Southwest Airlines boarding gets a lot of criticism, because instead of having assigned seats their passengers line up based on their ‘boarding number’ and it’s first board, first pick. Some people cheat and board before it’s their turn. Others fake a disability to get on early. And then those who want a free seat next to them try to be as unpleasant a potential seatmate as possible so nobody sits down next to them. My personal favorite technique is placing crumpled up tissues down on the seat next to you.
Underappreciated, though, is the way that passengers boarding later in the process are strategizing whom to sit next to – not just whom to avoid.
- If I’m going to be stuck sitting next to someone for sure, I’d like it to be the smallest person possible.
- Some people are just looking for a passenger they find cute.
If two people sit together on a plane and hit it off, and they wind up together in the end, then it’s an adorable story – like the couple who met on a Southwest Airlines flight, had the pastor from their row officiate at their wedding, and made it all airline-themed.
Credit: Southwest Airlines
Usually, though, it’s just a little bit creepy. But women, knowing men are on the hunt for a more attractive seatmate, are using this knowledge to their advantage in the hunt for seats at the end of boarding.
Got catfished during boarding yesterday
I was in 4D (aisle) with another passenger already in 4F (window) during boarding for what I knew was going to be a pretty full flight – i.e. I expected the middle seat to be taken so I hadn’t put my seatbelt on yet.
A petite woman (5′, 100 lbs or so) asks whether someone was sitting in the middle seat and I said “no – you’re welcome to join us” and I start getting up. She then turns around to her boyfriend/companion (6’2″, 220#) and says “sit here, I’ll go back to this one.”
Sold a total bill of goods on that one.
The seat is open, anyone can sit there, but an attractive woman frequently makes those open seats more available. The crumpled tissues magically disappear. And when it turns out she’s doing the asking for someone else? What are you going to say!
Here’s another one where the Southwest seating preferences seem suspect. A man chose to sit next to a young mother, when the entire row behind her was completely empty?
i noticed that they were in row 7, mom+baby in carrier in aisle seat and grandma in the window. there had to have been at least half the plane empty behind them. full rows, seats at ur heart’s desire! FA’s were encouraging people to space out since the flight was pretty empty. then the man in front of me stops at the row with the 2 women and the baby and asks for their middle seat. the mom holding the baby kinda looked at him like “really?” and the people sitting in the rows around had the same expressions. but he insisted and she ended up asking if he’d be “okay” with the aisle seat so she could at least be next to her mother. HE had the audacity to be like “yeah fine” over an aisle seat in a row he really didn’t need to sit in.
i’d understand if it was a full flight and he wanted to be close to the front but the row behind them was completely empty. it was so strange and i felt bad for the 2 women; the “younger” mom clearly had been stressed and overwhelmed with flying w a newborn and finally seemed settled in their seats until he came along. plus this whole ordeal held up the rest of the boarding.
I’ve had young women that I’ve worked with tell me that when they fly, they often see the men sitting next to them take off their wedding bands. Who they were sitting next to is just happenstance. On almost any airline, you don’t know in advance who will be next to you. But on Southwest Airlines, you actually choose it.
That’s pretty funny. Would love to have seen the guy’s face when the woman said that!
That’s hysterical! And smart, too…
Not much of a man – 6 foot 2 male having a 5 foot woman secure a middle row seat for him – we know who wears the pants in that relationship.
It will be nice when they go to assigned seating.
Oh Southwest Airlines. Your boarding process is nuts!
Any chick looking for husband material on a Southwest flight probably should think about selecting a better airline and an international flight, and then concentrate her seat picking prowess time on the first few rows.
Dreading a flight in a few weeks on @SouthwestAir. Flew 2 weeks ago and pre-boarding was about 20 smirking Karens and their teenage Becky daughters. A1 guy in line was like WTH? GA says nothing she can do. Funny, that was at RDU but in SAN they preboarded between A and B (except wheelchairs).
@David R. Miller Wow, sounds like something you’d hear in a bar in the 60s.
Guess it is time for assigned seating at Southwest. Imagine grown adults behaving like their in high school. All of it is just ridiculous! Can’t anyone just follow along by a simple set of rules? Apparently not always has to be these games! So disappointed to read this article today!
More grist to the mill for my intent to go to our maker without ever having had the experience.
I greatly appreciate that you can choose who you sit away from on Southwest, which is why it is my favorite airline. Unfortunately though, it does not fly to enough international destinations.
On a recent flight between two European cities, I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Unfortunately, there was a kid in my row and a kid behind me. Had this been Southwest, I could have chosen to sit away from them, but with the assigned seating there is nothing that I could do.
This is why I don’t understand why people don’t appreciate Southwest’s seating policy and am sad that likely it is coming to an end.
Foolishness. I sit in any seat that doesn’t have a body in it and have had people move to a different row to try their saving ploy.
One problem would be solved if SW eliminated reclining seats.
No one NEEDS to be bothering the poor helpless person sitting directly behind them. For me it feels claustrophobic.
I mean who does that? Only those who feel entitled.
First few rows on Southwest? Must be lookin to hook one with that good government disability check….
I will be very very nervous to fly southwest.
I wish to fly southwest.
I am SO tired of all the gamesmanship at Southwest!! Pre-assigned seats CANNOT come soon enough!!!
I see nothing wrong with what she did. Her BF could has walked up and taken it instead. All she did is, possibly, prevent 4D from lying if BF had asked if it’s free. I had a flashback to the old movie trope. The attractive female us hitchhiking, a car stops to offer a tide, and her BF hops out from behind his hiding place to join her in the car.
Gary, I’ve noticed a shift in your recent writing especially of SW. Your writing seems increasingly focused on attacking SW rather than maintaining neutrality. I’m starting to reconsider my support for you website and may encourage others to do the same. What happened to your impartiality and avoiding such harsh criticism?
It appears you constantly portray SW in a negative light, almost as if they’re a subpar airline. You as an expert in aviation, know that compared to many others, SW shines especially for being a lower end carrier they really shine. When SW faced challenges, SW openly addressed and compensated for their mistakes without concealing them from their employees or the public. I witnessed firsthand how their staff stood steadfastly by the company during those tough times, despite facing unwarranted anger from passengers. Many employees would have not returned and walked away. Employees stood by their company. That says a lot about a company.
In contrast, I believe airlines like United, known for their cost-cutting measures, would have shown little compassion in a similar situation. SW’s willingness to step up speaks volumes about their integrity as a company.
Moreover, Gary, not everyone can afford to fly first class, even with plenty of points. Many people, are not business owners and have families to consider. A touch of compassion in your writing would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve been a loyal follower of yours for years, but lately, your writing has become overly negative across the board. It’s disheartening to see you criticize all carriers, especially when you have the privilege of flying inexpensively. This negativity might be contributing to a decline in compassion among people.
I never ask someone if I can sit in an empty seat on Southwest Airlines. If it is empty during boarding, its available – I don’t need permission from another passenger
This is pathetic. First off, yes, SW Airlines is ridiculous to not assign seats but as you well know, the boarding order has nothing to do with how much you paid for your seat. I too have seen many ways couples and families try to stay seated together but hey, more power to them. In a time of crisis, who wouldn’t want to be seated with their loved one? In addition, some people may have a medical condition that I’m certain you or anyone else would not want to deal with in a time of need. So people need to fend for themselves and quit worrying about everyone else. If you wanted a specific seat, you should have flown with another airline.
When I fly Southwest, I’m mostly focused on getting an aisle seat in a row where there is space in the overhead bin. Trying to do anything about who I’m going to sit next to is way too difficult. But I assume that if I wind up in a middle seat, there’s a good chance that the passengers in the aisle and window seats next to me are going to both be on their way to a linebackers’ convention.
Assigned seating can’t come fast enough to weed out these stupid selfish people
I don’t mind not having assigned seats when flying solo. I also prefer late A or B boarding so I can choose where to sit, albeit after making snap judgments about strangers.
T-says said:
> Oh Southwest Airlines. Your boarding process is nuts!
WN is no longer serving nuts because 2% of the populace claims a nut allergy. Researchers have shown the spike in nut allergies is parents avoiding giving nuts to kids… in fear of anaphylaxis but instead causing a decline in the ability to fight that condition.
However, WN’s boarding process is all kind of crazy ass shit. There are no two ways around it. Sure, they can save 2-3 minutes on boarding, but the passenger frustration is through the roof. If WN blew up tomorrow and stopped flying I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, nor would people who bought “early automatic checkin” or “business select” or anyone other than trash screaming at each other over middle seats, seat-hogging, saving overhead space, overhead bin bags not put in as per whatever east-coast-snob thinks is the right way, etc.
@Dave W
Of course a soi boi beta cuck like you would be offended. Do you know what gender you are today?
If you fly SWA, you get what you get. I’m enjoying their financial implosion, bc it will likely mean substantive changes to their atrocious boarding system. The fake disabilities can be solved by allowing wheelchair passengers only seats in the very back. The gamesmanship can be solved by assigned seats for all but a new basic economy fare.
1. SW flight is literally half empty. A gigantic foul man with his gigantic foul wife want the two seats right next to me. I lied and told him my wife was coming.
2. SW flight is literally 3/4 empty. I’m sitting in the window seat. A man comes over and plops in the middle seat right next to me. When I yelled, “what the F”, he moved over to the aisle seat.
Hell is other people.
Anybody else sees Gary’s hypocrisy in the constant reporting (bashing) of Southwest’s boarding process? Article after article about parents trying to “game” the system to ensure their families sit together without spending a fortune for the same uncomfortable coach seat.
But Gary has a “favorite personal method” of using tissues to keep people away.
Time to grow up people. Its a 2 hour flight, not a marriage proposal, the seats are all the same outside of 10 marginally better. We’re are all in this together. Help out your fellow man for once…
I’m a 6’1″ man around 230 pounds, slightly claustrophobic, and I always try to sit by the window. Of course I prefer the middle seat to be unoccupied, but if it’s a full flight, I do try to look “friendlier” to small females or kids. I don’t do this for any perverted or romantic reasons, it’s just that the smaller the person is next to me, the more elbow room I have.
Well at least they put some humor in flying.
I’m fine with their boarding policy.
SW is full of fake trash people who pre board and save seats. I avoid the airline whenever possible but if I have to fly SW I do purchase business class in hopes of a decent seat…needless to say after 50 people pre board it usually still aggravates me. Can’t wait for assigned seats to weed out the trash.
Tissue on the seat? Ha! Try home made popcorn dumped on the middle seat. In an exit row.
Humor isn’t enough to take away the selfish behavior that people have when it comes to unassigned seating.
And the whining of the entitled brats continue. If you like assigned seats you have a whole lot of choices that will give you exactly what you want. Frankly, assigned seats are the last thing I care about as I really like the open seating on Southwest. However, apparently SAN has the right idea and boards the ambulatory after the A group. And just in case the cry babies here were not aware, all seats will arrive at the destination at the same time. Assigned seats will not guarantee that you will be the first one out the door however. Southwest boards in groups. Guess what, all the others with assigned seats also board in groups. So sick of the idiotic whiners who think they are better than everyone.
Can anyone explain to me if other airlines have pre-boarding for wheelchair-bound passengers? I don’t understand why it’s such a problem with Southwest unless other airlines don’t allow pre-boarding with wheelchairs. No matter the cost of the ticket if you need a wheelchair you’ll be in one whether you’re first class or the last seat on the plane next to the bathroom. I’m trying to figure out why there are more people in wheelchairs at Southwest but there seems to be a lack of wheelchair-bound passengers for other airlines. And again, no matter how many wheelchair-bound passengers there are at these other airlines do they not allow pre-boarding? Why would there be more of these passengers at Southwest then any other airline if pre-boarding is allowed at all of them?. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Southwest’ boarding process. It seems as if in the last two to three years, civilized society has become unraveled and we have more rude and unmannerly people taking advantage of a very simple process I have several suggestions for Southwest if they’d like to contact me. I’m a loyal Southwest member by the way.
This article acts as though the man who sat next to the pregnant woman and family has either harassed her, or done something objectionable, which he has not done.
The woman and everyone else on the plane is responsible to know the boarding policy.
You cannot speculate on that man’s motives. He may have thought more were boarding afterwards.
In any case there is no sign he did anything wrong.
As long as your seatmate didn’t violate policy, then, flying Southwest doesn’t guarantee “your choice of person”, just as it doesn’t guarantee empty seats.
Everyone is free to buy a first class ticket on another carrier for more privacy.
The problem isn’t Southwest. The problem is people.
I was afraid to fly Southwest because of the boarding process. I finally flew Southwest and I do like the boarding process. I now fly SWA as often as I can. I like being able to choose who I sit by or mainly in front of. I try not to sit in front of children. I
can’t stand children kicking my seat and parents just allowing them to do so. My latest reading investors want SWA to assign seats so more money can be earned from pricing for the window, isle, and first few row seats.
Which means an increase in price overall. Other airlines already have assign seating and more routes so why not just fly them? Could it be they are more expensive than SWA? Something gotta give to keep prices lower. I prefer seating over safety.
Question for “Mary Smitty” and others who disapprove of the writer’s content….
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Get lost, and don’t ever come back. Problem solved. And you won’t be missed, either!
Why is assigned seating better? Most other airlines you have to pay to get assigned seating and you never have any idea whom you’re sitting next to.
I love southwest boarding process. Pay a bit extra and get decent seats.
And two checked baggage per person for a family with kids is a friggin blessing.
Once I was on amtrak, sitting in the window seat. It had an outlet. I was plugged in with my laptop and I was working furiously. If you ever see me writing code you’ll understand that I hate to be interrupted when I’m in the zone. The train car was half full and nobody sat next to me. A young lady asked if the seat was taken. I was surprised since the train wasn’t full but I paid her no attention and said sure help yourself. She goes oh I was hoping to have your seat with the outlet because I want to use my laptop. I said you mean this outlet that I’m currently using. While saying this she was smiling and flouncing her hair back and forth the way girls do to flirt and get their way. I said oh honey you’re sooo barking up the wrong tree. She got annoyed and stormed off. I got my coding done and was very pleased.
I preboard bc I have anxiety attacks when we land. I don’t care who sits beside me or around – front or back of me- but I need to sit within the first 5 or 6 rows
Mary Smitty, the Tim Dunn of Southwest.
Who carries more water farther?
You decide, we report.
LOL
Why do people fly SWA and then complain about the boarding process which I don’t mind at all by the way. There are sooo many choices where you can pay for a seat, so do it or take a train or drive. I’ve been flying SWA almost exclusively for more than 40 years and love their staff, and how they treat their employees better than other airlines. I don’t want to pay for my seat on top of everything else so please take another airline rarely is SWA the only choice.
I agree with a previous poster it’s not the airline it’s the people that are the problem. Common courtesy and honesty would be Great values I wish could be embraced.
Southwest’s boarding process is why I never fly on Southwest.
The Southwest boarding process brings out the worst in humanity I swear. I cringe every time I have to fly them to ABQ because I know at least one person on that flight will make it their personal mission to gum up the process somehow.
No one commenting on the creep that say next to the mom, baby, and Grandma when the rows behind them were empty?
They should have put the baby carrier in the middle seat and / or told the dude no. Even if he got a FA involved I’m sure they would have just told him to take a seat in the empty row behind them. So weird.
We always fly Southwest, we’ve met some great people on those flights! Why can’t we all just get along & try to have a pleasant trip? You might get some kind of creep with assigned seating too, learn to roll with the situation.
I much prefer southwest’s system of choosing your own seat.
I recall a non-southwest flight where I was assigned a seat next to an obese person who was simply too fat for one seat and had the armrest up so she could fit. I had come in at the end of boarding and whispered to the flight attendant that I needed to be reseated, and the dang attendant answered at full volume, embarrassing the fat person, me, and everyone.