Southwest ending open seating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many people taking advantage of their system with “family” boarding and “disabilities.” I’m sorry for the people who actually needed pre boarding.

It's always interesting to see how many people need wheelchairs at departure yet somehow they are able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair upon landing.

Why does anyone “need” preboarding? The flight leaves at the same time whether they board first or last. If you want to get on early, pay for it.

Some people truly do need more time. My parents are old and move at a glacial pace. They use wheelchairs both on and off the plane. You don’t want general boarding held up while it takes them 10 minutes to shuffle to their seats. Also disabled people who are in wheelchairs for life. It takes time for them to board.

While I agree the vast majority don’t need pre boarding there are cases where it’s needed. The rampant abuse of it is what caused this change.

They can just as easily board last once everyone else is seated. They don’t “need” to be first. Or they can just pay for it.

Which would hold up departure for the time it takes to get them on. I have no dog in this fight. I don’t fly Southwest ever but some people truly do need this. Have you ever seen a video of how wheelchair users have to get on the plane? Google it. You want the plane waiting for them to take off? Better to do it first then board and immediately leave.

What do you think everyone is doing while they slowly get on the plane? They are waiting for them. 10 mins is 10 mins whether on the front end or the backend. Now your parents can reserve the first few seats on the plane and everyone can get on more efficiently and fairly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many people taking advantage of their system with “family” boarding and “disabilities.” I’m sorry for the people who actually needed pre boarding.

It's always interesting to see how many people need wheelchairs at departure yet somehow they are able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair upon landing.

All of those people will still preboard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: What do you think everyone is doing while they slowly get on the plane? They are waiting for them. 10 mins is 10 mins whether on the front end or the backend. Now your parents can reserve the first few seats on the plane and everyone can get on more efficiently and fairly.

Although I understand how you arrived at your conclusion, it is a very narrow view of who preboards and why. It will be interesting to see how this shapes seating for some travelers and their experience.

[Anonymous]

The other airlines only give you an assigned seat for a price. I just booked delta and it was $50 each way to choose a seat. This is like Target saying they are getting rid of self check out because customers want to interactive with a clerk!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What do you think everyone is doing while they slowly get on the plane? They are waiting for them. 10 mins is 10 mins whether on the front end or the backend. Now your parents can reserve the first few seats on the plane and everyone can get on more efficiently and fairly.

Although I understand how you arrived at your conclusion, it is a very narrow view of who preboards and why. It will be interesting to see how this shapes seating for some travelers and their experience.

Because clearly for some it’s about getting the first few seats without paying extra, checking in 24 hours early, or any of the other hassles. They may still get preboarding but will be directed to their back of the plane seat if they failed to pay to preselect a seat. Which will make preboarding a lot less attractive to many since there isn’t much upside. If people truly need and value it, they will pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Southwest sucks. Airline is stuck in the 70s. I've only flown on them once and everyone on the plane was unattractive.

I actually LOL’d at this. I’m still LOL’ing

[Anonymous]

I wonder how this will impact companion pass. It’s the only reason I’ve stayed with them so many years. Ugh!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many people taking advantage of their system with “family” boarding and “disabilities.” I’m sorry for the people who actually needed pre boarding.

It's always interesting to see how many people need wheelchairs at departure yet somehow they are able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair upon landing.

Why does anyone “need” preboarding? The flight leaves at the same time whether they board first or last. If you want to get on early, pay for it.

Some people truly do need more time. My parents are old and move at a glacial pace. They use wheelchairs both on and off the plane. You don’t want general boarding held up while it takes them 10 minutes to shuffle to their seats. Also disabled people who are in wheelchairs for life. It takes time for them to board.

While I agree the vast majority don’t need pre boarding there are cases where it’s needed. The rampant abuse of it is what caused this change.

They can just as easily board last once everyone else is seated. They don’t “need” to be first. Or they can just pay for it.

Virtually every airline allows pre-boarders. You may not pay attention to it on the other airlines because you already have your assigned seat so oyu don't care who else is sitting around yu, but pre-boarding isn't going anywhre on Southwest or any other airline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Southwest sucks. Airline is stuck in the 70s. I've only flown on them once and everyone on the plane was unattractive.

Seriously, bring back Pan Am, TWA and men wearing suits and Stratoliner fedoras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because clearly for some it’s about getting the first few seats without paying extra, checking in 24 hours early, or any of the other hassles. They may still get preboarding but will be directed to their back of the plane seat if they failed to pay to preselect a seat. Which will make preboarding a lot less attractive to many since there isn’t much upside. If people truly need and value it, they will pay for it.

I happen to be A-list preferred. I also happen to need to preboard. I probably appear to be someone abusing the system. I assure you, I am not. Do I hear your nasty asides when I preboard? I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many people taking advantage of their system with “family” boarding and “disabilities.” I’m sorry for the people who actually needed pre boarding.

It's always interesting to see how many people need wheelchairs at departure yet somehow they are able to walk off the plane and not need a wheelchair upon landing.

Why does anyone “need” preboarding? The flight leaves at the same time whether they board first or last. If you want to get on early, pay for it.

Some people truly do need more time. My parents are old and move at a glacial pace. They use wheelchairs both on and off the plane. You don’t want general boarding held up while it takes them 10 minutes to shuffle to their seats. Also disabled people who are in wheelchairs for life. It takes time for them to board.

While I agree the vast majority don’t need pre boarding there are cases where it’s needed. The rampant abuse of it is what caused this change.

They can just as easily board last once everyone else is seated. They don’t “need” to be first. Or they can just pay for it.

Virtually every airline allows pre-boarders. You may not pay attention to it on the other airlines because you already have your assigned seat so oyu don't care who else is sitting around yu, but pre-boarding isn't going anywhre on Southwest or any other airline.

Yes but now those people can’t take the best seats before anyone else. That’s the key difference. Which is why preboarding isn’t a contentious issue on other airlines. Nobody cares if you’re taking your seat in row 32 first. Boarding the back of the plane used to be how it was done anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Because clearly for some it’s about getting the first few seats without paying extra, checking in 24 hours early, or any of the other hassles. They may still get preboarding but will be directed to their back of the plane seat if they failed to pay to preselect a seat. Which will make preboarding a lot less attractive to many since there isn’t much upside. If people truly need and value it, they will pay for it.

I happen to be A-list preferred. I also happen to need to preboard. I probably appear to be someone abusing the system. I assure you, I am not. Do I hear your nasty asides when I preboard? I do.

So what? Now everyone has a chance to select their seat and it won’t be taken by all the preboarders. 80% of people want to preselect seats so they have a choice too. Southwest has listened to the customers. Obviously you should have no problem with this decision since you still get what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southwest sucks. Airline is stuck in the 70s. I've only flown on them once and everyone on the plane was unattractive.

Sometimes being outdated pays off. My flights were on time with no delays last weekend while people flying Delta, American and United suffered.

Oh except for the holiday meltdown in 2022? That was a huge mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What do you think everyone is doing while they slowly get on the plane? They are waiting for them. 10 mins is 10 mins whether on the front end or the backend. Now your parents can reserve the first few seats on the plane and everyone can get on more efficiently and fairly.

Although I understand how you arrived at your conclusion, it is a very narrow view of who preboards and why. It will be interesting to see how this shapes seating for some travelers and their experience.

Because clearly for some it’s about getting the first few seats without paying extra, checking in 24 hours early, or any of the other hassles. They may still get preboarding but will be directed to their back of the plane seat if they failed to pay to preselect a seat. Which will make preboarding a lot less attractive to many since there isn’t much upside. If people truly need and value it, they will pay for it.

I get why this annoys people -- I also don't love the idea of people lying to pre-board.

However as someone who doesn't fake a disability or pretend to have a small child or pay for early check in for one person and then save seats for other people I prefer Southwest because it allows us to fairly easily get seats together with our kid (who is too old for family preboard). We log in 24 hours in advance and generally wind up in the B group which pretty much always enables us to find at least 2 seats together in the back of the plane (usually 3 together but at a minimum 2). We travel a lot so we really appreciate this flexibility and not having to pay an extra $50 per leg just to make sure a 9 year old can sit next to a parent. She'd be okay sitting nearby it's just not ideal. Southwest allows us to do this without paying extra so we default to Southwest for domestic travel. Combined with no change fees and free checked bags this makes Southwest the most economical option for family travel even when the actual ticket price is higher. I also really like the transparency of their pricing and that pulls me their way more often -- I know if I see a price on Southwest that's the all in price and I won't have to pay extra for any reason later. It makes travel planning a lot easier.

If Southwest starts charging to select seats I just view it as the beginning of the end. I'd rather they just charged more for the tickets! Same with bags. Just bake this into the cost. This is the primary differentiator and if you get rid of it there's just no real reason to pick Southwest unless they have the cheapest ticket which often they don't.

I think they are ruining the best thing about the airline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: What do you think everyone is doing while they slowly get on the plane? They are waiting for them. 10 mins is 10 mins whether on the front end or the backend. Now your parents can reserve the first few seats on the plane and everyone can get on more efficiently and fairly.

Although I understand how you arrived at your conclusion, it is a very narrow view of who preboards and why. It will be interesting to see how this shapes seating for some travelers and their experience.

Because clearly for some it’s about getting the first few seats without paying extra, checking in 24 hours early, or any of the other hassles. They may still get preboarding but will be directed to their back of the plane seat if they failed to pay to preselect a seat. Which will make preboarding a lot less attractive to many since there isn’t much upside. If people truly need and value it, they will pay for it.

I get why this annoys people -- I also don't love the idea of people lying to pre-board.

However as someone who doesn't fake a disability or pretend to have a small child or pay for early check in for one person and then save seats for other people I prefer Southwest because it allows us to fairly easily get seats together with our kid (who is too old for family preboard). We log in 24 hours in advance and generally wind up in the B group which pretty much always enables us to find at least 2 seats together in the back of the plane (usually 3 together but at a minimum 2). We travel a lot so we really appreciate this flexibility and not having to pay an extra $50 per leg just to make sure a 9 year old can sit next to a parent. She'd be okay sitting nearby it's just not ideal. Southwest allows us to do this without paying extra so we default to Southwest for domestic travel. Combined with no change fees and free checked bags this makes Southwest the most economical option for family travel even when the actual ticket price is higher. I also really like the transparency of their pricing and that pulls me their way more often -- I know if I see a price on Southwest that's the all in price and I won't have to pay extra for any reason later. It makes travel planning a lot easier.

If Southwest starts charging to select seats I just view it as the beginning of the end. I'd rather they just charged more for the tickets! Same with bags. Just bake this into the cost. This is the primary differentiator and if you get rid of it there's just no real reason to pick Southwest unless they have the cheapest ticket which often they don't.

I think they are ruining the best thing about the airline.

I could have written this exact post. We almost never pay for early bird (unless we know we won't be able to access a phone at exactly 24 hours) and we never have trouble at leaste getting B something. And a B will let you have two seats together, even on Orlando flights with a ton of family boarding. So much better than having to pay extra to make sure we have seats together on other airlines.