Southwest to have assigned seating

[pens4821]

https://www.swamedia.com/releases/s...-experience-and-improve-financial-performance

I’m so happy for the change. We like southwest but it was becoming too common to not get the A boarding group. I’m sure they up the cost since they won’t have the early bird add on. Or even if they do I’m sure few take advantage since they know the seat they’ll have.

 

[Nohal]

I already paid for early bird both ways for my September trip, I wonder what happens now. When does this go into effect.

 

[erionm]

ttps://www.swamedia.com/releases/southwest-airlines-launches-enhancements-to-transform-customer-experience-and-improve-financial-performance

I’m so happy for the change. We like southwest but it was becoming too common to not get the A boarding group. I’m sure they up the cost since they won’t have the early bird add on. Or even if they do I’m sure few take advantage since they know the seat they’ll have.

You missed the h at the beginning of the link.

 

[pens4821]

I already paid for early bird both ways for my September trip, I wonder what happens now. When does this go into effect.

I don’t see it in that release. However I feel like I read elsewhere next year.

 

[pens4821]

You missed the h at the beginning of the link.

Fixed it

 

[erionm]

I already paid for early bird both ways for my September trip, I wonder what happens now. When does this go into effect.

The linked article (you have to add a h to the beginning of the link to make it work) doesn't give a start date. It does state they will provide more information at the Investor Days in Late September.

 

[jo-jo]

I wonder if the assigned seats have anything to do with seat saving....buy one EB, save 2 seats for family.

 

[Nohal]

You missed the h at the beginning of the link.

I couldn’t open the app

 

[Nohal]

I wonder if the assigned seats have anything to do with seat saving....buy one EB, save 2 seats for family.

This annoys me to no end when I see it! We buy for all of us so we can all sit together

 

[Neener16]

How does this affect family pre boarding and those that need assistance? I’m assuming that goes away? Sorry for my ignorance, I rarely fly anything but Southwest. That would certainly cut down on the number of people taking advantage of these situations.

 

[erionm]

How does this affect family pre boarding and those that need assistance? I’m assuming that goes away? Sorry for my ignorance, I rarely fly anything but Southwest. That would certainly cut down on the number of people taking advantage of these situations.

Most airlines that have assigned seating offer pre-boarding for families with small children, military and those needing assistance. So, I would suspect that Southwest would continue to offer it.

 

[Marrila]

How does this affect family pre boarding and those that need assistance? I’m assuming that goes away? Sorry for my ignorance, I rarely fly anything but Southwest. That would certainly cut down on the number of people taking advantage of these situations.

With assigned seats, those with special needs pre-board to their assigned seat. (No seating "advantage.")
I never fly Southwest anymore. I might consider it with assigned seating.

 

[reddog21]

I'll be interested to see the pricing when it comes out, happy for the change.

 

[Neener16]

With assigned seats, those with special needs pre-board to their assigned seat. (No seating "advantage.")
I never fly Southwest anymore. I might consider it with assigned seating.

That’s what I was assuming. Some people certainly took advantage of that, as usual hurting people who really need that service.

 

[AgentMama]

This is supposed to start in 2025. And not sure that's realistic given they're saying people will be able to pick seats with more legroom. That doesn't exist right now on SW other than the first row or exit rows. They will have to reconfigure their entire seating.

 

[focusondisney]

This is supposed to start in 2025. And not sure that's realistic given they're saying people will be able to pick seats with more legroom. That doesn't exist right now on SW other than the first row or exit rows. They will have to reconfigure their entire seating.

Eh, they can start assigned seating & add extra legroom seat options as the planes are reconfigured.

 

[focusondisney]

How does this affect family pre boarding and those that need assistance?

Families don’t really preboard on SW now, they board between groups A & B. So probably not much different.

 

[jujubiee4]

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!!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Eh, they can start assigned seating & add extra legroom seat options as the planes are reconfigured.

In many ways, this will be the most significant change they've announced, and will take the most time. In the early days, SW was the cheap flights, simple way to go, all their jets the same layout with very little in the way of frills. Now they're going to have to update all their jets, perhaps even buy new ones, to offer special seating. That's going to be very expensive. Along with the expense of updating their software to allow assigned seats, could be quite a bump in pricing in the near future. They currently are booking to March 5. Going to be very interesting how they handle the EBs and bookings moving forward.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

With their flights being bookable until March 5 - do we think it will be after that when assigned seating goes into place? I know we are all just guessing until further announcements, but I'm a planner and I need to start worrying (I mean planning) for my flights at Christmas.