BIG news, people. For YEARS, Southwest Airlines has taken a different approach to flying. Unlike many major airlines in the US, Southwest passengers boarded under an “open seating policy” where seats were not preassigned. The policy was pretty controversial, and many travelers have hoped the rules would change.
Orlando International Airport
Well, it seems like that long-awaited update might finally arrive. Southwest Airlines shared a BIG announcement about the future of open seating.
Southwest Airlines has some big plans. The company shared several announcements “designed to elevate the Customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive shareholder value.” Most notably, Southwest plans to assign seats, offer premium seating options, redesign its boarding model, and introduce redeye flying.
Southwest plane
We previously reported that Southwest CEO Bob Jordan stated, “We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” following a weak first quarter, but reassured travelers that Southwest was not considering charging for checked bags. At the time, Southwest did not share when — or if — these changes would go into effect, but now Southwest has officially made its decision.
Southwest Plane
In a new statement, Southwest stated that the company will provide more details on its comprehensive plan to deliver “transformational commercial initiatives, improved operational efficiency and capital allocation discipline” in September. That said, we do know that Southwest decided to assign seats and offer premium seating options on ALL flights.
We love a window seat!
Southwest explained that the airline conducted a research investigation and found that “80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential customers, prefer an assigned seat.” Further, Southwest will offer a “premium, extended legroom portion of the cabin” due to customer feedback. At this time, cabin layout details are still being designed, but Southwest expects roughly one-third of the seats on its planes will offer extended legroom.
Southwest Airplane
So, what do you think of this news? Are you among the 80% of Southwest customers who prefer assigned seating? We’ll be sure to share more information about this historic change, so stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest travel news, so stay tuned for more.
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The way they board the plane has never bothered me. Using Southwest in October and already booked so will be interesting to see how things go. My husband has always taken a window seat and I take the dreaded middle seat. Most of the time it’s a single female traveler that sits on the other side of me.
I truly feel like if there weren’t the abusers of the pre boarding system, a lot of the problems with open seating would be eliminated, too many wheelchairs on boarding than don’t need them at arrival. And then the whole seat saving situation too. That will be eliminated which will be awesome.
Been flying them since 1979 but never again. They’re taking away everything that made the airline fun and unique. How do I know where I want to sit until I get on the plane??? See where the kids or other noisy people are? Maybe sit with someone I met while waiting to board? I only fly Albany NY to Tampa or Orlando so I choose the side where the sun won’t be in my eyes. It’s very clear that this is a money making venture for them and their stockholders. I don’t believe their percentages, would not put it past them to lie for PR purposes now that an activist investment company is stirring the pot and leveraging these changes – again for profit. If you want redeyes – which Herb was dead set against – and assigned seating (and paying more!)…..go fly any other airline! Why ruin Southwest for loyal customers who love it??? Herb must be rolling over in his grave….!!
I used southwest ever since studying the company in business school. I liked their model and their originality, how they stood out among competitors for doing things differently. While I understand the need for change, I don’t think a step backwards is the way. And with this loss of choosing your own seat, what sets them apart now? Very little. Now shoppers are going to aim for the lowest price and be less willing to be loyal to SW because they have lost that particular perk. I would argue they have more problems with carry-on luggage than assigned seating. I see others posting about pre-boarding abuse. I personally know people who will take a wheelchair just to beat the crowd. If a doctor’s note were required that would help. But this brings up a good point. These preboarders will now have an assigned seat and may be able to preboard but will no longer have “first come first serve” access, I would hope. And will likely have to deplane last due to their seating location.
I can see the reason as long as they don’t do what Delta did to our group when we flew to Alaska. We were a large group of 25 and Delta was unable to sit us as a group. I didn’t even get to sit next to my wife going or coming home. They said that the system was unable to do that with groups so they had to break us into groups of 15. I wasn’t even in a group with my wife and the people I was with didn’t even have the same last initial as me. It was a complete mess. We even flew with another group who had kids who had never flown before sitting by themselves with their mom/dad sitting elsewhere! Their excuse was that their (Delta) systemwouldn’t allow them to sit them together. If Southwest does away with open seating they better be able to seat families/groups together.
I never flew Southwest because they never had assigned seats or offered premium seats. I might start considering them as an option now.
It’s still a cattle car with wings that will never see me.
How will this effect the price of tickets? Bottom line answer – this is going to determine how well this “flys”…
This is great news. We have been avoiding Southwest because of the seating policy. When me, my wife and daughter fly we want to set together. In the past that’s not been possible with Southwest. I hate having to checkin exactly 24 hrs out hoping we get A group. If you get B group there’s almost no chance we set together. Would not go to a restaurant and set at a table between 2 strangers. Not going to spend 3 hours between 2 strangers on a plane while my family set in other areas of the plane.
I have been flying SWA for many years. My biggest complaint is the extremely long layovers. Whatever happened to the direct flights? I’ll be looking at other airlines in the future.
I have not flown on Southwest because of the seating situation. But I will consider it now with these changes. I need an aisle seat to be comfortable when flying, so this will likely let me look into South West for my next trip.
I loved the way it is, that’s why I use Southwest.
While I can deal with Southwest’s open seating, I would honestly prefer assigned seats. Our last trip to Orlando had us getting on the plane late due to some random delay in Phoenix, and having to scramble to find spots where I could sit next to my 6 year old. I got real lucky due to a kind woman’s generosity.
How does it work if you already bought tickets for sept.?
I am a wheelchair person. I am unable to walk through the airport to board my flight, unable to stand for any period of time. I am great full for this service, there is always employee with a wheelchair to greet me upon deplaning. Please don’t begrudge persons in a wheelchair, this is not our choice, but this is the way it is. I understand there are some who take advantage of not just this, but many other circumstances that makes it hard for other people with true disabilities.
i have never flown with southwest because of the open seating ( im a pick my seat ahead lover) and they have some really great routes that i have wanted to fly so this will be great for people like me that are international tourists that havent wanted to be part of the weird process
I have been flying Southwest for some time now. Open seating was one of the things that I really liked. With little longer legs , I could chose an aisle seat if the flight was longer without an added fee. I thought the way they allowed passengers to board was fair based on how early we checked in. The early bird does get the worm! Corporate greed and more profits for shareholders and executives are the true reasons for the change not 80+ of their passengers.
From the article. “ improve financial performance, and drive shareholder value.”“. That is all you need to know.
My biggest gripe has been the miracle flights. At boarding I have seen as many as 15 people in wheelchairs to board early. At sometime during the flight a “ miracle” happens, because when we land only a couple of those people need wheelchairs. The rest go off on their merry way , even though the airport we arrive at is much larger and more walking than the departure airport.
I am definitely not a frequent flyer so I’m no authority on the subject. I just know the one time I flew with my daughter to WDW from Sacramento, CA. It was a good experience. I did sign up for the early bird seating so that probably helped but everything was great. I was very nervous about being split up, so assigned seating maybe would’ve eased that worry. Honestly, I don’t care where I sit. I only care about sitting with the person I came with.
Yes there are many that abuse the wheelchair policy but my husband needs a wheelchair getting on an off the plane. Those that complain are probably of the younger generation because #1 they are impatient and #2 they have good walking legs and never thinking this will ever happen to them. Karma is a bitch and you may be in the same predicament as you get older so learn to be more compassionate. And not judgemental.
I choose Southwest because I love the self seating system so when I get on the plane I can choose where I want to sit and people I prefer not to sit next to.. With assigned seating you don’t have a choice. Tough luck if you don’t like where and who your sitting next to, out of luck Charlie.
Plus no added benefit to choose SW any longer if they’re charging by where your seats are located. We’ll just have to wait an see they’re new proposal is before deciding whether to continue being a supporter of SW
I fly a lot and the open SW seating is what I love. I want to pick who I sit beside. With assigned seating, who knows who’s going to sit beside you. I’ve not enjoyed who has sat beside me on other airlines. I guess I’ll chose airlines now by price since SW seating perk is gone.
Wheel chair person, i always deplaned LAST, why? As not to hold up others able to walk quickly off plane. How about deplaning by first fron row, then 2nd row and on down to the back of the plane? Some are not so nice, trying to be first off plane and some still holding line up by getting their stuff instead of being ready.
I love the open seating. I live no charge for luggage. So when this goes into effect, it will be just like any other airline. I always fly swest. I was only ever on another airline once in my life. I hated it. They gave us the last row of seats with our backs against the wall. The turbulence was bad and it was a scary flight. I will consider another airline in the future. I have a flight with swest in 2 weeks and hope they didnt start this yet.
So sad open seating is going away. I fly exclusively Southwest because I can just show up and don’t get charged for my bags.
With this change and their prices going up, I feel more air passengers will move away from flying Southwest. And….I can’t believe 80% wanted assigned seats. No way.
Being someone that near always used “Early Bird Check In” and I even have that perk on my SW Credit Card. I almost never had a problem with getting all 3 of us in the same row and in an area of the plane we prefer. But this change is about shareholder value and not actual customer experience. As long as SW doesn’t start changing for bags or negatively impact my experience, they will stay my preferred airline. I have had to drop quite a few loyalty programs from airlines due to customer service issues.
I am amazed at the volume of comments on this issue. I’m have never flown Southwest specifically because of its festival seating policy. I am tradionally one of the last people to board, and enjoy the fact that my choosen seat at ticket purchase time is protected. I do not like the cattle call. Or waiting on board a crowded plane for 30 minutes at the gate for the plane to fully board. Instead, I sit outside at the gate, wait until the line is down to none, then board at final boarding call, I am the last to board and then we are outta there. Good riddance to festival first come first served boarding.