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Is That Seat Taken? Southwest Airlines' Seat-Savers Drive Some Passengers Crazy
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) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
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
Concur.
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.
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.
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.....
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.