain Blue Sky]

In addition, SWA also is known to enforce a rule that anyone who is responsible for a minor child may not sit in an exit row, so if Dad sits in the exit row and Mom and the kids sit two rows behind him, the FA may force Dad to leave the exit row. The reasoning is that in an emergency, someone with a child on the plane would go to the child rather than stay at the exit and help others out the door.

This would be highly unlikely in actual practice as there is not an FAR that requires a one-to-one correspondence for adults accompanying children. And minor children by airline definition (for USAir anyone under the age of 12) can be accompanied by someone as young as 14 without requiring special handling like Unaccompanied Minor services (UMNR).

Like I said, in actuality, this would likely not happen at all. Flight attendants are there to serve a safety function and a customer service function. If they see a mom with 2 kids sitting 2 rows behind exit row they are simply not going to pull the dad out of the exit row to go sit with his family...

 

[tjmw2727]

We have a special nick-name for Southwest Airline's boarding process/lack of seating assignments:

THE CATTLE CALL

In all my years of flying I have flown them only once, from IND to MDW when I flew for ATA. Not an enjoyable process as I was in the "C" line. People were standing in the A & B lines for upwards of an hour, as some posters have mentioned. When they became a code-share airline with ATA there was talk of them going to assigned seating, but that was shelved as it was deemed too expensive/too much of a paradigm shift.

I know for a fact that travelers appreciate the security knowing that they have a space on the aircraft via a seat assignment. The A&E television show Airline has shown all-too-many-times what can happen without seat assignments and overbooked aircraft...

LOL - true but for $39.00 pp each way vs 300 r/t I will MOOO. Even if it means checking in early for that coveted A pass.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Regarding exit row seating:

My DH was not allowed to remain in the exit row alone on our last flight with AA. We were spit up into 4 separate seats despite booking many months in advance due to a change in the aircraft.

When we checked in at the counter the agent gave youngest dd (4 at the time) and I seats together in a regular row of 3. They put dh and my oldest dd (6 at the time) in the exit row (knowing dd couldn't stay) in hopes that when we boarded the other person sitting with me and younger dd would trade with older dd for a coveted exit row aisle seat. It worked but they did also re-seat dh when the FA onboard realized the situation. Of course dh didn't mind sitting alone but he would have prefered the exit row. The FA said that if he was needed his attention would be on us rather than the "duties".

So although it may be rare I can only tell my experience.

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

Like I said, in actuality, this would likely not happen at all. Flight attendants are there to serve a safety function and a customer service function. If they see a mom with 2 kids sitting 2 rows behind exit row they are simply not going to pull the dad out of the exit row to go sit with his family...

In actuality, it happens quite often on SWA. As I recall, you have said that you have flown SWA once, correct? I fly SWA twice a month on average, and have done so for the past 12 years, and I know that they prefer to enforce this policy when the relationship is obvious. You're right that they won't pull the Dad out of the exit row, because he more than likely would not have gotten into it in the first place. SWA FA's stand at the exit row during boarding, and if they can see that an adult is supervising children as they board, they will tell that adult that he/she cannot sit in the exit row. I have heard it happen too many times to count. (In regard to the part about sending Dad to go sit with his family, you are also correct that they won't do that: they don't care where he sits as long as he isn't in an exit row seat. This isn't about keeping a family together; it is about the safety issue of keeping unsuitable passengers out of the exit row.)

The usual scenario where this happens goes like this: Dad and 1 school age kid board. Dad tells kid to sit in the aisle seat of the row in front of the exit row. Dad: "Got everything? Good. I'll be sitting right behind you if you need anything." FA: "Sir, I'm sorry, but since you're travelling with a child I can't let you sit in the exit row." Dad: "You're kidding, right?" FA: "No, sir, I'm sorry." Dad: "Come on Kyle, looks like we need to sit further back." They go to another row where Dad takes an aisle and puts Kyle in the center seat.

Now, will an adult get away with sitting in the exit row if he tells his kids that "once we get on the plane, pretend you don't know me"? Yeah, probably; but if you are talking about a family boarding with a carseat, the relationship is usually not so easy to hide, because they tend to make the relationship obvious in that situation, especially on SWA, where they will have preboarded to install the seat. (Which, of course, makes it a moot point; as they don't let preboarders sit in exit rows.)

 

[inkkognito]

LOL - true but for $39.00 pp each way vs 300 r/t I will MOOO. Even if it means checking in early for that coveted A pass.

TJ

Me TOO!!!! The SW rates from Chicago are amazing lately. And yes, I often cannot help literally mooooing as I head down that jetway with the rest of the A herd.