Southwest - Assigned Seats??

[Jewelsy]

I read previously that Southwest was experimenting with assigned seating and did some test flights with it. Does anyone know if there has been anymore info on this - as to whether or not they are still considering it?

 

[kmjmom]

My last two flights from BDL and TPA follwed the same ABC method. No assigned seats.

 

[ZekeKelso]

Southwest hasn't said too much about their assigned seating trial. The company president did write one column saying it was a mixed success. However, after the trial, Southwest did a poll of their frequent flyers asking what they thought of assigned seating. They were surprised to hear that those folks really like the open seating policy and don't want to switch.

So Southwest has two issues to deal with before switching to assigned seating. First, they have to be sure they can incorporate it into their system without extra cost or delays. Second, they have to balance attracting customers who won't fly Southwest due to open seating, verses alienating their best customers.

 

[katiedid0801]

Just wanted to say that I fly SWA frequently (at least once a month) and the no assigned seating thing is really no big deal. About the only down side is that they let flyers with children under 5 preboard and that can be a large number of people when flying to/from WDW. But you can check in online (or on an internet enabled cell phone) 24 hours in advance and will always get an A boarding group if you do. This should get you just about any seat you want. I was one who voted for no assigned seating, keeping my fingers crossed they keep things just the way they are!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Count me as one who will hate assigned seating. I like being able to pick my own seat - screaming babies, drunks, the bachelorette party going to Vegas, all those I can avoid by chosing my own seat.

 

[mickeyinjune]

this is our first time flying SW (there are 5 of us)and one concern is on the way back we will not be able to check in until we get to the airport. we could end up not getting seats next or close to each other with this unassigned seating if the people before us all pick aisle and window seats and only leave middle seats. We had this happen with NW assigned seats where we were in 3 different aisles brother ended up in row 40 and myself and dtr in row 27 and my husband and son a few rows up on opposite side of plane. Does this type of boarding take longer or are the lines longer to board, do they announce everyone with boarding A now board and a huge rush of people storm the gate.

 

[Maxie86]

this is our first time flying SW (there are 5 of us)and one concern is on the way back we will not be able to check in until we get to the airport. we could end up not getting seats next or close to each other with this unassigned seating if the people before us all pick aisle and window seats and only leave middle seats. We had this happen with NW assigned seats where we were in 3 different aisles brother ended up in row 40 and myself and dtr in row 27 and my husband and son a few rows up on opposite side of plane. Does this type of boarding take longer or are the lines longer to board, do they announce everyone with boarding A now board and a huge rush of people storm the gate.

If you don't check in until you get to the airport, you won't have much chance of sitting together. There are 3 or 4 lines, preboard, A,B,and C. You can check in at the concierge desk in a Disney or non Disney hotel, or at guest services in any of the parks, or by a web enabled cell phone. You can also have someone at home check you in online at the 24 hour mark and you can reprint boarding passes later. To have the best chance of sitting together you really need to check in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible.

 

[ZekeKelso]

mickeyinjune,

As mentioned, there are a couple fairly easy ways to check in before your flight home. It's worth it.

As for lines, one of the nice things about SW is that folks wait in nice orderly lines. There is no rush of people trying to get on as soon as their boarding group is called.

 

[TDC Nala]

I like it the way it is.

There are plenty of ways to check in remotely once you consider that you don't have to print the pass immediately. The ticket agent at the airport can print it for you, or you can use one of the self-service kiosks.

 

[Poly Pal]

No assigned seats is the primary reason we try to avoid Southwest to Florida. First, the number of pre-boards usually rules out getting seats together for our family of 4 anywhere forward of the wings. Second, the "A line crazies" who stake out their spots more than an hour in advance add to the stress level at the gate. I've even seen people get into arguments over who was first in line! Other than the cattle herding at the gate / seating issue, SW is o.k.

 

[Poohbear123]

Till 10-15 people are in the "A" line and than I line up, sometimes I can be number 15 and STILL get a Good seat! I LOVE SW! Or, I just sit it out and wait till the plane starts to unload and than jump in line.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We are a family of 4 and have never had a problem with seating. Since there's only 3 seats together on a plane and both ds's want a window, we just split up so dh sits with 1 and I sit with the other.
Even when my parents flew with us we were able to get both rows on each side of the aisle to sit 3x3.
If it means raising prices, I hope they don't change to assigned seats.

 

[cfknight]

No assigned seats is the primary reason we try to avoid Southwest to Florida. First, the number of pre-boards usually rules out getting seats together for our family of 4 anywhere forward of the wings. Second, the "A line crazies" who stake out their spots more than an hour in advance add to the stress level at the gate. I've even seen people get into arguments over who was first in line! Other than the cattle herding at the gate / seating issue, SW is o.k.

Took the words out of my mouth, We got an "A" board and still my family of 4 was unable to sit together, fot that I will never fly southwest with their open seating policy, but it's great for 1 or 2 people who don't have to worry about sitting together.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think the Southwest's open seating works well for Southwest's core customers -- business travelers, such as those "commuting" between Dallas and Houston, who are either traveling alone or with a co-worker.

It doesn't work as well when there are many families with children, including many families with very young children, on leisure routes such as those to and from Orlando.

Assigned seating (on other airlines) can be a problem for families too, especially as a flight fills up or when an airline changes the aircraft type.

 

[NotUrsula]

I can only tell you from 10 yrs of a LOT of travelling with young children, that SWA has more than earned our Disney trip loyalty as the only carrier that has NOT at one time or another split up the entire family when going into or out of MCO. With SWA, I'm in control, and that's the way I like it.

ALL of the major legacy carriers have done it to us at one time or another. AA even lied about the seat availability of anything except middles 24 hours out, yet was mysteriously able to seat *26* deadheading crew members in aisle seats throughout the aircraft. (One of the pilots was seated next to me, and he told me that none of them knew that they would be on that flight until less than an hour before departure.)

IME, the truth is that unless you have elite status, seat assignments on legacy carriers are not worth the paper that they are printed on, and lots of aviation reporters lately are forecasting that instead of SWA adopting assigned seating, that the more likely thing is that legacy carriers will abandon it as a free service, and only give assignments for higher-priced fully refundable tickets or those purchased by flyers with elite FF status.

PS: The reason that SWA began to consider the possibility of seat assignments was for the purpose of attracting more business travelers, who tend to like to get to the gate late. Traditionally, SWA's core market has been leisure travelers, not business flyers. However, that changed quite a lot after 9/11, when TSA's issues tend to mean that getting to the airport late isn't much of an option unless your airport is a hub that has a dedicated elite FF security line, *and* if you have enough status to use it. Since they had to get to the airport early anyway, a lot of them decided to try SWA, and the lower walk-up prices pleased the bean counters quite a lot.

 

[TDC Nala]

Took the words out of my mouth, We got an "A" board and still my family of 4 was unable to sit together, fot that I will never fly southwest with their open seating policy, but it's great for 1 or 2 people who don't have to worry about sitting together.

It's really very rare for a family of 4 with A passes to be unable to sit somewhere "together" (they won't really be together because the rows are only 3 across.)

I think this phrase says it all:

anywhere forward of the wings

If you are very concerned with getting a seat in the FRONT of the airplane (because most likely you'd get your seats in the back if you are anywhere in the A group) and you are flying to or from MCO, then it may be best to pick an airline with assigned seats and hope nothing changes, because MCO flights are generally crowded with preboarding families and they snag the seats before the wings.

It doesn't work as well when there are many families with children, including many families with very young children

It works wonderfully for those who get to preboard.

Where it might be a problem is with families with older kids, or with couples, who are determined to sit next to each other and who are adamant about being seated in a certain area of the plane, and who for whatever reason choose not to take advantage of (or are unable to take advantage of) the early checkin.

I don't see many business travelers on Southwest MCO flights. It's 9/10ths families, and most of the time the flights are full.

 

[Disneyhappy]

No assigned seats is the primary reason we try to avoid Southwest to Florida. First, the number of pre-boards usually rules out getting seats together for our family of 4 anywhere forward of the wings. Second, the "A line crazies" who stake out their spots more than an hour in advance add to the stress level at the gate. I've even seen people get into arguments over who was first in line! Other than the cattle herding at the gate / seating issue, SW is o.k.

This made me laugh because we are often the 'A Line Crazies" mostly because DH wants the exit row seat. I never thought our standing in line would cause other people to stress! My husband stresses me out by making sure we get to the airport with enough time to be in the front of the "A" line! LOL!!! We proudly wear the label of "A Line Crazies"!

I fly SW frequently for work as well as our personal trips to Orlando. When I fly for work, I make sure I get an "A" pass but could care less when I get in line. I always end up with an aisle seat. However, even though I frequent other airline for work, it is often difficult to get aisle seats. I agree that the number of preboards to/from Orlando make it more urgent to get an "A" pass until Southwest consistently enforces their preboarding rules. Even then, it could still be tough depending on the time of the day or season because Orlando is a family destination.
DH and our niece flew to Tampa and back this weekend for DH's nephew/Godson's graduation. DH was at the airport almost 2 hours early and sat in line for his exit row seat both ways. He said that he only wants to fly SW because it is in his control to be able to get the exit row seat and has no problem waiting in the airport. He did say that even in Tampa there were a lot of preboards and that a pilot who was in preboard was not allowed to sit in an exit row seat. He was pretty upset. We had a preboard dad one time try to sit in the exit row seat but the flight attendant quickly told him it was not allowed. There will be five of us flying in August and I mentioned to DH it will be important to get "A" passes so we can sit as close together as possible. He said not to worry because he wants to be first in line to get his exit row seat for his long legs and then he does not care where the rest of us sit! Can he be annoying? Yes, obviously! However, he has many other great attirbutes to let this one silly obsession get in the way! As long as he lets me continue to plan our WDW trips, I can deal with hanging out at the airport an hour longer than necessary!

 

[drakethib]

I used to enjoy SWA but the A,B,C seating arrangement has gotten out of hand.

People start standing in line one hour before boarding etc, then there is a mad rush when the boarding is announced.

I love SWA's history but I think it is time for a change IMHO.

Until then, we fly other airlines where there is not as much of a cattle call to board a plane.

 

[TDC Nala]

This made me laugh because we are often the 'A Line Crazies" mostly because DH wants the exit row seat. I never thought our standing in line would cause other people to stress! My husband stresses me out by making sure we get to the airport with enough time to be in the front of the "A" line! LOL!!! We proudly wear the label of "A Line Crazies"!

I fly SW frequently for work as well as our personal trips to Orlando. When I fly for work, I make sure I get an "A" pass but could care less when I get in line. I always end up with an aisle seat. However, even though I frequent other airline for work, it is often difficult to get aisle seats. I agree that the number of preboards to/from Orlando make it more urgent to get an "A" pass until Southwest consistently enforces their preboarding rules. Even then, it could still be tough depending on the time of the day or season because Orlando is a family destination.
DH and our niece flew to Tampa and back this weekend for DH's nephew/Godson's graduation. DH was at the airport almost 2 hours early and sat in line for his exit row seat both ways. He said that he only wants to fly SW because it is in his control to be able to get the exit row seat and has no problem waiting in the airport. He did say that even in Tampa there were a lot of preboards and that a pilot who was in preboard was not allowed to sit in an exit row seat. He was pretty upset. We had a preboard dad one time try to sit in the exit row seat but the flight attendant quickly told him it was not allowed. There will be five of us flying in August and I mentioned to DH it will be important to get "A" passes so we can sit as close together as possible. He said not to worry because he wants to be first in line to get his exit row seat for his long legs and then he does not care where the rest of us sit! Can he be annoying? Yes, obviously! However, he has many other great attirbutes to let this one silly obsession get in the way! As long as he lets me continue to plan our WDW trips, I can deal with hanging out at the airport an hour longer than necessary!

That's the one thing I have seen them enforce...preboarders are NOT permitted to sit in exit row seats.

They haven't prohibited A line passengers from saving seats in the exit row for B and C line passengers though.

I think there's pretty much just as much of a cattle call when they board planes by sections...and those folks are not waiting in line beforehand so they have no choice but to jostle to the front to get on the plane and stow their luggage.

 

[jcodespoti]

Once as I walked by the SWA gate in BDL I heard people arguing with each other and debating why this one got to pre-board and that one did not...No thanks, I stick w/Delta.

Joe in CT