01-06-2024
07:54 PM
01-06-2024
07:54 PM
guess is that if you call southwest and say you would like a refund, they will tell you that there is no policy on seat saving and tell you that you could have sat in that seat. It's several years after your post and the same seat saving is still being done today. At this point, I do not think it will ever change. Southwest got their money and that is where they stopped caring.
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06-12-2021
01:09 PM
First, I am retired Air Force, flying air refueling aircraft and transport aircraft. I have dealt with in flight emergencies and opening hatches. First, "Saving seats" should not be allowed in emergency rows. Those who board with the best group numbers (ex: Business Select) should be allowed if they want one of those seats and it is open. On one flight, a male (aggressive and confrontational) passenger saved the other two seats in the emerg row for his family. The FA was there and said nothing when another tall passenger and Business Select wanted to sit there. When the other two family members came (C group), they were two elderly smaller women well into their late 70s or early 80s. That should not be allowed which is another issue for emergency egress. But: How does SW set some common sense boundaries and enforce it without fear of a lawsuit or a physical confrontation? In an emergency, things become chaotic,.. confusion and panic can set in. I have seen it on SW once when encountering severe turbulence on descent and approach (into Burbank CA). Some passengers were screaming, puking, crying and the FAs were doing their best to keep everyone calm.
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@ffflyer wrote: SWA may not come out and say it but their actions obviously say that you can save as many seats as you want. The FAs will not intervene. Our choices are to go along with this or fly another airline. For me, SWA is almost always the lowest cost, most convenient, and most on time choice. But my frustration grows with each flight. Seeing people in line ahead of me who didn't pay for EB, along with the ever growing line of pre-boarders and seat savers is making me take a hard look at other airlines. No airline is perfect. With SW you've got early boarders and seat savers. With everybody else you get charges for 1) specific seats 2) checked baggage 3) up to $200 to use travel funds that happen as a result of changing/cancelling flights 4) carry ons - for some 5) beverages / snacks for some 6) forgetting to print your boarding pass before getting to the airport fo some You pick your poison. For me it's a no brainer -- SW all the way -- maybe because in my over 600 flights over the last 20 years, I have never seen a "seat saving" altercation, and seldom have a problem finding an appropriate seat.
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