Yet another rant about EBCI & seat saving (was Sw airlines reputation crashing)
Sep 26, 2016, 9:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 10
Yet another rant about EBCI & seat saving (was Sw airlines reputation crashing)
Companions travelling on Southwest Airlines now pay for Early Bird Boarding for one ticket. That ticket holder boards early and "saves" (cheats) seats for his companions, at the expense of others who have purchased Early Bird Boarding. My boarding number yesterday was 44, but I had to sit 90 seats back because of all of the "saved" seats. Flight attendants that I complained to brushed me off calling it a normal practice. I call it theft of my Early Bird fee.
Sep 26, 2016, 9:55 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
This would be more appropriate for the South West (WN) forum. I've alerted a MOD to move this there. I do believe it is a standard practice that does devalue the paid service. Complaint to corporate as that will be the only way to affect change. You should also stop paying for a service that does not provide for you.
Sep 26, 2016, 9:59 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
(1) Welcome to Flyertalk.
(2) See the Southwest forum: this thread gets done weekly if not more.
(3) Is it possible that you're exaggerating a wee bit on the "90 seats back" with an A44 BP bit?
(4) I don't disagree with you in premise. WN purposes ignored this topic to the detriment of its passengers (and some might argue its flight attendants). That said, the Early Birder saving 1 seat, which probably isn't one you want anyway, isn't the biggest crime in the WN seat-etiquette universe.
(2) See the Southwest forum: this thread gets done weekly if not more.
(3) Is it possible that you're exaggerating a wee bit on the "90 seats back" with an A44 BP bit?
(4) I don't disagree with you in premise. WN purposes ignored this topic to the detriment of its passengers (and some might argue its flight attendants). That said, the Early Birder saving 1 seat, which probably isn't one you want anyway, isn't the biggest crime in the WN seat-etiquette universe.
Sep 26, 2016, 10:21 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 10
(1) welcome to flyertalk.
(2) see the southwest forum: This thread gets done weekly if not more.
(3) is it possible that you're exaggerating a wee bit on the "90 seats back" with an a44 bp bit?
(4) i don't disagree with you in premise. Wn purposes ignored this topic to the detriment of its passengers (and some might argue its flight attendants). That said, the early birder saving 1 seat, which probably isn't one you want anyway, isn't the biggest crime in the wn seat-etiquette universe.
(2) see the southwest forum: This thread gets done weekly if not more.
(3) is it possible that you're exaggerating a wee bit on the "90 seats back" with an a44 bp bit?
(4) i don't disagree with you in premise. Wn purposes ignored this topic to the detriment of its passengers (and some might argue its flight attendants). That said, the early birder saving 1 seat, which probably isn't one you want anyway, isn't the biggest crime in the wn seat-etiquette universe.
Sep 26, 2016, 10:28 am
#7
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 288
If no butt is sitting in the seat, just sit down. If you want to be nice, ask them if that seat is open, if they say they are saving it, just tell them that is not allowed, and sit down. The FA's are bad about enforcing the rules, but if you just sit down, they wont make you move if you point out that seat saving isn't allowed.
Sep 26, 2016, 10:28 am
#8
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Delighted to no longer be in Illinois
Programs: SW A List Preferred, Delta Gold, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 703
Sit where you like. If someone says that the seat you want is saved, sit down and say thank you. Why is this so hard?
Sep 26, 2016, 11:14 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Denver
Posts: 509
You're most recent thread prior to this one was also a complaint about Early Bird and the position you got.
Might I suggest Southwest may not be the right airline for you and maybe you should try one that has assigned seating?
Edit: Nevermind - I see your other 6 posts were complaints about United Economy Plus fees or upgrade fees.
Might I suggest Southwest may not be the right airline for you and maybe you should try one that has assigned seating?
Edit: Nevermind - I see your other 6 posts were complaints about United Economy Plus fees or upgrade fees.
Sep 26, 2016, 11:22 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: TX
Programs: WN A List Preferred and CP, AA, IHG Spire, Hertz #1 Gold 5*, Hilton Diamond, Enterprise Platinum
Posts: 1,269
You're most recent thread prior to this one was also a complaint about Early Bird and the position you got.
Might I suggest Southwest may not be the right airline for you and maybe you should try one that has assigned seating?
Edit: Nevermind - I see your other 6 posts were complaints about United Economy Plus fees or upgrade fees.
Might I suggest Southwest may not be the right airline for you and maybe you should try one that has assigned seating?
Edit: Nevermind - I see your other 6 posts were complaints about United Economy Plus fees or upgrade fees.
Sep 26, 2016, 12:04 pm
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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So...
60 theoretically desirable seats. (No solo-traveling A44 BP holder in the history of humankind has been forced to take a middle seat.)
43 people ahead of you. (I'll just assume 0 thru pax.)
Maybe two or three seat savers...
We're talking about the difference of one or two rows.
Or zero rows.
But it makes for a fun thread, so please continue.
60 theoretically desirable seats. (No solo-traveling A44 BP holder in the history of humankind has been forced to take a middle seat.)
43 people ahead of you. (I'll just assume 0 thru pax.)
Maybe two or three seat savers...
We're talking about the difference of one or two rows.
Or zero rows.
But it makes for a fun thread, so please continue.
Sep 26, 2016, 12:09 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,446
so...
60 theoretically desirable seats. (no solo-traveling a44 bp holder in the history of humankind has been forced to take a middle seat.)
43 people ahead of you. (i'll just assume 0 thru pax.)
maybe two or three seat savers...
We're talking about the difference of one or two rows.
Or zero rows.
But it makes for a fun thread, so please continue.
60 theoretically desirable seats. (no solo-traveling a44 bp holder in the history of humankind has been forced to take a middle seat.)
43 people ahead of you. (i'll just assume 0 thru pax.)
maybe two or three seat savers...
We're talking about the difference of one or two rows.
Or zero rows.
But it makes for a fun thread, so please continue.
Sep 26, 2016, 12:13 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
WN is what it is. Seat saving is not permitted, but FA's don't get involved. So, just use self-help. If you board and there is nobody in a seat you want, sit in it.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
Sep 26, 2016, 12:26 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,446
WN is what it is. Seat saving is not permitted, but FA's don't get involved. So, just use self-help. If you board and there is nobody in a seat you want, sit in it.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
Sep 26, 2016, 12:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
WN is what it is. Seat saving is not permitted, but FA's don't get involved. So, just use self-help. If you board and there is nobody in a seat you want, sit in it.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
Unless someone shows up with a boarding pass for that seat, it is yours. And here is a tip: nobody will show up with a boarding pass for that seat.
<Against my better judgment, wading into what will likely turn out to be yet another seat saving discussion.>