SW Middle Seats

Looks like SW has vowed to keep middle seats open through at least Sept. 30. Great news for my proposed upcoming trips to Vegas in July and KC in Sept. The only problem could be when I have layovers in a hub (like Midway in Sept) with them possibly having to load up a flight if other incoming passengers had flights cancelled or delayed and need to be rerouted to my flight.

https://www.southwest.com/promise/?s...ev-c_ext-_prd-

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Hopefully they stick to it taking them To KC...

On a Southwest flight (BWI-TPA) as I write this. Here's the skinny:

1. Middle seats are unused throughout the plane except for (i) the middle seat in the exit row that has only two seats (you can sit middle or aisle but only one person allowed in that row); (ii) families who want to sit together.

2. They do not allow more than the capacity of plane with middle seats unoccupied to board. I imagine if there's a family sitting together in one row they might let one standby board but otherwise no passengers in excess if capacity - middle seat.

2. Boarding takes forever. Even with 1/3 fewer seats occupied, it take a good 40 minutes from disabled boarding to the last in C Group. They are boarding in groups of 10, social distancing on jetway.

3. Water and peanuts. No sodas on flight, no cups, no ice.

4. You must have a mask on to board. You can take it off once seated - at least there's a couple people around me with no masks on and flight attendants aren't requiring them.

5. It's still a novelty so people are for now remaining respectful of distancing and Southwest's rules, but the atmosphere is otherwise pretty tense and there's gonna be passenger fights over this. Stay tuned, the fights are going to be on the Twitter soon enough.



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Won’t be peanuts read it’s a mix pretzels, crackers.

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Originally Posted by noleman

On a Southwest flight (BWI-TPA) as I write this. Here's the skinny:

1. Middle seats are unused throughout the plane except for (i) the middle seat in the exit row that has only two seats (you can sit middle or aisle but only one person allowed in that row); (ii) families who want to sit together.

2. They do not allow more than the capacity of plane with middle seats unoccupied to board. I imagine if there's a family sitting together in one row they might let one standby board but otherwise no passengers in excess if capacity - middle seat.

2. Boarding takes forever. Even with 1/3 fewer seats occupied, it take a good 40 minutes from disabled boarding to the last in C Group. They are boarding in groups of 10, social distancing on jetway.

3. Water and peanuts. No sodas on flight, no cups, no ice.

4. You must have a mask on to board. You can take it off once seated - at least there's a couple people around me with no masks on and flight attendants aren't requiring them.

5. It's still a novelty so people are for now remaining respectful of distancing and Southwest's rules, but the atmosphere is otherwise pretty tense and there's gonna be passenger fights over this. Stay tuned, the fights are going to be on the Twitter soon enough.



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Thanks for the live info! Boarding for my Biloxi junket did take a lot longer too. July flight to Vegas, no way I'm flying 5 hours without alcohol heading to Sin City. Gonna have to bring my own alcohol and ice and drink up early then take a little nap I guess. Junket flight attendants didn't have a problem getting us ice and cup when asked but I get that major carriers aren't doing this I guess. Also, longer boarding times going to make those 50 minute connections mighty tight to get to the gate for A boarding.

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what is the rationale for no ice?

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Originally Posted by Pat

what is the rationale for no ice?

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I am guessing from when I was a flight attendant.. the ice bins are Nasty. I can’t imagine they can get them clean without them tasting like cleaner.


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Originally Posted by MNvegasgal

I am guessing from when I was a flight attendant.. the ice bins are Nasty. I can’t imagine they can get them clean without them tasting like cleaner.


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I can totally see you being a flight attendant. I’ll bet those were fun flights. :)

I also think the no ice also has to do with having to reach in to scoop ice, even with gloved hands and changing gloves repeatedly, it’s like chasing your tail to keep it totally contactless.


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I would take my chances so much overkill on some of these things imho

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Originally Posted by dvandentop

I would take my chances so much overkill on some of these things imho

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exactly @dvantentop . There has to be a way they can clean without a taste. It's done everywhere else. No offense CeCe, but FA's nowadays seem to be "less is more" in their service on every airline out there. Can't they somehow individually put ice cubes in plastic bags until this nonsense is over with? My husband and I always laugh when the FA's start banging on the frozen ice cube bag.

It's all about liability. No one wants to assume liability because sure as shit some dumbo is going to blame someone for a preventable exposure if they contract covid.

Also.. the FA’s main job is safety. They are there to get you off the plane if an emergency happens. The other stuff is a side to the main job. No matter how many people are on a plane.. the crew is based on the number of seats.

There is minimal time between flights to get the galleys ready.. and all the inspections done( check all the oxygen tanks for emergencies) double check nothing in any bathrooms have been tampered with or anything left or stored. Assign positions and get a crew briefing from the captain. Normally crews only board 15-20 minutes before the flight begins to board.. so not sure where in there they would be able to individually bag ice?

And when they get ice from the food services.. it is normally one big hard block you have to break apart. That is why you hear them throwing it on the floor to try and break it up. No ice machines on planes.

I hated the job most of the time. We flew NBA, as well as destination vacations, and prisoners...

My favorite was military.. we would do everything to make those young men and women comfortable. They normally were on the way to being shipped out.. or just getting home. So grateful for a full can of Coke. We would buy candy and hand that out when we could because we knew it was the little things they appreciated.

I wouldn’t want to be an FA in these times for anything. They don’t get paid until the door closes, and full pay stops when they land and door opens. Boarding and de boarding they make per diem which is like 2 bucks an hour.


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