We probably shouldn’t have been surprised when the announcement went out that Southwest Airlines plans to shake up how they do a lot of their business. They recently announced that they plan to offer:
- Assigned and premium seating
- Redeye flights
- New EVP commercial transformation
Questions about free checked luggage and the availability of a free second seat for passengers of size are still up in the air. However “rules” set aside, there are several “life hacks” people have discovered they can use when flying on Southwest that, at least for now, are still 100% viable.
“Life hack” vs. “hack”
We’re preferring to call the following “life hacks” instead of “hacks. A “hack” can sometimes have the connotation of being sneaky, illegal, a way to bend the rules, etc. (skiplagging, for example, is a hack. So is what these people do). OTOH, a “life hack” is any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency (thanks, Wikipedia!). In other words, completely on the up and up.
Cali flight life hack
When flying to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) or Long Beach Airport (LGB), sit at the back of the plane, and you can disembark from the rear instead of waiting until it’s your turn to disembark from the front, like at most airports. Heads up: You need to be able-bodied for this life hack since although the airport uses a ramp for the front exit, they use stairs at the rear exit.
Battery pack life hack
Most of Southwest’s fleet still doesn’t have charging outlets. Bring a charged battery bank, so your phone/tablet won’t run out of power (FUN FACT! You can also suck battery power from your computer to your phone, if you have the right cables and hookups. I wound up doing this when I was on a Southwest flight from AUS to MCO, but we got diverted to PBI due to weather at MCO).
Middle seat life hack #1
This one will work on any airline, but especially on Southwest, for as long as they have open seating.
If you have a later boarding assignment, like in the Cs, look for open middle seats that appear to have a couple (or at least 2 people who know each other) in the aisle and window seat. Ask if anyone is sitting in the middle seat and one of them might offer to sit there, so they can “sit together.” And then you have that sweet aisle or window seat (by the way, if you ask this of my husband Joe and me, you’re going to get a middle seat. He likes the window, and I like the aisle).
Middle seat life hack #2
At least for now, Southwest will allow a passenger of size to have a second seat, for free, if needed. If you’re flying on Southwest and see a passenger of size with a “SEAT RESERVED” boarding pass on the seat next to them, grab the other empty seat in the row. Both of you will have a little wiggle room since no one will be able to sit in the middle seat.
Exit row life hack
A flight attendant typically stands in the exit row to ensure that no children under the age of 15 or pre-boarders sit in that row (neither are allowed). People don’t realize it’s an exit row and walk past it. If exit rows are your thing, be aware and snag that seat with legroom for days.
Price change life hack
If the price of your flight drops, you can “change” your flight (it’s free) and receive the price difference back as a credit.
Costco life hack
If you have a Costco membership, they often have $500 Southwest gift cards for $450. (limit 5)
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