discrimination against solo travellers
#76
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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IIRC when resort fees were first introduced they were per person per night, not per room per night. To me, the former makes sense as many of the items included in the resort fee are really given on a per person basis or would normally be used more by two than one.
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 457
at least with airlines, extras are optional.
Although I did find a travel agent, who charged less, the more passengers in the booking.
We had another family looking at doing same as us.
Airfare to USA in peak season was $1500 each for 4 of us, but if other family of 5 booked same flights, at same time in same booking & we made no more than 2 payments at same time, the price dropped to $1440 each(all adults). Guess there was not twice the work involved.
So it can pay to find a travelling companion, even if you don't share the same room.
Although I did find a travel agent, who charged less, the more passengers in the booking.
We had another family looking at doing same as us.
Airfare to USA in peak season was $1500 each for 4 of us, but if other family of 5 booked same flights, at same time in same booking & we made no more than 2 payments at same time, the price dropped to $1440 each(all adults). Guess there was not twice the work involved.
So it can pay to find a travelling companion, even if you don't share the same room.
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
I'm used to traveling solo, even if multiple workers are going to the same destination. Usually we're going from dispersed parts of town and have very different hotel preferences. Some prefer a place with a lounge floor and don't go out, where I want to go wander around or visit with local friends when I'm not working. Business travel with people who want to fly the same itinerary/get dinner together/drive together etc. really ranks low on my list of enjoyable travel.
#79
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
I didn't go.
Seth
#80
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,595
Not talking about cruises and single supplements, nor restaurants with different seating policies, but just hotels.
You pay the same amount as another person, who has 2 or more. And yet you get less benefits.
Breakfast benefit? Only for one person. Even though supposedly it is "free breakfast" and not a discount. What if it is a tiny amount and you want two portions? Or if it is a food and beverage credit?
You pay the same amount as another person, who has 2 or more. And yet you get less benefits.
Breakfast benefit? Only for one person. Even though supposedly it is "free breakfast" and not a discount. What if it is a tiny amount and you want two portions? Or if it is a food and beverage credit?
Hobbits do this all the time so they can get Second Breakfast.
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,684
Just wear a no t-shirt. Alternative, and it works well, get to your seat and shut your eyes and try to sleep. It will greatly reduce the number of times that you'll hear this.
#82
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Peoria
Programs: Southwest, Best Western Gold, La Quinta, Dollar
Posts: 819
I've flown probably 500 solo Southwest flights and never been asked by the airline to change seats so that other travelers could sit together. I always choose aisle on Southwest, and would consider moving to another aisle seat, but have simply never been asked. I wouldn't have any issues saying no to a worse seat and seriously doubt Southwest would be willing to IDB me for it.
About once a year, I'll be on a WN flight where the FA gets on the intercom and says "we have a late-boarding family with a small child...anyone willing to move in exchange for free drinks?" That usually does it - everybody's happy. If they were forcing travelers to move to accommodate children, I would think at least one of those situations would have blown up into a big news story with a viral video by now.
About once a year, I'll be on a WN flight where the FA gets on the intercom and says "we have a late-boarding family with a small child...anyone willing to move in exchange for free drinks?" That usually does it - everybody's happy. If they were forcing travelers to move to accommodate children, I would think at least one of those situations would have blown up into a big news story with a viral video by now.
#83
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 48
I sometimes get the late boarder who is faced with nothing but available middle seats, and invariably they want me to move to accomodate their spouse/partner/friend/co-worker (and thus give up my window seat) so that they can sit together. My answer is always No if it involves me moving to a middle seat anywhere else on the plane. Ain't happening, sorry, no. One small advantage of open seating is that this situation is much less prevalent on Southwest than it is elsewhere, because on the other airlines, the seat-swapper-wannabe already has a connection to said middle seat; the spouse/partner/friend/co-worker is assigned to some other middle seat elsewhere. Sorry; not my problem if you booked late and all that were left were middles.
Nobody NEEDS to sit with their companion if they don't have special needs..and if they do, get a pre-board.
I always say no.
#84
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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I sometimes get the late boarder who is faced with nothing but available middle seats, and invariably they want me to move to accomodate their spouse/partner/friend/co-worker (and thus give up my window seat) so that they can sit together. My answer is always No if it involves me moving to a middle seat anywhere else on the plane. Ain't happening, sorry, no. One small advantage of open seating is that this situation is much less prevalent on Southwest than it is elsewhere, because on the other airlines, the seat-swapper-wannabe already has a connection to said middle seat; the spouse/partner/friend/co-worker is assigned to some other middle seat elsewhere. Sorry; not my problem if you booked late and all that were left were middles.
I find swap requests more common on WN because of the terrible "open seating" system. Nobody has a BP with a seat on it, nobody has paid more for THAT seat (even if they paid more to board early). The only claim you can make is "I boarded before you..if you want to sit next to your companion..get an A pass next time". I find it the height of cheek to board with the C's find only middles left, and demand someone in an aisle or window who boarded way earlier move just because they are alone. This also exacerbates the "seat saving" problem on WN.
Nobody NEEDS to sit with their companion if they don't have special needs..and if they do, get a pre-board.
I always say no.
Nobody NEEDS to sit with their companion if they don't have special needs..and if they do, get a pre-board.
I always say no.
On a legacy, whole traveling parties that consist of non-elites are in scattered middles all over the place. Inevitably some of them start trying to bum trades off of people. It's a nuisance.
I'm okay doing a trade with someone who is polite and offering me a neutral or better seat. The people who have all middles just need to stow their bags and sit down in their seat assignments.