On the plane New seatsaving scam
Dec 21, 2017, 12:13 pm
#91
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cockeysville, MD
Programs: Marriott Rewards Lifetime Titanium, Amex Plat, Hertz Gold 5*, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 9,467
Dawn.... Todd K here. Glad to see you in FT! Great group here in the WN forum. I was about to link your article-that's spreading across the media-and someone already had. awesome.
Dec 21, 2017, 1:03 pm
#92
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: AAdvantage, Skymiles
Posts: 156
Ways "seat saving' ends:
1) Seat saving brawl (discussed before)
2) People in A1-A15 start to monetize seat saving. All it would need is a public forum, and the person in C5 can Paypal $20 to A4 from the back of the boarding area to save an exit row seat.
1) Seat saving brawl (discussed before)
2) People in A1-A15 start to monetize seat saving. All it would need is a public forum, and the person in C5 can Paypal $20 to A4 from the back of the boarding area to save an exit row seat.
Dec 21, 2017, 2:11 pm
#93
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
A "brawl" extending two news cycles might force corporate to reconsider its neutrality. But airlines don't typically acknowledge viral grievances. Why get off the fence when you can sit on it? Families split apart could mean a bigger drag on sales.
Dec 21, 2017, 2:46 pm
#94
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
Then the person with C4 (or any position ahead of C5) could just go ahead and sit there anyway if he wants it enough because, after all, it is OPEN SEATING
Dec 21, 2017, 5:04 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Airlines are very good at market research, understand their customers better than their customers know themselves. Nothing is going to happen until WN loses a measurable amount of market share, attributable to open seating.
WN is also very effective in controlling their narrative via advertising and social media, could easily work through a couple of seat saving brawls. If all else fails, a fare "sale" or Hawaii service "update" will quickly change any such narrative.
WN is also very effective in controlling their narrative via advertising and social media, could easily work through a couple of seat saving brawls. If all else fails, a fare "sale" or Hawaii service "update" will quickly change any such narrative.
Dec 21, 2017, 6:02 pm
#96
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,461
That is unlikely to happen because we have all drunk the coolaid, we are dumb and blind, and really don't object to saving seats.
Dec 22, 2017, 12:27 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: RNO
Programs: AA/DL/UA
Posts: 10,775
Here's a thought:
When you buy a ticket, you can put your personal belongings under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. You cannot just leave your stuff on an empty seat, no?
So, in this situation, I would say, "excuse me, is this your bag?" If the answer is no, call a flight attendant (unattended baggage). If the answer is yes, then respond with "please move it". If she refuses, then push the bag to the middle seat so you can sit there. Don't be a doormat!
When you buy a ticket, you can put your personal belongings under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. You cannot just leave your stuff on an empty seat, no?
So, in this situation, I would say, "excuse me, is this your bag?" If the answer is no, call a flight attendant (unattended baggage). If the answer is yes, then respond with "please move it". If she refuses, then push the bag to the middle seat so you can sit there. Don't be a doormat!
Dec 22, 2017, 7:21 am
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Dec 22, 2017, 2:01 pm
#101
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: LAS
Posts: 211
Flew back from Vegas last Sunday, woman saving two whole rows on one side of the plane (6 seats) around row 4-5. I kept moving as my A-list partner was saving me the 2nd of the LUV seats (I was A46 though so not too far behind). No idea how far behind the woman her party was but that's the most I've ever seen one person try to save, and couldn't hear if any scuffles broke out from my position.
On a flight out to Vegas a couple months ago a gentlemen in the aisle of the exit saved the aisle across for his C-buddy, anytime anyone asked he said is wife was in the bathroom. I was surprised the person who opted to take the empty middle when told the wife story didn't complain when said buddy showed up.
As for the middle in the exit row, I see that seat go empty so often when there are literally only 1-2 seats empty on the flight - usually pax takes unlimited legroom seat, FA is standing in that row in aisle, another pax asks if the aisle is open, FA says "sure but do you mind sitting in the middle for now so that I can stand here during boarding" and then FA leaves after everyone boards and 2nd pax moves to aisle - I don't often travel alone but if you do this seems like a great way to get extra legroom and often an unoccupied middle on high occupancy flights!
On a flight out to Vegas a couple months ago a gentlemen in the aisle of the exit saved the aisle across for his C-buddy, anytime anyone asked he said is wife was in the bathroom. I was surprised the person who opted to take the empty middle when told the wife story didn't complain when said buddy showed up.
As for the middle in the exit row, I see that seat go empty so often when there are literally only 1-2 seats empty on the flight - usually pax takes unlimited legroom seat, FA is standing in that row in aisle, another pax asks if the aisle is open, FA says "sure but do you mind sitting in the middle for now so that I can stand here during boarding" and then FA leaves after everyone boards and 2nd pax moves to aisle - I don't often travel alone but if you do this seems like a great way to get extra legroom and often an unoccupied middle on high occupancy flights!
Dec 22, 2017, 9:59 pm
#103
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
Shhh. No need to share the FA standing in an available seat secret. I agree sometimes the FA is not so happy when I want to sit where they are standing as they have to find somewhere else to stand.
I think the boarding and seating situation is one of my least favorite Southwest processes. I like an assigned seat, or I like the ability to have everyone in my PNR to inherit my elite boarding status like other carriers. It looks like they might solve the CP issue soon too. I don't like saving seats, and family boarding doesn't help if I have a seven year old.
Perhaps this is why EBCI is sold, but I am not used to paying this type of fee. I am willing to trade a free bag for EBCI (oh my).
Rasheed
I think the boarding and seating situation is one of my least favorite Southwest processes. I like an assigned seat, or I like the ability to have everyone in my PNR to inherit my elite boarding status like other carriers. It looks like they might solve the CP issue soon too. I don't like saving seats, and family boarding doesn't help if I have a seven year old.
Perhaps this is why EBCI is sold, but I am not used to paying this type of fee. I am willing to trade a free bag for EBCI (oh my).
Rasheed
Dec 22, 2017, 10:21 pm
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
As for the middle in the exit row, I see that seat go empty so often when there are literally only 1-2 seats empty on the flight - usually pax takes unlimited legroom seat, FA is standing in that row in aisle, another pax asks if the aisle is open, FA says "sure but do you mind sitting in the middle for now so that I can stand here during boarding" and then FA leaves after everyone boards and 2nd pax moves to aisle - I don't often travel alone but if you do this seems like a great way to get extra legroom and often an unoccupied middle on high occupancy flights!
