First-Person Flight Reviews: Southwest Airlines' New Boarding Policy

November 12, 2007 at 2:00 PM | by pbb | Comments (2)

Southwest Airlines recently changed its one-size-fits-all boarding scheme. The new boarding policy doesn't allow for pre-boarding and all ticket holders are given a boarding priority, A, B or C. Passengers then board the plane in sequence, according to their assigned zone.

The new policy mirrors Southwest's efforts to become a more business traveler-oriented airline, while the company's adding more flights to business centers such as Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Not everyone, however, is pleased. Families for one, who still make up a chunk of Southwest's customer base, have felt the decision a slap in the face to their travel needs.

On USA Today's discussion board, user 3sissy laments the new seating policy, which s/he thinks could increase fares:

I say to the snobs that don't like the open seating policy, SW doesn't need your money! Keep the fares low so that EVERYONE can fly!!! I just don't see how SW can keep fares low if they go against their original philosphy...planes make money in the air, not on the ground. If you increase turn times for assigned seating that goes out the window.

Other commenters complain that the new policy will keep them from those coveted aisle seats, to which user markterry said:

Whichever seat you get, it's no big deal, and the plane will still arrive at its destination (we hope). If you like speculating about the new policy... go right ahead. But for me, I think it's a tempest in a teapot.

One self-proclaimed business traveler, racer03, said the new policy makes perfect sense:

Even if it took a little more time, wouldn't the influx of new passenger revenue from folks who previously refused to fly SW make up for the difference? Charging for an aisle seat? That is also bad karma. Your seat location should depend on when you book your flight--the early bird gets the worm. If you wait until the last minute, you end up with a middle seat, too bad.

Have a take on Southwest's policy? Become a Jaunted member and comment away.

Related Stories:
· Southwest Announces Business Select Fares [Jaunted]
· Southwest Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: StuSteeger]

Comments (2)

Return to » First-Person Flight Reviews: Southwest Airlines' New Boarding Policy

Flew SWA on Days 2 and 4 of the new boarding policy this weekend on a PDX-MDW rt. Have to say, it works well. The benefit used to go to those who showed up at the airport first. Now it goes to those who can hop online exactly 24 hours before boarding first. You can't always be online then, just like you can't always show up at the gate 90 minutes before boarding. On my two flights, only saw one man in the front of the line (i.e. paid extra for the biz seat). We in the A-20s joked that there must be a stigma, at least for now, about shelling out and being alone at the front with a big gap behind you before pax A-15. More props to SWA: both flights left on time and arrived 30 minutes early. Refreshing for a change. And in those flights, for what it's worth, the boarding time was about the same, maybe a bit quicker, and the planes had no problem with their turn times.

I understand all of your view points, but if you have small children this new policy sucks. We are flying with 7 month old twins at Christmas and we're going to be forced to board after group A. It may be faster as a whole, but not going to make people happy when we are bumping them on the head with car seats, and asking folks to move because we need to sit our family together (airline policy- car seats have to be in a window seat). It's stressful enough to fly with the babies and we want to make the trip as pleasant for everyone as we can, but this doesn't help.

Jaunted

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