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Here's why Southwest is assigning seats — and what it means for customers

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: July 25, 2024 / 5:04 PM EDT / CBS News

Southwest will start selling assigned seats , marking a major shakeup of a signature policy that has set the low-cost carrier apart from airlines for half a century. The new policy, announced Thursday, will make flying Southwest look and feel remarkably different for customers. 

The shift will affect how customers of the discount carrier select seats and board planes. Southwest passengers, including longtime fans of the open seating policy,   will also be able to choose different types of seats for a price, including those offering more legroom. These changes could affect ticket costs across the board, according to experts, although Southwest has not addressed pricing or indicated that regular seat costs will change. 

Some experts are cheering the move, saying it amounts to an improvement for both passengers and the airline. 

" Southwest's decision to start assigning seats and plan to add extra-legroom seats prove an old dog can learn new tricks," Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS News. "It will make their flights more orderly and comfortable. And it should also improve the airline's bottom line as well."

Southwest will begin selling tickets with assigned seats beginning in 2025. The airline will reveal additional details around changes to the flight boarding process in September. Here are three ways flying Southwest could change. 

Assigned seats

Southwest is ending its open seating policy, in which customers find a cabin seat on a first-come, first-serve basis. When the changes go into effect next year, customers will purchase tickets with assigned seating, eliminating some of the stress associated with the current boarding process. 

"It's a pretty big change for Southwest, which always had an open seating system, and you had to run into the cabin and try to find the seat you want," Clint Henderson, managing editor of The Points Guy, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

Henderson said this turned off some business travelers like himself from choosing to fly Southwest, and he predicted the change could attract a new crop of customers to the airline.

"Many business travelers don't want to fight for a seat and deal with the drama that sometimes entails," Henderson said. 

Tensions can run high on airplanes too, with testy passengers quibbling over limited and sometimes shared real estate.

"Since the pandemic, airline passengers may be less cordial and less amicable," said airline customer experience analyst Marbue Brown. "There are certainly benefits to environments where there is no ambiguity about who owns a seat."

Some seats will have more leg room

In addition to assigned seats, Southwest will introduce premium seating, offering passengers extended legroom on one-third of a cabin's seats. 

Southwest already lets customers pay to be first in line to board aircraft, "but this is a much bigger change now, with premium seats available for purchase," Going.com's Keyes said.  

The airline is likely responding to travelers' penchant for more premium travel experiences following the pandemic, according to Keyes. "The demand is for premium economy, business class and better seats, which Southwest doesn't have to offer," he said. 

Southwest's seats already offer more legroom than traditional carriers', which has been a selling point for the airline. They come with 32 inches of space, versus the industry standard of 30-31 inches. It's possible Southwest's new cabin configuration could shrink its current standard of 32 inches of space, some experts said.

"They haven't announced the new cabin design, but the most likely outcome is we're going to see that 32 inches of legroom to start to shrink for main cabin, and for it to be more like 31 or 30," Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, told CBS MoneyWatch. "That's normal for people who are used to flying American or United, but cramped for people who fly Southwest." 

Price changes

The new cabin configurations could drive up ticket prices across the board because Southwest's aircraft might contain fewer number of total seats, industry analysts said. On the other hand, the dramatic policy changes could be price-neutral, depending on how Southwest redesigns its plane cabins. 

"Some folks will pay more for extra legroom, and, based on how you reconfigure planes, you might not have to raise prices on other seats," Brown said. 

What remains to be seen is whether Southwest will introduce a bare-bones, basic economy-type offering. 

Currently, all tickets come with free checked bags and free   changes. "But might they start to offer an economy package that includes more restrictions on baggage? That's something we'll have to wait and see," Keyes said. 

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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Southwest to Soon End Trademark Open Seating, Start Assigning Seats

By Kelly Yamanouchi

Source The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

Southwest Airlines, the second-largest carrier in Atlanta, announced plans to end open seating and move to assigned seats.

The Dallas-based airline  signaled earlier this year that it was looking at making such a change  and made an announcement Thursday making it official and saying it expects the changes to take effect with bookings starting next year.

Southwest has allowed passengers to board and pick their own seats since it started operations in the 1970s. But the carrier said it made the decision to assign seats and offer premium seats on all flights after conducting “extensive research” and listening to customers.

“Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice— at the right time,” said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan in a written statement.

The move to assigned seats also enables premium seating, which will be a portion of the cabin with extended legroom, according to Southwest. It’s expected to make up about a third of seats across its fleet.

That change is part of an effort by Southwest to improve its financial performance, with Jordan saying it “will unlock new sources of revenue.”

It’s also a return to the past of another sort for Southwest. The airline entered the Atlanta market through the acquisition of AirTran Airways, which had an Atlanta hub and offered seat assignments and business class seats. Southwest absorbed AirTran into its operations and converted it to Southwest’s open seating model.

While Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and other carriers across the industry have seat assignments, Southwest has been known for having open seating for  more than 50 years .

Some Southwest loyalists prefer the system of choosing their own seats when boarding and some of the flexibility it brings — especially when they get priority boarding.

But according to Southwest, “preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred” and it found 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer an assigned seat. Open seating can be a concern for some, including families that need to sit together and connecting passengers who have to rush to the next gate to make a flight and end up as the last to board.

“When a customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for the change,” Southwest said. “By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers.”

Joe Leader, CEO of the Airline Passenger Experience Association, called Southwest’s boarding system “the most elegant boarding solution for passengers that arrive to the gate on time.”

Southwest has “a super fan base that loves Southwest exactly how it is,” Leader said. “Now, as Southwest looks to assign seating, they have to thread a really careful needle.”

©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at  ajc.com . Distributed by  Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Southwest Airlines Will End Its Longstanding Open-Seating Policy

The airline said it was scrapping its trademark, 50-year tradition of offering open seating, where passengers choose seats once they have boarded the plane.

By Jenny Gross and Danielle Kaye

Southwest Airlines will start assigning seats to passengers, ending its longstanding policy of allowing passengers to pick their seats once they have boarded, the airline said on Thursday.

The new procedure will be implemented to increase revenue and in response to feedback from customers, 80 percent of whom report preferring an assigned seat, Southwest said.

“This is the right choice — at the right time — for our customers, our people and our shareholders,” said Bob Jordan, the president and chief executive of Southwest.

Even though the airline has been known for its unique seating model for more than 50 years, preferences have evolved, with more customers taking longer flights where they prefer a seat assignment, the statement said. The new policy was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal .

The changes bring Southwest, which for years has distinguished itself by offering low prices and a simple business approach, more in line with conventional airlines like American Airlines and United Airlines.

Southwest makes a little less than $1 billion from fees it charges for the ability to board early and “ancillary” services, Mr. Jordan said Thursday on a conference call with analysts to discuss the company’s second quarter results. The company expects that earnings from the move to assigned seating and offering seats with extra legroom will be “substantially north of that,” he said.

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AirTran Seat Maps

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Airtran Airways check-in

How can i check-in when traveling with airtran airways.

Southwest Airlines offers the following check-in options:

• Online Check-in , on airtran.com.
• Airport Check-in , in one of the following locations: ticket counter, self-service Kiosks, Skycap podium, or departure gate.

When must I check-in when traveling with Airtran Airways?

You can check-in online starting 24 hours before scheduled departure of your flight. Online check-in must be completed at least 45 minutes before scheduled departure . For flights involving a Southwest Airlines segment , online check-in deadline is 1 hour prior to scheduled flight .

For travels within the U.S., Airtran Airways recommends that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes and check-in 45 minutes prior to departure in larger airports, and 30 minutes in smaller airports .

For international travel , you must check-in at the airport at least 60 minutes prior to your flight’s scheduled departure time . Airtran Airways recommends that you arrive at the airport at least 120 minutes in advance of scheduled departure.

Online Check-in

You can check-in online if you have an electronic ticket for a domestic flight . Itineraries originally purchased through Southwest Airlines may not be checked-in on AirTran.com. For passengers who are checking baggage, a quick stop at the ticket counter or curbside baggage check is still necessary for dropping off their bags.

If you lose or cannot print your boarding pass, stop by the airport ticket counter where an agent can provide with you a printed boarding pass. You can also reprint it at the airport check-in kiosks.

Restrictions

Online check-in is not available for:

• International flights.
• Reservations with a paper ticket issued by a travel agency.
• Group reservations of 10 or more passengers traveling together on the same flight.
• Passengers traveling with a pet.
• Children traveling alone.
• Standby passengers with no confirmed reservation.

During the online check-in process, you are offered the following options:

• Check your baggage. You can enter your checked bags online for quicker drop off at the ticket counter and change the number later if you need.
• Select or change seat assignment for Airtran-operated segments. Clicking on the link for your currently assigned seat number, you may access the seat map and select another seat. Southwest Airlines follows an open seating policy.
• Upgrade to Business Class, if seats are available. The opportunity to upgrade is available only if all passengers on the itinerary check-in at the same time.

If you already checked in, but cannot make your flight, you must contact Airtran Airways at least one hour prior to departure to retain the value of your ticket. Failure to cancel reservations one hour prior to departure will result in the forfeiture of airfare. In addition to any applicable increase in airfare, a $75 fee applies to any change made after purchase. The remaining balance will be placed in a credit file for future use (no later than one year from the original date of booking) if you do not rebook immediately.

Upon arriving at the airport, passengers with printed boarding passes should:

• Check the departure screen for your gate assignment.
• Drop off any checked baggage.
• Pass through the security screening checkpoint.
• Proceed to your departure gate.

Advance Seat Assignment

On Airtran Airways operated segments, whether or not you select your seat assignment in advance, all customers will receive a seat assignment prior to boarding their flight. On Southwest Airlines operated segments, you will be given a priority boarding number at check-in.

Advance Seat Assignment on Airtran Airways operated segments is available for purchase at any time with Discount Coach and Sale fares. Based on seat location, Advance Seat Assignment fees vary from $6 to $20 . For shared itineraries booked through Southwest Airlines channels, Advance Seat Assignment is not available for purchase. Seats for the Airtan-operated segment of the itinerary are assigned to passengers at the time of check-in.

Some advance seat selections are complimentary for customers who purchase Regular Coach fares (Y, B or M fare classes). Advance seat assignments are complimentary for customers purchasing Business Class. Qualified individuals with a disability may request a complimentary seat assignment by contacting the Airtran Airways Reservations Center. Bulkhead seats can only be assigned by an Airtran Airways Crew Member at the airport.

Exit row seats and premium coach seats toward the front of the cabin offer priority boarding. Exit row seats offer additional legroom and are available for purchase. Whether purchased in advance or assigned at check-in, all customers choosing exit row seating must meet certain requirements to qualify for exit row seating :

• 15 years of age or older.
• Willing and able to help in the event of an emergency.
• Able to lift 50 pounds.
• Able to speak and understand English.
• Not traveling with an infant, children or pets.
• Not using a seat belt extender.

For discount coach and sale fares, Priority Boarding Option is available for purchase during check-in for a $10 fee per passenger . You will be upgraded to boarding zone 2 from general boarding.

AirTran Airways recommends that you arrive at the boarding gate at least 1 hour in advance of the flight. You must be present at the gate no later than 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight . Failure to respect this time limit will cause you to lose your reservation and, therefore, you will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

On Airtran Airways flights, unaccompanied minors , passengers traveling with infant in arms and passengers requiring special assistance benefit of priority boarding provided that they have identified themselves to an AirTran Airways gate agent prior the start of general boarding.

Customers flying on Southwest Airlines segments must know that Southwest Airlines has a “no assigned seat” policy . There are no reserved seats on Southwest Airlines flights. Each passenger chooses his seat upon boarding the plane. Boarding order is given by the time of check-in, when you are assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and a number (1-60). That is your boarding position, and it will be displayed on your boarding pass. Numbered posts in each Southwest Airlines gate area indicate where to line up. When your group is called, you need to take a position next to the column that represents your boarding number, proceed through the jetbridge onto the airplane and choose your seat.

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Get ready for assigned seats: Southwest Airlines ushers in big changes

It's the end of an era at Southwest Airlines.

After more than 50 years , the airline is getting rid of its open seating policy.

In a press release Thursday, the Dallas-based airline acknowledged "preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred." The airline hopes moving to assigned seats and revamping its boarding process will broaden Southwest's appeal to both new and existing customers, four out of five who prefer assigned seats, according to the airline, which did not give an exact date for the switch. More details are expected in late September.

Assigned seating is just one is one several major operational changes in store. Southwest also plans to introduce premium seating options on all flights and introduce red-eye flights.

"While specific cabin layout details are still in design, Southwest expects roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to offer extended legroom, in line with that offered by industry peers on narrowbody aircraft," the airline said.

Southwest already unveiled a cabin refresh earlier this year and is in the middle of upgrading its fleet with changes announced in 2022, including in-seat USB charging and stronger Wi-Fi .

Booking for the airline's new red-eye flights opened Thursday. The first overnight flights will land next Valentine's Day, in five initial nonstop markets:

• Las Vegas to Baltimore
• Las Vegas to Orlando
• Los Angeles to Baltimore
• Los Angeles to Nashville
• Phoenix to Baltimore

The airline plans to eventually roll out red-eye flights to other markets and offer 24-hour operational capabilities.

The sweeping changes aim to add value for both customers and investors.

"Our goal is to restore industry-leading margins and historical levels of shareholder returns through our comprehensive plan to deliver transformational commercial initiatives, improved operational efficiency, and capital allocation discipline," Southwest's President, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Bob Jordan said in a separate press release, announcing second quarter earnings . Operating revenues were up 4.5% year-over-year and hit an all-time quarterly high of $7.4 billion.

The airline's earnings have been under pressure in recent quarters, partly because of delays in plane deliveries from Boeing, which have impacted revenue and worsened cost pressures. Southwest is also facing pricing pressure as industry-wide overcapacity has dampened domestic airfares.

Contributing: Reuters

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Southwest Airlines says ‘assigned and premium seating’ will replace open seating plan

Bill Chappell

Southwest Airlines unveiled big shifts in how it does business Thursday, saying it will throw out the open-seating model it has used for decades and introduce redeye flights. Here, an employee and passenger are seen at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images hide caption

An unofficial motto of Southwest Airlines’ open seating process for its people boarding its planes was once , “You can sit anywhere you want — just like at church.”

But after some 50 years, Southwest passengers will soon encounter a different process when they book and board a flight. The airline will offer assigned and premium seats and a revamped boarding model, it announced on Thursday .

Boeing agrees to plead guilty and pay a nearly quarter-billion dollar fine

Adopting a system of “assigned and premium seating is part of an ongoing and comprehensive upgrade” for customers, Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said , adding that research shows passengers “overwhelmingly prefer” an assigned-seat system like that used by other carriers.

In another change, Southwest also said it would introduce redeye flights. It did not say when the new policies would be enacted.

The company unveiled the dramatic shifts in how it does business as it announced financial results for the second quarter, showing net income of $367 million on record operating revenues of $7.4 billion. In the previous quarter, Southwest lost $231 million. The airline has $11 billion in liquid funds, but it also has $8 billion in debt and is affected by the ongoing struggles at Boeing, its longtime partner .

"We are taking urgent and deliberate steps to mitigate near-term revenue challenges and implement longer-term transformational initiatives that are designed to drive meaningful top and bottom-line growth,” Jordan said.

The Southwest CEO said in April that delivery delays of new planes from Boeing, which has been embroiled in regulators’ concerns over safety issues, “presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025.”

At the factory that builds the 737 Max, Boeing rethinks how it trains new hires

In its update, Southwest said it received five Boeing 737-8 MAX planes in the second quarter while retiring seven older Boeing planes. Southwest had ordered 58 Boeing 737-8 MAX planes for 2024; it now expects to receive around 20 of the aircraft this year.

Southwest says it’s carrying passengers in record numbers. But it’s also retiring more aging aircraft than it can add this year: With the delivery delays from Boeing, the airline’s fleet will fall from 817 planes at the end of the second quarter to roughly 802 at the end of 2024.

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When will Southwest start assigning seats? Airline to change rules

Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers who grew accustomed to the airlines' open seating policy will have to adjust to a new way of flying, as the airline is set to make wholesale changes to its seating policy.

Here's what you need to know.

Does Southwest have first class?

Southwest Airlines doesn’t use assigned seats or offer first class options, yet.

The low-cost carrier said it is ditching its decades-long open seating policy and moving to assigned seats and premium seating with extra legroom.

"Southwest decided it will assign seats and offer premium seating options on all flights," read Southwest Airlines' seating announcement . "The airline has been known for its unique open seating model for more than 50 years, but preferences have evolved with more customers taking longer flights where a seat assignment is preferred.

"By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers."

When will Southwest start assigning seats?

Southwest Airlines' press release did not provide a specific start date for its new assigned and premium seating program.

The press release did indicate that Southwest Airlines officials intend to provide an update during its investor day in late September, meaning changes could take effect immediately thereafter.

How much will premium seating cost on Southwest Airlines?

Southwest Airlines' press release doesn't explicitly state how much premium seating will cost you, nor if the airline will offer any special seating deals through its Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards program.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Changing Seats on Airtran

By Senoj84 , August 6, 2008 in Cruise Air

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I'm leaving in a week on another trip. I've bought web special tickets thru Airtran and I plan on doing online check the day before. Will I be able to change my seats once I do the online checkin without being charged? I was already charged the $6 fees for selecting my seats when I booked the tickets.

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Sue (mom of 3 boys!)

I am pretty sure you won't be charged, but why wait if you can do it now. Access your reservation on the AirTran site, and click on change seats. I don't think you'll be charged, but please let me know if you are because we are also thinking of changing our seats.

Thanks for the reply. I just tried to do it and yes, there was a charge for $25. So, I just kept my original seats. I'm not paying an extra $25. Maybe I'll be able to do it once I get to the airport if the seats are still available.

Cruisin' Ron VA

With the new charge to pick seats at booking I just wait until I get to the airport.

Just show up early and I am sure it won't be a problem.

Don't forget 40.00 business upgrades. (Yes they really exist)

That info makes me glad that my usual plan for flying is to just get where I'm going. I don't like flying much to start with, but don't have much real choice in the matter.

Chances are the best seats on the plane wouldn't make my trip much better lol.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll just call them. We had seats together on a flight, but they switched the type of plane and now we have a seat between us. I hope under those circumstances they will move one of us over to sit next to each other. Anyone have that happen before?

I tried the same thing to change seats after paying the $6.00 fee per seat. Don't do it I ended up in a big mess with my reservation because it said I had an outstanding balance I called AirTran and just let me say it was a mess and I would not try that again. I was afraid I was going to end up with no flight.

Does anybody know if you can use online checkin if you never paid to get seat assignment?

This from the AirTran website:

Can I change my seat assignment when checking in online?

Passengers using the online flight check-in program will be able to select their seat assignment during the online check-in process. To change an existing seat assignment, from the itinerary page of the program, click on the link for currently assigned seat number to view the seat map and select another seat. Bulkhead seating can only be assigned by an AirTran Airways Crew Member at the airport.

It seems as though you should be able to switch fee-free.

I was thinking about doing it because we are on a different type of plane and now have a seat between us, but if it's going to be a huge hassle I may just ask the person if they would like the aisle seat.

Tinkerbell, can you elaborate on what happened to you?

You can change the seat at check-in. I am flying AirTran tomorrow and paid $6 to select a seat at booking. At check-in today I was given the option of changing seats---no problem and no charge.

MNfamilycruiser

This from the AirTran website:   Can I change my seat assignment when checking in online? Passengers using the online flight check-in program will be able to select their seat assignment during the online check-in process. To change an existing seat assignment, from the itinerary page of the program, click on the link for currently assigned seat number to view the seat map and select another seat. Bulkhead seating can only be assigned by an AirTran Airways Crew Member at the airport.   It seems as though you should be able to switch fee-free. I was thinking about doing it because we are on a different type of plane and now have a seat between us, but if it's going to be a huge hassle I may just ask the person if they would like the aisle seat. Tinkerbell, can you elaborate on what happened to you?

We paid the $6 at time of booking to pick our seats, then later changed them at no additional charge.

We haven't even gotten close to check-in yet.

We also had our original flight (non-stop) cancelled and had to choose all new seats for 2 different flights. Some of our original seats transferred, but some did not - so I just moved everybody around to get us together again (group of 8)

But I think I move people on the original non-stop too. (Sorry - my memory is just not what it used to be!)

We paid the $6 at time of booking to pick our seats, then later changed them at no additional charge. We haven't even gotten close to check-in yet.   We also had our original flight (non-stop) cancelled and had to choose all new seats for 2 different flights. Some of our original seats transferred, but some did not - so I just moved everybody around to get us together again (group of 8)   But I think I move people on the original non-stop too. (Sorry - my memory is just not what it used to be!)

Did you change the seats on line, or did you call them direct?

I changed seats online - I logged in, went to my bookings and clicked on change seats. I just happened to look this morning and they changed our flights again! But it seemed to be in the process of changing things - I couldn't change all of our seats - 2 people are still out of place.

Yikes - now we don't get home until 10:30 PM rather than our original 4 PM

Thanks I will do this when I check in at the airport.

They changed the plane with our booking to- and since it's 2 of us we can have the row to ourselves because this new plane has rows with 2 seats on it. The row we're on now has 3 seats.

I had booked flights for Jan and paid the $6.00 fee for the seats. I went on to check what other seats might be available for the flight and there were better seats so I clicked on change seat assignment and it all looked good but then it tried to re-charge me for changing the seats. And in the final screen it said the flight would be pending per getting the extra charge to change the seats I had already paid for. So then I called Airtran and it was even having them show a re-charge if we changed seats. And they were going to play with it to try to get it to work. I said NO please just leave it I don't want my flight cancelled for "lack" of payment if the switch didn't work. Also when I first tried to book the flight months ago there was a glitch with their website..So I called and they said yes in fact they were having problems and in order for me to book the flight I would have to pay an additional 10.00 per person to do it on the phone. I talked to a supervisor and was not charged the 10.00 to do it on the phone due to the fact the website was not working right. So I have been nervous with any dealings with them.

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

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Southwest Airlines' open seating to end as it looks to lift earnings

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Airtran - seat assignments?

• Thread starter GuardMusic
• Start date Jun 10, 2008

Castaway Club Platinum

• Jun 10, 2008

I'm about to book on AirTran for the first time WED. MORNING. The site says seat assignments aren't available until check-in. Is this true? We'll be using the Airline Check-in through the Disney resort and wonder how we can get seat assignment. My mother is traveling with me and if she doesn't get to sit next to me, EVERYONE may have an issue. Insight please - & hurry! Gayle  

Mouseketeer

I booked Air Tran on-line & had no trouble getting assigned seats at the same time. I think it cost about $10 extra each way, but is so worth it.  

DIS Veteran

Usually you can choose seats for and additional fee which is usually a fairly small amount.  

If you're booking through AirTran's website, you can select your seats for $6 per person, each way at that time or any time up to 24 hrs. prior to flight time. At the 24 hr. mark you can select from the remaining seats at no charge. If you're planning to book through another site (Travelocity, Expedia, etc.)I don't believe you can select your seats ahead of time. But I'm not 100% sure about that. I recommend booking through the airline's site. Makes it much easier in the event of a change or any other situation that may arrive.  

<font color=brown><marquee>Chocolate always makes

• Jun 11, 2008

I have the same issue. I'm traveling to WDW in Sept with my 74 y/o mom and my husband. If at least one of us wasn't sitting with my mom, there would definitely be an issue. I bought our tickets in May and purchased the seats for $6.00 for each leg of the trip. The extra $36.00 total was totally worth it to make sure mom was with someone she knew.  

Unless... all the early-allocation seats are already taken. Only some (maybe 75%) are allocated ahead of time; the rest are held until check-in. My advice is to just check in EXACTLY 24 hours ahead of time and then you'll be able to select from the previously held seats. I hope you get this in time!  

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Southwest announces open seating change. When will the airline start assigning seats?

You want to get away, but you also want to make sure you have a good seat? You'll finally be able to.

Southwest Airlines , which flies out of Philadelphia International Airport, announced Thursday several changes to improve the customer experience including assigned seats and premium seating.

Southwest Airlines opening seating change

For more than 50 years, Southwest has had first-come seating arrangements with passengers boarding in groups. Passengers in the first boarding group got their choice of seat. Subsequent boarding groups got what was available after each group boarded.

Those seating arrangements are changing to assigned and premium seating. According to Southwest, 80% of Southwest customers and 86% of potential Southwest customers prefer assigned seats.

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Southwest Airlines adding premium seating

Southwest Airlines is adding premium seating with an extended legroom portion of the cabin. Southwest expects roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to offer extended legroom.

Southwest already unveiled a  cabin refresh  earlier this year and is in the middle of upgrading its fleet with changes announced in 2022, including  in-seat USB charging and stronger Wi-Fi .

Southwest hasn't announced a date for the seating changes.

Southwest Airlines adding red eyes

Southwest is adding red-eye flights. The initial red-eye flight routes are:

Las Vegas to Baltimore

Las Vegas to Orlando

Los Angeles to Baltimore

Los Angeles to Nashville

Phoenix to Baltimore

The airline plans to eventually increase the number of markets with red-eye flights and offer 24-hour operational capabilities. The red-eye flights are available for booking and are scheduled to take off on Feb. 14, 2025.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Southwest open seating change: When will airline change rules?

After 57 years of open seating, is Southwest changing its brand?

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Jim Kingsley of Orange County, who recently flew Southwest on a two-leg journey from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, likened the budget-friendly airline to In-N-Out Burger.

Both brands are affordable, consistent and simpler compared with competitors, Kingsley said.

“They’re not trying to offer all the things everybody else offers,” he said, “but they get the quality right and it’s a good value.”

Change, however, is in the air.

Southwest, which since its founding nearly 60 years ago has positioned itself in the cutthroat airline industry as an easygoing, egalitarian option, upended that guiding ethos this week with word that it would get rid of its famous first-come, first-seated policy in favor of traditional assigned seats and a premium class option. It will also offer overnight, red-eye flights in five markets including Los Angeles.

Experts say the changes, especially the switch to assigned seating, are a smart move and will appeal to many as the company tries to stabilize its precarious finances, which included a 46% drop in profit in the second quarter from a year earlier, to $367 million. But it remains to be seen whether Southwest will pay an intangible cost in making the moves: Will it be able to hold on to its quirky identity or will it put off loyal customers, and in doing so, become just another airline?

“You’re going to hear nostalgia about this, but I think it’s very logical and probably something the company should have done years ago,” said Duane Pfennigwerth, a global airlines analyst at Evercore.

“In many markets away from core Southwest markets, we think open seating is a boarding process that many people avoid,” he said.

End of an era: Southwest Airlines will end open seating, introduce red-eye flights

Southwest had touted its open-seating model as the ‘ultimate expression of its founding ethos: to make air travel affordable and accessible for everyone.’

July 25, 2024

That is all well and good, but “I didn’t ask for these changes,” Kingsley said. “Cost and quality is what I care about.”

Open seating has its pros and cons, Kingsley said, though he’s generally a fan. On his trip to Los Angeles, his group wasn’t able to get seats all together. But he likes that preferred seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, instead of being offered for a high price.

Eighty percent of Southwest customers and 86% of potential customers prefer an assigned seat, the airline said in a statement.

“By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers,” the airline said.

An even bigger draw of Southwest, according to Kingsley, is its policy of including two free checked bags per ticket. This perk often makes Southwest a better bargain, especially for longer trips or bigger groups, he said.

The free bags are a big deal to customers, experts said, and contribute to the airline’s consumer-friendly brand. The airline hasn’t indicated any plan to change its bag policy.

“Southwest has always had a really good, positive vibe,” said Alan Fyall, chair of Tourism Marketing at the University of Central Florida’s College of Hospitality. “It’s free bags, good prices and point-to-point routes. That’s what they stand for and that’s what people love about them.”

Southwest’s change to assigned seating doesn’t mean it’s no longer a budget-friendly airline, Fyall said, but it does differentiate the carrier from the lowest-cost, lowest-amenity options such as Frontier and Spirit.

The move will require Southwest to update all or a portion of its fleet to include first-class seats. Currently, all seats on a Southwest flight are identical. Fyall said it’s worth the investment.

It’s an appropriate time for Southwest to make adjustments, said Chris Hydock, an assistant professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business.

“They’ve not been profitable the last couple of quarters and they’ve had some activist investor pressure to increase their revenue,” he said.

Costs such as wages and maintenance have risen across the airline industry even as travel increased after the pandemic. Southwest saw a net loss of $231 million in the first quarter of 2024. Wall Street analysts estimate that assigned, premium seating could boost revenue by $2 billion per year.

“This is one of the options where they could potentially increase their revenue and do something that a lot of consumers have a strong preference for anyway,” Hydock said.

For Southwest’s changes to pay off, it has to stick to its roots when it comes to its culture and brand, experts and travelers agreed.

“I love Southwest being different,” Kingsley said. “If they’re trying to be like the other airlines, I think they’re shooting themselves in the foot.”

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