smarinello

SWA time to solve your self created boarding issues.

Today, from MCO to MDW. Flight packed. Pre-boards lined up as far as eyes could see as usual. Clearly some gaming the system. Very over weight folks now pre boarding, to many to be legitimate pre boarders. Wait, it gets better, same groups of Ow pre boarders SAVINg seats for family members. ...?! Wait, elderly pre boards, saving window seat for their family member.

time to fix a glaring problem. Many in my group online saying the same thing. We are all AList and AList P and are pissed about the same problem at every station and flight.

We have a choice and we are going to exercise it.

Typong on iPad on flight p,ease excuse typing

LegalTender

smmrfld

Is there really a need for a new thread for the same old rant?

dmbolp

I'm also AL+, none of those preboarders can take my emergency exit row seats, so I don't care. If you want a window seat that someone is saving but no one is sitting in it yet, sit in it!

jjbiv

The only "fix" available to SWA under federal law is to start assigning seats. I don't think they are willing to start down that path and I'm not convinced the average customer would be any better off under an assigned seats regime. Most people are honest and the current (imperfect) process works well enough.

returnoftheyeti

Same Old Rant…. Different Day.

Random thought….what if they did do assigned seats….BUT, heres the catch. You pick your assigned seat by when you purchase it. Leave like the first 5 rows and exit rows open only for A Listers, and thats it.

PreBoards could still exist, you could still board by group number like you do now, just with assigned seats.

Although this method would miss on early bird cash. Maybe charge more for Window and Aisle seats.

Never mind, I guess this is a terrible idea. Ignore me

HGPilot

How about just not letting pre boarders sit in the first five {or so} rows. Or even better make them sit in the last five only.

Orange County Commuter

One of my all-time favorite Southwest flights was one where Miss pre-border got on, to block seats for the rest of her family, and a mutiny occurred. People started moving her carefully placed junk and taking a seat. She ran complaining and FA told her sorry she couldn’t do anything. And then mama‘s kids got on and they were drunk because they stayed in the bar until the last minute cause mama was saving seats And the pilot came out and told the children they could sit down in the central seats that were left and shut up.


So, if little Mr. and Miss pre-border wants to block a seat, just take it. You can watch them act like the two-year-old they are.

now I have watched them crack down a lot at MCO so I find thus interesting. Last time I was there there was a family of 12 who were all going to pre-board with the toddler and they were told two parents one toddler apparently something had been said to the flight attendant because when we got on the plane, they had not been able to block any other seats, and they were not happy. Same thing occurred with a family who had a woman in a wheelchair. A couple of people got on with her and the rest and were told to board with their normal boarding group (boy they were really unhappy.&#128514

smarinello

Prop not, but here's the deal, I believe by continuing to highlight the ridiculousness of WN's lack of boarding enforcement, and expressing our frustration keeps the topic alive and someone from WN will notice.

beachmouse

Because for the non-miracle flight pre-boarder with a legit mobility issue, you can be getting into ACAA violation territory with that.

HGPilot

Then exclude those people from this. BUT, they then have to wait on the plane until everyone else has departed and then get in the wheelchair waiting for them at the jet bridge.

I do appreciate that the ADA makes things difficult especially with "hidden"disabilities that you have to accept.

joshua362

ANY flight to and fro MCO is over exaggerated with pre-boarders and hence abuse of. Its just the nature of the beast that is MCO and never gonna change.

As you say, you probably have more choices then most at MCO.

LarryJ

It is the ACAA, not the ADA. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-1...ter-D/part-382

The ACAA does not allow the airline to question a passengers declaration of a disability nor judge the validity of it.

As far as restricting them to particular seats, 14 CFR 382 prevents that. The exit row seat requirements apply to other passengers as well so that is allowed.

dlaue

This again?

Can emotional support animals be next?

CA1900

Those got banned three years ago.