New COS policy as of November 7, 2012: Free second seats for walk-ups
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
New COS policy as of November 7, 2012: Free second seats for walk-ups
Get ready for changes to the Customer of Size policy in favor of the COS themselves.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
#2
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,192
I'll guess SDCA is eluding to a change other the return of Golden Oreos in the select-a-snack boxes? (replaced the 100calorie Chips Ahoy wafers, a nearly 2.5x increase)
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
#6
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: WN Rapid Rewards, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 400
*Customers of size who wish to continue to proactively book an extra seat and then request a refund may continue that process the same as they do today.
*Our Employees will still need to have second seat conversations, but they will no longer charge the Customer for the additional seat at the airport.
*We will accommodate a COS with an additional seat, free of charge at the airport, even if it means overselling the flight.
*Our Employees will still need to have second seat conversations, but they will no longer charge the Customer for the additional seat at the airport.
*We will accommodate a COS with an additional seat, free of charge at the airport, even if it means overselling the flight.
This makes no sense. Why would I as a COS purchase a second seat in advance if I knew they wouldn't charge me if I just showed up at the airport? Yes, I almost always get a refund but it means giving Southwest a "loan" of a lot of money for however long in advance I purchase my ticket (so for me they often have a lot of my money tied up as I have many many tickets purchased at any one time).
#7
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,192
I agree that this makes no sense. It puts the people who follow policy at a disadvantage.
the policy SHOULD be that there is no charge for an extra seat, and no chance of missing their flight (both good PR moves) for the FIRST flight or roundtrip for that passenger. once they are informed of the policy and get the free ride once, they should be responsible for booking according to policy in the future.
the policy SHOULD be that there is no charge for an extra seat, and no chance of missing their flight (both good PR moves) for the FIRST flight or roundtrip for that passenger. once they are informed of the policy and get the free ride once, they should be responsible for booking according to policy in the future.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
This makes no sense. Why would I as a COS purchase a second seat in advance if I knew they wouldn't charge me if I just showed up at the airport? Yes, I almost always get a refund but it means giving Southwest a "loan" of a lot of money for however long in advance I purchase my ticket (so for me they often have a lot of my money tied up as I have many many tickets purchased at any one time).
If that extra was not purchased ahead of time, SWA would have not known if that second seat is going to be occupy by a COS and would then have to bump someone off accomodate the COS.
And as a courtesty, the COS SHOULD buy two seats when making reservation because I would probably be the one that gets bumped off a flight to accommodate the COS with TWO seats.
Last edited by SDCA; Oct 21, 2012 at 8:06 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
This makes no sense. Why would I as a COS purchase a second seat in advance if I knew they wouldn't charge me if I just showed up at the airport? Yes, I almost always get a refund but it means giving Southwest a "loan" of a lot of money for however long in advance I purchase my ticket (so for me they often have a lot of my money tied up as I have many many tickets purchased at any one time).
Something amiss here. Or lost in translation.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Programs: AirTran A+ Elite, Marriott Rewards Plat, Rapid Rewards A List, National Exec, USAir Div Mil
Posts: 323
Seems less likely that FAs will proactively bump a passenger to accomodate a COS than it does that FAs will hope for the best and leave it to the encroached-upon to initiate a complaint. I don't like the way this policy, if it is true, ends up transferring the burden of dealing with the situation from COSs and FAs to other passengers.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Waxahachie, TX
Programs: WN 3 Million Miler, MR Lifetime Titanium, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, AA Silver, United never again
Posts: 509
InkUnderNails,
Since you use your CP to ensure a second seat on every flight, do you file for the $5 taxes or $10 taxes reimbursement from WN if the flight doesn't sell out?
Since you use your CP to ensure a second seat on every flight, do you file for the $5 taxes or $10 taxes reimbursement from WN if the flight doesn't sell out?
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
I could, but I don't. Two reasons. You have no idea the extra nuisance it is to make this work. I am certain that the occasional $5 would also be difficult on occasion. The other reason may make no sense. It is actually worth it to me and I say, "what the heck" and let it go. It is at most $200 a year that would be recoverable, and it is not worth my time to pursue all of those $5 transactions and keep up with them.
#13
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,509
It was a wifi plane and the FA showed that me a snippet of the change in the COS policy on the company website.
-----------
*The major change we are making is that we will no longer require the second seat purchase at the airport.
*Customers of size who wish to continue to proactively book an extra seat and then request a refund may continue that process the same as they do today.
*Our Employees will still need to have second seat conversations, but they will no longer charge the Customer for the additional seat at the airport.
*We will accommodate a COS with an additional seat, free of charge at the airport, even if it means overselling the flight.
-----------
*The major change we are making is that we will no longer require the second seat purchase at the airport.
*Customers of size who wish to continue to proactively book an extra seat and then request a refund may continue that process the same as they do today.
*Our Employees will still need to have second seat conversations, but they will no longer charge the Customer for the additional seat at the airport.
*We will accommodate a COS with an additional seat, free of charge at the airport, even if it means overselling the flight.
This cut-and-paste excerpt is not credible.
I don't buy that an FA would allow a pax to transcribe it during flight.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165