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Is That Seat Taken? Southwest Airlines' Seat-Savers Drive Some Passengers Crazy

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Stu Weinshanker was boarding a Southwest Airlines flight in Las Vegas when he found something occupying his wife’s seat. Well, not technically her seat because Southwest famously doesn’t assign seats. It was the exit-row aisle seat she had her eyes on so they could sit across from one another. They had each paid the airline’s $15 early bird fee in hopes of snagging the coveted seats with extra legroom — Weinshanker is 6' 2'' — during Southwest’s first-come, first-served open… (www.usatoday.com) さらに...

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TiredTom
Tom Bruce 11
wow...never cared for flying on SW when I was on business trips... always got upgraded...but now,,, after retirement? Man.. I'd cause a ruckus because when I see a seat open "up front", i sit in it...haven't encountered this seat-saving thing yet... but I will probably cause a scene if I do...sorry...just the way I am and too old to change
misterwallace
It's amazing. Whenever somebody is caught out doing the wrong thing, it's somebody else's fault or "he intimidated me". Poor little snowflake didn't get to sit with her boyfriend who tried to save money by not doing what others would do in accordance with the rules. It's only a short flight relative to life snowflake, get over it and move the laptop. Don't want to pay, then that's life.
Braniff77
It's just as bad or worse on Amtrak. Except that people put stuff on the seat next to them to stop other people from sitting there so they can sit alone, and not to save it for someone.
gzelna
For one Southwest is no longer a 'cheap' airline, including the 'free' bag(as in, included in the fare). Quick fare shopping nearly always nets a better price if that is your objective. Yes they started out cheaper, but it seems there has been fare-creep. Second the routes have changed over the decades and many that were non-stop, now connect. Which generally sucks on ANY airline. Its been a while since I flew SW (aforementioned reasons) - I never witnessed 'seat saving' however it would have pissed me off to see an entire row 'saved'. Suffice to say, any system that can be fouled up by people, WILL be fouled up by people.....
ehlerts01
I do have to say, that I have saved a seat or two when I have recently flown SWA. However, my wife, daughter, and I made the decision to save the seats in the middle to back of the plane rather than in the front. My wife and I, twice, had round trip reservations and our daughter had one-ways each time. We would save for her since she was always a different boarding group. One seat is fine but I saw someone try and save five up near the front. They paid the extra for early boarding but would pay for the other five people traveling with them.
misterwallace
Sorry, did you leave out a word as in "...would not pay for the other five..."? Or the person did pay but for some reason the others were last on?
fpk2
shit does happens
dee9bee
dee9bee 1
“He had to buy her all kinds of alcohol to get her to calm down" HA! Southwest is the 'WalMart' of airlines. Oh wait, I was thinking of Spirit and Allegiant.
pr0ject
SWA is for kids and old people who rarely fly and just want cheap tickets. For the rest of us, we fly enterprise carriers like AAL, DAL, UAL, etc.
ki061662
What is so good about Delta, AAL, and UAL? I have flown them all and prefer Southwest. I however concur about Alegient and Spirit.
scott8733
I'd humbly submit Frontier to that dubious list as well.

Reality is that when compared to several foreign carriers I've flown with (Cathay, Emirates, and a couple others), all US carriers leave much to be desired. That's a diplomatic way of saying they all pretty much suck.
pr0ject
I didn't say they were 'good', just that business travelers usually prefer enterprise carriers which honor status over SWA.
OnTheHorizon
Southworst!
scott8733
I know of several 'professional seat saver' fliers who will ask the SWA gate agent how full the A/C will be, and (assuming not 100% full) will then proceed to save the seat next to them about 1/3 of the way up for their fictitious mate, who is using the lav throughout the boarding process. Then, as C group continues to the aft cabin - they're nearly guaranteed to have the middle seat open. Clever.
LarryBass
I am amazed that Southwest finds this an acceptable practice... If I was at Disneyworld and got in line for a ride and much later 5 friends came thru the line to join me, I would be REMOVED from the line, possibly the park. And Southwest charges a fee for early boarding? Where's the logic in allowing this? If I buy a front row seat at a concert, I can save the seats all around me for my friends that DID NOT buy a front row seat?
alsise2
another snowflake melts....

wedgeclose
Exactly the reason I hate Southwest. What is the big deal with this "rodeo" airline? You save $5 or $10 dollars in fare. Stand in line for the right to board, fight for seats and most of the time have to make a stop to get to your destination. Constantly late because the "crews" are coming on an inbound flight. Big deal...pay the 10 bucks and fly American or Delta or save 50 and fly spirit!
wedgeclose
Exactly the reason I hate Southwest. What is the big deal with this "rodeo" airline? You save $5 or $10 dollars in fare. Stand in line for the right to board, fight for seats and most of the time have to make a stop to get to your destination. Constantly late because the "crews" are coming on an inbound flight. Big deal...pay the 10 bucks and fly American or Delta or save 50 and fly spirit!

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