Saving seats is becoming an epidemic! EarlyBird check in.
Oct 24, 2011, 8:07 pm
#91
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1
New to the Earlybird Checkin and was wondering if it would make sense.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.
Oct 24, 2011, 8:41 pm
#92
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Programs: AC SE100K, F9 100k, NK Gold, UA *S, Hyatt Glob, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 5,207
New to the Earlybird Checkin and was wondering if it would make sense.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.
Here's a ? for FTers: Does Southwest.com allow only one person on a multi-pax reservation buy EBCI? Either at the time of booking , or via later upgrade? If so they are a direct cause of this fiasco.
In a perfect world, Southwest should also print the following on EBCI (or all) boarding passes ("Early Bird Checkin Fee Paid-Allows the named passenger ONLY to board early, seat saving is not permitted)
Oct 24, 2011, 10:05 pm
#93
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
Yes, from the site's EBCI FAQ:
And it begs the question about seat saving.
If a Customer is booked in the same reservation with other Passengers, can he/she purchase EarlyBird Check-In even if the others do not choose to do so? Yes, if EarlyBird Check-In is purchased and added to an existing itinerary. If EarlyBird Check-In is purchased within the same transaction as the air purchase, then all eligible Customers must purchase EarlyBird Check-In as well.
Oct 26, 2011, 3:09 pm
#95
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: HOU via MSY
Programs: WN: A+, CP National: Exec. Elite. Choice hotels: Platinum Priority Club: Platinum
Posts: 224
After reading through this thread, I decided to post what I do. I am A+ with CP. When traveling with my family of 5, I usually board after A30 together and head to the back of the plane to sit together. I just think it is considerate to be out of the way while the kids and wife get settled. If the GA wont let us all board then, I will take the infant-in-arms and go the 3rd to last row and save the seats. Ive never had anyone ask to sit near me, especially with my baby climbing all over the seats.
My experience has been that if you are pleasant, most people are pleasant back.
My experience has been that if you are pleasant, most people are pleasant back.
Oct 26, 2011, 3:55 pm
#96
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: PWM/MHT/BOS
Programs: UA (lame duck)1K, US Plat,HHonors Diamond, PC Plat, SPG Plat, MR Platinum
Posts: 605
Oct 26, 2011, 10:07 pm
#97
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
When you find someone on a WN flight who is a real jerk, do not stoop to their level. It will serve you well.
Besides, if the FA gets involved, you sure want look like the nicer person.
Oct 27, 2011, 2:29 pm
#98
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal
Programs: AA EXP, HHonors LTDia, Marriott Plat
Posts: 639
After reading through this thread, I decided to post what I do. I am A+ with CP. When traveling with my family of 5, I usually board after A30 together and head to the back of the plane to sit together. I just think it is considerate to be out of the way while the kids and wife get settled. If the GA wont let us all board then, I will take the infant-in-arms and go the 3rd to last row and save the seats. Ive never had anyone ask to sit near me, especially with my baby climbing all over the seats.
My experience has been that if you are pleasant, most people are pleasant back.
My experience has been that if you are pleasant, most people are pleasant back.
Just the right thing to do.
Oct 27, 2011, 2:43 pm
#99
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
That is such an important thing to remember. I read about some disagreements on here that would've just evaporated if everyone had kept a smile on their face.
When you find someone on a WN flight who is a real jerk, do not stoop to their level. It will serve you well.
Besides, if the FA gets involved, you sure want look like the nicer person.
When you find someone on a WN flight who is a real jerk, do not stoop to their level. It will serve you well.
Besides, if the FA gets involved, you sure want look like the nicer person.
Oct 27, 2011, 3:22 pm
#100
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: Co-branded credit card status moocher
Posts: 137
No seat-saving and infinity no tag-backs!
Oct 27, 2011, 3:54 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 325
There is quite the trend going on and I do believe it has A LOT to do with early bird check in.
Now, I love the idea of EB, and I have used it myself, however, it is now being used by one person in a party and then saving all the exit row seats by placing bags in them so that the rest of the party does not have to pay the @10 EB fee.. These people are VERY aggressive and I have just never witnessed this behavior in the past. EVER. It seems to be happening on every flight, where it never did in the past.
This is soon going to lead to some conflict. I have been witness to some very tense situations recently. I do think it might be time to enforce a no saving seat policy before this gets out of hand.
(sorry about the horribly misspelled subject)
Now, I love the idea of EB, and I have used it myself, however, it is now being used by one person in a party and then saving all the exit row seats by placing bags in them so that the rest of the party does not have to pay the @10 EB fee.. These people are VERY aggressive and I have just never witnessed this behavior in the past. EVER. It seems to be happening on every flight, where it never did in the past.
This is soon going to lead to some conflict. I have been witness to some very tense situations recently. I do think it might be time to enforce a no saving seat policy before this gets out of hand.
(sorry about the horribly misspelled subject)
Oct 28, 2011, 8:52 pm
#102
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,513
Why don't GAs simply add "and no seat-saving" to standard boarding announcements to make the offenders feel less entitled?
Oct 29, 2011, 1:29 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: PWM/MHT/BOS
Programs: UA (lame duck)1K, US Plat,HHonors Diamond, PC Plat, SPG Plat, MR Platinum
Posts: 605
So a good non-seat saving story... but related.
Recently flew with my 21 y/o daughter to Tucson (Note she has done virtually no flying since she was 14). I'm A-List and I bought her EBCI. On return from Tucson to MDW I sat in the exit row but on side where only window seat has extra leg room. She sat in the aisle. Told her if someone wanted middle she had to decide if she wanted someone between us or the middle it was her call... So as we're filling she says "I feel bad should I move I think the flights full dad?" I said no I don't think it is so unless you really want the middle seat you don't need to and it may not get taken (since it's the side with no extra leg room for middle or aisle). Their are no announcements that flight is full and last 2 people are walkin the aisle and she's got this guilty nervous looking face like she's doing something wrong... Both of the last 2 are scanning to pick a seat with probably 15 middle seats avail. The last guy stops to look around near her and in a moment of some weird not understanding the concept stands up and says "Oh I'm sorry I'll move" and jumps into the middle seat. I just laughed and he said "wow I sure didn't expect an aisle seat being the last to board - thanks!"
LOL I asked her later if she would've rather someone sat between us then sit in middle and she said "yeah but I felt bad like we were trying to save it so I didn't want to be a jerk" and didn't really get the whole concept.
Imagine if everyone on WN were so caring about their fellow flyers..
Well at least I instilled manners (maybe to a fault) in my daughter.
Recently flew with my 21 y/o daughter to Tucson (Note she has done virtually no flying since she was 14). I'm A-List and I bought her EBCI. On return from Tucson to MDW I sat in the exit row but on side where only window seat has extra leg room. She sat in the aisle. Told her if someone wanted middle she had to decide if she wanted someone between us or the middle it was her call... So as we're filling she says "I feel bad should I move I think the flights full dad?" I said no I don't think it is so unless you really want the middle seat you don't need to and it may not get taken (since it's the side with no extra leg room for middle or aisle). Their are no announcements that flight is full and last 2 people are walkin the aisle and she's got this guilty nervous looking face like she's doing something wrong... Both of the last 2 are scanning to pick a seat with probably 15 middle seats avail. The last guy stops to look around near her and in a moment of some weird not understanding the concept stands up and says "Oh I'm sorry I'll move" and jumps into the middle seat. I just laughed and he said "wow I sure didn't expect an aisle seat being the last to board - thanks!"
LOL I asked her later if she would've rather someone sat between us then sit in middle and she said "yeah but I felt bad like we were trying to save it so I didn't want to be a jerk" and didn't really get the whole concept.
Imagine if everyone on WN were so caring about their fellow flyers..
Well at least I instilled manners (maybe to a fault) in my daughter.
Oct 30, 2011, 11:53 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 325
And add that to the FA's boarding announcement as well. Wondering if this was always a WN issue, or is it just a symptom of cheapskates trying to wring more "value" out of a rock bottom fare?
Oct 30, 2011, 6:51 pm
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
New to the Earlybird Checkin and was wondering if it would make sense.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.
We are a family of four 2, adults and two children,one older one younger.Buffalo to tampa flying out in afternoon..no idea how crowded the flight can get.... Instead of all four paying for $10 each, what is wife and older daughter pay for the EBCI and they each sit @ a window and save the middle seats next to them for me and my younger daughter. Does it make sense to do that? Or should all four pay? or none of us pay and we just wing it??? Again.. new this.. Our goal is to sit close to each other with kids in window seats and wife and I next to them.