Southwest announces $40 early boarding fee

[robinb]

Good attitude. Someone has to take those middle seats! As long as it's not me.

No one *likes* to sit in the middle seat with strangers, but how will you keep yourself out of the middle seat? Pay $40 extra each way? Book on a Legacy carrier like Delta where you can pick your seat? I have to warn you that doesn't always work when there is an equipment change or a cancellation and seats are reassigned by the computer system.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can't wait to see that cattle call when the announcement is made. I have a vision of all these people getting up and running to the desk to purchase.

fwiw, the so called "cattle call" is no worse on SWA than any other airline I've flown. If anything it's even less since everyone's place in line is reserved. With USAirways & Airtran, huge groups of people hover so close one can't tell who's in line and who's just standing around. When they're preboarding for medical reasons, people with BPs in boarding group 4 are already hovering.

 

[puffkin]

I don't forsee this having much impact at all for us. We typically don't fly on flights with a lot of business travellers, which is what this is primarily designed for.

Its way too much for many families to consider and I refuse to even pay for EBCI so I am not interested. I always checkin at 24 hours and really don't care a whole lot about where we sit, but if for some reason I would get seperated from my 6 year old....he will be happy to "entertain" his seat companions while I zone out with my Kindle We do fly frequently though so sitting alone is no big deal to any of us if we are seperated.

 

[moopdog]

Skimming through, do we know when this begins? We fly SWA in 9 days

 

[LisaS]

Skimming through, do we know when this begins? We fly SWA in 9 days

According to the article on SW's website, it started yesterday. I hope someone will report in soon with a first hand account.

From SW's press release, posted on their website yesterday:

Southwest Airlines Customers LUV the coveted "A" boarding group, and now they have one more way to be among the first to board. Beginning today, Southwest Airlines will offer Customers the opportunity to purchase one of the earliest boarding positions at the gate for $40 per flight, when available.

 

[ccgirl]

fwiw, the so called "cattle call" is no worse on SWA than any other airline I've flown. If anything it's even less since everyone's place in line is reserved. With USAirways & Airtran, huge groups of people hover so close one can't tell who's in line and who's just standing around. When they're preboarding for medical reasons, people with BPs in boarding group 4 are already hovering.

I fly frequently for business. If they make an announcement that the $40 Business Class seats are now available, I anticipate there will be a cattle call as people try to get there first. With the other airlines people already have their seats assigned so they are not trying to beat anyone else trying to get the "good" seats.

Of course, I could be wrong.

 

[Greysword]

This is a great idea, and useful for those on the board who say they absolutely NEED to sit with their family member for medical reasons. I'd be interested to hear if those who can't be away from their loved ones due to seizures, aspergers, fear of lying, or whatever decide this is worth the additional cost.

As for WN, it is always good to get additional revenue!

 

[ccgirl]

This is a great idea, and useful for those on the board who say they absolutely NEED to sit with their family member for medical reasons. I'd be interested to hear if those who can't be away from their loved ones due to seizures, aspergers, fear of lying, or whatever decide this is worth the additional cost.

As for WN, it is always good to get additional revenue!

Those are the same people that won't pay the $10 so they are not going to pay $40. If it is for medical reasons, people can always get the blue sleeve medical pre board and not have to pay anything.

Those same parents who won't pay $10 to sit next to their 3 year old are certainly not going to pay $40. As you said, added revenue for WN. That now puts their ticket not much less than other airlines.

Just my two cents.

 

[Nancy F]

To sit three across... no thanks. The only way I'd EVER fly SW is if they were THE ONLY way to get there.
Nancy

 

[LisaS]

I read a post on flyertalk by someone who took advantage of this new option yesterday. He stated that only those who purchased revenue-generating tickets are eligible so, for example, if you are flying on a free companion pass ticket you cannot upgrade your boarding position. The question is, does this also disqualify those who paid for their ticket with Rapid Rewards points?

ETA: There is no mention of revenue-generating tickets as a requirement anyplace where SW discusses this new upgrade option, including on their Optional Travel Charges page. I suspect this may be a case of a gate agent who is not yet up to speed. Excluding some passengers (especially those using points) would be significant enough to require them to mention it.

Also worth noting is that the $40 charge is per segment.

ETA: Someone from SW clarified that all fare classes, including those paying with reward points or using companion passes are eligible. The "non-revenue generating passengers" refers to airline employees and their immediate family or those using buddy passes who are traveling for free.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We just came home last night from MCO. They did announce that you could upgrade to the A 1-15 group for $40, but nobody went up to the counter to do it. It was a sold out flight, too.