Southwest ending open seating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southwest ending its open seating citing it as passengers' #1 complaint...but also a way to get to charge passengers.

#1 complaint for those who don't choose it, one of the biggest draws for those who do. They're going to turn into the legacy carriers looking for every opportunity to nickel and dime passengers

Yup!
Now there is really no reason to choose Southwest. They'll operate exactly the same as everyone else. I think they're really going to regret this change.

I bet their seating policy is their #1 complaint not so much because of the policy itself but because of all the cheaters and liars and family members who exploit the policy and try to get around it (arriving to the gate in an unnecessary wheel chair, saving seats for later boarding family members, etc). The SW boarding process was fine until selfish and unscrupulous humans ruined it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Not a regular SW flier, but I agree that their service is a step above other airlines. I don’t like the open seating. I like an assigned seat and don’t feel like having to remember to check-in to get a preferred boarding spot.

[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.

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.

You'll really whine when you're trying to board as they block the aisle bringing on a disabled passenger. The transfer chair sits in the aisle while the passenger is settled.

[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.

Airlines choose to board them first because it's more streamlined and simpler to maneuver.

[Anonymous]

Nooooooo! But what I love the most about Southwest is no baggage fees and no penalty when changing a reservation. And, their customer service is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nooooooo! But what I love the most about Southwest is no baggage fees and no penalty when changing a reservation. And, their customer service is great.

Definitely no penalty to change is great. I’ve ended up having to cancel a trip due to medical stuff coming up and it was so much better than worrying if my credit card would cover it. I’ve also gotten some money back when they do one of their fare sales!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were already nickel and diming people for low boarding numbers, which you needed if you wanted to ensure you sat with family. The few times I had to fly SW I ended up paying $$$ for their auto check-in so my kid wasn't sitting alone for the flight.

Open seating is fine for regional business flights, doesn't work if you want to act like a major carrier.

This isn't true. First off if you just want two seats together you are fine with a boarding spot in the B group which you can get without paying extra. Might be back of the plane but you'll get something. Also families with kids 6 and under board between A and B which guarantees you sears together.

But if you were really worried you could pay for early bird BUT it wasn't "$$$." It was $15 per ticket. So unless you had a lot of plane changes this was STILL way cheaper than what you pay on other other airlines. I don't mind paying $30 each way to guarantee my kid and I can sit together. On another airline that's $100 each way.

[Anonymous]

Open seating is annoying and inefficient in the current form.

If they actually wanted to be efficient for faster boarding they’d have very limited preboarding (dr note required in advance). Put those people in the first few rows. Then everyone else would have to go as far back as possible when boarding and load the seats from the back first. You sit next to or near the people you board with. No groups or fees to get an assigned seat. No saved seats.

If open seating was no longer serving its original purpose of fast loading because of all of the inefficiencies/cheating then it makes sense that they move to assigned seats.

[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.

Airlines choose to board them first because it's more streamlined and simpler to maneuver.

That’s fine but you can’t deny people were abusing this to get premium seats for their families since they don’t have to prove they have a disability. People are so naive here.

[Anonymous]

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.

You'll really whine when you're trying to board as they block the aisle bringing on a disabled passenger. The transfer chair sits in the aisle while the passenger is settled.

Clearly you never fly southwest since this is an extremely rare occurrence. This is not who is pre boarding and frequent travelers don’t need your sanctimonious lecture.

[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.

You'll really whine when you're trying to board as they block the aisle bringing on a disabled passenger. The transfer chair sits in the aisle while the passenger is settled.

Clearly you never fly southwest since this is an extremely rare occurrence. This is not who is pre boarding and frequent travelers don’t need your sanctimonious lecture.

+1. I fly SWA on average 6-7 times per year, and I have never seen and adult who can not walk at all (I have seen children, but they have been small enough that parents are able to carry them in and out of the cabin. The vast majority of the SWA wheel chair people are old folks who can't/won't walk the entire airport. They are pushed to the end of the jetway, then get up and walk to a seat. The majority of these people are then magically able to walk the length of the jetway to disembark. Many of them seem to be able to magically walk out of the airport.

[Anonymous]

We always check in right at 24 hours in advance and get a spot in B boarding group. If you are in B boarding group, you are going to be able to find 2 seats together (and most likely 3 seats at the back of the plane). Families with young children get to board between A and B boarding groups, so, there are plenty of seats for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southwest ending its open seating citing it as passengers' #1 complaint...but also a way to get to charge passengers.

#1 complaint for those who don't choose it, one of the biggest draws for those who do. They're going to turn into the legacy carriers looking for every opportunity to nickel and dime passengers

Yup!
Now there is really no reason to choose Southwest. They'll operate exactly the same as everyone else. I think they're really going to regret this change.

I bet their seating policy is their #1 complaint not so much because of the policy itself but because of all the cheaters and liars and family members who exploit the policy and try to get around it (arriving to the gate in an unnecessary wheel chair, saving seats for later boarding family members, etc). The SW boarding process was fine until selfish and unscrupulous humans ruined it.

Yeah I’ve definitely noticed this more in recent years. There are always way more pre-boarders on southwest flights than other airlines, and entire groups boarding with one person in a wheelchair. You also had more people paying extra for the early group or automatic check in, to the point that it wasn’t even valuable anymore. I think the southwest boarding processs worked better before they started adding in all the extra options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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. 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.

They start preboarding while the FAs and pilots are still doing their checks. The FAs are also settling in UMs, etc at that time. They wouldn't be able to start the general boarding at the time they start the preboarding if you moved the preboarders to the last.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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. 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.

They start preboarding while the FAs and pilots are still doing their checks. The FAs are also settling in UMs, etc at that time. They wouldn't be able to start the general boarding at the time they start the preboarding if you moved the preboarders to the last.

They also don’t leave until everyone is seated, whether you’re first or last. I guess you must be one of the abusers who thought you were getting away with this. Enjoy paying for your assigned seat now for you and your entire family. We know you’ll miraculously find the will power to walk off that flight that you just used a wheelchair to get on with. Everyone including Southwest is on to this scam.