Southwest ending open seating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a very petite woman, I'm all for this! 100٪ I'll start flying SW again because of this.

Genuinely curious why their boarding is worse for a petite woman than someone with a different gender or body type? I’m a moderately large woman, so, hadn’t ever thought about it.

Also does anyone know when this takes effect? My family flies in 3 weeks and I’d like to know if we are going to be screwed at boarding time since we didn’t pre select seats (obviously)

Different petite woman but people are always very quick to grab the middle seat next to me (compared to rows of larger passengers or men) so I rarely get the middle seat open even if it isn’t a full flight. I still am not a fan of getting rid of the open seat policy though.

[Anonymous]

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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. I

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.

But you can wait at a seat or having your bags set down instead in line lugging your crap. It actually is better

I’m not lugging my crap. I’m standing there with it next to me. Waiting and waiting. There are only so many seats at the gate. Everyone must wait on the preboarders. I could also be sitting in my seat on the plane waiting for them to board at the end, no? I get that people want to be first but they aren’t really making convincing arguments that boarding first is the only way to get “extra time” and how that is somehow better for everyone else. At least allowing preselected seats accounts for the needs of other passengers as well who have their own needs. Better for more people, not just some.

[Anonymous]

I've never and will never fly Southwest (once your fly private you'll never go back) but I rejoice. That was such a dumb idea from the get-go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Much more than not having assigned seats, what I hate about Southwest is that they don't have any outlets to charge electronics. So far I have stuck with them because I have a companion pass and love how easy it is to use their frequent flier miles.

A lot of their planes have chargers now. It's a mixed fleet, so luck of the draw.

[Anonymous]

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.

All of those people will still preboard.

But they won't be able to hoard all of the best seats. Those who really needed to pre-board and didn't just use it as a way to save ten seats will still be able to do so, but without the negative impact on the rest of us that they were previously creating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Depends where you live. If you’re on the west coast or south west they are usually the only choice to get from A to B. People will still fly Southwest.

PP here and I have family on the west coast and in the southwest and while this is true to a point it's also changing. And it will change faster if Southwest starts acting more like other airlines. Southwest basically owns ABQ airport for instance. But people flying in and out of ABQ are largely very cost conscious. That's a huge part of what has helped Southwest build that foothold. But if the features of the airline people have come to rely on change then you bet people there will shop around.

Southwest is pretty rare in that it is a company with a very strong brand and a lot of loyalty in an industry where usually consumers just go by price. I don't really get why they'd give that up. They would be better off capitalizing on their brand to raise prices (which many loyal customers would be fine with as long as they go the same built in amenities -- seat selection and free bags and flight changes) rather than just adopting the pricing model of other airlines that their most loyal costumers want.

I think this could boost profits in the short term as they attract some customers who were previously put off by not being able to select their seat but in the long run they'll lose a ton of their frequent fliers and brand advocates. It feels short sighted to me.

They already have raised their prices. I've been pretty loyal to Southwest for twenty years now. But people were taking advantage of the seating policy in the last two to three years. There was a change, and it was pretty darn clear that some people were saving far more seats than they once did.

[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.

Are you seriously begrudging people who use wheelchairs the potential privacy that early boarding gives them to get settled and are suggesting that they enter a fishbowl with everyone watching as they are literally picked up out of their chair into an airline seat?? You want the entire plane to watch them as they board last because … why exactly?

[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.

Are you seriously begrudging people who use wheelchairs the potential privacy that early boarding gives them to get settled and are suggesting that they enter a fishbowl with everyone watching as they are literally picked up out of their chair into an airline seat?? You want the entire plane to watch them as they board last because … why exactly?

Are you begrudging families who want to sit with their kids? They can still preboard and my family can get assigned seats. Everyone wins. Now the preboarders can only get to their assigned seats and not take all the aisles and windows just because they can. This is an improvement.

[Anonymous]

So will they be like the big airlines..a fee to pick a seat or no fee for random seat at check in? With exceptiond for people with a correct credit card of course.

[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.

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

And smoking on planes! Ah the good old days…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you seriously begrudging people who use wheelchairs the potential privacy that early boarding gives them to get settled and are suggesting that they enter a fishbowl with everyone watching as they are literally picked up out of their chair into an airline seat?? You want the entire plane to watch them as they board last because … why exactly?

Are you begrudging families who want to sit with their kids? They can still preboard and my family can get assigned seats. Everyone wins. Now the preboarders can only get to their assigned seats and not take all the aisles and windows just because they can. This is an improvement.

Gtfoh. You suggested that people in wheelchairs should board last. They can just as easily board last you said. That’s just wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a business and family traveler, I have appreciated the open seating system. I am basically always able to get the B seating if I checkin 24 hours in advance.

I've been very frustrated with other airlines where you get through the whole process to buy the tickets and then realize they don't actually have any seats together, even for good money paid. (Or that the price is basically doubled because you have to pay for seats.)

I don't really understand why, for instance, the petite woman prior poster thinks she'll do better with assigned seating.

Because it's random. I could get a petite woman sit next to me.

With open seating, in my experience a petite woman is a highly desirable seat mate because they think I should occupy less space. I've had tall, overweight men almost fight to sit next to me because they think they can manspread into my space. She's tiny, she doesn't need the arm rest! She's tiny, she doesn't need to recline -- not that I do but like the other thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you seriously begrudging people who use wheelchairs the potential privacy that early boarding gives them to get settled and are suggesting that they enter a fishbowl with everyone watching as they are literally picked up out of their chair into an airline seat?? You want the entire plane to watch them as they board last because … why exactly?

Are you begrudging families who want to sit with their kids? They can still preboard and my family can get assigned seats. Everyone wins. Now the preboarders can only get to their assigned seats and not take all the aisles and windows just because they can. This is an improvement.

Gtfoh. You suggested that people in wheelchairs should board last. They can just as easily board last you said. That’s just wrong.

Do you know who is even in the preboard group? It’s not all wheel chair users. And most of the wheel chair users, if there any in the preboard group, are perfectly capable of walking a few feet to their seat. So, many preboarders would be just as able to board last as first. That’s the reality. But, luckily for everyone else this should run a little more smoothly since some of the abuse will be fixed.

[Anonymous]

I hate Southwest’s open seating and won’t fly them. I opened the American Airlines credit card several years ago and have never paid for my family of 4 to sit together. I can now choose Main Cabin Extra seats for free. Each traveler on the same itinerary also receives one free checked bag. For me, these benefits completely justify the $95 annual fee. For people who think Southwest is better and cheaper, I don’t see it.

[Anonymous]

I’ve flown southwest and American this week. And both last month. Had issues on all three American flights including hours on a hot plane on the ground for a mechanical problem, cancelled flight, delays with no notice or reason why, and still arguments over seats when they’re assigned. Southwest had one delay, very obviously weather related, where they apologized profusely, extra drinks and snacks while waiting, and then quickly on our way. We got not a word of apology from American or even explanations. American didn’t even do beverage service on our last flight because it was short, which is extra annoying because we’d been sitting in a hot plane for unknown delays. Same length flight on southwest had beverages. I get not liking open seating (I love it) but I truly don’t get the hate for Southwest. Their service is so much friendlier than the major carriers.