On Southwest Airlines new family boarding policy - Page 5

Chips Ahoy · #41 10-11-2007, 01:22 PM

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Even though my families cant sit together argument may not hold any longer, it is still a very likely possibility that someone in the A group already on the plane will get hit with a car seat. That's probably a minor inconvenience, but it will happen

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Any flight where the worst thing that happens is I get hit by a car seat is a great flight. A random Southwest story: I was settled into a window seat in a front row about to fly from Virginia to Las Vegas. I snapped to attention when a couple in their 60s passed in the aisle. They smelled like they had not bathed, ever. They went all the way to the back of the plane. It was a completely full flight.

A few minutes later they were in the aisle again, being escorted off the plane by the flight attendant. There was much rejoicing.

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Also, cant you get an A board group just by checking in online the day before?

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That's the only way to get an A.

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That seems to defeat the "I got here first so I should be able to get on first" theory since you can get there right before the A group gets on and still get on in front of families.

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Imagine you are not a pre-boarder, but could really use one of the few seats that are a little better. Maybe you're as tall as an NBA player. Or you have a trick knee. An A is necessary, but not sufficient. So you get in the front of the A line 90 minutes ahead of time. Then you watch "half the plane pre-board". All the better seats are gone. Head Explodes.

Parents will still get everything they need, just not everything they are used to.

ChipWrecked · #42 10-11-2007, 01:54 PM

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Also, cant you get an A board group just by checking in online the day before? That seems to defeat the "I got here first so I should be able to get on first" theory since you can get there right before the A group gets on and still get on in front of families.

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Another aspect of the policy is that the letter groups will now be broken into numbered sets.

So, you need to be on your computer exactly 24 hours in advance to get early boarding. Wait an hour or two, and you're screwed, especially with the services that will do the check-in for you.

Aloysius · #43 10-11-2007, 02:15 PM

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Who said anything about de-planing? I've never once seen a family with a child restraint de-plane in normal fashion. They sit until everyone is off and then leave.

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I've never thought about this issue really... but the above quoted seems really standard to me (I've flown alot).

I have also never noticed a family with children impeding timely deplaning.

-Al

prohornblower · #44 10-11-2007, 11:50 PM

what the hell? Get riled up much? This isn't really a huge deal is it??? I mean...wow.

To put it in perspective, a month ago they tried to KICK A GIRL OFF THE FLIGHT FOR WEARING SHORT SHORTS under the pretext that SW is a "family airline".

mondo · #45 10-12-2007, 12:14 AM

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Also, mondo: griping about handicapped people pre-boarding - GFY.

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KoToD, quite obviously, I was not griping about "handicapped people" pre-boarding, I am not an inconsiderate ass, rather the fact that often times there are MANY people who do not qualify for pre-board courtesy, and manage to squirrel their way in......

Seems you have already been reprimanded for name calling, so I'll let this slide as something you are personally emotionally attached to as an issue.....

If that's not the case and you simply enjoy being rude to people as a matter of course, after reading something on an internet forum,(generally considered a bastion of free speech), and in particular, removing context, well then GFY.

peace, mondo [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

ChipWrecked · #46 10-12-2007, 12:57 AM

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what the hell? Get riled up much? This isn't really a huge deal is it??? I mean...wow.

To put it in perspective, a month ago they tried to KICK A GIRL OFF THE FLIGHT FOR WEARING SHORT SHORTS under the pretext that SW is a "family airline".

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Um, yeah, perspective.

Southwest seems to be on a mission to piss off as many customers as it can.

Family with small kids? [censored] you.

Fatty? [censored] you.

Short skirt? [censored] you.

I also recall an episode of 'Airline' on A&E where a ticket agent for SWA demanded a birth certificate proving an infant was under 2 years old.

I'm not riled, I'm just done with this airline.

Southwest Airlines (our new motto): if you're not a thin white guy with a carryon and a laptop, go [censored] yourself.

prohornblower · #47 10-12-2007, 08:56 AM

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what the hell? Get riled up much? This isn't really a huge deal is it??? I mean...wow.

To put it in perspective, a month ago they tried to KICK A GIRL OFF THE FLIGHT FOR WEARING SHORT SHORTS under the pretext that SW is a "family airline".

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Um, yeah, perspective.

Southwest seems to be on a mission to piss off as many customers as it can.

Family with small kids? [censored] you.

Fatty? [censored] you.

Short skirt? [censored] you.

I also recall an episode of 'Airline' on A&E where a ticket agent for SWA demanded a birth certificate proving an infant was under 2 years old.

I'm not riled, I'm just done with this airline.

Southwest Airlines (our new motto): if you're not a thin white guy with a carryon and a laptop, go [censored] yourself.

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They can probably get away with it seeing as they're very cheap, very on-time, and haven't crashed a plane in like 30 some-odd years.

I dunno, for me this takes priority over the petty stuff.

katyseagull · #48 10-12-2007, 09:01 AM

I see your point about their safety record. Still, a dress code? Did you guys see this story last week,

southwest airlines tells man to change his shirt

prohornblower · #49 10-12-2007, 04:50 PM

I think if they produce their dress code for passengers to peruse upon purchasing tickets then there shouldn't be a problem. Nothing wrong with them not wanting to do business with retards who wear Master Baitor shirts or wh.ores who wear 4" skirts. Christ...this isn't Hooters.

They're responsible for like 100 lives and I think that takes precedence over people having the ability to dress like buffoons in public. I know the 2 aren't really related, but one could make the argument that they want to keep all 90 passengers calm and cool and some people get easily offended. Last thing they want is a 60 year old Jesus freak causing havoc because of the [censored] sitting beside her. I know, it's weak, but it is something to think about.

I mean isn't taht the top priority of the stewards? To keep the passengers calm and comfortable? Ehhh, whatever...I'm stretching but I don't wear 4" skirts or "Master Baitor" shirts when I travel so I don't think it'll ever be a problem for me. As long as they get me where I'm going, on time, for cheap, without killing me I'm all good.

Usually they're real nice and they ask what brand laptop I'm holding, what Country in Europe my ancestors came from, and how do I stay so thin. lol.

Tom Ames · #50 10-12-2007, 05:55 PM

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Also, cant you get an A board group just by checking in online the day before? That seems to defeat the "I got here first so I should be able to get on first" theory since you can get there right before the A group gets on and still get on in front of families.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another aspect of the policy is that the letter groups will now be broken into numbered sets.

So, you need to be on your computer exactly 24 hours in advance to get early boarding. Wait an hour or two, and you're screwed, especially with the services that will do the check-in for you.

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Families traveling with small children should be willing to do this if they want to avoid the hassles of boarding with regular people. If not, perhaps they should seriously consider making other travel arrangements. They probably should do that anyway if their children are so poorly behaved that they disturb other flyers.