Southwest Airlines; Fools waiting in the "A" line

[mr.jameswoods]

Okay, so I'm taking a flight on Southwest Airlines. I'm an hour and a half early for my flight. What do I see....20 people standing in the A line. So let me get this straight, these people are sitting on the floor waiting for 90 minutes just so they can sit more toward the front of the plane versus the back so they don't have to wait that extra 10 minutes to get off the plane once it's landed.

This makes no sense. Everyone who has an A boarding pass will get a seat of their choice. It may not be in the front but they can get a windor or an aisle somewhere unlike the people in the B and C passes. I think people get intimidated because they assume 20 people means 20 different aisles or windows as opposed to realizing that most of those people are traveling together and a family of 3 will occupy one entire row of seats instead of occupying 3 desirable seats(Aisle or window) in 3 different rows. I'm not criticizing those who do the same in regards to the B and C lines because they aren't guaranteed anything.

In those same 90 minutes, I went to the Fox Sports Grill and had a beer and a burger and watched football. I arrived 15 minutes prior to my flight and I got "stuck" in the back of the A line. I got an aisle seat in row 12. Sure, I had to wait an extra 7 minutes unlike the guy with the aisle seat in row 3, but I also didn't sit on the floor with my back against a most uncomfortable window with a couple of crying 2 year olds three feet away.

 

[joseephuss]

Good post. I thought the same thing on my trip to Chicago a month ago. I was in A on the way out and just came up at the last minute and got a good seat. I was in C on the way back and sat in the back row, which is fine by me.

 

[Mavs Man]

I always have to wait forever for luggage, so getting off the plane an extra five or ten minutes early doesn't help me much in the end (unless it's just carry on, but I'm married so that ain't happening ).

 

[Hoov]

In those same 90 minutes, I went to the Fox Sports Grill and had a beer and a burger and watched football. I arrived 15 minutes prior to my flight and I got "stuck" in the back of the A line. I got an aisle seat in row 12. Sure, I had to wait an extra 7 minutes unlike the guy with the aisle seat in row 3, but I also didn't sit on the floor with my back against a most uncomfortable window with a couple of crying 2 year olds three feet away.

My brother was traveling for business, arrived at the airport early and did the same thing, except instead of a beer he had several, and they were the extra large size, the 22 oz.

woke up all alone in his seat at the terminal 4 hours after his flight had left.

 

[burmafrd]

beer is bad.

 

[03EBZ06]

I don't like "No Seat Assignment" policy of SouthWest Airlines so I refuse to use them for travel.

 

[theogt]

beer is bad.

 

[Hoov]

beer is delicious.

I agree

 

[mr.jameswoods]

My brother was traveling for business, arrived at the airport early and did the same thing, except instead of a beer he had several, and they were the extra large size, the 22 oz.

woke up all alone in his seat at the terminal 4 hours after his flight had left.

LOL...I've actually been afraid of doing that but not due to overdrinking but plain ole sleep deprivation.

Nonetheless, it still amazes me how these people will stand for an hour just so they get off the plane 10 minutes faster.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I don't like "No Seat Assignment" policy of SouthWest Airlines so I refuse to use them for travel.

I disagree. I love the No Seat Assignment policy. That means if I purchase a ticket late or close to the date of departure, I'm not stuck with a middle seat like I would be with other airlines. As long as you get an A boarding pass, you will get the seat of your choice. And it's not hard to get an A boarding pass. Just check in on-line 24 hours in advance. You don't even have to print the boarding pass; you can just check in on-line and then print it at the airport. You can do it on your cell phone for crying outloud! The earliest you can check in is 24 hours but I've checked in 12 hours in advance and I've gotten an A pass.

5 years ago, I shared your opinion because you could only get your boarding pass at the gate, back when they handed out those plastic boarding passes with the numbers. A normal person would get screwed because gramps would show up to the airport 2-3 hours in advance and wait at the gate. If you showed up a mere half hour before your flight, you were stuck with a late boarding pass number.

The advantage to the current system is that most of the elderly are not tech savy and don't check in on-line. So gramps goes to the airport 3 hours in advance like he normally does except now, he winds up with a C boarding pass.

 

[ologan]

I disagree. I love the No Seat Assignment policy. That means if I purchase a ticket late or close to the date of departure, I'm not stuck with a middle seat like I would be with other airlines. As long as you get an A boarding pass, you will get the seat of your choice. And it's not hard to get an A boarding pass. Just check in on-line 24 hours in advance. You don't even have to print the boarding pass; you can just check in on-line and then print it at the airport. You can do it on your cell phone for crying outloud! The earliest you can check in is 24 hours but I've checked in 12 hours in advance and I've gotten an A pass.

5 years ago, I shared your opinion because you could only get your boarding pass at the gate, back when they handed out those plastic boarding passes with the numbers. A normal person would get screwed because gramps would show up to the airport 2-3 hours in advance and wait at the gate. If you showed up a mere half hour before your flight, you were stuck with a late boarding pass number.

The advantage to the current system is that most of the elderly are not tech savy and don't check in on-line. So gramps goes to the airport 3 hours in advance like he normally does except now, he winds up with a C boarding pass.

Maybe one of these days,if your lucky,you will obtain "Gramps" status. If not,that means you die young...then you can get your "A" pass to wherever it is you will end up.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

Maybe one of these days,if your lucky,you will obtain "Gramps" status. If not,that means you die young...then you can get your "A" pass to wherever it is you will end up.

You mean have money, no responsibilities and the leisure to arrive at an airport 3 hours prior to a flight..aka RETIREMENT! Trust me when I say the overwhelming majority of us can't wait until that day

 

[ROMOSAPIEN9]

After watching the show "Airline." I can confidently say that I won't be flying Southwest any time in the near future. Probably not ever.

Also, I love to drink me some beer. But I NEVER drink at the airport before a flight. Just too much crap can go wrong.

 

[joseephuss]

After watching the show "Airline." I can confidently say that I won't be flying Southwest any time in the near future. Probably not ever.

Also, I love to drink me some beer. But I NEVER drink at the airport before a flight. Just too much crap can go wrong.

I've seen that show. It doesn't make me not want to fly Southwest. I am sure if they focused on any airline the show would pretty much be the same. I've only had good experiences on Southwest and they have been better than the other airlines I have flown with in the past.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I've seen that show. It doesn't make me not want to fly Southwest. I am sure if they focused on any airline the show would pretty much be the same. I've only had good experiences on Southwest and they have been better than the other airlines I have flown with in the past.

If you discover the inner workings of most companies chances are you will not want to engage them if given a choice. Talk to anyone who has worked at a fast food chain or upscale restaurants for that matter and they will tell you horror stories if you are willing to listen. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. I'm sure "Airline" uncovers the seedy side of Southwest but I'd rather not know about it because I've only experienced good service from them.

 

[CF74]

Yeah A, B, & C all stand next to each other on the luggage carousel anyways


SWA=Greyhound of the air...