Another seat saving hassle and why I hate flying WN
Apr 9, 2014, 6:59 am
#241
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,700
OT, but I love the window seat being a pilot and usually travel with a GPS device to track the flight but if I can't get the exit window, its gonna be aisle for me. Too claustrophobic in the window with the middle filled POST DEVOLVE.
Last edited by joshua362; Apr 9, 2014 at 8:05 am
Apr 9, 2014, 7:51 am
#242
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
I recently moved down to PHL from NYC and have been debating on whether to fly WN since it flies from here. However it is this seat-saving issue, and to a lesser degree the entire boarding process, that is keeping me away.
I do not know how anyone can take the teenager's side on this issue. She was entitled to one seat and was sitting in it, the OP was entitled to any unoccupied seat and simply wanted to take the last remaining decent one available. It was not occupied and the teenager had no right to it in the least. The fact that this is even debatable makes me wary of flying WN because it tells me a lot about the way the airline is run and the entitlement mentality of some of its passengers who feel its ok for them to save a seat that isn't theirs while saying those with a rightful claim to the seat should have been the ones to pay for EB.
Amazingly twisted logic to defend seat saving, that reeks of an entitlement attitude.
I do not know how anyone can take the teenager's side on this issue. She was entitled to one seat and was sitting in it, the OP was entitled to any unoccupied seat and simply wanted to take the last remaining decent one available. It was not occupied and the teenager had no right to it in the least. The fact that this is even debatable makes me wary of flying WN because it tells me a lot about the way the airline is run and the entitlement mentality of some of its passengers who feel its ok for them to save a seat that isn't theirs while saying those with a rightful claim to the seat should have been the ones to pay for EB.
Amazingly twisted logic to defend seat saving, that reeks of an entitlement attitude.
Apr 9, 2014, 7:55 am
#243
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
The analogy makes no sense unless you are trying to defend a sense of entitlement that no one granted to you.
Apr 9, 2014, 7:59 am
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,193
But I agree, if WN is going to sell BS, sell fake-BS, sell EBCI, and tout A-List, there needs to be a clearer statement from them on this matter. Pre-2.0, not much of a deal. Now these sales make up a considerable percentage of WN's profit, and when you sell something, value better be there.
Apr 9, 2014, 8:20 am
#245
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: SWA RR, CO One Pass, TAM Fidelidade, HA Miles, DL Skymiles, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 1,165
Do you pay hundreds of dollars to sit in a theater? Does your movie theater give you boarding pass assignments which determine the order you can enter in order to claim seats?
The analogy makes no sense unless you are trying to defend a sense of entitlement that no one granted to you.
The analogy makes no sense unless you are trying to defend a sense of entitlement that no one granted to you.
Apr 9, 2014, 1:28 pm
#246
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: WN peon (was A+), IHG Plat Hilton HHonors Gold DL SkyPesos PM (still a peon) US Chmn, Hawaiian Haole
Posts: 1,166
USAir
I recently moved down to PHL from NYC and have been debating on whether to fly WN since it flies from here. However it is this seat-saving issue, and to a lesser degree the entire boarding process, that is keeping me away.
I do not know how anyone can take the teenager's side on this issue. She was entitled to one seat and was sitting in it, the OP was entitled to any unoccupied seat and simply wanted to take the last remaining decent one available. It was not occupied and the teenager had no right to it in the least. The fact that this is even debatable makes me wary of flying WN because it tells me a lot about the way the airline is run and the entitlement mentality of some of its passengers who feel its ok for them to save a seat that isn't theirs while saying those with a rightful claim to the seat should have been the ones to pay for EB.
Amazingly twisted logic to defend seat saving, that reeks of an entitlement attitude.
I do not know how anyone can take the teenager's side on this issue. She was entitled to one seat and was sitting in it, the OP was entitled to any unoccupied seat and simply wanted to take the last remaining decent one available. It was not occupied and the teenager had no right to it in the least. The fact that this is even debatable makes me wary of flying WN because it tells me a lot about the way the airline is run and the entitlement mentality of some of its passengers who feel its ok for them to save a seat that isn't theirs while saying those with a rightful claim to the seat should have been the ones to pay for EB.
Amazingly twisted logic to defend seat saving, that reeks of an entitlement attitude.
Apr 9, 2014, 2:26 pm
#247
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
As a former multi-year WN A+ with a CP, now flying x-PHL weekly, I have unceremoniously dumped WN and switched almost entirely to USAir. US fares are usually lower than WN these days, and always close if not lower, you get a confirmed seat, and having made Chmn preferred, I am now getting upgraded to FC -almost- 100% of the time. With PHL being a major US hub, lots of choices x-PHL.
Apr 9, 2014, 3:47 pm
#248
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
As a former multi-year WN A+ with a CP, now flying x-PHL weekly, I have unceremoniously dumped WN and switched almost entirely to USAir. US fares are usually lower than WN these days, and always close if not lower, you get a confirmed seat, and having made Chmn preferred, I am now getting upgraded to FC -almost- 100% of the time. With PHL being a major US hub, lots of choices x-PHL.
I imagine it is a lose-lose situation when it comes to someone saving a seat. If you don't speak up you lose something you rightfully have a claim to per WN's own boarding procedure, but if you do speak up you end up sitting next to someone who you already have a beef with. The OP got lucky the FA found him that other seat, otherwise he would have either been stuck in the middle (unfairly) or been stuck sitting next to someone for the entire flight who was pissed off at him for ruining their little ploy.
Apr 9, 2014, 7:35 pm
#250
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,525
Seriously, SWA does not have a policy one way or the other about seat saving. So, FAs are not going to get involved.
Apr 9, 2014, 10:24 pm
#251
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
This is a major reason I don't fly southwest. Other airlines still have their fair share of classless people, but at least they don't have the cattle car type boarding which shines a light on just how bad some people are.
Apr 10, 2014, 8:05 am
#253
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
I'm not sure what you are referring to. My only other comment was in regards to the timing. For the normal route I fly (PHL-LAS) WN has a good return flight but the departing flight from PHL is in mid-afternoon while I try to leave late evening. So that is a big reason as well but I could easily split it up and take WN on my return, which is usually cheaper and a somewhat ideal time. But I groan at the thought of going through that cattle-call boarding process, especially since I'm usually dead tired when I get on the plane in LAS.
Apr 10, 2014, 8:09 am
#254
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
I'm not sure what you are referring to. My only other comment was in regards to the timing. For the normal route I fly (PHL-LAS) WN has a good return flight but the departing flight from PHL is in mid-afternoon while I try to leave late evening. So that is a big reason as well but I could easily split it up and take WN on my return, which is usually cheaper and a somewhat ideal time. But I groan at the thought of going through that cattle-call boarding process, especially since I'm usually dead tired when I get on the plane in LAS.
Apr 10, 2014, 8:33 am
#255
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Programs: Rapid Rewards/AAdvantage
Posts: 1,245
I'm not sure what you are referring to. My only other comment was in regards to the timing. For the normal route I fly (PHL-LAS) WN has a good return flight but the departing flight from PHL is in mid-afternoon while I try to leave late evening. So that is a big reason as well but I could easily split it up and take WN on my return, which is usually cheaper and a somewhat ideal time. But I groan at the thought of going through that cattle-call boarding process, especially since I'm usually dead tired when I get on the plane in LAS.