Tell SouthWest how you feel about their seating/boarding poilcey

[Slsguy]

Got this in an email as I'm signed up to rapid rewards. You have to be a signed up for rapid rewards to take the Poll but the process is easy and if you are going to fly SW, you mgiht as well...

To assign seats or not to assign...
That is the question! As you may have heard, Southwest Airlines is reviewing the idea of whether or not to add assigned seating to our service. Through the years, assigned seats have always been a top request from Customers who call or write to us. As we consider whether or not to assign seats, we are looking at it from many aspects, including the impact to our boarding times, revenue, and our Customers' opinion. If we decide to start assigning seats, it will not be before 2008, but we are giving it a thorough examination now.

You, our valued Rapid Rewards Members, know our service better than anyone, so your opinion is an important piece to this puzzle. You can weigh in on the age-old debate that has puzzled Customers, Employees, and scholars for years! Please take a moment to fill out our quick Assigned Seating Poll and tell us your vote. The poll will be available online for our Rapid Rewards Members through Friday, August 11, so feel free to pass this e-mail along to any friends or family who are Rapid Rewards Members who may not receive our Rapid Rewards E-mail Updates. The more, the better!

This poll is one of several very important steps of Southwest's ongoing look at assigned seating and how it could possibly be adapted to our unique business model. We look forward to your feedback.

Note: To ensure the accuracy of our poll results, there is a limit of one poll per Member. As such, your Rapid Rewards account number will be required at the time of polling.

http://www.southwest.com/rapid_rewards/rr_survey.html?src=rreu060803

 

[CarolA]

Thanks, I nearly didn't open the email...(personally I like the current method.)

 

[helenk]

I will check my e-mails this evening when I get home. I like the boarding system they currently have in place. It seems that people get on faster and we are able to take off right on time.

 

[dkostel]

I'm not in favor of assigned seating. I love waiting for a flight & people watching. It's like a psych experiment. How early will people line up, once someone lines up, does everyone else follow, if not how many need to be in line before everyone else gets up? Is a bag in line as good as a body? If you are seated on the chairs in the general line area are you in line, or do you need to be seated on the filthy old carpet to be considered seated but in line? If someone accidently cuts into line, because they are new or they didn't see the line, will they over hear all the nasty comments and move, or will someone actually inform them that there is a line? If you step 10 feet out of line to throw away your Starbucks cup do you have to go to the end of the line or can you get back in? And why are people thrilled to be the last person who made stand by on the earlier flight, being forced to wedge themselves between two strangers in the last row, but angry if the one person in the A line infront of them is joined by their 6 traveling companions forcing him to be the 7th on instead of the 2nd? And lets not forget the dirty looks the people who have the blue card get if their medical issue isn't immediately obvious, or the 'that child looks older than 4' that I have often heard.

It's more entertaining than any TV or book could ever be at the gate.

 

[Slsguy]

All though I'm not a huge fan of the boarding process - it's not the end of the world either. Considering I have gotten the least expensive flights and never been late, I'll put up wiht the "cattle call" for boarding. Actually, the boarding process wouldn't be nearly as bad if it weren't for some of the people dkostel all to acuratly described. However, if I'm flying across country, I will generly choose an arline that I can make sure I will have an isle seat with.

For the shorts 3 hour trips to WDW (i.e. - the ones I pay for not the company), you can't beat it though...

 

[salmoneous]

Thanks for the link - I never read my RR emails. I love the current systems (it allows me to pick the best seat for me) and would hate to see a change. I suspect the RR-crowd will be voting pretty strongly in favor of the current system.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Wow! When DH and I voted in the SW e-mail poll, we thought we'd be in a tiny minority that actually prefers the current system! Looks like we may finally be part of some "silent majority" (at least as far as SWA is concerned!)!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Here's my reason for liking the current system.

When I fly, I'm a party of one... I can pick and choose where I want to sit by where the kicking toddlers are, or where I might be able to score an open middle seat on a non-capacity flight.

Also, if I get to the airport early enough (which for me is usually, since I love airports) I can line up early. I try to be first, and entertain myself with my laptop. That way, I can get 11A - the exit row. Then the flight attendant will usually stand in that row, and prevent folks from taking those seats. At the end, a single flyer will take the aisle, and the middle remains empty. It's happened on 3 out of the past 5 flights I've had. Works great for me!

 

[NotUrsula]

Remember that if you have kids who have their own RR accounts, you can submit a poll response for their accounts, too.

I find that open seating offers me the best control over sitting with my school-age children, so I think it is perfectly legitimate to answer on my child's behalf.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of us who fly SW like the present system. The question is how many of us would stop flying SW if they switch to assigned seats vs how many passengers would consider flying SW but currently won't fly SW due to the "cattle car" policy.

 

[all4disneyworld]

I started a link on this same subject this morning on the Community Board. When I got the email I was anxious to participate. We definately like things they way they are. Would not want to change to assigned seating.

 

[Pinnie]

Another vote for, "If it ain't broke don't fix it!" I like open seating and can realize the savings on a quick turnaround for them. I like picking my seat AWAY from seat kickers and crying lap babies.

pinnie

 

[NotUrsula]

The question is how many of us would stop flying SW if they switch to assigned seats vs how many passengers would consider flying SW but currently won't fly SW due to the "cattle car" policy.

I think that in terms of marketing costs, it will certainly cost them more to lose currently loyal customers than it will to not gain new customers.

The thing for me is that sometimes price, flight times, etc., are more or less the same from a legacy carrier out of my airport as they are with SWA. Right now I choose SWA when that happens, but if they went to assigned seating, I might not. (The only really compelling reason still in SWA's favor would be the no-penalty cancellation policy -- if they mess with that then they will REALLY lose loyal customers.)

I've been wondering if the publicity surrounding this whole idea, together with backlash from loyal customers in favor of open seating, might bring in some new customers anyway -- I think that some people who were heretofore opposed to open seating might take a second look after discovering that so many people actually like it. Perhaps they will be more open to giving it a chance.

 

[Gary M]

Even though the "cattle call" system can be very entertaining, I dislike it. I voted for assigned seats.

What a great answer dkostel had. Anyone that has flown SWA and has any idea of their surroundings, should have noticed the situations dkostel mentioned. On flights I have taken on SWA, I have seen nearly all the "entertaining" things that were mentioned and many times on just one flight.

I couple of months ago I was flying back from Vegas on SWA. I was in the "B" corral and some idiot was sitting in a seat at least 15 to 20 feet behind the end of the "B" line. Anyone that got in line he would holler at them that he was in line and the line started behind him. When nobody paid attention to him he placed his families baggage in line and remained seated. They were carrying on everything, but the kitchen sink.

I know that I'm easily entertained. If I have a fairly long layover in an airport and SWA has departures from the concourse I'm at I will go over to their gates and watch the "cattle call" boarding. I do like to people watch and this can be fun.

 

[CarolA]

I fly a lot. Yes, on SW they line up early. On DL they storm the desk for "better seats" etc.

I don't think it makes a difference. There are WAY too many people flying today who get to the airport and abandon all pretense of behaving in an appropriate manner. It just exhibits itself differently in different situations. (Crusing at a gate agent when you can't get YOUR choice of seats is not ANY better then lining up an hour early)

 

[Wigit12]

I love this thread. I was really worried when I saw the email. We like it the way it is. We were really worried that everyone disagreed.

We love kids but when travelling without small ones we like to be able to pick our seat AFTER they board. And my husband still needs a window seat.

And, the thrill of printing out that coveted A pass.

 

[RumpleMom]

I have never flown SWA.

Our vacation involves traveling with teenagers and the grandparents.

I'm concerned about how long the grandparents would have to stand in line.

Or is it permissble for one family member or most members to do the standing in line part?

 

[salmoneous]

I'm concerned about how long the grandparents would have to stand in line.

Or is it permissble for one family member or most members to do the standing in line part?

It's fine for one person to hold a space in line for someone else - it's the one person holding a space for 6 that bugs people.

But the bigger issue is that you don't have to wait in line if you don't want to. I fly SW all the time and never wait in line. I get A passes and just get up and get in the back of the A line when most A's are alread on board. Back of the B's still gets you choice of most seating configurations on most flights.

 

[HayGan]

I have never flown SWA.

Our vacation involves traveling with teenagers and the grandparents.

I'm concerned about how long the grandparents would have to stand in line.

Or is it permissble for one family member or most members to do the standing in line part?

Have someone printout your boarding passes on-line 24 hours before your flight. You shouldn't have any problem in getting an earlier boarding time. If the grandparents require assistance then definitely ask Southwest for assistance. Otherwise, have the grandparents sit in seats nearby the lines while the young ones stand in the line

Happy travels!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Having just flown SW to and from Chicago last week, I'm on the fence. I dislike the stress of trying to get an A or even a B pass. However, people boarded so quickly and orderly that the flights were able to leave EARLY! Yes, early...the flight home arrived almost 30 minutes before it was supposed to. Almost all passengers lined up at the gate - I do because even for a 2 1/2 hour flight, my legs and back get sore and restless, so I stand up as long as I can prior to the flight. The only thing I really disliked about the flight out was that a flight attendant stood about halfway back and directed people to fill in the front seats before she'd allow passengers in the back of the plane. I wondered what was up with that...