Southwest to have assigned seating

[EACarlson]

Nothing more aggravating then paying for early bird and boarding my 5 am flight to see one guy with personal items on 15 seats at the front of the flight. I am glad they changed it I'd happily pay more to pick my seat and be done.

I have two issues with this.
1. How did he get 15 personal items on the plane by himself? GA should have stopped him.
2. I would have moved one of them and sat down. But that's me.

 

[2010dvcfan]

I have two issues with this.
1. How did he get 15 personal items on the plane by himself? GA should have stopped him.
2. I would have moved one of them and sat down. But that's me.

Most of them were hats, a few water bottles, my guess was he had all families items cramped into his backpack. I didn't want to sit in a tense environment for 4 hour flight. I do think the flight attendants should have done something about it not left it up to the passengers to deal with. I've seen it done on a lot of my flights to MCO over the years, one person gets on and saves seats for the rest of the party boarding later.

 

[Leigh L]

Most of them were hats, a few water bottles, my guess was he had all families items cramped into his backpack. I didn't want to sit in a tense environment for 4 hour flight. I do think the flight attendants should have done something about it not left it up to the passengers to deal with. I've seen it done on a lot of my flights to MCO over the years, one person gets on and saves seats for the rest of the party boarding later.

I've had this happen too. It was a huge family reunion type of trip with several rows (both sides) saved by around three women putting down Dunkin' Donut bags, jackets, hats, etc. IIRC I counted somewhere around 20 people. Mostly adults but several children that came on with them during family boarding.

Frustrating, but I felt a lot like you did. Shouldn't be the passenger's responsibility.

I have mixed feelings about the assigned seats since who knows what other dynamics it'll change. We fly mostly based on best prices and aren't loyal to any brand, although we slant toward United and SW since they have the most reliability to MCO in my area since the pandemic.

 

[dcfromva]

I was under the impression that all of this was starting next year. I already have flights booked for February, I wonder if I will be able to pick my seat...

I've read it will be midyear (2025) before they get everything set up. In addition to the seat assignment changes, I believe they are going to have "business class" seats (with more leg room)--which will require some changes to the cabin seating.

I wonder if the seating assignments might come on-line when they release a new schedule-after they have everything set up (equipment changes and software changes).

 

[georgina]

I've read it will be midyear (2025) before they get everything set up. In addition to the seat assignment changes, I believe they are going to have "business class" seats (with more leg room)--which will require some changes to the cabin seating.

I wonder if the seating assignments might come on-line when they release a new schedule-after they have everything set up (equipment changes and software changes).

The next schedule will only release flights from March 5-April 7 so I am guessing it will be after that. Very curious what will be offered to holders of the SW priority card in lieu of the 4 free upgraded boardings per year.

 

[dcfromva]

The next schedule will only release flights from March 5-April 7 so I am guessing it will be after that. Very curious what will be offered to holders of the SW priority card in lieu of the 4 free upgraded boardings per year.

That sounds right. I am curious as well about the credit cards. We have the one that gives 2 free early bird check ins per year. I noticed the tracking counter that kept track of how many EBCIs had been used is no longer on my Chase rewards dashboard.

I've noticed they have been giving out the Priority Pass to some people. We received a targeted promotion where we had to spend a certain amount within a 3 month period and this resulted in a 25% point bonus on the spend amount and also a Priority Pass. I wonder if this might be a perk in the future?

 

[rangerxenos]

Most of them were hats, a few water bottles, my guess was he had all families items cramped into his backpack. I didn't want to sit in a tense environment for 4 hour flight. I do think the flight attendants should have done something about it not left it up to the passengers to deal with. I've seen it done on a lot of my flights to MCO over the years, one person gets on and saves seats for the rest of the party boarding later.

I would have gone and got a flight attendant right then and there. I've actually made it an issue when there was a seat I wanted on SW and someone had something set on it. There is no saving of seats, and if you want to make sure your party is sitting together, pay for Early Bird seating.

 

[geargrinder]

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

It is solved. It was the parent's choice not to sit together.

 

[EACarlson]

It is solved. It was the parent's choice not to sit together.

I would really like to see SW just not allow anyone in a party with a child 12 or under be able to buy tickets without a seat assignment. Then there are no issues with it.

 

[2010dvcfan]

I would have gone and got a flight attendant right then and there. I've actually made it an issue when there was a seat I wanted on SW and someone had something set on it. There is no saving of seats, and if you want to make sure your party is sitting together, pay for Early Bird seating.

I would never do that, not up to the battle, in today's society never know who you might set off into a violent rage. I would not have wanted to sit next to someone for 4 hours that could be a volatile situation. Not worth it. After flying southwest for 20 years, I would say they do allow seat saving, may not meet their written policy however it is allowed and done daily.

 

[2010dvcfan]

We are flying United to Vancouver Canada to board Disney Wonder in a few weeks, Southwest doesn't fly to Vancouver, I can't tell you how much more relaxed it is knowing which seats are ours no matter if we board first or last. No waiting to check in 24 hours before the flight hoping we get A boarding group. In past year or so multiple times our Early Bird boarding group has been "B" group. Paid extra to board early and we got boarding group after the family boarding, we had to sit 3/4 of the way to the back of the plane behind passengers who didn't pay extra. I'm glad they are going to assigned seats, honestly it may be what saved them my business.

 

[pens4821]

I'm glad they are going to assigned seats, honestly it may be what saved them my business.

Same with us. We did reluctantly book a trip for here in a couple weeks to Houston. We did the Wga+ hoping for A but they are later flights so we will see (both leave at 5 pm). I said last year I’d never fly them again (after using United mostly lately and liking them), but the schedule and prices just worked out the best.

I know they couldn’t guarantee A (unless paying the costly upgrade to 1-15) but hated getting B boarding group after paying for early bird. I always felt they should atleast let early bird on before family boarding but I guess that would be a hard thing to do. Stopping in the middle of a boarding group to let families board seems like it could turn into a mess.

 

[bluedolphin32]

I have saved a seat for my wife before, but I don't take the first open row, I head towards the back of the plane. Just common sense.

This is the way. If you are going to even attempt saving a seat, make it just one, and don't do it towards the front of the plane. This should be obvious.

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

FA's are deliberately neutral in their position on seat saving on purpose and will only intervene if there is a conflict. Their official policy is also intentionally vague in calling it "open seating". (Is a seat "open" if it is "saved"?ugh) I looked it up once and also found very long threads on other sites discussing whether or not seat saving was allowed. So frustrating that they choose to sit on the fence and leave the people to figure it out. Causes a lot of unnecessary tension when flying is already so stressful.

This is why I am So glad they are going to assigned seating. When flying with my family, it will be far less stress for me as the mom knowing before we even leave that we will all be sitting together and not have to fight for it. We flew United recently on a long trip with a connecting flight because I was anxious about being able to sit together on the 2nd flight, which was the much longer leg.

Yes, in that I'll go to the far back and sit in an aisle seat. If someone asks I'll politely tell them that DH & DD are boarding several slots behind me and that I'd appreciate it if they could let me hold the 2 seats for them, but I don't insist, and if they want them then I'm fine with that.

Again, this is the way!

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

I've had this happen too. It was a huge family reunion type of trip with several rows (both sides) saved by around three women putting down Dunkin' Donut bags, jackets, hats, etc. IIRC I counted somewhere around 20 people. Mostly adults but several children that came on with them during family boarding.

Frustrating, but I felt a lot like you did. Shouldn't be the passenger's responsibility.

I have mixed feelings about the assigned seats since who knows what other dynamics it'll change. We fly mostly based on best prices and aren't loyal to any brand, although we slant toward United and SW since they have the most reliability to MCO in my area since the pandemic.

Southwest has not been "low fares" for a while now. Their prices have been creeping up since 2020. Given their current financial status, the increases are coming regardless of open seating or not.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I pre board, and in the past, I often put my cell phone down on the seat next to me while I got settled in (it has a kindle app I use on the plane)-put my carry on under my seat, fold my cane, get any medication and a pen from my purse, etc. It never occurred to me that people might think I was trying to save a seat for someone. Now I've learned!

 

[titojackson84]

Someone earlier posted (couldn’t find it to quote) about not seeing how mangy upgraded boardings they had in their account. I had the same issued and sent them a message. Long story short, it’s a known issue to them with no timeframe. They can tell you how many you have.

 

[Dznypal]

I’m also happy they’ll have assigned seats. We always pay for EB for the 2 of us both on one ressie. Yet in jan DH git A40 whike I got B 6 not sure why since booked everything together. He got on and took an aside seat where a guy was in the window seat. Nothing in the middle seat. No one even was interested in the middle.
Although of course I did have to wait while 12 families without EB got on before me
I’m sorry but having but having to pay for seats for your kids on a plane is part of being a parent.
What what they do if the flight doesn’t have family boarding and can’t sit with their kids
I’m not going to switch my asile seat for a middle seat way in the back cause a parent wouldn’t pay for EB
I know I’ve ruffled b feathers but it’s part of having kids

On another side pre boards. We had just gotten off the plane in Vegas and they brought off 3 in wheelchairs and said someone will be here to assist yiu
We’ll it was taking some time so all 3 jumped out of the chairs and went on their merry way. Thst was obvious

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’m also happy they’ll have assigned seats. We always pay for EB for the 2 of us both on one ressie. Yet in jan DH git A40 whike I got B 6 not sure why since booked everything together. He got on and took an aside seat where a guy was in the window seat. Nothing in the middle seat. No one even was interested in the middle.
Although of course I did have to wait while 12 families without EB got on before me
I’m sorry but having but having to pay for seats for your kids on a plane is part of being a parent.
What what they do if the flight doesn’t have family boarding and can’t sit with their kids
I’m not going to switch my asile seat for a middle seat way in the back cause a parent wouldn’t pay for EB
I know I’ve ruffled b feathers but it’s part of having kids

On another side pre boards. We had just gotten off the plane in Vegas and they brought off 3 in wheelchairs and said someone will be here to assist yiu
We’ll it was taking some time so all 3 jumped out of the chairs and went on their merry way. Thst was obvious

Just so other people are aware (even though we have no idea how it will look with the new assigned seating shift) from your past posts you may have booked together but you did not book on the same reservation and you had 2 different confirmation numbers.



Also to your point about Family Boarding, while I understand many people's complaints of which I often share too, according to your flight it wasn't an issue at all.

 

[Dznypal]

i didnt actually say we had an issue last time just the fact that it could have happened at some point
and we have been on flight that family boarding was cancelled due to so many wanting to use it

actually now with assigned seating parents are going to have to either pay the extra to pick seats at booking
or hope for the best and get seats assigned while checking in

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Honestly I don’t have a lot of sympathy for parents who don’t pay for seats and then are upset when they aren’t with their kids. That’s part of the cost of being a parent/flying with your kids.

We had to make a last minute trip to a funeral, and when we couldn’t get an extra legroom seat/aisle seat for my husband and a seat next to him for my daughter (because that’s what they NEEDED to be able to make the trip) I bought 2 first class tickets for them. Did I want to? Of course not. But I wasn’t going to chance getting on the plane and not having them together, especially because my husband has trouble flying to begin with.