Anonymous
03/12/2025 23:01
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote:I mean who would you rather sit next to during a flight? Your spouse and kids or some rando who doesn’t shower and spills into your seat.
Or a snob who wears a disgusted mien the entire time.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 22:56
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
I mean who would you rather sit next to during a flight? Your spouse and kids or some rando who doesn’t shower and spills into your seat.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 20:57
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote: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.
What an odd response- you don't see the appeal of having your spouse (or a grandparent/aunt/uncle) sit with you and your young kids on the plane? I flew solo all the time when my older ones were little. 12+ times per year with baby and toddler (and then toddler and preschooler). Sure, it's doable, but of course it's easier when DH is there and we can both get a little shut eye, rather than one of us being in a different part of the plane and the other one being on kid duty the whole time. On Southwest, this is something we were able to do for free. Now the kids are older, so we really just need to sit next to the 5-year-old. But the older kids still prefer to sit together as a family. We actually enjoy each other's company and prefer to sit with each other than random strangers. (The kids also don't take up much room so I can't stow my carry on under their seat- perfect!)
Anonymous
03/12/2025 20:54
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t like open seating and I am not really a fan of Southwest. That said, I can see why the airline had appeal. Free bags and no change fees are pretty awesome. To me, it seems like SW is digging its own grave, or at least driving away a lot of loyal followers. First it was getting rid of open seating- which I hated. Hate having to check in and hate that if I forget to checkin, I’m stuck in a middle seat in the back. No more free checked bags will alienate even more of SW’s customers.
SW has long stopped being a budget airline. For domestic routes, United is often cheaper. I see less and less appeal for SW when compared to the likes of United. Here are all the ways United beats SW
-global network
-global partners
-economy plus and biz seating
-bigger planes
-airport lounges
-option to purchase food (free on overseas flights)
-full can of coke or juice (sometimes it’s the little things)
The only area SW wins is no change fees. I hear rumblings that this will soon go away.
PP here. Forgot a big one. United has inflight entertainment and free WiFi is coming.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 19:54
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
I don’t like open seating and I am not really a fan of Southwest. That said, I can see why the airline had appeal. Free bags and no change fees are pretty awesome. To me, it seems like SW is digging its own grave, or at least driving away a lot of loyal followers. First it was getting rid of open seating- which I hated. Hate having to check in and hate that if I forget to checkin, I’m stuck in a middle seat in the back. No more free checked bags will alienate even more of SW’s customers.
SW has long stopped being a budget airline. For domestic routes, United is often cheaper. I see less and less appeal for SW when compared to the likes of United. Here are all the ways United beats SW
-global network
-global partners
-economy plus and biz seating
-bigger planes
-airport lounges
-option to purchase food (free on overseas flights)
-full can of coke or juice (sometimes it’s the little things)
The only area SW wins is no change fees. I hear rumblings that this will soon go away.
SW has long stopped being a budget airline. For domestic routes, United is often cheaper. I see less and less appeal for SW when compared to the likes of United. Here are all the ways United beats SW
-global network
-global partners
-economy plus and biz seating
-bigger planes
-airport lounges
-option to purchase food (free on overseas flights)
-full can of coke or juice (sometimes it’s the little things)
The only area SW wins is no change fees. I hear rumblings that this will soon go away.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 18:12
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote:I guess you can choose to sit next to someone hot. I don't know. I would never fly on a budget airline.
On SW? You're more likely to get a customer of size vs. someone hot.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 18:10
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote: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?
It's cheaper for the airline is why.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 18:09
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
I guess you can choose to sit next to someone hot. I don't know. I would never fly on a budget airline.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 17:58
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
I like seeing the price of the flight with no surprises. That rarely happens with other airlines once they add baggage and seat selection fee it can be $100+ more
Anonymous
03/12/2025 14:31
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
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.
I have kids, but my DH has status on another airline. When my kids were little, I wasn’t willing to risk not having seats together on SW. I knew I’d chicken out and pay for seats with Early Bird, in which case I said forget it and just book flights with the other airline.
I don't have status somewhere else. And I'm ok sitting alone with the two kids. But they are small enough no one will enjoy sitting with one of them. SE had a great set up for us and I'm annoyed they are changing it. We also booked flights way far out to get a good price and could afford multiple trips a year.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 14:28
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
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.
I have kids, but my DH has status on another airline. When my kids were little, I wasn’t willing to risk not having seats together on SW. I knew I’d chicken out and pay for seats with Early Bird, in which case I said forget it and just book flights with the other airline.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 13:48
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote: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).
Agree.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 12:40
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
This! I have status on AA and US and can't imagine not knowing if I'll be sitting with my teen or not.
I always pay for EarlyBird on SW, but have flown it enough to know you can get 2 seats together unless you're in the last half of the C group. It's really not hard.
It's not about sitting together.
(Seriously, what's with you codependent travelers?)
I was responding to the PP who said she can't imagine not knowing if she's sitting with her teenager.
Anonymous
03/12/2025 12:36
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
Anonymous wrote: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.
This! I have status on AA and US and can't imagine not knowing if I'll be sitting with my teen or not.
I always pay for EarlyBird on SW, but have flown it enough to know you can get 2 seats together unless you're in the last half of the C group. It's really not hard.
It's not about sitting together.
(Seriously, what's with you codependent travelers?)
Anonymous
03/12/2025 12:34
Subject: Can someone explain the benefits of open seating?
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.
This! I have status on AA and US and can't imagine not knowing if I'll be sitting with my teen or not.
I always pay for EarlyBird on SW, but have flown it enough to know you can get 2 seats together unless you're in the last half of the C group. It's really not hard.