01-08-2021
09:21 AM
1 Love
I wish I had seen this post before making my own. I completely agree. If they want to book middle seats fine--but don't mislead the customer into thinking it will be open until just a few days before the flight.
... View more
I have flown almost exclusively Southwest airlines for the past decade, and have high respect and loyalty for this company. For the first time, this company has taken actions that makes me question them as a company, and whether I should look into a different airline. They have been misleading about their middle seat policy during the CoVID pandemic, demonstrating customer preferences and more importantly, safety as low priority. In August, I was apprehensive about flying but hadn't seen a military family member in two years so I booked a Southwest flight regardless. I was very pleasantly surprised--with the middle seats vacant and other cleaning and distancing measures in place, flying felt no more dangerous than going to the grocery store. Fast forward to December around the holidays, and multiple guidances from CDC were issued about restricting traveling. Rather than cancel trips or prioritizing driving, I continued to feel at ease having already flown and feeling safe. However, Southwest sent a message to me three days before my departure date that the middle seat might now be occupied. At that point, it was too late to make alternative arrangements. The flight was extremely uncomfortable--I was seated between two strangers, and I felt guilty and anxious about having flown and exposing family members for the remainder of the holidays. I had two more legs of travel before returning home, and Southwest sent an email three days before those flights as well about the changed middle seat policy. It seems they are doing this last minute change to many of their flights. I planned a backpacking trip with my significant other months ago during the pandemic as an outdoors, CoVID friendly chance to get away. The flight takes off tomorrow, and I was again informed just yesterday that the middle seat would be occupied. This is unacceptable. While some may feel okay with this "small" last minute change, to others it can make the difference of whether they choose to fly or which airline to fly. It feels like a lack of integrity from Southwest, that they are unwilling to be upfront about this middle seat policy until it is too late for customers to back out. Over the years, I have come to expect much better from this company. Southwest needs to return to putting the customer first, which is the guiding principle that resulted in their enormous success as a company. I certainly will not be flying with them again until they do.
... View more
