Appreciate being able to drop in, and see a few comments/takes, as I recently had a similar experience, having purchased Early Bird, 1st time, ending w/ B05, and flying PVD to DCA, for a HS graduation...things were a bit hectic to the point of my sibling asking if I'd mind ride sharing > normal pick-up, and, on top of that, a major Metro reno, impacting Reagan Natl, had Metro down, and requiring a bit of a walk, and a bus, to get to where I needed to go (hence, my 1st Early Bird)... ...I'm boarding, and, I see, in 1st rows left and right, the window seat only, with companion dog, one side, but with a phone on one of the two open seats, and a magazine on the other... ...on the other side, I see a gentleman, who I'd guess in his mid 20s, middle seat left, and occupant in the aisle seat left... ...I ask about window seat left, and gent in the middle seat apologizes, indicates that's saved... ...I turn to the gentleman traveling with the pet, and ask if the middle and aisle seat right, are taken, or if those are his personal items, he indicates those are note his items, and gent in middle seat left, chirps up, "they're saved"... ...I'm now aware this gent has paid a $20 Early Bird fee, traveling with 3 others, who did not, and saving 3 seats, I've folks behind me backing up, and, as I look to Southwest attendant Michelle, who, it's clear can see something is going on, hears something is going on, now has me turning, asking from help, to which I get the two palms up gesture, and "I'm not certain what's going on"... ...and, so, I, in the moment decide to slip back into next available aisle seat, about 5-6 rows back > delaying further... ...THAT won't happened again...as other have suggested here, I'll sit in the first open seat. If I had, this time, instead of my looking at the back end of my Metro Bus, after a brisk near 30 minute walk, just missing it, and having to wait another 30 minutes, I'd likely have caught that bus.... ...and, if "Michelle" - her actual name - had been as engaged enforcing the Early Bird & Boarding policies, as she was enforcing other policies (I thought the blunt "say goodbye" to the senior sitting next to me, "enforcing" the turning off phone policy was curt bordering on rude...as was her banishing a traveler to their seat for lingering near the RR, too long, with it occupied, certainly showed her understanding of SW policies)...I would have... Thank you, "Michelle" from Southwest, for setting me straight, and appreciate SW making this forum available, for me to confirm SW doesn't care to enforce this, so, as suggested, when I see a seat that matches my "seat", I'll be making that "match".
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