Family removed from Southwest Airlines plane after posting bad tweet

Enfuego · Jul 25, 2014

(KARE) A Minnesota man and his two children were asked to leave a Southwest Airlines flight in Denver after he tweeted about a boarding disagreement.

Duff Watson says he has priority boarding because of his "A-List" customer status, but a gate agent didn't allow his two children, ages 6 and 9, to board with him Sunday on a flight to Minneapolis.

He says the agent "rudely and dismissively" told him he couldn't do that because it was against policy and they would all have to wait.

"I said, 'is this a new policy? I'm not clear,'" said Watson. He says the gate agent replied, "No, that's the policy and we can stand here and argue about it all day, but I'm not going to change my mind."

Watson says he said in parting, "Real nice way to treat an A-List. I'll be sure to tweet about it." And that's what he did.

"I said in caps: RUDEST AGENT IN DENVER. KIMBERLY S. GATE C39. NOT HAPPY @SWA."

Once Watson and his children boarded the plane and had taken their seats, they heard an announcement on the loudspeaker asking the Watson family to gather their belongings and exit the aircraft.

Enfuego · Jul 25, 2014

Not that I blame the guy but I always get a chuckle out of these "priority" passengers on an airplane. I mean, they hurry to get on the airplane just to sit there longer.

Porcupine · Jul 25, 2014

Haven't flown SW recently, but it used to be policy where those with children boarded after the A group b/c they were holding everyone up by taking a long time to find seats (even though the plane was empty when boarding) and get situated. Can anyone confirm this is the current policy?

I love the playing up his A-list status - anyone who pays an extra few bucks and/or checks in early is A-list. It isn't like he is a million miler or something LOL

NickPappagiorgio · Jul 25, 2014

Thats the stupidest policy I have ever heard of. No parent in their right mind is going to board without their 2 children.

JakeT. · Jul 25, 2014

Sounds like the guy bought himself the early boarding perks and then expected the airlines to let his kids board early with him. Would have been nice of the airline to allow it but I can see why they wouldn't. Posting her name and location to social media was a bit much.

StraightXRS · Jul 25, 2014

Porcupine said:
Haven't flown SW recently, but it used to be policy where those with children boarded after the A group b/c they were holding everyone up by taking a long time to find seats (even though the plane was empty when boarding) and get situated. Can anyone confirm this is the current policy?

I love the playing up his A-list status - anyone who pays an extra few bucks and/or checks in early is A-list. It isn't like he is a million miler or something LOL

I just flew southwest and family boarding indeed happens right after A

doubledeuce22 · Jul 25, 2014

Enfuego said:
Not that I blame the guy but I always get a chuckle out of these "priority" passengers on an airplane. I mean, they hurry to get on the airplane just to sit there longer.

I can't stand the fn people who are climbing over each other at the gate so they can run on the plane when their zone is called so they can sit and wait for an extra 20 minutes. Same with the aholes standing on top of me when we land when it's at least an extra 20 minutes before we will even move.

Airport etiquette says a lot about a persons intelligence IMO,.

EverFresh · Jul 25, 2014

Southwest is worse than Greyhound, trash airlines

JakeT. · Jul 25, 2014

doubledeuce22 said:
I can't stand the fn people who are climbing over each other at the gate so they can run on the plane when their zone is called so they can sit and wait for an extra 20 minutes. Same with the aholes standing on top of me when we land when it's at least an extra 20 minutes before we will even move.

Airport etiquette says a lot about a persons intelligence IMO,.

Although I'm with you on most airlines, I think Southwest doesn't have assigned seats, meaning the first to board gets their preferred seats. On normal airlines it's just stupid but there is some early bird incentive on Southwest if I'm thinking of the correct airline.

MikeB · Jul 25, 2014

Jake T. said:
Sounds like the guy bought himself the early boarding perks and then expected the airlines to let his kids board early with him. Would have been nice of the airline to allow it but I can see why they wouldn't. Posting her name and location to social media was a bit much.

Agreed

TheComputerGroup · Jul 25, 2014

NickPappagiorgio said:
Thats the stupidest policy I have ever heard of. No parent in their right mind is going to board without their 2 children.

^^^^^

This! The airlines dome of the dumbest rules & like to add on new ones as they fit........

Danny_Boy · Jul 25, 2014

traveling has been know to lower some people's IQ about 50 pts. they enter through those doors and all common sense is gone

I will make one comment on something that was said above about people lining up early just to sit there for another 20-30 minutes. It ALL has to do with checking bags. Everyone lines up to make sure their carryon goes above their head and they don't have to check it. Nobody wants to head to the baggage carousel and wait that 20-30 minutes to get their bag.

I fly United ( 99% of the time ) and always am Group 1 due to my mileage status but to see people in groups, 2,3,4,5 all lined up a half hour before boarding is amusing

aceduecetrey · Jul 25, 2014

I don't understand how they could kick him off of the plane because of a twitter post

celticGreen+ · Jul 25, 2014

aceduecetrey said:
I don't understand how they could kick him off of the plane because of a twitter post

"we refuse the right to serve anybody, for any reason" is a stipulation when you buy the ticket, I'm sure.

terps1313 · Jul 26, 2014

Why doesn't Southwest just use assigned seats like everyone else? I still can't figure out the logic behind it.

JustinCruise · Jul 26, 2014

Enfuego said:
Not that I blame the guy but I always get a chuckle out of these "priority" passengers on an airplane. I mean, they hurry to get on the airplane just to sit there longer.

Have to respectively disagree enfuego

My wife and I didn't do the priority seating on our honeymoon and by the time we got on the plane we had to sit about 8 rows away from each other next to smelly, large, strangers. Normally that's not a huge deal but it kind of sucks to not sit next to your spouse on your honeymoon and a long flight. We are going to vegas in a few months and the first thing we did was get the priority seating. For 50 bucks it's worth it IMO.

JustinCruise · Jul 26, 2014

terps1313 said:
Why doesn't Southwest just use assigned seats like everyone else? I still can't figure out the logic behind it.

100 percent agree

CHOPTALK · Jul 26, 2014

Both parties overreacted.

JustinCruise · Jul 26, 2014

JustinCruise said:
Have to respectively disagree enfuego

My wife and I didn't do the priority seating on our honeymoon and by the time we got on the plane we had to sit about 8 rows away from each other next to smelly, large, strangers. Normally that's not a huge deal but it kind of sucks to not sit next to your spouse on your honeymoon and a long flight. We are going to vegas in a few months and the first thing we did was get the priority seating. For 50 bucks it's worth it IMO.

Respectfully*

damn 5 minute window

Enfuego · Jul 26, 2014

JustinCruise said:
Have to respectively disagree enfuego

My wife and I didn't do the priority seating on our honeymoon and by the time we got on the plane we had to sit about 8 rows away from each other next to smelly, large, strangers. Normally that's not a huge deal but it kind of sucks to not sit next to your spouse on your honeymoon and a long flight. We are going to vegas in a few months and the first thing we did was get the priority seating. For 50 bucks it's worth it IMO.

Was it Southwest JC? I overlooked the fact they don't have seat assignments. On all other flights, it's a mad rush just to sit and wait in a seat for 20 minutes.

Family removed from Southwest Airlines plane after posting bad tweet

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