Homer15

I just don't get this argument. I have GE, but that doesn't mean I think I am entitled to bring my traveling companion in the pre-check line. And if TSA tells me I can, I don't assume that means I am entitled to do so every time.

And suggesting that it's about kids is a red herring. I have kids, and I make lots of concessions to traveling with kids. It boggles my mind to think that someone might feel the need to have their 5 yo board separately because they are so intent on getting their "special privileges."

saneman

It really comes down to this. If the dad had two grown kids, he could have gone ahead in his spot and saved those two seats while his grown kids come later. And yes, most of the FAs would have let him do that. (remember my tattletale comment from a FA on one of my flights).
So how is that different from this dad wanting to take his two lil kids along with him.

A good compromise would be for the GA to tell him "sir, the rules say you cannot have them board with you. But I will gtive you a break. If you agree to board in the next batch, your kids get to board earlier and you only give up a few spots. If the dad still acts like a kid, then that's on him.

Having said that, the dad should be begging for a favor instead of acting entitled. But the majority of the blame falls on the GA as the passenger did not hold up the line and boarded later.

pinniped

Actually, whatever bag fees apply to an elite on a given PNR usually apply to the whole PNR. In other words, there's pretty good precedent that airlines typically allow the perks of elite status to extend to others on the PNR. Occasionally limited by a large travel group, but almost never limited by 1-2 small children flying with the elite member. And rarely the most simple and basic of elite perks - preboarding the plane.

Change fees aren't typically variable by elite status. Rare exceptions such as award redeposit fees for 1K/EXP, etc.

SDCA

.....and that was pointless from Gary Kelly. The guy won't be flying Southwest again anyways. Gary Kelly just wasted his time.

And by the way. The crew on my last flight was rude to me. I won't be flying Southwest again. LOL

ursine1

Again -- check out the date on the tweet posted a couple pages ago:



Not only is he flying Southwest, he's sending kudos for good customer service. (Just like he did right before he posted the negative comment that caused the agent's freakout.)

captiveguru

WN GAs have a history of bad reactions to complaint tweets:

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/a...d-in-tennessee

theddo

He didn't actually say what the tweet said, he said that it was something like what he said. Which probably means it was a lot worse.

WN also claimed that that wasn't the reason he was asked to deplane.

Yes, and when you arrive at an airport you agree to be probed and x-rayed and have your nude photos spread on the internet. If that offends you take the train.

Maybe, but the order of boarding doesn't matter as much on AA as it does on WN. Sure, maybe you don't get your bag where you'd like it but on WN maybe you get to sit next to two 300lbs people.

I would more say that everyone getting the same boarding priority was equal to upgrades on other airlines, which usually isn't extended to everyone.

joshua362

So in other words, Tonya at MDW let the kids board with him...

pinniped

I somewhat agree...if we're talking something like A15 vs. C30. Then, boarding order can matter. A15 vs. A18 isn't going to subject the A18 person to a middle seat between two people of any size.

I completely disagree: I don't see the order in which we all walk onto the airplane as being remotely comparable to the difference between F and Y. Boarding order, within the very narrow sequence we're talking about here (being the 10th-ish person onboard vs. the 15th) is a completely negligible difference. Even if the guy with the kids is FIRST in line and there are zero thrus, he can't take the exit row so he can't materially impact you in any way.

Sanity prevails at Midway! Good for Tonya. ^

nsx

You mean the Gordian knot.

All we FT'ers have to offer is some hack solution.

DiscHandler

pssst, June 24th is before July 20th, so your point is not being made (assuming I'm reading your sentence structure correctly). I don't see any evidence that he's flying Southwest after the incident.

rsteinmetz70112

They could always go to assigned seating.

There I said it.

ursine1

Damnit! Sorry, my bad -- I misread it. <embarrassed>

rsteinmetz70112

There's a smiley for that

antinseattle

*yawwwwwwwwn


I said it.