Taylor Swift is in the midst of her Eras Tour, which began on March 17, 2023 and ends on August 17, 2024. The Grammy-award winning singer will perform 131 concerts across five continents, making the Eras Tour Taylor Swift’s most expansive. And while she may travel in style these days (she has an estimated worth of $740 million), that wasn’t always the case. She reminisced about her old Southwest Airlines days recently. RELATED: How to Vacation Like Taylor Swift This Summer
Taylor Swift received an honorary degree from NYU in May, 2022 and she delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2022 at Yankees Stadium. My nephew was one of the graduates, so I read the transcript of her speech, which you can watch below:
One thing that stood out to me was when she spoke about people thinking she had such a glamorous life (in her earlier years) when in reality, it wasn’t as she ended up homeschooling and spending a lot of time on the road.
In her words: “I never got to have a normal college experience per se. I went to public high school until 10th grade and then finished my education doing homeschool work on the floors of airport terminals. Then I went out on the road for a radio tour, which sounds incredibly glamorous, but in reality, it consisted of a rental car, motels and my mom and I pretending to have loud mother/daughter fights with each other during boarding so no one would want the empty seat between us on Southwest.”
Ha! Now that’s funny and effective … and if you want to see an even funnier way, check out this hilarious video of another way to keep that seat next to you empty on Southwest or on a bus or train! But there’s another way that works even better. First of all, Southwest Airlines (SWA) is one of the few airlines that doesn’t assign seats, which is why this tip works. The reason Southwest doesn’t assign seats is because it speeds up the boarding process as it eliminates passengers trying to figure out where their seat is located. As easy as it sounds, it’s difficult for many first-time flyers and sometimes even seasoned fliers. Believe it or not, I’ve sat in the wrong seat (row) multiple times so I understand SWA’s rationale.
Tips for flying Southwest Airlines:
1. Check-In ASAP
Check-in as soon as you’re allowed, which is 24 hours before your flight. I mean, set your alarm for 24 hours and five minutes before and then check-in when the clock strikes 24 hours prior. Boarding assignments are first come, first serve. You can also pay extra for a Business Select fare to guarantee Group A1-A15 (meaning they will be one of the first 15 people to board and they usually choose the first few rows or the exit row).
2. Be on Time
Show up to the gate on time so you don’t miss your spot in line.
3. Split Up
If there are two of you in your party or four adults and you know the flight isn’t sold out (ask the gate agent), then pick a row at the back of the plane and have one person sit in the window and the other in the aisle, leaving the middle seat open. Southwest only flies 737 aircraft, which all have six seats across (three on each side of the aisle). Here are Seatguru’s pick for the best seats.
4. Taylor’s Tip or Tissues or ?
If the plane isn’t full, then you can try Taylor’s tip of fighting with your partner so no one wants to sit in between you. But you can also put a box of Kleenex on the middle seat with some crumpled up tissues next to the box. That might be more effective but with COVID still fresh on people’s minds, it also might get you kicked off the plane!
What’s your best tip for keeping the middle seat open on a Southwest flight?
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Pretending to be disabled so you can board first and bring a companion with you is really not something to brag about.
Really? Low-class flyers who employ these types of juvenile and nasty behaviors just confirms why I don’t fly Southwest.
Honestly people after being a flight attendant for 32 years I have seen allot of bad personal behaviors but then again I have seen many kind ones too so haven’t lost complete hope in humanity! Really though people?! Cough & throw crumpled tissues on the plane seats & do some of these nasty tips just to be THAT GUY/GAL? I’d want bad behaviors to be banned from flying all together because frankly that behavior just shows me how’d you’d act in an emergency & it’s not very promising. You’re not getting special anything but perhaps try kindness as that always wins.
About ten of my last dozen SWA flights have been full, so all of this is just airport bar talk to me.
Being disabled myself, I can tell you that it is extremely difficult to navigate the isle of a plane. Especially after the exhausting task of getting to (a long journey from home) the airport and then making my way to the gate. So yes, we wheelchair people get preboarded and our family gets to sit with us. Imagine yourself being in a wheelchair and having to go to the back of the plane or being told you cannot sit with your family. I promise, we didn’t choose this life for the early boarding of planes.
Ask for assistance ( if you need it, they can’t ask why). You will be seated first, but you are only allowed one assistant/ companionto board with you…..
Paying extra does NOT get you into A1-15! We did and they boarded us AFTER all 12 wheelchairs with their families and friend!!!
Too funny Johnny! This list is spot on and thanks for all you do.
I never check in early. I am usually one of the last ones on. So I likely will get a middle seat, BUT, I get to choose who I sit next to and skinny people are my choice. If you get on early, a fat person may end up sitting next to you and you have no choice about the matter
If the plane is just half full, I still get into one of those middle seats….with my cat! I’m not kidding. I just love making new friends.
Bring a bag of paperwork (old fashion way) folders, magazines, etc. & open the middle tray table as UR work area, until the plan takes off, that will keep them “STRANGERS” away!:<)
My go to move, I take the vomit bag provided and hold it to my mouth, making sure I look as sick as possible. Over the years, I’m surprised I haven’t received a People’s Choice Award! It works like a charm.