SWA Considering Change to Seating Policy

[beccasmom]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2004/10/31/business/10056734.htm

This article appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer this past Sunday. Apparently, SWA is considering a switch to a new seating policy - assigned seats - due to customer requests.

 

[bopeep9207]

I think that would be a bad move, takes too much time.
The article said it was considering it, they did that last year also and ditched the idea. There was no mention of customer request in that article.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I didn't read the article, but my husband told me that in studies they found that it really didn't save them time (or much time, I would guess) having the open seating and where they are quick to turn a plane around is in the loading of the luggage, etc.

T&B

 

[CarolA]

Well since this is at LEAST a year off I am not spending much time worrying about it. Plus they have said that if it slows down loading there is no way they will use it.

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by CarolA
Well since this is at LEAST a year off I am not spending much time worrying about it. Plus they have said that if it slows down loading there is no way they will use it.

AMEN!

Show me an airline with the turnaround time on the ground that SWA has. Then maybe I will buy it that assigned seats will work!

pinnie

 

[bopeep9207]

Well, if they do impliment it, it just might stop the preboarding issue. With assigned seating there would be no need to board little Johnny and Mary so that they could all sit together. That may speed it up a bit.
I doubt it will happen.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The article in the Orlando Sentinal as well as the Orlando TV news stated that if they cannot meet thier 20 minute turnaround, the assigned seating will not happen.

It's the super-fast 20 minute turnaround that keeps Southwest able to have the low fares AND remain one of the few profitable airlines out there.

Indeed, there are those out there that would rather spend a few extra dollars to get an assigned seat... and that's great. But Southwest obviously has no shortage of folks who are willing to have unassigned seats, in order to have great fares. (such as myself)

 

[travelin' tigger]

I'm also one of those people who love to just get on the plane, grab a seat and hit the air - granted I'm usually solo or with a friend!!

 

[DaveO]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle
I didn't read the article, but my husband told me that in studies they found that it really didn't save them time (or much time, I would guess) having the open seating and where they are quick to turn a plane around is in the loading of the luggage, etc.

T&B

I do not see how this is true .... I fly about 7-10 times a year on different airlines including SW. I have never seen an assigned seating boearding go as fast as SW. and it is significant - we are not talking about a few mins. I am always amazed at the efficiencies of SW. There are times when the plane is not at the gate 30 mins before departure and I say to myself there is no way we are leaving on time - but we always do. It is the excact opposite on every other airline.

As a side note .... the last 4 times I have had assigned seating they were changed and my group needed to be split up. I also sit with my group on SW. Assigned seating is overrated in some cases.

Dave O.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by DaveO
I do not see how this is true .... I fly about 7-10 times a year on different airlines including SW. I have never seen an assigned seating boearding go as fast as SW. and it is significant - we are not talking about a few mins. I am always amazed at the efficiencies of SW. There are times when the plane is not at the gate 30 mins before departure and I say to myself there is no way we are leaving on time - but we always do. It is the excact opposite on every other airline.

As a side note .... the last 4 times I have had assigned seating they were changed and my group needed to be split up. I also sit with my group on SW. Assigned seating is overrated in some cases.

Dave O.

This is what my husband heard or read and then related to me, so I have no idea how accurate it is. Seems that not assigning seats does save time and therefore $, but I haven't studied the situation and am not an expert in the field.

T&B

 

[DebbieB]

There was an incident on the Airline show last Monday night. A lady with a B card was late getting in line and tried to jump in front of someone with a C card. A big fight started.

 

[Jeanny]

I don't mind SW's non assigned seat policy... I don't, however, like the pre-boarder's who have ONE child and the family of 10 aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc... can board with that child. I know it's always been a sore point for a lot of people.

On our flight home, we were lucky to get an A boarding pass, but you know what, it didn't really matter because close to half the plane "pre-boarded" with one or two children and the rest of the family in tow... The only good thing was the "pre-boarders" spread out around the plane, so we were still able to get 2 seats together over the wing.

Kind of the same end result with assigned seating concept. and it seemed to take the same amount of time as assigned seating.

 

[hercamore]

Hmm, I've never been on an airline that didn't have preassignmed seating.

hherc.

 

[Gary M]

SWA preboarding from IND to MCO is ridiculious. At least half the passengers preboard. The whole entourage with one small child plus everyone, but me with white hair. The old people are running and elbowing with the kids gaggle of people.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Jeanny
I don't mind SW's non assigned seat policy... I don't, however, like the pre-boarder's who have ONE child and the family of 10 aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc... can board with that child. I know it's always been a sore point for a lot of people.

We also had A passes when we (my DH and I) flew recently and had probably 1/3 of the plane preboard and there were some extended families preboarding. There was also a news crew (4 people) preboarding with a single piece of equipment, but all 4 were allowed to preboard. Of course that doesn't occur as often as the extended families, but was still irritating.

I think that they should allow preboarding of families only within their assigned group. IE, before A boarding occurs, all of the A preboarders board, before B boarding all the B preboarders board, etc.

That would cut down on families waiting until the last minute to get to the airport since they know they can cut in front of everyone waiting until the last minute.

The exception would be people with severe medical reasons or children traveling alone (for safety reasons the solo kids need to be boarded).

And with anyone preboarding I think that there should be a maximum of two people per young child allowed on early. I would say one only 1 person, but they would then put a person in the window and aisle seats, therefore holding that middle seat, anyway. It's different if the parent is flying alone with several children (one under 5 and a couple more single digits)--they should all be able to board with the parent, but extended family should most certainly board with everyone else.

I will be flying SW with my son who is still 4yo next month so will still hopefully get to preboard...my last time doing that. I do still get to the airport early and end up with A passes.

T&B

 

[maryliz]

We are flying SW in Jan. We have a 4 yr old and a 7 yr old. Neither has flown before. I assumed that if they are doing preboarding for younger children (not guaranteed though, right?) that the worst case scenario is 2 of us board, and my DH and DD will board with the rest of the plane. I'm sure there won't be a problem with the 2 of them getting to sit together, but if there was, I'm sure we could work it out ... but it would stress her out for those few minutes it would take us to try and trade so that she wouldn't be alone. If they allow all 4 of us to board, though, I will be very happy. However, we're also travelling with my sister and BIL and it never once occurred to any of us that they would even consider trying to preboard. Preboarding everyone in the party just seems ridiculous ... it's nice but certainly not necessary that your entire party be sitting together.

Mary-Liz