Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?

[Anonymous]

I don't understand the screeching about Southwest. I like selecting my seat ahead of time and knowing I'll get an aisle or bulkhead or whatever. Who LIKES having to fight for a seat?

[Anonymous]

As someone who doesn’t have diamond elite platinum super special status on any airline, I appreciated that I at least had a chance for a decent seat on Southwest without having to pay a premium. I also appreciated that I could be virtually guaranteed space in the overhead because most people checked their bags.

Jetway Jesus killed the former, and Southwest’s new bag fees will kill the latter, so there goes any loyalty I had. Now they’re just a crappy airline with bad on time percentages and zero resiliency to any bumps or software problems.

RIP, Southwest.

[Anonymous]

It isn't fighting at all. You get an assigned spot in line and select your seat once you board. If you're in A and first half of B, you typically have your choice of seats.

It is actually much more orderly than any other airline (American, I'm looking at you).

[Anonymous]

I still don't get it. I understand the bag fee fury, but you can reserve for free whatever seat you want on a flagship carrier, though it might be toward back the back, yes, so...

[Anonymous]

I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

We're not rich. But prioritize spending when we need to. Fly rarely but have always been able to get seats together because we pay the fee. Seems like open seating is more of a risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

Why do you need 4 seats together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

We're not rich. But prioritize spending when we need to. Fly rarely but have always been able to get seats together because we pay the fee. Seems like open seating is more of a risk.

Family boarding was after Group A. We are a family of 5 that travels frequently, and we could always get seats together in the back of the plane.

[Anonymous]

^ When traveling with younger kids, it is nice to all sit together, so you can trade the fidgety kid off, distribute snacks, help them set up a movie or activity, etc. We have just aged out of this phase (youngest is 5) but we've had about a 13 year stretch of appreciating family boarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

We're not rich. But prioritize spending when we need to. Fly rarely but have always been able to get seats together because we pay the fee. Seems like open seating is more of a risk.

This! I have status on AA and US and can't imagine not knowing if I'll be sitting with my teen or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

We're not rich. But prioritize spending when we need to. Fly rarely but have always been able to get seats together because we pay the fee. Seems like open seating is more of a risk.

Family boarding for families with kids 6 and under happens right after A group (for those who don't want to pay for early bird or check in 24 hrs in advance). There is still plenty of seating available between those 2 groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ When traveling with younger kids, it is nice to all sit together, so you can trade the fidgety kid off, distribute snacks, help them set up a movie or activity, etc. We have just aged out of this phase (youngest is 5) but we've had about a 13 year stretch of appreciating family boarding.

Super weird. Do you not travel much? I do not struggle with two kids on my own.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP--I much prefer to pay for a seat and have my choice. I hate the line-up thing on SW.

Are seat selection and baggage fees supposed to lower the ticket cost on SW? I actually find that they are usually more expensive than other airlines but maybe this will put them on par? If not, that may be the end of SW for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids. I don't want to pay for 4 seats. Without open seating you can't get seats together even paid sometimes.

We're not rich. But prioritize spending when we need to. Fly rarely but have always been able to get seats together because we pay the fee. Seems like open seating is more of a risk.

Family boarding for families with kids 6 and under happens right after A group (for those who don't want to pay for early bird or check in 24 hrs in advance). There is still plenty of seating available between those 2 groups.

Ah, got it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm with you OP--I much prefer to pay for a seat and have my choice. I hate the line-up thing on SW.

Are seat selection and baggage fees supposed to lower the ticket cost on SW? I actually find that they are usually more expensive than other airlines but maybe this will put them on par? If not, that may be the end of SW for me.

Ticket prices rarely go down.