southwest may change ...allow assigned seating

[lawgs]

anyone else seen this article in USAToday

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/today/sky.htm

looks like southwest may allow assigned seating in the future......

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by lawgs
anyone else seen this article in USAToday

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/today/sky.htm

looks like southwest may allow assigned seating in the future......

Thanks for the link, lawgs. I do dislike the words "may", "might" and "consider".

 

[Gary M]

In my opinion SWA is a great airline except for no seat assignments. When flying out of IND I will fly with ATA instead of SWA, because of getting seat assignments from ATA. This is if everything else is about the same. I don't like the cattle call boarding with SWA, it seems to bring out the rudeness in too many people. I'm big enough to hold my ground during boarding, but don't enjoy the hassle and people cheating on pre-boarding. I will be flying on SWA twice in November, once to Vegas and the other to KC, so I do use them.

 

[zulaya]

I'd consider flying them in a minute if they'd just get themselves up here to MSP

 

[sgtdisney]

Here is a link to the full article from the Las Vegas Sun.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/business/2003/oct/07/515711577.html

 

[inkkognito]

I am with Gary. ATA is too close in price for Southwest to win my business. I'll pay a bit extra for an assigned seat...people are rude enough during the regular boarding process, let alone dealing with a cattle call (What? You mean 16 years old is too old for "child pre-board?" I know you called row 25 and higher, but I couldn't inconvenience everyone else if I didn't board for my row 5 seat now and take 15 minutes of standing in the aisle to wedge in my too-large carry-on).
I've often considered trying Southwest, so if they start offering assignments they will definitely win another customer.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by inkkognito
I am with Gary. ATA is too close in price for Southwest to win my business. I'll pay a bit extra for an assigned seat...people are rude enough during the regular boarding process, let alone dealing with a cattle call (What? You mean 16 years old is too old for "child pre-board?" I know you called row 25 and higher, but I couldn't inconvenience everyone else if I didn't board for my row 5 seat now and take 15 minutes of standing in the aisle to wedge in my too-large carry-on).
I've often considered trying Southwest, so if they start offering assignments they will definitely win another customer.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

What you described sounds like the last time I flew AA, with an assigned seat. In all honesty, I find SWA's boarding to be more orderly than Delta's, AA's or United's. You have to line up regardless of who you fly. The difference, assigned seat, no challenge there.

 

[n2mm]

They would probably win our vote too if it ever happened. It is the only reason we have not flown them. BWI is a little further than Dulles, but the fares at BWI are usually much cheaper. I have to have an assigned seat. My daughter uses SW out of BWI often for work, but because she flys alone, it's not a big hassle for her.

 

[wkid87]

I know it a little off-topic, but it also said they are looking for anohter city in 2004. Do anybody know what city is in the rumor mill???

 

[mrsstats]

When prices are near the same, I choose assigned seating over Southwest. Flying is enough of a hassle without having to worry about if you will get seats together. I never saw how it could save money by letting people board and take seats wherever. Just makes more sense to board from the back to the front. I don't mind not having the assigned seating if I dont have to change planes.

 

[jcodespoti]

I will not fly southwest for this reason. Delta has their new Song airline (on the East coast)., once the get those T.V. on every seat its gonna be great!!!



Joe in CT

 

[lawgs]

if what i read is true....

they might be picking up another hub.....Pittsburgh is what i read

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by jcodespoti
I will not fly southwest for this reason. Delta has their new Song airline (on the East coast)., once the get those T.V. on every seat its gonna be great!!!



Joe in CT

If song's seating is anything like Delta Express, you will be watching the TV between your knees. Delta has run equal fares to SWA on occassion, and I have still opted for SWA's larger seats and only once have I not had a seat with Dee and that was when we overslept. Our fault. Snooze you loose.

And, what good is an assigned seat when the planes get changed and they change your seat, often not together. Or the flight gets cancelled or you want to change your travel dates.
SWA does not cancel flights (except for weather and other awful things), does not charge you to change your dates or flights or departure airport, actually gives you credit if the flight price goes down and is really nice. Nope, I will take the open seating for all the flex. that SWA allows me.

 

[jcodespoti]

All good points Gail, It just that for me, watching people almost come to blows beacuse of a perceived slight does not cut it for me. Song's seats are leather and maybe the are tight compared to SWA, I don't know.


Joe in CT

 

[inkkognito]

Gail, I'm not surprised that sounded familiar...it's a typical ATA boarding process and I'm sure that it's the same on virtually every other airline. Surprisingly, the most orderly boarding I've ever experienced on ATA was was loading a 757-300 (mongo craft with over 40 rows), and they called the rows in the back half of the plane and then the rows in the front half of the plane. They did do a pre-board, and then just those two calls! I've never seen that again, but amazingly that was one of the quickest boardings I've ever seen. We actually ended up leaving a few minutes early.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by jcodespoti
All good points Gail, It just that for me, watching people almost come to blows beacuse of a perceived slight does not cut it for me. Song's seats are leather and maybe the are tight compared to SWA, I don't know.


Joe in CT

Joe,
I have yet to see that happen, but, then again, I don't fly everyday. SWA's new planes have leather also. Call me kooky, but I do prefer the cloth seats. But, differences are what makes the world go around and makes "debating" the merits fun.

 

[Pinnie]

Assigned has it's *perks*......but it also has drawbacks. Assigned seating was the main reason we left ATL late on the way to Newport News last month...for the RNR 1/2 marathon. They had some volunteers give up seats, and apparently the gate agent assigned ALL the replacements to one set of seats instead of spreading them out on the flight to the empty seats.

By the time they got that straightened out........there was a friggin' CONGO LINE of Delta Jets in front of us for take-off.....and it took well over an hour to get to the end of the runway for our flight.

Had it been open seating.....I'm sure we would have left on time.......ahead of the Delta Flight bank..........and out of ATL before it got crazy.


pin

 

[TinkHappy]

Gail~I just had to laugh when you said you prefer the clothe seats over the leather seats. I also do not like the leather seats. They are cold and you slip and slide when you sit in them . I am guessing they must be easier to clean.

 

[DaveO]

One of the reasons SWA is inexpensive is due to non-assigned seats. One they do not need the systems to do the assigned seats, cuts down on the number of call center calls and hits to the web sites.

Also due to this they load the planes quicker: poeple do not stand around till the last minute to board nor 'find' thier seat.
Quicker loading means more flights per day which means more $$s for SWA and lower fares for us.

Dave O.

 

[CarolA]

Well, don't hold your breath. The article says "may" and it does not sound to me like SW has even looked into this. I would almost gurantee that if SW thinks this will slow down things and mess up their on time schedule they won't do it.

SW is really good at getting you in the air on time and they have VERY little dead time on the ground. That is one of the keys to thier profits. The assests are in use, not sitting around.