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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A group: sit Anywhere
B group: back of the plane (my preference, and I usually get an aisle seat)
C group: center seat
Yes the nice thing about being in C is getting to chose who to sit next to!
We fly SW all the time. We board first as my husband uses a scooter. We sit in the first 6 rows. We only loose the middle seat if the plane is truly full. I always sit with my head down and hand over my mouth. Looking like I will sick any minute!
These are dick moves.
I fly Southwest almost weekly. If the plane is full, Or almost full, as a frequent flyer I always seek out a “very large” person already seated in a row.Taking the second seat in the same 3seat row Almost guarantees you The likelihood that no one will claim the middle seat unless absolutely necessary.
I’m offended
In this race sensitive world, it helps to be an African-American couple, board in A’s in the aisle & window. If flight isn’t full, almost guaranteed to have empty middle seat. Thanks America!
I always ask how full the flight is, then I determine whether to buy an upgrade. Going straight to the back of the aircraft seems to always have good seats available – and often times there will be rows without anyone sitting in the middle seat upon takeoff. For those persons “of size”, quit with your “fat shaming”, woe is me comments. You know that you are too large for one seat and you always spill over into the seat(s) on the row you sit. The people who irritate me the most are the fakers who lie about a “physical ailment” and receive pre boarding passes and then they get pissy when the other 3-4-5-6- members in their group don’t get to pre board. Many times I have paid for an upgrade and then have to stand there in the A 1-15 group and watch the pre board liars get to board first.
Vomit bag. Nobody wants to sit next to the girl who vomits with motion sickness.
We have had a companion pass for probably 28 or more years! We have been thru all the phases: the plastic color coded boarding pass you got at the gate check in desk – no number just the ABCD line; then preboards and numbered cards; then preboards, group A, families with children and then everyone else. They later added the pay for A1-A15 pass. It has all seemed to work. And now I am truly disabled enough to need help in the airport and the boarding process. From the airplane door I can walk to my seat so I don’t need a front row seat. There are some things that all airlines need to work on but I think SWA has almost mastered their no assigned seats policy. I’m old so maybe all airlines should have a family section so the children can play together! Love ❤️ SWA.
No one wants to sit in the middle unless they have to or if Taylor Swift was on the plane. If you have to, I find the one closest to the front.
I purposely look for the most passive aggressive passenger doing all the crap the above comments elicit….and sit there w/ an F-U attitude. The only people I won’t sit between are heavy people….that just punishes me. Sorry for my honesty and insensitivity.
When was the last time Taylor Swift flew South West or any domestic airline? If she flies in a commercial airline domestic or international I doubt if she’s in coach. My guess is she flys a private jet for domestic travel and is in first class for international.
Thanks everyone for sharing their experience, strength,and hope. I am a first time flyer and I needed to hear the messages. God Bless – Namaste