Saving seats on Southwest Flights (1 Viewer)

[Moe.]

Enough. Almost had to throw-down with this 80 year old dude that was trying to save an entire row up front. Not on my watch pal.

 

[eoMMan]

Never flew SW but that does sound silly.

 

[kutta]

Was he waiting for family or friends who had lower boarding passes? No problem there.

 

[Moe.]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

 

[Moe.]

I mean if you're traveling with six people and you want one person to buy the early-bird check-in so you can reserve an entire row for the rest of your cheapskate party that is a breach of etiquette, no? I'll add that the people who ultimately sat next to him were some of the last people to actually board the plane. Some old people think they can just do whatever they want just because they are old. This isn't Vietnam, there are rules.

 

[kwille]

This move is almost always played by older folks that give you the creepy old person smile as you stare at the coats and bags they use to claim prime territory. SW policy is pretty clear that this is not allowed.

 

[Sand]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

Southwest only flies 737s. You just described their entire fleet.

 

[-jb-]

One seat is fine. Beyond that you can GFY.

 

[bostonfred]

What's your play here? Do you just sit down in one of the seats? Or move their stuff then walk to the back anyways? Crop dust them?

 

[Moe.]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

Southwest only flies 737s. You just described their entire fleet.

Thanks. I'm sure I'm the only person that didn't know that so my explanation was totally unnecessary. I appreciate you keeping me in line.

Man I am surly this morning.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets. Also, you do not want them doddering unsteadily down the aisles, risking smashing their colostomy bags into unsuspecting passengers. You show some respect to the old boy who may have actually stood a watch or two in his time. Respect your elders.

Now, if it turns out the old boy has been used by a party involving young, able folks to secure them seats all bets are off as to those folks. Using the respect others will give to an elderly person for your own benefit is reprehensible and should meet with extreme social opprobrium. Like those healthy young jackholes who drive around in grandma's car so that they can take advantage of her handicap parking sticker.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

One seat is fine. Beyond that you can GFY.

 

[NutterButter]

If you bought 6 tickets just for yourself, could you legitimately take entire row for yourself? Like if someone tried to sit on the side you weren't sitting on, could you be, "Sorry, those are mine as well. You'll need to sit elsewhere"?

 

[Moe.]

What's your play here? Do you just sit down in one of the seats? Or move their stuff then walk to the back anyways? Crop dust them?

I handed him the coat he had in the aisle seat and sat down. He grumbled and said he was saving the seat and I just ignored him.

 

[James Daulton]

Am I weird that this kind of #### doesn't bother me?

 

[belljr]

So what happened when the other people got on

Did you take the seat on his side or across the aisle

 

[kutta]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

I agree that is excessive. If he wanted to pull this off he should have tried it at the back of the plane. It is more acceptable the further you move back.

 

[Moe.]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets. Also, you do not want them doddering unsteadily down the aisles, risking smashing their colostomy bags into unsuspecting passengers. You show some respect to the old boy who may have actually stood a watch or two in his time. Respect your elders.

Now, if it turns out the old boy has been used by a party involving young, able folks to secure them seats all bets are off as to those folks. Using the respect others will give to an elderly person for your own benefit is reprehensible and should meet with extreme social opprobrium. Like those healthy young jackholes who drive around in grandma's car so that they can take advantage of her handicap parking sticker.

The guy is old but not nursing home old, I'm gonna guess mid 60s. We're going to Vegas so something tells me he gets around ok. The other folks in his party excepting what I assume to be his wife are much younger. I'm assuming some sort of a family trip here. I guess they can all commiserate about the ####### who kept them from sitting in the same row for a 2.5 hour flight which in the end will probably being them closer together as a family. They should honestly thank me.

 

[Christo]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

I'm with you. I'll let the 2 beside you slide. But the entire row is too much. And if you're going to do that sit in the aisle seat until the others get there.

 

[bostonfred]

What's your play here? Do you just sit down in one of the seats? Or move their stuff then walk to the back anyways? Crop dust them?

I handed him the coat he had in the aisle seat and sat down. He grumbled and said he was saving the seat and I just ignored him.

I don't think i can side with you on this one. Is it really that big a deal to sit near the front that you want to make a whole family hate you - and then have to sit next to them for the whole flight? I mean if it was the last aisle seat on the plane or something I guess I can see it, but just to say "not on my watch" seems like a jerk move.

 

[Moe.]

So what happened when the other people got on

Did you take the seat on his side or across the aisle

I took the aisle seat across from him. Others who weren't in their party filled in the two seats next to me before the five stragglers got on. He was able to save the two seats next to him until the bitter end. The other three in his party had to find their own seats towards the back. Hopefully it doesn't ruin their weekend.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets. Also, you do not want them doddering unsteadily down the aisles, risking smashing their colostomy bags into unsuspecting passengers. You show some respect to the old boy who may have actually stood a watch or two in his time. Respect your elders.

Now, if it turns out the old boy has been used by a party involving young, able folks to secure them seats all bets are off as to those folks. Using the respect others will give to an elderly person for your own benefit is reprehensible and should meet with extreme social opprobrium. Like those healthy young jackholes who drive around in grandma's car so that they can take advantage of her handicap parking sticker.

The guy is old but not nursing home old, I'm gonna guess mid 60s. We're going to Vegas so something tells me he gets around ok. The other folks in his party excepting what I assume to be his wife are much younger. I'm assuming some sort of a family trip here. I guess they can all commiserate about the ####### who kept them from sitting in the same row for a 2.5 hour flight which in the end will probably being them closer together as a family. They should honestly thank me.

Estimation of his age dropped twenty years in only a few posts.

 

[Moe.]

What's your play here? Do you just sit down in one of the seats? Or move their stuff then walk to the back anyways? Crop dust them?

I handed him the coat he had in the aisle seat and sat down. He grumbled and said he was saving the seat and I just ignored him.

I don't think i can side with you on this one. Is it really that big a deal to sit near the front that you want to make a whole family hate you - and then have to sit next to them for the whole flight? I mean if it was the last aisle seat on the plane or something I guess I can see it, but just to say "not on my watch" seems like a jerk move.

Can't say I totally disagree with you but it's just the principle. You can't save five ####### seats.

 

[Sand]

To a degree sure. It's one of those planes with three seats to a side. He was in the window seat in the second row. Completely full flight. He was saving not only the two seats next to him but the three seats across the aisle in the same row. Not a chance.

Southwest only flies 737s. You just described their entire fleet.

Thanks. I'm sure I'm the only person that didn't know that so my explanation was totally unnecessary. I appreciate you keeping me in line.

Man I am surly this morning.

I am on my 21st straight day of work so I guess I am as well.

I think the proper play here is to take it as an invitation to deposit my bags in that overhead bin and walk back to another seat.

 

[Moe.]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets. Also, you do not want them doddering unsteadily down the aisles, risking smashing their colostomy bags into unsuspecting passengers. You show some respect to the old boy who may have actually stood a watch or two in his time. Respect your elders.

Now, if it turns out the old boy has been used by a party involving young, able folks to secure them seats all bets are off as to those folks. Using the respect others will give to an elderly person for your own benefit is reprehensible and should meet with extreme social opprobrium. Like those healthy young jackholes who drive around in grandma's car so that they can take advantage of her handicap parking sticker.

The guy is old but not nursing home old, I'm gonna guess mid 60s. We're going to Vegas so something tells me he gets around ok. The other folks in his party excepting what I assume to be his wife are much younger. I'm assuming some sort of a family trip here. I guess they can all commiserate about the ####### who kept them from sitting in the same row for a 2.5 hour flight which in the end will probably being them closer together as a family. They should honestly thank me.

Estimation of his age dropped twenty years in only a few posts.

I'm a terrible judge of age, plus I was up all night drinking. You could sell me on anywhere from 65-82 with this guy.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets. Also, you do not want them doddering unsteadily down the aisles, risking smashing their colostomy bags into unsuspecting passengers. You show some respect to the old boy who may have actually stood a watch or two in his time. Respect your elders.

Now, if it turns out the old boy has been used by a party involving young, able folks to secure them seats all bets are off as to those folks. Using the respect others will give to an elderly person for your own benefit is reprehensible and should meet with extreme social opprobrium. Like those healthy young jackholes who drive around in grandma's car so that they can take advantage of her handicap parking sticker.

The guy is old but not nursing home old, I'm gonna guess mid 60s. We're going to Vegas so something tells me he gets around ok. The other folks in his party excepting what I assume to be his wife are much younger. I'm assuming some sort of a family trip here. I guess they can all commiserate about the ####### who kept them from sitting in the same row for a 2.5 hour flight which in the end will probably being them closer together as a family. They should honestly thank me.

Estimation of his age dropped twenty years in only a few posts.

I'm a terrible judge of age, plus I was up all night drinking. You could sell me on anywhere from 65-82 with this guy.

If the dude was 82 you leave him be. If he was 65 you get to #### with him a bit, but just a bit unless you are within 10 years of his age, then you can go further. Caution though, he could be a surly, hard of hearing, epic beard man type of 65. Dangerous to **** with those dudes. He may not understand what you are saying due to his hearing, take your meaning wrong, and go old man psycho on your ###. That is a no win situation. If you get your ### kicked well you just got dominated by a senior citizen. If you fight back, well you provoked an old man and then beat him down.

 

[Moe.]

Hmm, those are good points. My grandpa (my favorite guy ever) is probably rolling over in his grave right now. I'l apologize on the way out. Glad we talked this out folks. Hard delete mods.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

You are a good man Gunga Din. In fact, you are a better man than I.

 

[Jules Winnfield]

What's your play here? Do you just sit down in one of the seats? Or move their stuff then walk to the back anyways? Crop dust them?

I handed him the coat he had in the aisle seat and sat down. He grumbled and said he was saving the seat and I just ignored him.

I don't think i can side with you on this one. Is it really that big a deal to sit near the front that you want to make a whole family hate you - and then have to sit next to them for the whole flight? I mean if it was the last aisle seat on the plane or something I guess I can see it, but just to say "not on my watch" seems like a jerk move.

#### that. The two seats in his row I can live with. The seats across the aisle? #### him. Crowded flight is not catching me in a transitional period

 

[eoMMan]

Hmm, those are good points. My grandpa (my favorite guy ever) is probably rolling over in his grave right now. I'l apologize on the way out. Glad we talked this out folks. Hard delete mods.

No apology needed.

I would have went about it differently but you don't need to apologize.

It's too late to apologize. Too late.

 

[Zegras11]

I fly SW all the time.

If they wanted 6 seats up front like that, they should have paid for the early boarding passes on all of them.

The entire row is not reasonable. A seat for the wife is.

 

[Moe.]

Hmm, those are good points. My grandpa (my favorite guy ever) is probably rolling over in his grave right now. I'l apologize on the way out. Glad we talked this out folks. Hard delete mods.

No apology needed.I would have went about it differently but you don't need to apologize.

It's too late to apologize. Too late.

He was appreciative of the apology. I just told him I'm not much of a morning person. He gave me the standard good luck (going to Vegas remember) and an extremely firm handshake. I feel a lot better about myself.

 

[Apple Jack]

I fly SW all the time.

If they wanted 6 seats up front like that, they should have paid for the early boarding passes on all of them.

The entire row is not reasonable. A seat for the wife is.

This. If they were old, they'd have gotten early boarding. Trying to save an entire row is asinine, but I'd probably only step in if all that was left were middle seats, it was a longer flight, and I was in a foul mood. Whatever the case I'd have at least laughed out loud at him for the effort.

 

[massraider]

Hey, I know you paid for an early pass, but see, I have 5 friends that didn't, and I'd like to give these better seats to them, and could you quietly bend over and take it? Thanks in advance.

Don't make excuses for rudeness/entitlement. What are the chances that this was the first time the old guy had pulled this? Slim. Probably pulls this nonsense on every flight, relying on the kindness of strangers, to give up their choice of seat, that they paid for, because...........why?

It is absolutely not a big deal, and not worth getting worked up about. Which is what he's counting on.

Wanna sit with the whole family? Move back 15 rows.

 

[Al O'Pecia]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets.

All the flights I've been on have the crappers for the second class peasants in the back of the plane, and any peasant attempting to sneak into the first class crapper is dismissively sent packing back to steerage.

 

[Dexter]

Taking the whole row is dumb. You should have told him it's easier to chat when they are in front or behind you.

 

[cstu]

Hey, I know you paid for an early pass, but see, I have 5 friends that didn't, and I'd like to give these better seats to them, and could you quietly bend over and take it? Thanks in advance.

Don't make excuses for rudeness/entitlement. What are the chances that this was the first time the old guy had pulled this? Slim. Probably pulls this nonsense on every flight, relying on the kindness of strangers, to give up their choice of seat, that they paid for, because...........why?

It is absolutely not a big deal, and not worth getting worked up about. Which is what he's counting on.

Wanna sit with the whole family? Move back 15 rows.

 

[Judge Smails]

Was he waiting for family or friends who had lower boarding passes? No problem there.

I do this within reason. 4 of us returning from NO to LAX. I had A list. They had B group. I went back pretty far, spread out stuff in the middle seat next to me for my wife and the aisle/middle on the row across for friends. I kept it for as long as I could, but as couples walking in the back were talking of having to split up I picked up the stuff so another couple could have the seats I tried to save for friends. You can do it - until it gets packed.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Old people need those front seats. As slow as they move they need to be very near the toilets.

All the flights I've been on have the crappers for the second class peasants in the back of the plane, and any peasant attempting to sneak into the first class crapper is dismissively sent packing back to steerage.

First class? Southwest?

 

[jonessed]

I agree with the others. If you want to save that many seats you need to sit in the back.

 

[bentley]

I fly SW all the time.

If they wanted 6 seats up front like that, they should have paid for the early boarding passes on all of them.

The entire row is not reasonable. A seat for the wife is.

Exactly. #### them for being cheap and not buying the early bird. I buy it every time I travel with family.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

If you set an alarm and check in exactly 24 hours prior, there is no reason to have to save seats. At worst you get a low B number.

So anyone who is trying to save seats isn't prepared to travel or is too cheap to pay the early bird. If one of them is trying to hold a window, I'm not going for that either. A middle? Not my concern since I'll already be seated in a window somewhere.

 

[chauncey]

at this guy going from 80's down to 60's in a few posts. An 80 yr old gets a pass, guy in his 60's no way. You did the right thing taking taking the seat across the aisle. I wish you would've alerted us in the op that you were live posting.

Oh, and the best course of action next time an old timer tries to pull this is to bang his granddaughter in the bathroom.

 

[shadyridr]

SW doesnt have assigned seats?

 

[Tom Servo]

I thought airlines sold specific seats?

 

[jonessed]

SW doesn't.

 

[Osaurus]

I thought airlines sold specific seats?

Not southwest. They queue you up at the gate by when your check in and/or you pay a little more to get bumped up. Then it's all flying elbows on board.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I thought airlines sold specific seats?

Not southwest. They queue you up at the gate by when your check in and/or you pay a little more to get bumped up. Then it's all flying elbows on board.

If you are prepared, you always get a window or an aisle. I love it.

 

[cstu]

I agree with the others. If you want to save that many seats you need to sit in the back.

Pretty simple.

 

[KCitons]

Sounds like the whole thing ruined your trip more than it ruined theirs. Doubt any of them are on a message board complaining about not being able to sit together