SW sues Board First

[salmoneous]

Since it's been at least 15 minutes since we've had a Southwest boarding thread, here's a news article on Southwest suing BoardFirst and trying to stop all 3rd-party check-in sites. It also mentions that Southwest is putting in place software to allow assigned seats.

Personally, I (and I believe many of Southwest's regular customers) would hate to see assigned seats.

Happy reading: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060607/southwest_seating.html?.v=1

 

[emmabelle]

Thanks for posting that.

From article:

Southwest officials worry that assigned seating could slow boarding, making it harder for the airline to meet its strict schedule for unloading and loading planes and taking off for the next destination.



Just curious why is it faster to board people in groups and let them sit all over the plane, than by rows with assigned seating?

 

[seashoreCM]

Southwest could push Board First and others like them aside and charge their own fee for early boarding and even a fee for use of overhead bins. (The article mentions at least one method.) No need to sue.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[tmt martins]

The seat assignment stated that they will not have that system in play until 2008 .

I like that they are going after these on-line bookers if they are using a computer program to book it they are using live people then they have the same opertunity as I do .I have no problem with that but I can't beat a computer program.

And yes I like it just the way it is fair to everyone.

I don't like not getting any good Dings or deals for this flight I'm taking but I can live with it as I have saved soooo mmuch money with SW it's not even funny .

I had to fly on Sundays this trip so I just booked the TIMEs on Non-stops that I wanted so I get really 2 full days in the parks and you can't put a price on that.

Don't mess with something thats not broke .For every person complaining of no seat assignment there are 1000's that have no problem with it.

 

[tmt martins]

Just curious why is it faster to board people in groups and let them sit all over the plane, than by rows with assigned seating?

What they say is that if you have an assigned seat thats not what you want you show up looking to change and that slows down the process .Like you have already predeterminded that you want to change going in.
With the cattle call most will just take whats availible.

Then with the seat assignment it takes time to look at you seat numbers as you go dowm the Isle and if your in center or window seat.With SW your just looking at the avail seat and that cuts down the time as well.

 

[Lewisc]

Southwest could push Board First and others like them aside and charge their own fee for early boarding and even a fee for use of overhead bins. (The article mentions at least one method.) No need to sue.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

SW changed the terms and conditions in order to ban third party checkin sites. The other sites all stopped when Southwest's lawyers sent letters. I agree, there shouldn't be a reason to sue but I guess Board First doesn't think rules apply to them.

You're right SW could charge a fee for early boarding but that's SW call, not a third party.

 

[ktglads]

Just curious why is it faster to board people in groups and let them sit all over the plane, than by rows with assigned seating?

Also, with the pre-assigned seats, there is no reason to be at the gate early. Look at the Southwest gates that have people lined up 30-45 minutes before the flight where the legacy carriers have to wait for people who want to be the absolute last person on the plane and then need time to settle in their seats, etc. I think it just really helps get everyone at the gate and on the plane earlier so that there is much less of a delay in getting everyone situated

 

[NotUrsula]

There was definitely a warning that they were going to crack down; I realized it yesterday reading "How do I love A?" on http://www.blogsouthwest.com/

As to the software upgrade -- just because they they CAN assign seats should not be taken as proof that they WILL assign seats. The statement about 2008 didn't say that they would do it then, just that it would take that long to get the functionality in place. I think that the reason for the upgrade is the ATA codeshare on int'l flights, and I don't think that we will ever see assigned seating on domestic flights.

 

[BigTigger]

And yes I like it just the way it is fair to everyone.

Do you realize that almost anything you can get over the internet that has value and has some sort of registration process to get the item has one or many "bot" programs available to allow you to get it automatically? SWA should be chasing the automated companies, not a lady doing it manually, but for profit. Merchants (and I use the term loosely) like Ticketmaster have dedicated IT people that spend all their time defeating "bot" programs used by scalpers from getting all the good seats to an event. I thin kthe end result will be SWA will make changes to make early access to check-in harder and less systemic so the "bots" can't run a repeating program to get access.

 

[safetymom]

Jet Blue boards everyone at once so they line up early. I was amazed how fast everyone got settled on Jet Blue as compared to airlines that board by zones.

 

[winniedapooh]

Jet Blue boards everyone at once so they line up early. I was amazed how fast everyone got settled on Jet Blue as compared to airlines that board by zones.

I so agree with you...flew them in April and would do so again in a heartbeat...I loved the service!