Post all SW questions concerns, etc. here...

[Simba's Mom]

These restrictions only apply to exit rows, they have nothing to do with bulkhead seats. Bulk head row means they have a wall in front of them, such as the first rows on entering the plane. Preboarders always sat in the first rows with Southwest’s open seating.

You're correct-my mistake! I was thinking bulkhead=exit row. Now that I understand what bulkhead is, I do remember that on my last trip on 2/4, no one was sitting in any of the 3 seats in one side the first row, almost the only empty seats on the airplane.

 

[EACarlson]

I admit I can be slow at times, but help me oh wise people.

We have a Premier card currently and looking at a trip next February for family of 4. We should have enough points for 3 of our 4 tickets if not all 4 by then, but looking at the new rules I am thinking. Should we upgrade to the Priority card at least for a year to get the ability to book preferred seats at time of booking so that we could sit together? It seems the preferred are free at that level, even if we book basic. I am not against sitting toward the back, but for a few bucks more this year we could get the "better" seats and since it is most likely points, not a terrible option. I am just not sure if points/cc is the best bang for the buck. Am I understanding correctly in my thinking? Correct me where I am off.

Thanks

If you use points for three of the the four tickets, you will not be able to select seats for all four at no charge regardless of what card you have. The seat benefit is for the card holder plus up to 8 others on a single reservation, points and cash bookings can't be on the same reservation.

We flew home from Orlando yesterday. We had seats in row 17 and was able to switch to row 7 less than two hours before boarding - at no extra cost. I soon found out why 2 seats in row 7 were open - they were bulkhead seats without a window. I missed a great sunset. Is there any way to find out where the bulkhead rows are on the flight? This was an older plane that had not been upgraded with the new seats yet.

I've never seen a SW plane with a mid cabin bulkhead. They have to tell you if it's a bulkhead because you're not allowed to have anything by your feet as there is no seat in front of you to put things under.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I've never seen a SW plane with a mid cabin bulkhead. They have to tell you if it's a bulkhead because you're not allowed to have anything by your feet as there is no seat in front of you to put things under.

Thanks for the clarification. I was using the wrong term for a windowless window seat.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Husband is flying today to Vegas. This is his 2nd flight since the changes (the first one was the leg home the first day of the changes).

2 people paid for the Priority Boarding and there was 1 pre-boarder. About 15 people in Group 1, around 25 in Group 2.

Husband's ticket
Fare: Choice
Status: A-List Preferred
Seat Type: Extra Legroom (selected at booking)
Location (window, middle, aisle): Aisle
Boarding Group: 1

Husband's Coworker's ticket
Fare: Choice
Status: A-List Preferred
Seat Type: Extra Legroom (selected at booking)
Location (window, middle, aisle): Window
Boarding Group: 2

He boarded in Group 1 in the 5th row aisle but his coworker boarded in Group 2 in the 4th row window. If y'all remember his first flight several weeks back his coworker (a different one than today and that coworker was just A-list vs today's coworker who is A-list Preferred) was in the 4th row window originally Group 1 but moments before boarding was bumped to Group 2 via a push notification on his app. Not sure how the groups are being decided here.

He just checked the flight for what you could see for seat assignments and the back half of the plane (exit row and back) is very full
but there's a bit more room for Preferred and Extra Legroom up at the front, definitely people are avoiding middle row seats. He said even with the Extra Legroom seats not being full it was very tight for the overhead bin space. He said that crew overhead bin is a main issue. It just messes up what is SWA's 'premium' seat overhead bin space.




An improvement and something I've been seeing reports of is he said they announced at the gate for people to put their carryons in the bin above their row. This I would assumed would be applicable when there's room in the bin space otherwise it would have to be moved to another bin but obviously being said to not have people board earlier on and just place their bags where ever they want up front. Along with this he did say when he boarded the plane the overhead bins were closed at least for the Extra Legroom and he could open them put his bag in and the FA told him to close it after he was done. He said "the FA is being diligent about it"

His next flight is Vegas back home on Thursday

 

[Holly]

I just flew SW four times- one round trip between Providence and MCO and one between Hartford and Fort Lauderdale. I was boarding group 5 every time, which I believe was due to having the SW credit card (this in itself was a little irritating because I was traveling with my niece, and she received a better boarding group than me every time despite us booking and checking in at the same times).
Overhead space is definitely an issue with their new process, and it seemed like most people already knew it because people were taking the first available bin space, even if it was 15 rows in front of their seats. This resulted in people with seats closer to the front not having available bin space and having to look for bin space behind their seats.
Consequently, it clogged up the aisle with people traveling different directions at time of boarding and then exiting the plane.
One of my flights was slightly delayed due to the flight running out of overhead bin space and the cargo hold already being closed and secured. They had to bring a baggage handler on board to rearrange a bunch of the luggage to make it fit.

I don’t necessarily hate the new changes and it sounds like they’re working out the kinks, but I definitely didn’t think it was any type of improvement.