Southwest Passengers Find Love in an Empty Seat

Reuters ^ | 7-15-2004 | Jon Herskovitz

[LincolnLover]

I love Southwest! Cool story.

[LincolnLover]

Gen-X ping (?)

[Johassen]

Hey, even if I don't end up marrying them, I sure do like the idea of having some choice who I sit next to. I suppose if I were single I'd like to sit next to someone I thought was cute, but even now I'd like to sit next to someone I don't want to strangle.

[NautiNurse]

Nice story. Thanks for the post.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

It's a great system. I fly it a lot out of Chicago and being able to keep up the conversations from the gate throughout the flight truly rocks.

[Chewbacca]

"..many business travelers have asked the airline to give out assigned seats.."

It's a free market. If they want assigned seats there are other airlines that can meet their needs. I bet they are Demonrats.

[GretchenM]

and the carrier flew a handful of planes over Texas.

That's one mighty big hand.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I like Southwest too. But hey, if they start seating people any closer they're going to start getting invitations to baby showers.

[Arrowhead1952]

Southwest has had an open seating policy since it took to the skies over 30 years ago when its flight attendants wore hot pants and the carrier flew a handful of planes over Texas.

AHHHHH YES. The hot pants were nice!!! I Love Southwest Airlines.

[glorgau]

It's a great system. I fly it a lot out of Chicago and being able to keep up the conversations from the gate throughout the flight truly rocks.

For myself, I try to keep the conversation to a polite minimum.

[Ranger]

A good way to keep an empty middle seat is to sit down by the window and pull out the barf bag. It works. ... well at least I think its because of the barf bag.

[Not A Snowbird]

For myself, I try to keep the conversation to a polite minimum.

I avoid conversation by bring Harry Potter OoTP with me when I fly. It's big enough that no matter how long we're delayed I have something to bury myself in. Of course, toting it around during layovers is a chore!

[Redbob]

Southwest is the airline equivalent of Greyhound, with everyone getting on using grocery bags for suitcases.

I'll gladly pay a little more to get a reserved seat, and not have to listen to the lame company-assigned joke-of-the-day from the stewardi.

[qam1]

Thank You for the Ping

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Gen-Reagan/Generation-X (Those born from 1965*-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.

* Yes if you are born between 1957 and 1964 you are a Baby Boomer

[Bob]

* Yes if you are born between 1957 and 1964 you are a Baby Boomer

1957?? I think that should be 1947 since that's a little after WWII ended.

[.38sw]

Nothing like meeting a future spouse while travelling. I met my husband when he sat down next to me when riding BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into San Francisco one morning.

Southwest may not be the best for amenities, but I usually take it when I have to fly, because I've had better luck with on-time flights and not missing any connections I may have to take.

[Mr. Bird]

Southwest is the airline equivalent of Greyhound, with everyone getting on using grocery bags for suitcases. I'll gladly pay a little more to get a reserved seat, and not have to listen to the lame company-assigned joke-of-the-day from the stewardi.

For flights under 2 hours, SW provides outstanding value. But if I'm going coast to coast, or longer, I'm gonna need a bit more luxury. I'll endure the flight to Vegas however, if only to save the money so I can give it to the casino when I land.

[savedbygrace]

"Folks, because the captain flies this plane beter than he drives it, I'd suggest you keep your seatbelts fastened until he's pulled up the the gate and turned off the seatbelt sign."

Heard that one a few years ago on the PHX-LAS route, coming into Las Vegas.

[stainlessbanner]

Grab the seat next to you. < snicker >