Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I was flying w/ DH & DS who is 6. I tried to preboard w/ him but they said it is for infants.
Ok so we wait in our "zone" we board and there aren't any seats together. So DH sits in a row in an empty seat & I tell the flight attendent I need a seat for myself &DS together. She said "I will see what I can do - the flight is full"- I think ooookkk so noone will move to let a Mother & son sit together?

I am waiting at the back of the isle by the restrooms when she starts to motion to my son to come to her!! She said ok you come with me - I have a seat for you up here and there is another over there. She wanted my 6 year old to sit 4 rows in front of me between 2 strangers!! I grabbed his shoulders and (very loudly) Yelled "ABSOLUTLY NOT! He is 6! He is sitting w/ me!" My son started to get nervouse and said "Mommy I want to sit w/ u!" SHe started saying how there aren't any seats together blah blah blah.... This woman in the last row heard and smacked her husband on the arm and said get up they are not splitting up this Mother and child!
I thanked her like crazy- and the FA turned to me and said "Next time you need to get here earlier!"
I said" I was here 1 1/2 hours prior to boarding!"She said well next time... SO I cut her off and saidd next time I am flying JET BLUE!"(The other row heard me and clapped) I didn't mean to cause a scene - but she was young,made no effort, was rude and was no help!!! I was infuriated !

Thanks for letting me vent- just wanted your thoughts if I over reacted.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

wow! I don't think you overreacted at all. Ridiculous!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I would most definitely have been mad and done the same thing

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

i will never fly southwest again just for that reason myself! good for you!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

You know i am so surprised they wouldn't let you preboard, its not just for infants, i have seen tons f people preboard with children that age.
But good news for you all southwest is going to do assigned seating soon, they are slowly implementing it and i think i heard by 2007 or 2008 it will be for all flights.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

You absolutely DID not overreact. There isn't a chance I'd let my son sit between strangers.

to the woman who kicked her husband out. I would've done the same.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

i would write and complain!!!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

good for you...i know that i would've caused a scene too!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

Posted by nrthshgrl

You absolutely DID not overreact. There isn't a chance I'd let my son sit between strangers.

to the woman who kicked her husband out. I would've done the same.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

After watching their "show", I will never fly Southwest, they seem awful. Just awful!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I am not a fan of Southwest either.
I dont like the ABC boarding routine.
Pick your own seats.
UUUGHH its not convinient, its frusturtating!
To the woman who told her dh to get up and move.
I have a child on the way, but, no way would I let my kid sit with strangers.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

That is terrible. The only reason we fly southwest is it is so convenient to leave out of Islip.

We are flying with an infant in 2 weeks, I hope we don't have any trouble.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! That is terrible

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

Write them a letter SISTA! My poor lil Ferd!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I would have done EXACTLY the same thing!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

You totally did not overreact. I think any mother would have done the same thing. And that was BS about it being only infants. I recently went to Florida and there were tons of families waiting to pre board and none of them even had an infant. If, in the future by some chance you take them again go to the desk at the gate, tell them you are clostrophobic and need a preboard and they will give you a slip that will allow you and your family to preboard. I did it and got on before all the children.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

Thank you everyone- sometimes you just need to double check your reaction.
I was surprised that they didn't let me preboard w/ DS. Maybe they they thought he was older than he was? But still -he is a child.
That FA still irks me when I think of her.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

That really is crazy, that she expected you to let your child sit without you.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I would have dome the same thing.

And definatly write a letter

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

From SW website

"Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11, and adults traveling with a child under five years of age will preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat. "


That being their policy I think it sucks!! I couldn't imagine wanting a child under 10 to be separated from their parent for a flight, especially where the parent can't see the child!!

Shame on SW Airlines and shame on 99% of the plane who wouldn't move so you guys could sit together!!!

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

This is why I hate Southwest- First of all they ask if any children/infants need to pre-board so that was their first mistake. Last week, I watched an "elderly" lady take advantage of that and she got off the plane lugging two huge suitcases by herself. So they certainly should have let a mother and child preboard!

For anyone else stuck flying Southwest(we live in LA so we have to sometimes), check in online 24 hours before the flight. That way you get group A.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I agree with the others who said to write a letter.

And I loved your comeback about using Jet Blue next time. I don't think I would have been able to think so fast.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

Posted by MrsProfessor

I agree with the others who said to write a letter.

And I loved your comeback about using Jet Blue next time. I don't think I would have been able to think so fast.

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

Re: Southwest Airlines- Wouldn't u be mad!?

I would never fly with a child without a pre-assigned seat. Fly JetBlue or another airline. That is insane.