SW - Be careful what you ask for!

[CarolA]

Article in today's USAToday on SW's version of assigned seating...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2006-07-10-swa-test-usat_x.htm

Fliers not real happy with Southwest test
Posted 7/11/2006 12:10 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | Subscribe to stories like this


Enlarge By Sandy Huffaker, Getty Images

A sign at San Diego's Lindbergh Field directs passengers to report to the gate for their seat assignments.




By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
SAN DIEGO — Even for normally cheery Southwest Airlines (LUV), it was hard to draw a happy face Monday on the grumpy passengers aboard the discounter's first flight with seat assignments.
The airline that touts freedom of the skies was downright authoritarian in telling customers where they had to sit. Unlike the practice elsewhere in the airline industry, where seat assignments are the norm, Southwest assigned without regard to passenger preference. And passengers weren't allowed to switch.

The Southwest airport expert supervising the experiment, Susie Boersma, said she was saddened that "We had so many disappointed passengers." The airline called passengers last week to tell them of the



There is also an article on the overall future of SW. It makes several points that indicate higher fares to me. It mentions that SW cannot find "cheap" fuel hedges like it had in the past few years

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2006-07-11-southwest-usat_x.htm

 

[Pinnie]

WOW, talk about ASSIGNED seats!!!!!!

I hope this plan is dumped ASAP. I am a diehard SWA fan and think it's a perk to pick out where I want to sit. I always appreciate pre-boarding families so that by the time *I* board, I can pick a seat far away from a seat back kicker!!!

pinnie

 

[owtrbnks]

WOW, talk about ASSIGNED seats!!!!!!

I am a diehard SWA fan and think it's a perk to pick out where I want to sit. I always appreciate pre-boarding families so that by the time *I* board, I can pick a seat far away from a seat back kicker!!!

pinnie

I'll 2nd that and add, "crying whiner!"

 

[Kim&Chris]

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that the nix the idea of assigned seats.

I've finally found an airline with great prices, and who makes me feel safe when I fly. It will stink to have to give that up.

 

[NotUrsula]

FTR, I'm going to state up front that I don't want assigned seating on SWA.

That said, I *really* doubt that this type of randomized assigned seating has ever been considered for the IRL reservation system. The software isn't finished yet, so this is undoubtedly a method that they decided to use only for the load-speed tests. However, I think that it was a monumental PR mistake, and they need to stop the tests immediately and set up a temporary redirect on the website to allow seat selection for the test flights.

If they are not ready to allow a FCFS choice at checkin, they are not ready to test. If they feel they really MUST continue with the tests now, they need to give the passengers on the flight some nice bonus RR credits to make up for the loss of seat choice.

 

[shafke]

The article only quotes 4 passengers that appear to be travelling alone who also probably know how to get the A boarding pass. They need to interview the family of 4 who checks in late and is only able to get C passes and none of the kids are young enough for pre boarding. I bet they would be happy they are not spread around the plane in center seats.

I have never flown on SW so I do not have an informed opinion on open seating (I'm on the fence about it actually). The biggest complaint in the article was that they did not get to sit where they wanted. I think that the assigned seating will work if they allow the customer to choose their seats when booking.

Right now they are just testing if assigned seating will get the planes out without too much delay. This was only the first flight with assigned seating. They still need to work out the bugs.

 

[CarolA]

The article only quotes 4 passengers that appear to be travelling alone who also probably know how to get the A boarding pass. They need to interview the family of 4 who checks in late and is only able to get C passes and none of the kids are young enough for pre boarding. I bet they would be happy they are not spread around the plane in center seats.

.

And how do you know they weren't??? SW didn't let the passengers PICK thier seats just assigned them. They weren't assigned in what appears to be a "good" method. (I have done some other reading on www.flyertalk.com, overall test had MAJOR issues)

And besides why should I have to sit in a middle seat because the family of four is late??? That's their fault not mine, bet they won't be late next time!

 

[anne60]

Why are they thinking of changing?? Is business down and do they think this will fix it? I like the current system, and have never had a problem with the plane boarding so slow that we were late out of the gate because of it.

 

[shafke]

And how do you know they weren't??? SW didn't let the passengers PICK thier seats just assigned them. They weren't assigned in what appears to be a "good" method. (I have done some other reading on www.flyertalk.com, overall test had MAJOR issues)

And besides why should I have to sit in a middle seat because the family of four is late??? That's their fault not mine, bet they won't be late next time!

I agree that if SW goes with assigned seating then they will need to let passengers pick seats when booking. Right now they are just testing the feasability of assigned seating to see if this unreasonably delays departures. There are kinks that need to be worked out which is also part of the test. You cannot say the test failed after only 1 or 2 days.

For those that would hate and despise SW if they went to assigned seating on all their flights... who would you fly???

SW will problably still have one of the cheapest fares. Will you book at a higher fare just because you have assigned seating?

 

[DizGeek]

WOW, talk about ASSIGNED seats!!!!!!

I hope this plan is dumped ASAP. I am a diehard SWA fan and think it's a perk to pick out where I want to sit. I always appreciate pre-boarding families so that by the time *I* board, I can pick a seat far away from a seat back kicker!!!

pinnie

"Seat back kickers" are not all from the pre-boarding families. Actually, isnt pre-boarding for small children? The ones that kick the seats are usually 5+.

 

[cjsmom5]

I can't even imagine them putting my 8 year old three rows up from me and not beside me. As a mom, I would be horrified. Typcially I book my ticket separate from my son since my ticket is paid for by the company. From what I understand, SWA didn't even pay attention to keeping parents with kids. I would not find it pleasant to sit with children whose parents weren't around to monitor behavior. If they are going to assign seats, they will need to let passengers pick seats, otherwise, I will fly another airline. Anymore their fares aren't that much cheaper and often their flights are not non-stop. Plus they have now changed their frequent flyer program to be like other airlines and one has to fight for seats. Seems to me that they are becoming like all the others .... basically same price for fares with fewer services.

 

[ducklite]

SW will problably still have one of the cheapest fares. Will you book at a higher fare just because you have assigned seating?

If I didn't get to choose my seat and had to take their randomly assigned one, yes.

In fact the cattle call mentality of SW is one of the reasons I barely ever fly them.

Anne

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

If you haven't flown with Allegiant yet, go easy on SW. I have never felt more like cattle than last week flying with Allegiant. They offer a choice of paid seat assignment or get your assignment at the airport. With our group they wanted $160 to choose seats in advance. We figured we'd be fine if we got to the airport at their recommended 3 hours early and we were wrong. The people who did not pay for seat assignments were stuffed to the back of the plane. No choice of seating was given at all. The airline did not even have a/c on in the plane during boarding and taxi-ing. Our departing airport (Pease NH) is not even open 3 hours before the flight, the security line opened 1 hour before departure, despite us being told to arive 3 hours before flight time. There are no food places nor stores there.

So- before you complain too much about being cattle try the true farm animal flights. It's a mistake we'll never make again.