This is a great idea of yours, to let people know when they get it right. My dad always used to call

In a recently blog I discussed how Julianne and I were planning to use a trip to Austin to test Southwest Airline s new policy which is that people who need two seats can purchase both of them in advance and then they will refund cheap vacation packages to branson missouri the extra seat after travel, but that "Customers of size who prefer not to purchase an additional seat in advance have the option of purchasing just one seat and then discussing their seating needs with the Customer Service Agent at their departure gate. If it is determined that a second (or third) seat is needed, they will be accommodated with a complimentary additional seat(s)."
We decided to test the second half of the policy and not buy the extra seat in advance because we don t believe that fat people should have to have twice as much money as thin people at the time of ticketing for many reasons.   Several commenters asked that I let everyone know how it went so here it is:
Julianne is recovering from a knee injury and when we got to LAX they hurried to find a plus-sized wheelchair while I checked us both in.  They proactively offered us a second seat and pre-boarding and we were on our way.
It was all good until we got to Austin.  They did not have the proper size wheelchair for us and the head of Southwest Customer Service said We don t have a bigger wheelchair with a finality that suggested that this declaration would somehow make Julianne suddenly able to sprint through the airport to baggage claim with her injured knee.  We explained that they needed to do something check with the wheelchair vendors for the other airlines, call durable medical equipment rental companies etc. because we needed a plus-sized wheelchair, we requested a plus-sized wheelchair, we were promised a plus-sized wheelchair, and we were not about to spend our vacation on the Southwest Airlines Jetway.
While the representative worked to find a solution a member of airport staff walked by us with a plus-sized wheelchair.  I ran to catch up with him and he said that he couldn t help us because he contracted with a different airline. After more confusion and more work by the customer service representative we had a chair that worked.
We had a great time in Austin (thanks to CJ and Josh for the incredible hospitality) and when we got to the airport for our return trip, Southwest had someone waiting for us with the proper wheelchair and a Julianne s ticket said Handle cheap vacation packages to branson missouri with care.   The extra seat and pre-boarding were as easy as they had been on the trip out.
I have had people cheap vacation packages to branson missouri criticize cheap vacation packages to branson missouri me or using Southwest and suggest that I should never use them again because of the massive mistakes they made in the past.  I can certainly understand the sentiment and support whatever decisions people make as they are the boss of their flying underpants.  The reason I decided to give them another try is what I blogged about in depth a couple of days ago:  that they responded to the criticism and worked to improve their policy and service.  If I don t let go of their past transgressions and patronize them when they make changes, then what incentive do they have to respond to complaints? And what message does that send to the next business whose policies and practices we challenge?
I will admit that I have some envy of people for whom the hassles of flying are limited to flight delays and lost luggage, and not whether they ll be left clinging to the last shreds of their dignity by their connecting flight.  It also makes me aware of, and grateful for, the luck that I have in that I do fit in a single seat (primarily cheap vacation packages to branson missouri a function of the fact that my fat goes forward and back instead of to the sides.) Still, I feel like we re making progress and the more the airlines know that fat flyers are here and not going away, the more progress we can make.
It sounds like they have set a decent baseline. If they keep it up then hopefully they will be rewarded by getting cheap vacation packages to branson missouri more customers and it will become cheap vacation packages to branson missouri an industry standard if other companies what to get a share of the market.
Cool policy, I will have to look into it. My boyfriend says he wants to go to Hawaii this fall but I am terrified of the many hour flight particularly after our last flying experience together. Last flight I took was only an hour and a half and I was in excruciating pain by the time we landed because of the seat s arm rest digging it s way into my hip. And he, sitting next to me, was feeling cramped because I was encroaching on his space. cheap vacation packages to branson missouri I felt so bad that I was crouding him, because he was so obviously Miserable about me cramping him, that I started to cry. I was so hurt and humiliated and now am terrified of flying.
Oh and before anyone cheap vacation packages to branson missouri thinks my boyfriend wasn t being very helpful or suportive in a bad situation that I could do nothing about, i should mention he suffers from mild claustrophobia. So him showing obvious distress over me crowding him, wasn t his fault. I was, by my very presence beside cheap vacation packages to branson missouri him, making a tight and cramped space tighter and more cramped. So yeah, he was fighting his own personal demons at the time. Still, cheap vacation packages to branson missouri it made me feel like a horrible person, even though it wasn t my fault. It may take me a while to train myself to not hate myself or my body for taking up too much space .
Hi Stacy, my husband and I have flown on Hawaiian Airlines and not had a problem we normally sit in the side seats because they are just two together. But they have the middle row that has three seats together and if you keep the middle open that can work too for more comfort and help with his claustrophobia. Hope you make the trip to Hawaii it is worth the long flight. We are going again this September.
This is a great idea of yours, to let people know when they get it right. My dad always used to call managers over to compliment their staff, or write letters to places that did a job really well, and it not only ensured cheap vacation packages to branson missouri that he was well taken care of, but it boosted morale among staff. I ve fallen out of the habit of doing it, but I will start again.
As someone who used to work in retail and food service, I have to applaud your father, bodycrimes. It really cheap vacation packages to branson missouri is a great motivator to hear that someone appreciates it when you get it right. cheap vacation packages to branson missouri All too often the manager only hears who has upset the customer or gotten things wrong. cheap vacation packages to branson missouri If the manager doesn t see you getting it right, they don t know and don t reward your good customer service.
And kudos to you Ragen for giving Southwest another cheap vacation packages to branson missouri try. I agree if you don t support companies who make an effort, why should they bother. It sure would be more convenient for me to be able to trust flying Southwest for my frequent business travel. I will have to give them another shot.
I will often talk to management when someone does a really great job, but I most often like to leave notes typically on the credit card receipt that I sign (if I have a lot to say, I will write on the back of it!). I figure, that way the manager can t miss it, and it can t be thrown away (if I happen to have something negative to say). Typically, I just try to always jot down a Great service! cheap vacation packages to branson missouri or something more specific, if there was a note-worthy moment.
I wouldn t call it bad form, but depending on the store it might or might not get the message to the manager. In some places the cash/credit card slips are handled only by the cashier and the bookkeeper. In other places, it might get right to the owner. Depends on the size and set-up of the business. If you want to make absolutely certain cheap vacation packages to branson missouri the message gets where you want it to go, I would recommend asking to speak to the manager cheap vacation packages to branson missouri or leaving a note directly to the manager.
I m glad to hear things went well this time, Regan. Yes, there was a fail when Julianne s wheelchair wasn t waiting for her when you got to Austin, but at least the situation got resolved and there was one on the way back.
Hubs and I will be flying SW soon, using option one we bought three seats for the two of us our choice, to make sure overbooking did not deny us the space we, er, I need. I ll write back afterwards to let you all know how it went, including getting the promised refund.
Re: the wheelchair issue. For folks like me who have not the physical ability to walk the long distances through airports, I highly recommend cheap vacation packages to branson missouri the purchase (or even rental, for a rare trip or a temporary immobility) of a TravelScoot. I could not travel, cruise, go to museums,or even do most of my shopping without mine. The airlines are generally great about checking my TS (like a baby stroller) at the door to the plane, and having it waiting for me shortly after landing. Hopefully, SW will be the same.
Regan, I couldn t agree with you more about the need to reward cheap vacation packages to branson missouri the companies that respond cheap vacation packages to branson missouri to complaints by doing better. cheap vacation packages to branson missouri And I think it s also a good idea to let them know that they are being rewarded for doing better. We need to tell the company as well as other customers.
Ragen You didn t really describe the seating experience as much as the wheelchair experience. While I am glad to know SW will be accommodating if I need a wheelchair, what exactly did they do about your seats on the plane?
Sorry, On the way there I got the boarding passes for both of us while Julianne got her wheelchair, they proactively offered us a second seat (with a little sign for the seat that says reserved and pre-boarding, cheap vacation packages to branson missouri and the agent who pushed her wheelchair took care of letting the gate agent know.� cheap vacation packages to branson missouri On the way back they already cheap vacation packages to branson missouri had the extra seat (with reserved sign), and preboarding ready and, again, the person who pushed the wheelchair took care of it. The wheelchair is handled by a separate company with which SWA contracts and I feel like even if we didn t have the wheelchair they would have been just as good about giving us the extra seat.
I m going to Europe on vacation during this summer and beyond petrified doesn t even explain how i feel..aside from worrying of getting rude stares, comments etc. I m freaking out over the airplane ride over, not to mention that i ll ruin eve