Pure GENIUS! This needs to happen. For real.
(Now for my ocd to kick in) May I add that total of person + luggage be a deciding factor as to being qualified to fly. More weight = more fuel = more $. Also, consider weight distribution a factor. Heavier folks aisle seats, lighter folks & children at the windows. After all, don't want one side with all sumo size with straw weights on the other, would ya? 😜🤪

You mean I don’t have to bring my crutches to the gate to get on first with the “handicapped” folks any more?

So now you can expect to probably pay more to get an assigned seat, wow isn’t that just great!😡

Simple Solution To Complex Problem
 

Carry-on bags are a major problem. The limits on their size are rarely, if ever, enforced. Much time is wasted with passengers attempting to stuff their "expandable" bag into the overhead bin. The increased use of enormous backpacks pose a danger to anyone seated in an aisle seat as the person wearing one swings around or swivels to look behind them or to talk to the person behind them, most often to ask that person if he/she wants to sit here or to move further on.

The cost to the airlines of increasing the use of checked baggage should be minor. The infrastructure is already in place at every airport. Increasing its use, most likely, would require an additional trailer/cart and employee to reduce the time to move the bags from the plane to the carousel.

I propose that airlines allow two bags to be checked free and then charge for each carry-on of a limited size (excluding a normal-sized woman's purse). There will still be people who will insist on having a carry-on bag. If so, let them pay for what they now consider a privilege.

The boarding/unboarding process would be much faster and much less of a hassle for all concerned--and for once, just once, I might not be hit in the head by a damn backpack as the thoughtless person wearing it swivels around to ask his partner if he/she want to sit in this aisle or to go further into the plane.

We have noticed in last couple of years takes forever for checked bags to be delivered. Wish we did not have to check any luggage.

If I sit by emergency exit I keep my seat belt on throughout fight. Actually I do that no matter where I sit

Very wise!

“Everyone should be treated equal, but I want to be special”

is today’s mentality!

Having traveled for business for a good bit of my career, I learned early on how to pack a carry on for my trip. For longer trips, I was doing laundry through the hotel. Having to conduct business in clothes that you have worn for 2 days is not a good situation. My carry on was not a full sized suitcase but an actual carry on. All airlines should enforce the maximum size for carry ons.

long post...sorry...

AMEN SUSAN! I love Southwest. Early years (2001) I hated their "arrive early to get a boarding card" and I was quite comfortable with my upgraded (usually bumped to FC) status on USAir. Then the company switched to SWA for the better schedules into BWI/DC.

Love. Love. Love. (no pun intended) SWA. They make it so easy to change flights (no add-on fees), free bags (which means I ALWAYS have room in the overhead to store my carry-on) and their rates are cheaper. The longest SWA flight I am on is just under 3 hours. I put on my headphones and listen to music, podcast or watch free movie--my wife does her crossword. I like boarding after the Disney families first pick THEIR seats. :angel: It is no big deal finding our seats together so we can hold hands during take-off. Easy. The back of the plane arrives at the same time as the front of the plane anyway.

I now LOVE the boarding process on SWA. It is so organized. My Catholic nun teachers would be so proud of our single line. We have upgraded "status" on Delta...we always get a Boarding Group #2. However, getting from our seats in the terminal to the actual boarding ramp due to the hysteria of people (holding Boarding Group #5 or #6) that choke the boarding area is a scramble.

They are lined up like they are the third monkey at Noah's arc and it has just started to rain! RELAX--wait for your boarding group #5! YOU HAVE an assigned seat--we will not leave without you.

No change fees. I booked a flight on USAir. The cost of the ticket was $180. I called the next day to change the flight to a later return and the change fee (on the $180 ticket) was $150. Does that make sense? My wife and I flew international (10 hour flight) and British Airways charged us $50 per seat--per leg--to "choose" our seats before the flight. Yeah--we paid the extra $200 because I wanted to sit next to my wife on our wedding anniversary trip from MIA to Spain. This may only be urban legend but I heard a figure that in 2012 60% of the airlines revenue stemmed from baggage, change and upgrade fees. Rip-off.

And--SWA's no change fee means you can rebook your ticket if the price drops. We booked seats for a birthday party (had to have those dates/times) about 4 months out. Then I would check the seats every week or so (same flights) and if the price dropped I just rebooked the same flight-same confirmation number and SWA would credit my confirmation number with a credit good for one year from the date we booked. We originally paid $800 for two seats--we ended up flying on the same flights--but with a $350 voucher due to the eventual drop in price.

Don't get me started on their Rapid Rewards Program--we use the SWA VISA card for most everything and we use credit card miles to book friends and family for visits. If they cannot make the trip the reward miles just go right back into our account. They even return the $11.20 airport security fee.

Sorry for the long post...I am so impressed with their business model. I love to see them succeed.

Shame other airlines do not treat passengers as customers who they want back.

According to Southwest, they are changing their seating policy because 80 percent of their customers want them to do it.

Don't doubt that for a moment.