Assigned Seats on Southwest Airlines
 

Finally, Southwest will allow passengers to reserve a seat on their planes. I would never fly on a plane without an assigned seat. And, don't ask me to change seats. The time to select a seat on a plane is when you buy the ticket, not when you get on the plane. Plan ahead. Rant over.

I am glad to see Southwest changing. I quit flying them due to this reason. I stayed with Jet Blue.

Since Southwest was the only airline that flies nonstop for wherever my family lives and still has free luggage it’s never been that big of a deal about not pre-selecting seats. You were always assign different sections and then you just pick your seats.
My guess is reason why Southwest is changing is because they are going to start putting a dollar amount on each seat or area.
So no more free seat flying with Southwest.

Our family visits in the summertime, so our sons are very happy with having an entire row to themselves. Now they have to pre choose, that luxury may not be as easy. In high season they just meet half way and drop a car at friends.
Neither has kids, so not a fan of flying during Mouse House season

Bags fly free may end sometime too. Once all the changes happen, they will be just another airline. :(

I like Sun Country: few screw-ups compared to some other airlines, but mainly because being based in Minnesota they fly a lot of nonstops between Orlando and Minneapolis (most of my family lives in Minnesota). Most other airlines route me through Atlanta, Salt Lake City or Denver. The only downside is that Orlando is Kid Central and a lot of those flights are packed with (at times) VERY noisy and unruly kids.

The seating system creates "Miracle" flights. Many passengers in wheelchairs board the plane (and jump the line) but somehow are able to run off the plane when it lands. I never noticed this same level on airlines that have reserved seating. This is most paravent with flights from the Northeast to Florida.

Hope not

This might not be popular, but IMHO, the problem with boarding (and eventual deplaning) is not assigned seats vs. group free for all boarding, it's the ever increasing competition for overhead carry-on bin space. Back in the sixties and early seventies, there were no overhead bins---all luggage had to be checked. A full plane could board in 5 minutes. Now, we have people tripping over one another, cheating on wheelchairs, and trying to sneak more than one carry-on aboard.

If it were up to me, I'd rip out all the overhead bins and go back to the way it was in years gone by.

Look at it this way---people think they save time by skipping the baggage claim area, but it may be an illusion. I find the wait to claim a bag at the carousel is usually 10-15 minutes. But the time to board is 25 min and to deplane about 20 min. Is anyone saving time as opposed to a 5 min board and deplane????

I should add that the biggest waste of time that has sprung up in the last few years is off-site car rental locations----wait for a shuttle, wait at the counter, wait to get a car---then rinse and repeat for returning it.

[QUOTE=golfing eagles;2353141]This might not be popular, but IMHO, the problem with boarding (and eventual deplaning) is not assigned seats vs. group free for all boarding, it's the ever increasing competition for overhead carry-on bin space. Back in the sixties and early seventies, there were no overhead bins---all luggage had to be checked. A full plane could board in 5 minutes. Now, we have people tripping over one another, cheating on wheelchairs, and trying to sneak more than one carry-on aboard.

If it were up to me, I'd rip out all the overhead bins and go back to the way it was in years gone by."


Those overhead bins are all too often the subject of rule-bending. I don't know though about ripping them out: often families with young children have necessities in their carryons that they need accessing during flights. But...stricter rules for sure.

Agree about the boarding though. Stricter regulation of carryons would certainly help that. The best boarding I've ever seen was at a layover in Taipei. When it came time to board (747), the first class passengers got to go first, then everybody else. Two jetways, and as I recall your seat number indicated which jetway you used. But that was the only differentiation. As I recall we boarded over 300 people in maybe 10 minutes.

Personally, I'd rather not see it change. I don't have a problem with lining up in the A,B,C,D preboarding system. We always buy the early bird option for $25, and have always been in "A" group. We always bring an empty bag or two so we can load up on the local and ethnic food items we can't get down here, so the 2 free bags work for us. I guess I can live with the new seating since I already pay extra to board early, but the free bags going away (if they do) might lead me to change airlines.

I agree. But I think one reason for the overhead bins is to reduce the cost to the airlines to handle luggage.

Good point! They probably save quite a few $$$ by transferring the responsibility of lugging luggage from the baggage handlers to the passengers, at the expense of a zoo-like boarding process. And then charge $35-45 per bag for checked items. But it's all due to the internet search engines and people who select to filter by "cheapest flights first"----they advertise the "best" fare, then nickel and dime you to death.

I flew from Knoxville to Dallas a few weeks ago and the gate nazi (as some folks were calling her) loved her job. She didn't let a thing on that plan that was beyond the allowed carry ons and I must say the boarding process was smooth as silk. She started warning people 15 minutes before boarding to gate check early or end up waiting at boarding time. When the entitled tried to slip by her while she scanned tickets she directed them to the side to be dealt with when everyone that followed her instructions boarded. I love it when someone knows their mind, the process, the rules and how to run a tight ship.

If only they were all like her. Now how do we deal with the fake "wheelchairers" without violating the ADA?

That topic will really get me fired up.

I managed a data center in Dallas a few years ago and I got a request from the systems manager to increase the number of handicap parking spots. I took a look and we had 12 handicap spots for about 150 employees (500 spaces total so plenty of spots to convert). The problem came when I got the company I used to stripe the spaces said all my spaces were too steep to meet the ada regulations (must be under 2% grade), I was going to have to tear up a bunch of concrete, repour then paint the handicap symbols. A simple project turned into 25k spend and budgets were getting tight .I went back and looked at the typical ratio of accessable spaces needed and I should have been able to get by with 7 or 8 spaces for the number of employees I had, with 12 in place there should have been plenty of spaces. I directed security to post a guard at the handicap spaces the next morning and ask each person to provide their placard number and fill out a parking permit. Texas is great, if you have the placard info you can get the backing information from the state. Of the 14 employees vying for the 12 spaces there were 3 that had valid handicap placards.

I called each of the violators and told them there was a $1250 fine and 50 hours of community service for accessable parking violations and I would be calling the sheriff to come out and check the spaces that afternoon. There was a rush to the parking lot, no one hobbled, shuffled or needed a wheel chair.

I had plenty of empty spaces from them on.

Bastards.

Thanks for sharing. More and more we see the fake service dogs wheeled around in carts at supermarkets.

I’m glad they are changing the seat policy also, I hate playing the seating game. I still prefer Jet Blue, more legroom and the ability to watch a movie still gives them the upper hand over Southwest, but at least now we will consider them. Since JB and SW are the only two carriers operating out of BDL (the airport we use up north) with daily non stop flights to MCO, it’s good to have two competing options. I really wish one of the airlines would offer non stop flights to Sanford airport, that would definitely win over our business.

It's good and bad. I prefer assigned seating as do most. Expect Southwest to join the other airlines and charge extra for all the "preferred" seats. The middle seats will be free.

When I would travel alone, I always chose a middle seat. When hubby and wife found they didn't have an empty middle seat I never agreed to change my seat. Such fun!

How kind of you! Get off my lawn!!!!:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

A problem with middle seats is being surrounded by seat belt "extenders" passengers.:laugh:

Well, I like seated at front of plane cause I’m first class material, it get there first.. :duck: ( really I like making quick exit) IMO boarding snafu, need board back first, then work way to front. Nothing like trying get by people boarding front first. Let’s face too many people now and majority are gifted whiners.

I know. I'm a sweetheart. And when I poop on your lawn I always clean it up with a mulching mower, kitty litter, and a battery powered leaf blower. 🫢💩🤢 I'm the one in the middle

May the "husband and wife" on either side of you in the middle seat be 2 sumo wrestlers who just finished a match :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

I’d rather SW stays as they are. I try and only fly them. I can change my flight a million times with no cancellation or change fee, I can book several flight months ahead for lower rates, and then cancel last minute for which dates work best. Once they assign seats, we will soon pay for seats and pay for luggage. Then the flight rates you see will be like the other airlines and almost double in actual cost by the time you add in seat selection and baggage check. I really cannot stand airlines that charge for even carry ons!

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So true. People have found loop holes and abused Southwest policies for early boarding. Sometimes there’s 50 people in line for assisted boarding going down the jetway, but nobody needs help going up the jetway. It’s a miracle

I agree, I try to fly SW whenever I can, especially their non-stop to Vegas

On the other hand, if an airline charged the same for carry-ons as they do for checked luggage, there'd be less "cheating" for space.

And for a VERY unpopular suggestion: I weigh 190#, My golf clubs in carrier weigh 40# and a full-size suitcase of 35# for a total of 265#. Other than SW the baggage fee is $70-80 + the ticket. Then, especially in a window seat, I get squished against the wall by a 320# person whose fat rolls are on my lap, and who managed to sneak 2 carry-ons aboard for a total of about 370# and $80 less. Since weight seems to be important on a flight (just see what happens if your bag is over 50#), maybe it's time to start charging passengers by the pound, just like their luggage.

Oh No!
 

Bummer. I love Southwest’s open seating approach - it’s the main reason I fly Southwest whenever I can. Buy the Early-Bird, get in group A and then pick your seat - I always got an aisle seat in the first 12 rows and never had a problem. Plenty of overhead baggage room in group A.

Looks like I will be picking a new favorite airline - Delta anyone?

Last time I returned to MCO, there was a person in a wheelchair next to me at the carousel. when his bag came around, he JUMPED out of his wheelchair, flinging it into the person on his left, then RAN out of the terminal. There should be draconian penalties for such people---such as the no-fly list.

I agree. I've flown SW for over 20 years and never had an issue. I appreciated not having to pay to fly my golf clubs on vacation even to Maui from the left coast.

Booo!
 

I love SW and the open seating. Because we fly to and from Orlando, we almost always could get an exit row seat, even if we were group B, because there were so many kids on the flight who aren’t allowed in those rows. I’ll miss that - now it’s just like any other airline except for 2 free bags. If they get rid of that, I’m gone!

Southwest and Spirit are the Carnival of airlines. Let’s simply and make boarding stress free on all airlines. All passengers have assigned seats. All get 1 free checked bag up to 50 lbs each. Then charge extremely high prices for any overhead bag storage in order to incentivize checking bags and recouping any lost revenue. If you board first due to needing assistance or extra time, you deplane last in order to not hold up 200 other people. Just watch how much calmer airports become and how important the new ratings for carousel baggage delivery become.

I'm no businessperson (thankfully I have a wife who knows her way around a dollar bill) but I've flown a lot. I remember, back in the 70s and 80s, when airlines treated their customers as if they actually valued them. Today? Well, some of those airline and airport personnel should be issued cattle prods for the way they treat people. Unless you fly 1st class you're nothing; a mere number to get shoehorned into an ever-narrowing seat. If you're lucky you might get a free soft drink and a bag of peanuts tossed your way (actually had that happen once) but those days when customers were treated as if they really mattered seem gone forever.

Or are they?

I've thought for a long time now that if airlines offered specific flights that were ALL "business class" or something similar, with services and space to match, they'd make more money on that flight than on any of the others. Not all--just specific ones. Say, an 11:00 AM departure from MSP nonstop to Atlanta, or Orlando, or wherever. Spacious seating--maybe 75% of the seats they have on their regular packed flights. Free airport lounge privileges for all passengers booked on that flight. Lunch enroute (actual hot food, not a bag of whatevers or a package of "lunchables"). First bag checked for free plus one free carry-on. Flight attendants who made sure you knew your comfort was their primary concern. Free beverage service the entire way.

Charge maybe $100-$150 more per ticket than on the sardine-can flights.

I think people would jump at the chance. I know I would. That extra $100 or so to be treated like a human being instead of like cattle on a drive seems well worth it.

Fake wheelchairs
 

I agree with the fake wheelchairs. After many years I finally took my wife's advice and applied for wheelchair assistance. I was very self conscious about it at first.
Anyway, I was on a flight and often times I would let the majority of the plane deboard before I limped down the aisle holding up other passengers. At the jetway there were about 4 or 5 wheelchairs waiting. One was for me and the flight attendant said "He's (me) the last. The miracle of flight has struck again!" Meaning the others hobbled on and dashed off like an athlete!

If the wheel chair people get off the plane last they may change their minds about needing to board first 😳

I agree. I can afford to fly first class, but the cost difference between first class and coach is so significant that I cannot justify it. I wouldn't mind paying an extra $100-$200, but their price for first class is ridiculously high.

They could never make enough money to do that and it’s not like flights aren’t selling. First class tickets (that always sell out) are usually more than triple the price of coach, (which also sells out on most flights) and the stand by list will fill any empty seat. Wouldn’t we all like to only pay 100 more for first class and less people.

Yep. Seen it. I usually don't fly Southwest. But when I do, I pay to be in the 'A' group. I get on before the 'miracle cures'.

I doubt many airlines can afford planes that are configured for just a few routes. Planes get used all day long on all sorts of routes and the configuration of 1st class, premium economy, and regular economy most likely reflects the best layout for an average flight. There are a few exceptions. For example, Singapore Airlines runs a 19 hour non-stop between NY and Singapore that uses a specific layout of A350s with a fair amount of premium seats. They run the flight once or twice a day with a fair amount of business travelers between those two major financial centers. Airlines are always looking for ways to make money and I doubt they leave any rocks unturned.

The whole kid thing on flights to/from the mouse house is the only thing I liked about the Southwest seating policy. An early group B boarding number was the best, better than boarding in group A. Between groups A and B all the families with kids boarded, so with an early group B number you could still find a decent seat, away from a bunch of seat kicking and screaming kids. With assigned seats, you have no control over the kid factor. I wish picking airline seats didn’t just show if seats are open or already selected, but also indicated both the age and weight of the occupants.