Kick Tail vouchers for Ops Agents who enforce boarding order: post your reports here
Apr 2, 2015, 8:42 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,323
For me, it's +/- 0. Seriously, there's no excuse for people being out of line (other than deliberate), the poles have 5 pax within each and people should be able to work out within that space where 1 - 5 fifths are. It's easy to ask the person in front or behind what they have, I usually have my BP on display so people can just see without asking.
If I'm A17 then I'll be making sure there's only 1 person in front of me before BS. I do weekly long (4 - 5 hour) non-stops and it makes a huge difference which seat you get. If I miss out on a good one legitimately due to my position I can accept that, it's entirely the prerogative of the people before me to choose first. If I miss out because someone thought "A21... well minus 5, I'll stand around the front of the A16 pole", then I don't think that's acceptable.
If I'm A17 then I'll be making sure there's only 1 person in front of me before BS. I do weekly long (4 - 5 hour) non-stops and it makes a huge difference which seat you get. If I miss out on a good one legitimately due to my position I can accept that, it's entirely the prerogative of the people before me to choose first. If I miss out because someone thought "A21... well minus 5, I'll stand around the front of the A16 pole", then I don't think that's acceptable.
Thus, the point made by the OP is good: reward those agents who adhere to the rules with a kicktail voucher.^
Apr 15, 2015, 7:43 pm
#33
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 pretty much always ask. It's not about policing the line, but figuring out where you're supposed to stand. It's implicit in the process. If someone's too rude to respond civilly (and that's never happened to me), that's their problem, not mine. (And would probably encourage me to grab a gate agent for a bp check.)
All kidding aside, it was so useless. Grandma and Grandpa had canes and could have preboarded without a problem along with an assistant each. That would have left the Line King along with the two little kids. When I suggested that teaching the kids to cheat was not a cool thing. The little one said "Dad, are we cheating?"
When the OA called for BS, I took my A-16, passed the whole mess and waited at the A-0 position for my A-16. A-17 to A-20 were right behind me. I watched for the King and he boarded at about A-40 with the family and they all sat together.
Idiot.
Apr 17, 2015, 5:40 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: FRA
Programs: MileagePlus Premier Silver, IHG Spire Elite, HHonors Silver, RapidRewards
Posts: 382
I typically just form an "instant repoire" with whoever is in my vicinity near the poles. Eye contact, smile, "A26"/whatever. I've never had anyone get aggressive or refuse to tell.
OT, but worst altercation I'd ever had personally on WN was with A18 and trying to grab a bulkhead with one gent already seated. He informed me "those are saved" and I informed him of WN's no saving policy. He didn't lay a hand to stop me from sitting, but the tension was pretty thick for a few minutes while he mulled it over and finally he moved.
OT, but worst altercation I'd ever had personally on WN was with A18 and trying to grab a bulkhead with one gent already seated. He informed me "those are saved" and I informed him of WN's no saving policy. He didn't lay a hand to stop me from sitting, but the tension was pretty thick for a few minutes while he mulled it over and finally he moved.
Apr 17, 2015, 9:54 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 96
I informed him of WN's no saving policy
Apr 17, 2015, 10:04 am
#36
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
Is is true that WN has a "no saving policy"? I'm seeing some conflicting things on a quick FT search. If anyone can point to where this policy is, that'd be greatly appreciated. My current understanding is that WN has no policy regarding seat saving (implying it's allowed).
Here's a blog post that walks through it a bit: Can You Save Seats with Southwest Airlines Seating?
Apr 17, 2015, 10:49 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,790
Fortunately I haven't had any bad experiences so far (minus the people with 16 and 12 year old teens being able to board with family boarding, but that's another issue). I have told people my boarding order, and I have asked others with no issues. In fact, a couple times the people in front of me let me go in front of them for whatever reason.
The boarding number is certainly not private information and I have every right to know it. Sometimes people (myself included) pay a lot extra to have a lower boarding number, and I want that to be enforced. I am not asking for names, Rapid Reward numbers, where they are going etc as that his private information, but the boarding number certainly isn't and I will call over a gate agent if it does become a problem.
The boarding number is certainly not private information and I have every right to know it. Sometimes people (myself included) pay a lot extra to have a lower boarding number, and I want that to be enforced. I am not asking for names, Rapid Reward numbers, where they are going etc as that his private information, but the boarding number certainly isn't and I will call over a gate agent if it does become a problem.
Apr 17, 2015, 11:00 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,889
If I cannot see another persons number, I usually start by stating my boarding position: "I'm [A-__]."
And then, often, the person quickly responds with: "I'm [A-__]. You're right behind/ahead of me."
Although, if they don't, I usually ask: "Which number are you? I want to ensure I'm in the correct position."
I haven't had someone refuse to tell me their number yet. If they did, I would simply stand ahead of them in line and if I'm in the wrong spot, they have all the information and can correct me/prove so.
I'll note that when I use the mobile BPs, my screen times-out and goes dark, so, it is harder for others lining-up after me to find their correct place in order without speaking with me.
And then, often, the person quickly responds with: "I'm [A-__]. You're right behind/ahead of me."
Although, if they don't, I usually ask: "Which number are you? I want to ensure I'm in the correct position."
I haven't had someone refuse to tell me their number yet. If they did, I would simply stand ahead of them in line and if I'm in the wrong spot, they have all the information and can correct me/prove so.
I'll note that when I use the mobile BPs, my screen times-out and goes dark, so, it is harder for others lining-up after me to find their correct place in order without speaking with me.
Apr 17, 2015, 5:10 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 17
My favorite time someone tried to cheat was a couple, probably mid 20s, that had C boarding passes try to board with Business Select. The gate agent thankfully turned them away after seeing their passes.
They then tried again at A31, turned away.
They tried again at A-list w/o a passes, the gate agent asked them to step to the side of they would not be able to board the plane at all.
After I boarded I noticed they were the last 2 to come on the plane, it was beautiful.
They then tried again at A31, turned away.
They tried again at A-list w/o a passes, the gate agent asked them to step to the side of they would not be able to board the plane at all.
After I boarded I noticed they were the last 2 to come on the plane, it was beautiful.
Apr 19, 2015, 7:47 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago
Posts: 425
I pretty much always ask. It's not about policing the line, but figuring out where you're supposed to stand. It's implicit in the process. If someone's too rude to respond civilly (and that's never happened to me), that's their problem, not mine. (And would probably encourage me to grab a gate agent for a bp check.)
Apr 19, 2015, 9:48 pm
#43
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Apr 20, 2015, 8:07 am
#44
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SJC, Northern Cal.
Programs: SWA RR BIS 6.2M, A+'20, CP'20, AA, UA Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 909
BS line flying back from BUR: I'm A2 or A3 and ask a guy that was standing "around the a2" part of the line "Hi, I'm Ax, can I ask what your number is?" Guy answers with a strong "No!". Couple people around me heard him and sort of pulled back in a "woah" motion.
Turns out he was in the high 10's and just stood at the front of the pole as everyone walked past him.
Turns out he was in the high 10's and just stood at the front of the pole as everyone walked past him.
Apr 22, 2015, 5:40 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: FRA
Programs: MileagePlus Premier Silver, IHG Spire Elite, HHonors Silver, RapidRewards
Posts: 382
Let me rephrase. I told him that since there was no one in the seat, I intended to sit there. Pardon my semantics; it was several years ago and I was telling a story, not waxing philosophical on the lack of official policy from WN.