[jmemc46]

I always fly SW and never pay early check in. Always get a or early b setting. And if one person there is always up front setting. I can' t complain.

[Whatever]

Southwest is the miracle airline! Closer to the Lord than any other I have seen. Just board a plane in NY, MI, or just about anywhere else that is flying to So. Fla. and note all the wheel chairs at the pre board. Amazing isn't it that upon landing, the wheel chairs are waiting, but, by some great unknown power, the Wheelies have managed to get up and go all by themselves.

I for one, am glad that I need not, at this stage in my life, require that service, but when I do I will fly Southwest for the cure.

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by zonerboy

Southwest has no assigned seats, so the earlier you board the better your chance of finding a satisfactory seat. When my wife and I fly together I have her pay the extra $12.50 for early bird preferential boarding. So she boards before me and saves me a seat.
12 bucks is 12 bucks.

How does she save you a seat? If someone comes along and wants the seat, how does she say she is saving it for someone?

[Lbmb24101]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Anyone flown Spirit Airlines. Jeesh! Talk about add ons.

I have not, but my sis did, from DC to DallasShe could not even pre print her bpass from Spirit!
She flew safely but add on after add on, she said never again....

[Sable99]

Originally Posted by Lbmb24101

I have not, but my sis did, from DC to DallasShe could not even pre print her bpass from Spirit!
She flew safely but add on after add on, she said never again....

Luckily, I've always been able to print my boarding passes. But for those that don't know, Spirit charges extra for your seat selection (window, aisle but I can't remember if they charge for the middle seat) and they announced a few weeks ago that they were going to start charging for carry-on bags.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

How does she save you a seat? If someone comes along and wants the seat, how does she say she is saving it for someone?

I have seen people do this. One person went so far as to place a used Kleenex on the seat she was saving for a friend. She then pretended to be preoccupied in a book and would not respond to anyone's question about the seat with the used Kleenex.

[dirtbanker]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

How does she save you a seat? If someone comes along and wants the seat, how does she say she is saving it for someone?

Same way they save seats at the square...

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Whatever

Southwest is the miracle airline! Closer to the Lord than any other I have seen. Just board a plane in NY, MI, or just about anywhere else that is flying to So. Fla. and note all the wheel chairs at the pre board. Amazing isn't it that upon landing, the wheel chairs are waiting, but, by some great unknown power, the Wheelies have managed to get up and go all by themselves.

I for one, am glad that I need not, at this stage in my life, require that service, but when I do I will fly Southwest for the cure.

There are many whose disability is not that they are entirely incapable of walking, but that they are incapable of walking more than a few yards before becoming exhausted. I have a friend who orders a wheelchair at curbside check in and rides it all the way to the gate, and then at destination rides it from the gate to baggage claim and to curbside pick up. Without this service my friend would probably have to quit flying.

Southwest provides a place in your on-line personal profile to request wheelchair service for your flights if needed. Proof of your medical need for wheelchair service may be required. The handicapped card used for parking your car in handicapped zones is acceptable.

Disabilities are not all just about being unable to walk. It can involve lung incapacity; severe heart disease; some combination of both, or other problems like stroke, arthritis or adjusting to the use of a new prosthetic leg .

As one who is presently wheelchair bound I find your derisive term "Wheelies" offensive.

But, I have no Constitutional Right not to be offended, so don't worry about it. I can handle it.

[Lpierleo]

Originally Posted by Whatever

Southwest is the miracle airline! Closer to the Lord than any other I have seen. Just board a plane in NY, MI, or just about anywhere else that is flying to So. Fla. and note all the wheel chairs at the pre board. Amazing isn't it that upon landing, the wheel chairs are waiting, but, by some great unknown power, the Wheelies have managed to get up and go all by themselves.

I for one, am glad that I need not, at this stage in my life, require that service, but when I do I will fly Southwest for the cure.

We also fly Roundtrip from Upstate NY to TV approximately 5 times a year and use Southwest each time due to price and direct flights. Have often experienced this Miracle Power as well. However, I do not feel the airline is at fault for dishonest people. I agree with you Whatever, we are just glad we do not need this assistance.

To Carl in Tampa, I fully agree with you that not all disabilities can be seen, and certainly not everyone is dishonest. Those that need assistance should always receive what required and deserved.

In regards to the seating arrangements, I don't feel it is ideal, but seems to work for them. We have never paid the additional $12.50 upon booking for numerous flights and my spouse and I have always had seats together. Granted, it is a hassle to remember to check in at EXACTLY the 24 hour mark. Typically we are assigned a very high A number ie 50 or 60, or a low B number. Now that we have a smart phone, we can check in from anywhere. Easy and economical. Works well for us.

[buzzy]

I like the window seat and my wife likes the aisle. Sometimes we get a stranger in the middle, who offers to change seats with one of us, but we graciously decline. That's usually an ice-breaker for interesting conversation.

[shcisamax]

I rode SW for the first time a couple weeks ago. I checked in online the morning of the flight and got the number B45. I ended up sitting in a middle seat around the 8th row. Although I don't like the middle seat, who does? I would rather take a middle seat forward than an aisle in the back so I was fine with it. Next time I will take the $12.50 upgrade.
I actually thought it was a good system for getting people on board in an orderly fashion. And I have to say, the stewards were so much nicer and more helpful than those on USAir (the absolute worst) or any of the others I have flown recently except perhaps Jet Blue.

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by red tail

not true....only the Walmart airlines do this. the legacy carriers have seat selection when you purchase your ticket. you cant shop low fare carriers and expect high class service. if you choose to fly in and out of small airports like Sanford on a low fare airline that's what you will get! its the old adage...'you get what you pay for'

Absolutely true. People shop for airline tickets according to price, not service, and then complain about poor service. But I think the only thing OP was commenting on was being so far back in the queue after being on their computer when seating first opened up. I think the previous posts explained why that happened.

[nitehawk]

Originally Posted by Whatever

Southwest is the miracle airline! Closer to the Lord than any other I have seen. Just board a plane in NY, MI, or just about anywhere else that is flying to So. Fla. and note all the wheel chairs at the pre board. Amazing isn't it that upon landing, the wheel chairs are waiting, but, by some great unknown power, the Wheelies have managed to get up and go all by themselves.

I for one, am glad that I need not, at this stage in my life, require that service, but when I do I will fly Southwest for the cure.

[Cedwards38]

Looks like Southwest may have some other issues too, like deceptive advertising on fares. See todays Daily Sun, A 12.

[asianthree]

have a better story for you.had a flight with spirit to Minneapolis at 3 p.m. Yesterday. At 415 still no staff at the gate no one had any idea what was going on. Hundred seventeen passengers sitting with no answers and no one to even ask questions. Finally at 8:05 a crew walked up asking what was going on. Then empty plane arrived No excuses no explanations just told us to board. And i paid $208. For my luggage