Why does SW not assign seats?

[edk35]

This is our first trip with them and I was just curious as to why they do this? does anyone know?

Denise

 

[CarolA]

They claim their way is cheaper.... It seems to work for them. They are amoung the most profitable in the industry.

 

[deltachi8]

I tallows them to trun around the aircraft quicker, getting more production out of it's assets, hence a more efficient operation and lowere fares.

 

[inkkognito]

Ditto to what the others said, although I flew ATA (assigned seating) for years before switching to SW, and it doesn't really seem all that much faster. Oh well, it must work for them considering that they're making money. At thi point, it would probably cost them a fortune to upgrade their computers to allow assigned seating and to retrain all their workers. Their arangement is a bit of a hassle, but well worth it to me for the rock-bottom fares.
Barb

 

[edk35]

I like the fares don't get me wrong but how could NOT ASSIGNING SEATS make it more profitable and faster turn around times? I would think if everyone had their seats assigned it would faster....people not asking to be moved, standing in the aisle looking for a seat to choose????????

 

[Drizzo67]

I guess its the old "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT" theory. Who knows why they started booking flights that way but it makes them money and people generally don't seem to care as long as they are saving some money and getting where they need to go. It works for SWA so they won't change it. I wouldn't be surprised if other airlines start doing it too.

 

[Lewisc]

The lack of assigned seats gets passengers to the gate early. You'll see people literally lined up before the plane has landed, in some cases even before the plane as taken off from the previous airport. The pre-boards enter the plane the instant the last passenger leaves the plane.

Guests with assigned seats are more likely to get to the gate 10-15 minutes before departure. They either get to the airport later or are in an airport restaurant or bar. If you get to the gate 10 minutes before your flight you'll be boarding with the C's, even if you have an A BP. People are motivated to get to the gate early.

People don't generally stand in the aisle looking for a seat. They just keep going to the back of the plane looking for a window/aisle seat. Once those seats are taken they just grab an available middle seat.

There are passengers looking for room in the overhead luggage to stow their roller bags but that's the same with legacy carriers.

I like the fares don't get me wrong but how could NOT ASSIGNING SEATS make it more profitable and faster turn around times? I would think if everyone had their seats assigned it would faster....people not asking to be moved, standing in the aisle looking for a seat to choose????????

 

[bicker]

Lewis hit the nail on the head: The lack of assigned seats creates a sense of urgency in passengers that spooks a good number of passengers into proactive action -- passengers who would otherwise perhaps saunter up to the gate late.

 

[goofy4tink]

The fastest boarding and take-off I have ever experienced was when I flew PanAm two months after 9/11. They allowed no, absolutely none, carry-on. You could bring a purse, but that was it. My friend had a pretty expensive camera and she couldn't bring it on with her!!! We both had to have it checked, but they put it in rubbermaid type containers and we signed for them. When we got to Sanford, we had to sign to get them there. I have to say that it was the quickest loading of a plane I've ever seen....no looking around for someplace to stash your stuff....just go to your seat and sit-down!!!!

I do wish SW would put the preboarders in the back of the plane though, as suggested on another thread. It would enable people to board more quickly, since those with carseats and other kid 'stuff' would be to the back. Those without could just board, find a seat, and be done with it...rather than have to wait for the preboarders to get out of the aisle.

 

[Gary M]

One main reason why SWA still makes a profit is because they locked in cheap fuel prices a couple of years ago. I'm not sure when the less expensive fuel contract expires. I remember reading or hearing this explanation about part of their success.

 

[bicker]

They also don't have a heavy pension-load.

 

[Gary M]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-0511060031nov06,1,582614.story?coll=chi-business-hed

The above link will also explain why SWA will be losing it's advantages. I have flown SWA many times along with other airlines and I think the no seat assignment being a big reason why they make a profit is over rated. JMHO

 

[jctwizzer]

["I think the no seat assignment being a big reason why they make a profit is over rated. JMHO"

That's not directly the reason. There's no doubt in my mind that SW load their planes faster than those who assign seats....this is borne out every time I try Delta or American, etc. Which reduces the amount of time the aircraft sits on the ground.....for SW it seems like 20 or 25 minutes is a norm. Which maximizes the time the aircraft is doing its job---flying. The less time spent in non flying modes, the better for the bottom lineJMHO

 

[Pinnie]

Airlines only make money when their planes are in the air, not sitting at a gate. Faster loading means faster take offs.

Take this example. A few yrs ago, I was on a flight with assigned seating. There were a few standby pax that were allowed on and assigned seats. Only problem was someone was already IN the seat. That meant getting the issue fixed at the gate. All that took time and delayed take off and we lost our "slot" in line and had to wait behind a HUGE bank of planes for an available slot. Had there been NO assigned seating, the standbys could have parked their behinds in an available seat and we could have gone.

How many times have we read on this Transportation thread about people with assigned seats on other airlines LOSE them when flights are cancelled and reassgned? You need manpower to fix those issues, something SWA doesn't have to worry about.

pinnie

 

[Poohbear123]

VERY Efficient and ON TIME! I LOVE the fact that I can pick my own seat, and print my own boarding pass 24 hours before. This enables me to get an "A" boarding pass. I sat in the 4th aisle on the end which is what I wanted. LOVE the prices too!

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that 2/3 of Southwest's passengers don't get "A" boarding passes.

 

[Poohbear123]

If you print your pass within 5 minutes of the 24 hour "printing boarding pass" time, you WILL get a 'A' boarding pass. I did and I was thrilled! Mind you, I haven't been on an airplane in 25 years and I was thrilled with this Airline.

 

[Lewisc]

Keep in mind that 2/3 of Southwest's passengers don't get "A" boarding passes.

No but on some flights to MCO it seems like 2/3 of the passengers pre-board.

Your 2/3 number is high since even SW doesn't sell out all their flights.

Someone is always going to get stuck with the middle seats. Legacy airlines give the better seats to flyers that have elite status and passengers who book early, assuming no schedule changes. SW gives the preferred seats to passengers who check in early.

I guess many of the passengers would like a half empty plane but that really doesn't work for the airlines.

Many passengers are happy to be get to their destination and don't care what seat they get.

 

[justcruisin]

The no-seating assignments helps them sell seats.

Using usair and sw as an example - you can pick the seats for you and your family of 6 on usair, you see there are not 6 seats together so you book a flight on SW.

(someone else posted that reason, I read it recently --- makes great sense to me!)

I believe SW also only flies 1 type of plane. I love (well not really) being at the gate 20 minutes prior to take off with NO plane there ---within minutes the plane appears, and you still take off on time.

 

[delilah]

I still have a problem with the concept of no assigned seats. It might work ok for some people, but not for everybody. As a point of reference, as a matter of fact, we usually arrive at the airport so early that frequently we are the first people in the waiting area. So, I don't have a problem with that. The last few times, I have been unable to print our boarding passes--my husband, for some reason, is always getting the super-duper behind closed doors inspection. I just think it is fundamentally rude to look around at a line boarding an aircraft, with no assigned seats, being a party of two, and taking an aisle and a window seat, forcing another adult to take the middle seat. I have sat in that middle seat on more than one occasion, and I just don't like being talked over, leaned over, and generally squished by people who think that obviously their airfare included exclusive use of the armrest. I am claustrophobic, anyway, and this just about puts me over the edge. Add to that we are a party of three, travelling with a 7yo, and you have maternal protective instinct going into overdrive. Maybe you are comfortable with your son sitting between two strangers 10 rows ahead of you, and with him getting off the plane before you can get to him, but, I am not! Tickets are not even on sale now for spring break--April 3-7 for us. I can deali with sitting in the middle seat if I, for example, bought tickets on March 31 for April 3, but, if I am planning ahead, I really would like to have a decent seat if I buy my tickets three months or more in advance.