11 hours ago
Like I have indicated in many posts, gate agents do not follow policy. I would suggest a photo or video of the event and contact Southwest, request a partial refund due to your boarding position being knowingly compromised.
All of the regular posts about boarding agents tells me that they really don't care. The only way to impact change is for Southwest to start refunding customers whose interests are compromised.
Report the incident to Southwest through the "contact us" link.
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yesterday
There are substantial efforts underway to defund the IRS. I would suggest another line of work given what is soon to transpire.
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Monday
Monday
What is spoiling Southwest is the gate agents and flight attendants who do not follow the Southwest policy, to name a few:
Family Boarding abuses
Carry on size, type and count
Insisting on sitting together
Saving seats
Anyone who abuses any of these policies should have their ticket cancelled, refunded and directed to another airline. Do this for a few months and everything will smooth out.
Too many people want to pay Southwest ticket prices but want Delta First Class accommodation.
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Monday
Monday
Uh...the title to the post includes the words "new gate agent".
At MCO, you can carry on an unlimited number of items including your new refrigerator you got on sale. No problems! LOL
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Sunday
Actually, its spelled "yammering" and I mis-stated one adult. I've corrected that in a subsequent copy/paste of the policy.
The fundamental problem with this policy is its name. It is not intended to be "family" boarding, but is in fact "child assist". Too many people hear the term "family" and believe that the policy applies to them.
The proper term should be "child assist" where anyone with a child under the age of seven can board with up to two adults. And, as stated many times before, an adult is not an older child who has not reached the age of majority. They board on their own.
Southwest is drifting toward assigned seats because of the mad rush to get on the plane first and also the misguided impression that families and those traveling together can sit together. When they can't sit together due to seating occupancy during onboarding, they pitch a fit even though they knowingly bought a ticket on an airline that has open seating.
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Sunday
Savings seats versus buying two seats are not the same issue. They are not even in the same discussion.
The individual is frosted over an open seat that is being "removed" from the choice as it is being reserved for a future boarding passenger. Southwest does not endorse that behavior.
No, there's no "policy" per se on this, but there's no policy about wearing barbed wire clothing either. You can't write a "policy" to cover every point of human behavior. Instead, we have open seating.
I would dismiss the person from the flight who is saving the seat and would also have a boarding announcement as I have previously recommended. Save a seat? Get booted off the plane.
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Sunday
Sunday
There is nothing wrong with stating Southwest policy to the employees. There need not be any tension as long as your information is non-confrontational.
There seems to be many posts about this. I thought I was the only one posting about the gate agents not following the rules, but I am seeing more and more.
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Friday
I have called Southwest four times in the past about this very issue. While there is no formal policy about holding or saving seats, it is also not endorsed by Southwest.
You can sit in any open seat. I have done so.
I recently told someone that [saving the seat] is an interesting subject for a book, it is not supported on Southwest. Yup, I sat in the seat that I wanted.
Report this behavior to the flight attendant and ask that law enforcement be brought on board to remove the passenger who is interfering with the boarding process.
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a week ago
a week ago
In my opinion, the abuse of preboarding, family boarding, carry on size and carry on count has destroyed the simplicity of open seating.
When no one can find anymore overhead bin space because George brought his riding mower on board and Betty brings the kids' swing set while Henry brings a wide assortment of cross county ski equipment along with an outdoor barbeque grill, everyone is afraid of running out of space and thus wants on board first.
I have warned Southwest about gate agent apathy of their boarding rules, especially what I see at MCO.
Southwest should examine the video of a random sample of boarding at MCO to see if gate agents follow the rule. I would say that on every flight, someone violates one of the boarding rules and carry on rules. Sad.
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a week ago
I want to understand Family Boarding and family seating policies
Day of Travel
If you're traveling with a child six years old or younger:
Up to two adults traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding.
There should be enough open seats to enable the child to sit next to at least one accompanying adult.
If the child and adults are all holding “A” boarding passes, board in your assigned positions rather than waiting for Family Boarding
If you need and request assistance, Southwest will endeavor to seat a child next to one accompanying passenger (14 and older) to the maximum extent practicable and at no additional cost.
Families can speak to Gate Agents or Flight Attendants to request assistance.
If you are traveling with a child age seven to 13 years old:
If you need and request assistance, Southwest will endeavor to seat a child next to one accompanying passenger (14 and older) to the maximum extent practicable and at no additional cost.
Families can speak to Gate Agents or Flight Attendants to request assistance.
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a week ago
Pointing out issues that are detrimental to the airlines and also a blatant disregard for their own rules is no basis to be put on a no-fly list. However, in my experiences, I have been thanked by Southwest for pointing out issues where they need to improve.
None of my plans would interfere with operations nor would they be a basis to be banned from Southwest.
It is time to follow all of the rules.
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a week ago
a week ago
You can always give credit for certain programs against all or a surcharge. The concept is that you pay based upon your boarding position.
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a week ago
After a couple of months of following the rules, all caution is in the wind now at MCO. Here's what I am seeing:
Oversized Baggage - no problem, come on up and stuff it in the overhead bin to the point that it breaks the frame.
Too Many Bags - no problem, we'll get you a forklift to assist you in carrying all FOUR OR FIVE pieces onboard.
Family Boarding - no problem, bring aunt, uncle, grandson, granddaughter, all of them high school kids who are traveling as a "family" and not a single person under the age of seven.
Saving Seats - no problem. Set aside the first six rows and save them for other people.
Here's my plan point by point:
Oversized Baggage - because the airport is a public place and you have no expectation of privacy, I will photo this abuse and request a partial refund of the price of the ticket for Southwest failing to enforce the rules and creating an inconvenience for everyone. This may involve my credit card carrier.
Too Many Bags - because the airport is a public place and you have no expectation of privacy, I will photo this abuse and request a partial refund of the price of the ticket for Southwest failing to enforce the rules and creating an inconvenience for everyone. This may involve my credit card carrier.
Family Boarding - because the airport is a public place and you have no expectation of privacy, I will photo this abuse and request a partial refund of the price of the ticket for Southwest failing to enforce the rules and creating an inconvenience for everyone. This may involve my credit card carrier.
Saving Seats - I will sit where I want and then press the call button. I will then read the following script to the flight attendant: "The individual in seat XXX attempted to prevent me from choosing an open seat and interfered with the boarding process as well as Southwest's policy of open seating. I am requesting that law enforcement be brough on board to restore my rights, have the individual removed from the flight and thus prevent interference with other passengers."
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a week ago
a week ago
I have proposed to Southwest a few times that their ticket pricing should be based upon boarding position.
For instance, if you have a particular flight with A1 to C60, then A1 is the highest priced ticket down to the lowest price C60. AND, if you decide that you want to board as a family, then buy boarding positions closer to A1.
In short, quit trying for ways to cut in front of other people who have already earned the early boarding positions.
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2 weeks ago
1 Love
Soon all of the preboards will be assigned boarding positions A, B and C while the remaining six people who are NOT preboard will go at the end.
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2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago
I request preboard designation when I check my bags. I use specific language and will not answer any other questions.
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2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago
I would demand compensation. Handling your bags is part of the cost of the ticket.
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2 weeks ago
Southwest is only one of many who has unassigned seating, too. I am in favor of banning these items from the airplanes.
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3 weeks ago
It is time for Southwest to just say NO to this kind of carry on. The irregular shapes and special handling only delay flights and create a nuisance.
Ship the items via freight carrier or buy one locally.
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a month ago
Thank you for your response - however - it has nothing to do with my post. If the wi-fi shows very little bandwidth, why not just refund the customer?
Smiles and Happy Thoughts
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a month ago
The Southwest wi-fi doesn't work. I've tracked the times that I bought it and the times that I requested refunds. Let's just say it would be an embarrassing statistic to post here.
I offered a valid solution to someone who came here as a Southwest employee (all smiles and happy thoughts) who failed to respond to my suggestion. So, here it is.
Since the service is per device, any bandwidth usage that suggests very little or no use should be AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDED to the individual.
The technology is already there to make this possible. In the meantime, I will continue to request refunds.
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03-31-2024
07:50 AM
03-31-2024
07:50 AM
Passengers who preboard are permitted to board with ONE companion, not their entire family.
The gate agent followed the law.
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03-29-2024
07:11 PM
03-29-2024
07:11 PM
why not report to law enforcement in that area?
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03-29-2024
07:10 PM
03-29-2024
07:10 PM
A few weeks ago, I gave a suggestion on this board to a Southwest employee. My suggestion was that if the bandwidth for your device suggests that the wifi didn't work, do the refund automatically.
This strategy could have already been implemented.
For now, just ask for a refund or dispute the charge on your credit card.
I gave Southwest a viable option.
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03-28-2024
04:14 AM
03-28-2024
04:14 AM
This travel should have called for a flight attendant and not given any advice or scolding to the other passenger.
If someone is blocking you, report them to the flight attendant and let them handle it.
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03-28-2024
04:11 AM
03-28-2024
04:11 AM
Yes, there is a personal carry on size limit.
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03-26-2024
10:19 AM
Recently, I was told that the pet may also "preboard" if the owner declares that their pet also has a disability.
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Loves Given To