Southwest to have assigned seating

[sam_gordon]

Airlines don't want to you price shop (or make it as difficult as possible to compare prices for the same route on various airlines). They could assume 1 checked bag and a basic seat option. Your price would be +/- that depending on your particular travel plans but at least a place to start.

So what's the difference between the airlines "assuming" a checked bag and basic seat option, where the customer would have to do the work to get their correct total price and the airlines "assuming" no checked bags and no seat seat option, where the customer would have to do the work to get their correct total price?

I mean, at some point, the customer has to take some responsibility and do research.

ETA: I do think taxes and fees should be included in the displayed price (don't know if they are or not). Those aren't things the consumer can decide not to pay.

 

[_19disnA]

Airlines have ZERO incentive to make it easier to price compare with their competition. Those 3rd party websites aren't of much use when bits/pieces of the 'total' price aren't included.

 

[sam_gordon]

Airlines have ZERO incentive to make it easier to price compare with their competition. Those 3rd party websites aren't of much use when bits/pieces of the 'total' price aren't included.

Of course they don't. I'm just pointing out adding optional add ons to the displayed price doesn't make it "easier" for everyone. At some point, the consumer has to take responsibility.

 

[Sykes]

Taxes and fees are included in advertised prices, so that much is already covered.

Google Flights lets you specify how many carry on and checked bags you plan to bring on the search results page and will show the cost inclusive of those fees so you can better comparison shop. It’s a bit less practical to do for seat assignments because airlines many airlines dynamically set seat prices based on multiple factors including which seat you want.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Saw this on flyertalk....the reported SW seat map. not sure if this has been posted. Also didn't see where they got it so take it with a grain of salt....but seems to be legit at this point.

 

[Marrila]

The map and other info came from here:
https://crankyflier.com/2024/10/01/...ests-assigned-and-extra-legroom-seating-plan/

 

[traveler9]

I’m looking forward to seeing the 10-15 preboards that seem to be on every SW flight having to either pay for preferred seating like everyone else or go to the back of the plane, instead of taking those seats from those that paid extra to board early like they can today.

 

[MinnieMSue]

That diagram is interesting. I would have thought they would have left more space in the mid plane exit rows to allow for easier emergency exit

 

[traveler9]

That diagram is interesting. I would have thought they would have left more space in the mid plane exit rows to allow for easier emergency exit

Many of the exit seats already don’t have extra legroom, particularly the sets of two seats. They took out one seat on each side to provide extra room on the 800s.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Many of the exit seats already don’t have extra legroom, particularly the sets of two seats. They took out one seat on each side to provide extra room on the 800s.

Right but now they are even smaller. We actually have sat in those seats to not have to be next to a stranger (yeah we have issues).

 

[sam_gordon]

Many of the exit seats already don’t have extra legroom, particularly the sets of two seats. They took out one seat on each side to provide extra room on the 800s.

I love the exit rows that I get on 737s (actually any plane) on Delta. And yes, they DEFINITELY have extra legroom.

 

[kristenrice]

Well, I guess I will be springing for the preferred/extra legroom seats. I have flight anxiety/claustrophobia and if I am sitting anywhere behind the wing and/or not in an aisle seat, I do not do well. I take a xanax and use my noise-cancelling headphones to distract myself as much as I can, but the more people/seats that I "see" (like when I walk back to my seat from the bathroom), the more I start panicking. If I sit in the first 10-12 rows on an aisle, I do OK as long as I stay either asleep or distracted with a movie on my ipad. Some people have told me that this "condition" qualifies for pre-boarding, but there's no way I would do that. I can manage it and deal with the mental discomfort for the 2-hour flight. I also make sure to buy EBCI and my tickets as soon as I possibly can to try and maximize my chance of getting an A-group.

 

[_19disnA]

If their new process works like every other airline I have been on, with pre-assigned seating the actual order in which you board makes NO difference. Your seat assignment of 9C (or whatever shows on your ticket) will be available to you regardless of when you board. When Southwest has the current policy of 'take any seat' then clearly the order of boarding matters and part of the reason you can pay extra to be in an earlier group.

Some articles I have read indicated that Southwest has to change the actual seating configuration before they can implement this new procedure. I would expect that seats with more legroom will be at the front of the plane just like how it works for every other airlines. Typically those cost extra or can be selected by the most frequent fliers based on their status with that airline.

 

[focusondisney]

Some articles I have read indicated that Southwest has to change the actual seating configuration before they can implement this new procedure. I would expect that seats with more legroom will be at the front of the plane just like how it works for every other airlines. Typically those cost extra or can be selected by the most frequent fliers based on their status with that airline.

The seat map & the link with more info are just a few posts back from @chicagodisneyguy & @Marrila.

 

[Simba's Mom]

So it seems to me that, even if you use a wheelchair and pre board, you'll just go to the seat which you were assigned. Assuming that, when assigning seats or people picking seats at purchase, they don't give any preference to people who are going to need wheelchair assistance and will pre board, the big advantage to Southwest (and people like DH, who hates those who seem to be using wheelchair assistance as a way to get their choice of seats earlier) is that there won't be a long line of people who all "need" to be pushed down the jetway.

 

[hsmamato2]

The map and other info came from here:
https://crankyflier.com/2024/10/01/...ests-assigned-and-extra-legroom-seating-plan/

This is interesting....so the do the preferred have the extra room too, or are they preferred bc they're closer to front?

 

[traveler9]

This is interesting....so the do the preferred have the extra room too, or are they preferred bc they're closer to front?

preferred seats are just closer to the front, no extra legroom. Same thing on Delta.

 

[focusondisney]

This is interesting....so the do the preferred have the extra room too, or are they preferred bc they're closer to front?

From the seat map in post #385.. standard & preferred seat pitch 31”, extra leg room 34”.