Never seen this before: saving an entire exit row
Dec 25, 2012, 8:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Folsom,CA
Posts: 408
Never seen this before: saving an entire exit row
Obvious husband and wife had the only two BS boarding passes this AM Aus-BWI. I was A17 and, since was originating flight, was confident of exit row. However, she and he both took the aisle exit row seats across from each other and declared that they were each saving the two seats next to them. The FA overheard this but couldn't intervene because there is no SWA policy regarding the actual number of seats that each passenger can save for later boarding passengers. I thought that this was an abuse. There wasn't an announcement about available BS seats for sale per new procedure. However, someone paying $40 more would probably have been very upset to see two people take up entire rows each. I didn't like it but, hey, it's Christmas day.
Dec 25, 2012, 8:49 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: STL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Southwest A-list Preferred, Delta Million Miler
Posts: 362
Obvious husband and wife had the only two BS boarding passes this AM Aus-BWI. I was A17 and, since was originating flight, was confident of exit row. However, she and he both took the aisle exit row seats across from each other and declared that they were each saving the two seats next to them. The FA overheard this but couldn't intervene because there is no SWA policy regarding the actual number of seats that each passenger can save for later boarding passengers. I thought that this was an abuse. There wasn't an announcement about available BS seats for sale per new procedure. However, someone paying $40 more would probably have been very upset to see two people take up entire rows each. I didn't like it but, hey, it's Christmas day.
Dec 25, 2012, 8:51 am
#3
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
Solution, but not very holiday friendly:
"I'll take that seat. Thanks."
Lean over, put your personal stuff in the seat you want, store your other stuff in the overhead, stand there.
If they day they are saved, say "They were saved, but not anymore. I'm taking that as my seat."
If you want to be charitable, then move along and take another seat.
BTW, WN has a policy, it is called "Open Seating." See an open seat and take it. Simple. If the FA does not help that is common. Just say "I can take any open seat, right?"
"I'll take that seat. Thanks."
Lean over, put your personal stuff in the seat you want, store your other stuff in the overhead, stand there.
If they day they are saved, say "They were saved, but not anymore. I'm taking that as my seat."
If you want to be charitable, then move along and take another seat.
BTW, WN has a policy, it is called "Open Seating." See an open seat and take it. Simple. If the FA does not help that is common. Just say "I can take any open seat, right?"
Dec 25, 2012, 9:09 am
#5
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
Are you sure they bought BS or did they just stand there pretending? Anyone that would save an exit row would have no qualms about boarding out of order.
Dec 25, 2012, 9:47 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: STL
Programs: Hhonors Diamond, Southwest A-list Preferred, Delta Million Miler
Posts: 362
That's what I do. When they say "those are saved," I look at the FA and say "You still have an open seat policy right?" The FA usually nods and I take my seat. I'd rather have them stew than me. I can zone them out.
Dec 25, 2012, 7:51 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,689
[QUOTE=boeing727;19918456]That's what I do. When they say "those are saved," I look at the FA and say "You still have an open seat policy right?" The FA usually nods and I take my seat. I'd rather have them stew than me. I can zone them out.[/QUOTE]
+1
^
+1
^
Dec 26, 2012, 6:52 am
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
There is a WN policy on "saving" seats. It's called "open seating." It a seat is empty and not assigned, it's empty and available. Since WN doesn't assign seats, if there's no person sitting in the seat it's empty and it's available.
True, it's lousy sitting next to a jerk, so most people just move on, but the policy seems clear.
Failure of FA's to enforce is yet another reason never to fly Kettle Air unless it's the only & last thing available.
True, it's lousy sitting next to a jerk, so most people just move on, but the policy seems clear.
Failure of FA's to enforce is yet another reason never to fly Kettle Air unless it's the only & last thing available.
Dec 26, 2012, 7:18 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Austin
Programs: SPG Platnium, SWA A+, CP
Posts: 150
In a variation, often times the window and aisle on exit row are occupied by the time I board which is normally A16/17. If I have confirmed the load is 137, I will actually sit in the middle seat since the extra leg room is more important than an aisle or window. Strange looks, but I just tell everybody somebody is going to sit here and it's going to be me.
Back to OP, I also have found when that seat savings happen and the foil their plan, they tend to move their seats when they can't force the issue.
Back to OP, I also have found when that seat savings happen and the foil their plan, they tend to move their seats when they can't force the issue.
Dec 26, 2012, 2:43 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
In a variation, often times the window and aisle on exit row are occupied by the time I board which is normally A16/17. If I have confirmed the load is 137, I will actually sit in the middle seat since the extra leg room is more important than an aisle or window. Strange looks, but I just tell everybody somebody is going to sit here and it's going to be me.
Dec 27, 2012, 12:01 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
As far as I know WN's policy is First Come First Served now if there were later boarding passengers in the same party and they were saving their seat then that is a major no-no as you paid BS Seats. If this passenger wanted their party seated together they why didn't they pay for BS?
I would have spoken with the FA who should have said that you are more than welcome to sit in the exit row as you met the requirements and are there before the boarding family. I would have asked to speak to a customer service rep after the flight to see how WN can improve on the training of the FA's.
The person saving seats would do better on Delta where you pay to sit in the premium seats and you can get seats together. I would have told the person saving the seats that I'm entitled to these seats because I am here before your family or friends. Yea so you want to sit together then you should have taken care of this before hand.
I would have spoken with the FA who should have said that you are more than welcome to sit in the exit row as you met the requirements and are there before the boarding family. I would have asked to speak to a customer service rep after the flight to see how WN can improve on the training of the FA's.
The person saving seats would do better on Delta where you pay to sit in the premium seats and you can get seats together. I would have told the person saving the seats that I'm entitled to these seats because I am here before your family or friends. Yea so you want to sit together then you should have taken care of this before hand.