Pre-boarders should be forced to sit in the back of the plane
#46
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
You ever get stuck next to a huge fat smelly guy in your reserved seat on your legacy with 0% of improving? I have.
I board in the low Bs on WN and if it's going to be full I look for an aisle seat next to a child or small Asian woman in the middle seat. Problem solved.
To each his own.
I board in the low Bs on WN and if it's going to be full I look for an aisle seat next to a child or small Asian woman in the middle seat. Problem solved.
To each his own.
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose
- Kris Kristofferson
#47
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 130
I saw two men in their late 30s preboard a few days ago. Not a problem with them. No clue why they got to preboard, so I agree with you when there is no obvious physical problem. Outside of that, preboarders are better off up front.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,164
This is why I do not really care to get A16. Much rather have something like B10, for this exact reason.
Of course, it does not always work.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
I've never gotten stuck next to a smelly person but if I did I would complain to the flight attendant before the boarding door is closed. If I'm not upgraded I frequently have an exit row which means if the person is so fat they require a seatbelt extension they aren't allowed to sit there. If you fly a legacy a lot you sit up front a lot of the time which is 2-2 seating so no middle seat and plenty of room between seats and the arm rest is usually fixed. If I don't have an exit row and were to have someone seat next to me that was extremely fat I would put the arm rest down and if it wouldn't go down again complain discreetly to the FA and like on WN they would have to buy a second seat or more than likely just pay to be moved to first class.
I know some people like open seating just like some people would rather have no change fees on Southwest as opposed while others prefer being able to be put on an earlier flight for no charge on a legacy. I'll stick with my legacy carrier for my flight tomorrow since my upgrade has already cleared, probably won't clear on the return sunday but I have an aisle C+ seat on a 2-3 seating configured plane on the 2 seat side of the plane with free alcohol if I want to drink and can enjoy another coke zero instead of rushing to get on the plane for a decent seat
And I'll have the same issues with preboarders on the legacy this weekend that people on Southwest does. At least unless if they are in first or C+ i'll be able to get off the plane before them
Last edited by jamesteroh; Oct 6, 2016 at 6:12 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
#51
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,875
You ever get stuck next to a huge fat smelly guy in your reserved seat on your legacy with 0% of improving? I have.
I board in the low Bs on WN and if it's going to be full I look for an aisle seat next to a child or small Asian woman in the middle seat. Problem solved.
To each his own.
I board in the low Bs on WN and if it's going to be full I look for an aisle seat next to a child or small Asian woman in the middle seat. Problem solved.
To each his own.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
Or pay for EBCI and have a tight connection and/or be connecting with a severly delayed first flight and run to get to your connection gate when late B or C is boarding (happened to me a couple times but fortunately WN was great about refunding it after requesting a refund of the fee)
#53
Join Date: May 2016
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 62
I've seen it where gate agents let a whole family reunion board because grandma and grandpa preboarded... matching shirts and all, took up the first 3 rows!
#54
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Long Island
Programs: Southwest Airlines, Marriot
Posts: 234
Miracle Flights
The flights that leave from ISP to PBI are "miracle flights". The wheelchairs are lined up on the way to Palm Beach. When the plane arrives in Palm Beach, it is a miracle!! The wheelchairs are not needed and they all run off the plane.
Pre-Boarding has become a joke!
Pre-Boarding has become a joke!
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
Something else that I saw one time that irritated me was when I was boarding I saw two people that preboarded together sitting in an aisle and window with an empty middle. WN should allow only ONE person to preboard with them if they require that person for assistance and one of them should be required to sit in the middle seat. If someone needs assistance preboarding then the person assisting them should be sitting next to them not taking up an aisle or window seat.
#56
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,238
Something else that I saw one time that irritated me was when I was boarding I saw two people that preboarded together sitting in an aisle and window with an empty middle. WN should allow only ONE person to preboard with them if they require that person for assistance and one of them should be required to sit in the middle seat. If someone needs assistance preboarding then the person assisting them should be sitting next to them not taking up an aisle or window seat.
Most preboarders need assistance boarding, not sitting. I would love to not have to preboard as the reason that I have to preboard affects many aspects of life not just getting on a plane. I realize that many people's issue with preboarding is the abuse of it. I get that and agree with those people. It's those that legitimately need it and are being lumped in with everyone else that I have a problem with.
#57
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,492
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,164
A third of the passengers could pre-board and everyone else would be guaranteed an aisle or a window.
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
Must be really nice to be able bodied and not have to worry about this stuff.
Most preboarders need assistance boarding, not sitting. I would love to not have to preboard as the reason that I have to preboard affects many aspects of life not just getting on a plane. I realize that many people's issue with preboarding is the abuse of it. I get that and agree with those people. It's those that legitimately need it and are being lumped in with everyone else that I have a problem with.
Most preboarders need assistance boarding, not sitting. I would love to not have to preboard as the reason that I have to preboard affects many aspects of life not just getting on a plane. I realize that many people's issue with preboarding is the abuse of it. I get that and agree with those people. It's those that legitimately need it and are being lumped in with everyone else that I have a problem with.
I broke my femur a few years ago and couldn't weight bear for a few months. While I didn't fly during that time period, if I would have flown on WN and had a companion preboard with me (which I would have needed to stow my bag) I wouldn't have had an issue at all asking him to sit in the middle seat or me taking the middle and him an aisle.
Fortunately I didn't have to fly until after I was walking without an assistance device and until I was fully recovered I didn't chose an exit row on any flight.
And I know people needing assistance also suffer as a result of people abusing the system. There were several times when I was on crutches I couldn't find a handicap parking space or had to wait on a cart at a store.
#60
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,042
The idea of requiring those accompanying the preboarders to take a middle seat is a good one; also the idea of requiring preboarders to get off last. If the reasoning behind preboarding is some people need more time, obviously they need more time to get off as well. I see the folks being met with wheelchairs waiting in their seats until everybody is off. But many folks who arrive in a wheelchair find themselves perfectly able to depart on foot.