Southwest to have assigned seating

[geargrinder]

And if the parents don’t pay for seat selection & there aren’t seats together….the problem isn’t solved.

Yes, it does. Attendants simply tell the family to separate into available seats, or the gate agent can upgrade them into paid/selected seats.

 

[Threehearts]

I've only flown SW for about 10 years. How has other airlines done seat assignment? Do aisle seats cost more than middle? If you book 3 months ahead cost less than 2 weeks ahead?

Many other airlines charge extra for aisle, bulkhead, exit row, seats toward the front of plane and the like. The less desirable economy seats toward the back may or may not incur an extra charge. Obviously a change in category where the seat is receiving premium services would be more expensive. I have only flown about 8 different major airlines so can't speak for all of course. We lived in the US and Europe when our children were small so we always purchased a seat for them to be sure we were all together.

 

[HeadNerd]

Definitely not a fan of this, and it’ll probably push me to United so I won’t have to split my Southwest/domestic and United/international status. But oh well, it seems clear I'm in the minority and that's the way it works.

Ironically, as a frequent flier, I prefer Southwest because as long as there was a single open seat and I could buy it, by boarding at A16 (usually) I always got the seat I prefer (10F, my home sweet home). With this policy, closer-in flight dates all that will be left is middle seats to buy, no matter my status. So it's more egalitarian in that regard, in that anyone can buy earlier to get their seats. It's funny that Southwest always promotes unassigned seating as more egalitarian but it's really a way to ensure people who pay and frequent flyers pick their seats first on day of boarding instead of booking.

I am looking forward to premium seats though, at 6 ft+ legroom is impossible... so I'll gladly pay for an Economy Plus option.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

With this policy, closer-in flight dates all that will be left is middle seats to buy

You bring up a good point. My husband does a lot of traveling for work and they buy flights through the work's travel portal but often anywhere between several days out to 2 weeks out (it's very rare for it to be longer than that). It will be interesting on seating arrangements especially if they do any sort of blocking on their system.

His present job is working for airports on their fueling system which can be for a particular airline, the airport or the airport's consortium (where several airlines group together for fueling power). Sometimes the airlines are paying for the ticket not often but every now and then just depends on the project. He has done work for SWA before and has flown comp with them (where they control the ticket no RR points are earned)...that makes me wonder how that sort of thing will interact behind the scenes as well as the issue with booking very close to the flight. His work typically wants people to fly back home on the last flight out (unless work is fully done/expected to be done early enough to take a different flight) and starting the work trip as far as time of day to the airport destination depends on what work is needing to be done (such as fly that morning come back that evening or fly in the afternoon stay overnight and start work the next day, etc).

This also brings up same-day changes and same day standby.

 

[EACarlson]

More airlines should adopt Alaska Airlines policy of giving you 2,500 miles per bag if the bags aren't at baggage claim within 20 minutes of the aircraft door opening.

That's a great policy that Alaska stole from Delta when Delta moved into SEA. I don't see anyone else going to it as it costs Delta and Alaska money.

How is it skirting the system when SWA has no policy against it?

When pressed, SW will point out they have an "Open-seating policy" you are allowed to sit in any open seat. An open seat is defined as one that no one else is sitting in. They don't specifically say no seat saving, because they don't want to force their FAs into the battle. Only once have has it been a point of contention with me, a woman was sitting in the aisle and tried to tell me I couldn't sit in the window. It was quickly resolved and I was sitting in the window seat.

I've only flown SW for about 10 years. How has other airlines done seat assignment? Do aisle seats cost more than middle? If you book 3 months ahead cost less than 2 weeks ahead?

The legacy airlines, American, United and Delta all offer preferred and non preferred seats in economy. Preferred seats are generally the window and aisle seats in any where from the forward third to the forward two thirds of the economy section. You are allowed to choose window or aisle seats in the back third to two thirds without any additional fees. I have never seen preferred seat prices change in the run up to departure date.

 

[SL6827]

Surely SW will keep the free bags? Something that will still set them apart from the rest.

 

[HeadNerd]

You bring up a good point. My husband does a lot of traveling for work and they buy flights through the work's travel portal but often anywhere between several days out to 2 weeks out (it's very rare for it to be longer than that). It will be interesting on seating arrangements especially if they do any sort of blocking on their system.

This also brings up same-day changes and same day standby.

Yup. Ironically, people don't think about Southwest as a "business airline" but in many ways it's the best for domestic business travel because of the directs between all sorts of smaller airports and the ability to book a day or two out and move your flight around same day. I could basically be assured of never having a middle seat, and usually actually having my preferred seat even if I showed up to the airport three hours early and got the flight ahead of my scheduled one.

 

[dez1978]

Yes, shame on me. I’m a horrible person. Please.

I’m glad Southwest is making this change. I want to have a reserved seat as do most people.

As long as you are aware that it’s going to cost more which seemed to be why you weren’t paying for ECBI for everyone.

 

[dez1978]

It does help solve the problem since others have chosen and paid for specific seats.

Same problem on any other airline. If you need to sit together, pay extra and/or book early.

But they don’t. And then just like now, they will expect others to move to accommodate them. It will change absolutely nothing bc this happens now on frontier and spirit

 

[geargrinder]

But they don’t. And then just like now, they will expect others to move to accommodate them. It will change absolutely nothing bc this happens now on frontier and spirit

They don't now because seats are not assigned. They can moving forward once assigned seats are in play.

New policy. New rules. New enforcement.

 

[dez1978]

They don't now because seats are not assigned. They can moving forward once assigned seats are in play.

New policy. New rules. New enforcement.

But seats are assigned or can be picked on spirit and frontier. People don’t want to pay extra to choose a seat and then expect ppl to move for them. This is happening now on these airlines. So why would you expect it to be any different for SW when they move to assigned seats?

 

[MillauFr]

Surely SW will keep the free bags? Something that will still set them apart from the rest.

Bags should always be free to check. Bring bags onto the plane? They should charge for that.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Bags should always be free to check. Bring bags onto the plane? They should charge for that.

The theory is that it costs money to handle checked bags (infrastructure, baggage handlers, etc) but on plane bags are “free” because the passengers are responsible for their own luggage. In reality boarding delays cost money as well. It is just harder to quantify.

 

[SL6827]

Bags should always be free to check. Bring bags onto the plane? They should charge for that.

Ya, I meant free checked bags. That sets them apart most definitely.

 

[Living42Day]

Brother dating a Southwest Flight Attendant whose father is a pilot and she told him months ago they
would be starting this. She didn't know official start date but said at least the announcement will be made
by Fall.
Knowing this I had my husband pick up the 85K bonus offer card last month. It is my least
favorite airline but with this change and "more leg room options?" willing to fly more with them.

Just please please PLEASE don't get rid of free bags!!

Yeah, I feel like this rumor has been swirling around since the beginning of the year. I actually thought I read the official announcement somewhere a couple months ago?

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

My Brother (or Sister) in Christ: You are taking advantage of a system to save money at the expense of other passengers who spent that money for the same privilege. The airline will not tell you no. That doesn't mean you won't be judged by the rest of us for it. If you don't like that, don't brag about how you work the system.


As for the families-with-kids-who-don't-buy-seats: I don't really see this, and I fly a lot. Delta deals with this in part by blocking the last couple rows of the plane until they start clearing Basic Economy seating; presumably they use those seats for these situations. It's still not a guarantee, and so most families appear to be willing to pay for seat assignments so that they don't have to worry about it.

There are a couple of other spots they block before clearing too--often the rows right by the lavs, and occasionally a pair of seats in a bulkhead.

I’m sorry if it appeared to you that I was bragging. I was just raising my hand to say I save seats for my family on Southwest and had no idea there was this group of people who see this as a huge crime against humanity.
My replies back to people are just me defending myself against being called names and told I shouldn’t go on vacations with my family.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’m sorry if it appeared to you that I was bragging. I was just raising my hand to say I save seats for my family on Southwest and had no idea there was this group of people who see this as a huge crime against humanity.
My replies back to people are just me defending myself against being called names and told I shouldn’t go on vacations with my family.

Even though there’s no official policy about seat saving, you’re going to get pushback when you admit to doing something that irks others. Many consider seat saving, especially for multiple people, to be selfish and rude.

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

Even though there’s no official policy about seat saving, you’re going to get pushback when you admit to doing something that irks others. Many consider seat saving, especially for multiple people, to be selfish and rude.

And I’m saying I had no idea some people see this as a rude thing. No other passengers have ever even given me a bad look. No flight attendant has told me not to. So, I admit to doing this when someone on here mentioned it bothering them and then…people jump on me like I admitted to selling drugs to children.
Lots of rude people on here

 

[Disneylover99]

And I’m saying I had no idea some people see this as a rude thing. No other passengers have ever even given me a bad look. No flight attendant has told me not to. So, I admit to doing this when someone on here mentioned it bothering them and then…people jump on me like I admitted to selling drugs to children.
Lots of rude people on here

Flight attendants won’t say anything and most passengers are not going to confront you or even give you a sideways glance.

Most people are sensible and realize that it’s best to let it go. People generally avoid creating tension with others when they know they’re going to be sitting near them for hours in a tube in the sky. That doesn’t mean people won’t think it’s rude to save seats though. Most just grumble internally.

So now you know.

 

[sam_gordon]

And I’m saying I had no idea some people see this as a rude thing. No other passengers have ever even given me a bad look. No flight attendant has told me not to. So, I admit to doing this when someone on here mentioned it bothering them and then…people jump on me like I admitted to selling drugs to children.
Lots of rude people on here

Think about it this way... would you save spaces in line for a Disney attraction while your family shops/rides other rides/gets food? I mean, isn't that generally considered "rude"? Many consider saving seats on SW the same.

And again, the FA's aren't "letting you do anything". You can ATTEMPT to "save seats". But if someone wants to sit in a seat you're "saving", the FAs aren't going to intervene on your behalf.