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Southwest Passengers Find Love in an Empty Seat
Reuters ^ | 7-15-2004 | Jon Herskovitz

Posted on 07/16/2004 7:08:38 AM PDT by LincolnLover

DALLAS (Reuters) - The loving looks begin outside the gate, jump to the jetbridge and snuggle themselves into coach seats in the Southwest Airlines courtship ritual.

Low-fare U.S. carrier Southwest likes to say it is the airline built on love, and thanks to an open seating policy where customers are free to chose their seats, many a romance has taken off with the purchase of an inexpensive ticket.

Over the years, the Dallas-based airline which calls the city's Love Field its home has received thousands of letters and scores of wedding invitations addressed to top executives from couples who met on one of the airline's flights.

"At times, we feel that we are the love brokers of the sky," said airline spokesman Ed Stewart.

A passenger on Southwest receives a boarding pass based on how early they check in for a flight and the pass will assign them to one of three boarding groups. Passengers board with their group and are free to choose any seat on the plane.

Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier with such a policy and all of its seats are coach.

That policy led to wedding bells for Beth and Derrick Zefo of Nashville, Tennessee. Beth saw Derrick as they were boarding a flight to Chicago, and thought he "was kind of cute."

"He was seated on the plane first and was sitting by the window. There were two empty seats next to him and I decided to ask him if I could sit there," Beth said.

The two shared a turkey sandwich and conversation on an 80-minute flight. They met at the airport in Chicago by chance on their return flight and later set up a date.

Their marriage resulted from a policy that allowed the outgoing Beth to sit next to the more reserved Derrick.

"Even for someone shy, if you sit next to someone who is open, it can make for an enjoyable flight," Derrick said.

MAKING GOO-GOO EYES AT THE GATE

Veteran Southwest flight attendant C.J. Deschaine has seen the sparks fly between couples hundreds of times -- especially on flights to Las Vegas.

"One person starts to scope the other out at the gate and devises a strategy to sit nearby," she said. If the seats are too far away, Deschaine said she has been called on numerous times to deliver a drink to a passenger on behalf of a caller.

According to dating expert Kathleen Roldan, a flight on an airplane presents a good chance for singles to meet. Roldan, the director of dating for Dallas-based Match.com, which bills itself as the largest on-line dating Web site in the world, said that busy singles have few chances to meet by chance.

"What we hear most from singles is what they are really lacking in their day to day lives is access to other singles," Roldan said. "It has become more difficult to casually bump into someone who you are going to want to date."

She thinks the open seating policy provides the chance for a meeting, but it can be a risky strategy.

"You wouldn't want to put all your eggs in this basket, but it is definitely a great option," she said.

Some advice from dating experts on the airplane dating ritual include trying to make some sort of contact in the terminal -- where small talk comes as easily as asking "isn't it a hassle to travel?"

If there is some connection, then try to pursue it during the flight and if things do not look good in terminal, do not bother a person on the plane.

LOVE BITES

As a part of building a brand image, the airline used to call its in-flight snacks "love bites" and its in-flight drinks "love potions." Its stock ticker symbol is LUV and it calls its monthly company newsletter "Luv Lines."

While Southwest tries to spread the love through discount fares, a veteran American Airlines flight attendant said a seat in first class is the way to go for romance because it provides a good setting to meet in a place where typically busy people can comfortably sit in a row.

"It is easier to strike up a conversation in first class than coach, and there are enough distractions to tune the other person out if things don't go well," she said.

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. The policy was used by the airline as a way to speed up the boarding process and to save money.

Now Southwest is one of the largest domestic carriers in the United States and many business travelers have asked the airline to give out assigned seats. But Southwest officials have said they like open seating and they want to keep it.

"It is not a bad idea to look for someone on a Southwest flight, and make sure you board after them so that you can sit next to them," said Beth Zefo, the woman who found a husband thanks to an empty seat.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: singles; southwestairlines
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I love Southwest! Cool story.
1 posted on 07/16/2004 7:08:40 AM PDT by LincolnLover
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To: qam1

Gen-X ping (?)


2 posted on 07/16/2004 7:10:36 AM PDT by LincolnLover (LSU: 2003 National Football Champions, GEAUXING FOR TWO in 2004!)
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To: LincolnLover

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.


3 posted on 07/16/2004 7:14:15 AM PDT by Johassen (Veritas Vincit)
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To: LincolnLover

Nice story. Thanks for the post.


4 posted on 07/16/2004 7:15:34 AM PDT by NautiNurse ("I served in Viet Nam, and we have better hair"----John F'n Kerry campaign platform)
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To: Johassen

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.


5 posted on 07/16/2004 7:16:34 AM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
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To: LincolnLover

"..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.


6 posted on 07/16/2004 7:18:07 AM PDT by Chewbacca (Michael Moore is a filthy piece of distended rectum.)
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and the carrier flew a handful of planes over Texas.

That's one mighty big hand.

7 posted on 07/16/2004 7:24:31 AM PDT by GretchenM (A country is a terrible thing to waste. Vote Republican.)
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To: LincolnLover

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


8 posted on 07/16/2004 7:27:43 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham ("This house is sho' gone crazy!")
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To: LincolnLover
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.

9 posted on 07/16/2004 7:35:38 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Flush the john/john rat ticket in 2004. #1 & #4 liberals in Congress.)
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To: 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.

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

10 posted on 07/16/2004 7:41:43 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

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.


11 posted on 07/16/2004 8:02:55 AM PDT by Ranger
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To: glorgau
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!


12 posted on 07/16/2004 8:07:40 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Monthly Donors NEVER need tons click "co-ordinating")
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: LincolnLover

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.


14 posted on 07/16/2004 8:21:07 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: LincolnLover; qam1; ItsOurTimeNow; PresbyRev; tortoise; Fraulein; StoneColdGOP; Clemenza; ...
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

15 posted on 07/16/2004 10:11:43 AM PDT by qam1 (Tommy Thompson is a Fat-tubby, Fascist)
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To: qam1
* 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.

16 posted on 07/16/2004 10:22:03 AM PDT by Bob
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To: LincolnLover
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.
17 posted on 07/16/2004 10:24:06 AM PDT by .38sw
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To: 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.

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.

18 posted on 07/16/2004 10:28:22 AM PDT by Mr. Bird (Ain't the beer cold!)
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To: TonyRo76
"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.

19 posted on 07/16/2004 10:37:54 AM PDT by savedbygrace
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To: TonyRo76; Constitution Day; Fierce Allegiance

Grab the seat next to you. < snicker >


20 posted on 07/16/2004 10:43:48 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
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