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Message
SWA Seating Changes Announced
Posted on 9/26/24 at 8:49 am
Posted on 9/26/24 at 8:49 am
quote:
As you know, we recently announced changes that will enhance the Southwest® flying experience and hinted at more news to come. Today, we’re sharing details about our transformational journey to becoming an Even Better Southwest.
Your Travelers will be receiving a similar note from me later today, but as a valued Partner of Southwest Business, I wanted you to hear directly from me about our plans for the future of Southwest and what those plans mean for you and your Travelers.
While there are a lot of changes ahead, our 53-year-old core values of flexibility, transparency, and Hospitality are stronger than ever. In that spirit, I’m happy to announce what’s changing and what’s not.
Bags fly free®1 is here to stay.
You and your Travelers love Bags fly free,1 and we’re keeping our industry-leading policy. Every ticket with us comes with two free checked bags.
NEW: Assigned seats for an elevated cabin experience.
For your Travelers’ comfort, we’re introducing seat assignments with different options based on the experience they prefer. Our lowest fare offer will still come with two free checked bags, no change2 or cancel fees,3 travel credits that never expire, and a seat will be assigned to them prior to their day of travel. If you or your Travelers prefer to select a seat when booking a flight, including seats with extra leg room, there will be a few options to purchase these benefits.
Our boarding process will be similar to what it is today—we will board in order, preserving our fast boarding process to get Travelers on their way as quickly as possible. We will begin selling flights with seat assignments in the second half of 2025 for travel in the first half of 2026.
More, more, more rewards.
Rapid Rewards® Members will continue to enjoy our industry-leading loyalty program. All Members will earn and redeem points at the same rate they do today, and we will continue to offer no blackout dates, uncapped reward seat availability, and points that don’t expire. To see how Tier benefits will evolve with assigned seating, click here.
• NEW: A-List Preferred Members will be able to select all available seats at the time of booking, including extra legroom, at no additional cost.
• NEW: A-List Members will be able to select all standard legroom seats at the time of booking with the opportunity to choose an extra legroom seat within 48 hours of departure, if available, at no additional cost.
• All Tier Members will continue to enjoy priority boarding,4 free same-day change,5 and same-day standby.5
• All Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers will receive details in early 2025 on how their card benefits will be enhanced with our new changes. Until then, Cardmembers will continue to take advantage of the benefits they currently have on their card.
NEW: Vacay the Southwest way.
We’re introducing Getaways by Southwest™ in 2025. This is an entirely new vacation package offering that only Southwest can deliver—with the unmatched, flexible policies you know and love. So, if plans change and Customers have to cancel their vacation, it’s a-okay on this vacay. This is just another example of added value for leisure travel.
NEW: More horizons on the horizon.
We’re launching our first international partnership with Icelandair® in 2025. Customers will be allowed to book Southwest flights through Icelandair. We expect to add at least one additional partner in the next year, and this is just the beginning!
As you can see, we’re working on a lot of exciting new enhancements to our travel experience. We’re focused and excited about the future.
4
Posted on 9/26/24 at 10:27 am to TheWiz
So they're essentially introducing a basic economy but with the free checked bags
Posted on 9/26/24 at 12:54 pm to TheWiz
So it reads like if normal customer (non a-list preferred or a-list) and want to select a seat, you pay a fee to select seat prior. If you don't pay that, then you are auto-assigned a seat 24hrs prior.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 1:43 pm to TheWiz
quote:
for travel in the first half of 2026.
So another year of lining up like cattle to get a seat.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 1:57 pm to SippyCup
quote:
So another year of lining up like cattle to get a seat.
Yup.. Had 7 wheelchairs and other pre-boards on my flight Tuesday. Took 15 min to board them before general started.
SW is such a fricking mess and in the meantime should require doctors notes for pre-board custoemrs.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 2:33 pm to Lsut81
I guess I have had A-List Preferred for so long, I always get a good A check in without actually having to check in. Otherwise, I guess I could see the PITA of the check in process.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 4:31 pm to TheWiz
A list and A list preferred are automatically assigned boarding positions under the current system.
Future state, A list preferred will get to book the extra legroom seats at booking and A list will be allowed to book economy, then move to extra legroom 48hrs prior to flight if available.
I wonder what the fee will be for A list to do extra legroom from the start.
Future state, A list preferred will get to book the extra legroom seats at booking and A list will be allowed to book economy, then move to extra legroom 48hrs prior to flight if available.
I wonder what the fee will be for A list to do extra legroom from the start.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 6:03 pm to TheWiz
So nothing impacting the operation and people who really want to sit in a plane can choose to pay extra to get inside the plane faster even though it won't depart any sooner? Good to know Southwest cares about dumb shite like this.
Posted on 9/26/24 at 7:55 pm to Lsut81
I fully concur...have OFTEN had 1/2 dozen 'wheel chair' pre-boarders...funny thing is....not one of them required a wheel chair once we reached our destination....almost as if these handicapped people were magically 'cured' during the flight ! OR, is it more likely SWA has such a 'liberal policy' for 'impaired' flyers related to PRE-BOARDING only ! Seems if you need the assistance getting on, you would also need it while getting off...lol
Posted on 9/27/24 at 6:22 am to metallica81788
quote:
So they're essentially introducing a basic economy but with the free checked bags
Wanna Get Away fares will be basically the same without the ability to select a seat
Wanna Get Away Plus will be like WGA but have the ability to select a seat
Then, there will be a WGA+ option that not only allows you to pick a seat, but pick a seat with extra legroom.
The standard seats will lose A LITTLE room but still be about the same same (30") as other domestic carriers.
The other thing I found interesting was that not all of the extra seats will be at the front of the plane.
Their boarding process is the smoothest in the business and I wouldn't expect that to change but how they assign those groups and numbers certainly will.
This post was edited on 9/27/24 at 6:25 am
Posted on 9/27/24 at 10:12 pm to metallica81788
quote:
So they're essentially introducing a basic economy but with the free checked bags
This has always been my concern as well. Will increase cost without benefit. I've never understood the hate towards SW boarding process other than it being different, but glad people now get the opportunity to pay extra to sit in the same coach seat they used to sit in for free anywhere before C30 under the old process.
This post was edited on 9/27/24 at 10:15 pm
Posted on 10/1/24 at 8:33 am to TheChiefHasArrived
I avoid SWA when possible…I don’t want to be on that plane any longer than I have to. Give me a seat assignment and I’ll be the last dude in line to board
Posted on 10/1/24 at 8:40 am to cgrand
When is it not possible? Where do you go that they fly to that other domestics don't?
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:21 am to LSUfan4444
This change stinks for traveling families. It’s so easy with kids. No checked bag fees, board after A-group, everyone sits together.
Having to group 5 people together on other airlines can be a real pain in the butt/expensive exercise.
Having to group 5 people together on other airlines can be a real pain in the butt/expensive exercise.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:37 am to TheChiefHasArrived
quote:
This has always been my concern as well. Will increase cost without benefit. I've never understood the hate towards SW boarding process other than it being different, but glad people now get the opportunity to pay extra to sit in the same coach seat they used to sit in for free anywhere before C30 under the old process
I've never had an issue with the boarding process. It's the wheelchair thing, and the families of 25 that get to board after group A is called that get to me. Hopefully this change will help with those situations
Posted on 10/1/24 at 12:13 pm to cgrand
quote:
Give me a seat assignment and I’ll be the last dude in line to board
The problem with that is you may not find a place to put your luggage, or at least nothing close to your seat.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 3:20 pm to Jerrysworld
quote:
I've never had an issue with the boarding process. It's the wheelchair thing, and the families of 25 that get to board after group A is called that get to me. Hopefully this change will help with those situations
Then do something about the wheelchair policy instead of overhauling your entire airline in a clear money grab. But at the end of the day, who cares if you're in row 2 vs row 8? I get extenuating circumstances like short connection and of course being in the very back sucks, but neither of those are caused by wheelchairs.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 7:12 pm to Jerrysworld
quote:
It's the wheelchair thing, and the families of 25 that get to board after group A is called that get to me
Why do you care about wheelchairs?
Families of 25? I get the exaggeration, but I'd rather not have my kids split up from me on a 2+ hour flight.
This entire change is a money grab and that's it. I can't recall any of my negative flight experiences occurring at boarding. I do get annoyed when trashy people from the back of the plane immediately unbuckle after landing and rush to get out of the plane before the people in the rows in front of them, but that's every airline.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:05 pm to BilbeauTBaggins
quote:
Why do you care about wheelchairs?
Because you can't read. 10+ people in wheelchairs have preboarded on every SWA flight out of Hobby I've been on, but run off the plane when it lands.
quote:
kids split up from me on a 2
Or you can just pay to select seats like everyone else that isn't a self centered douche.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:18 pm to LemmyLives
The moment you stop caring about what other people do that do not have a major impact on your life, you'll be very happy.
What part of Southwest's policy of family boarding makes parents douches? It's just a flight. It is a means of traveling a large distance in a short time. I don't expect anything more than just to safely arrive at my destination. The added perks of flying are ridiculous to me. First class cabin? Keep it. Not worth it to me. Whether or not I see in the front, back, aisle, or window seat does not affect why I'm traveling.
My biggest gripes with SWA now are that they are making flights more expensive, having fewer one way flights to my hometown, and worrying about the boarding process that was totally fine for 90% of passengers. SWA has been the brand that is cheap, efficient, and convenient.
quote:
Or you can just pay to select seats like everyone else that isn't a self centered douche.
What part of Southwest's policy of family boarding makes parents douches? It's just a flight. It is a means of traveling a large distance in a short time. I don't expect anything more than just to safely arrive at my destination. The added perks of flying are ridiculous to me. First class cabin? Keep it. Not worth it to me. Whether or not I see in the front, back, aisle, or window seat does not affect why I'm traveling.
My biggest gripes with SWA now are that they are making flights more expensive, having fewer one way flights to my hometown, and worrying about the boarding process that was totally fine for 90% of passengers. SWA has been the brand that is cheap, efficient, and convenient.
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