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Southwest will switch back within 4 months

Posted on 1/28/26 at 9:48 am
Posted by cornerstore
Member since Jul 2024
1921 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 9:48 am
What a dumb move to change the boarding/seating/rewards. It took 20 years to build the industry’s best loyalty program only to destroy it in 20 minutes.

Elliott Management remains the dumbest fund in the business. Southwest should dump the entire management team and board after giving in to these fools.
Posted by SloaneRanger
Upper Hurstville
Member since Jan 2014
13299 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 10:02 am to
They won’t switch back. They are desperate to increase revenue and see this as a way to do it. I don’t care for it either, that that’s the way of the world.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
84100 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 10:11 am to
quote:

What a dumb move to change the boarding/seating/rewards.


I completely forgot this was taking place until a few days ago and saw a video of them taking down the boarding line numbers...

Whats the new boarding process?
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 10:16 am
Posted by TheWiz
Third World, LA
Member since Aug 2007
11875 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 10:15 am to
As A-List preferred, I'm excited to bypass the miracle fliers, gain priority group boarding, and get better seats than most.

LINK






This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 10:21 am
Posted by cornerstore
Member since Jul 2024
1921 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 10:36 am to
Oddly assigned seats and zones that bear no logical rationale.
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
6932 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 10:57 am to
Anything to prevent the Jetway Jesus effect is fine by me
Posted by bluestem75
Dallas, TX
Member since Oct 2007
5017 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:07 am to
If you have one of their credit cards, you keep all the benefits they offered before and you can upgrade your seat at no charge.
Posted by cornerstore
Member since Jul 2024
1921 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:13 am to
Yes but you board in some bullshite group and get totally fricked if you book a flight close to departure. I appreciated being first on the plane and able to sit wherever I wanted that day. They should’ve just cleaned up the pre board BS (fat poors).
Posted by slinger1317
Northshore
Member since Sep 2005
6932 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:13 am to
quote:


If you have one of their credit cards, you keep all the benefits they offered before and you can upgrade your seat at no charge.


Yeah I recently booked a flight under the new rules, and was able to book the lowest tier fare but still get priority boarding etc because I have a Rapid Rewards credit card. I haven't flown yet but so far it seems to be a change for the better
Posted by Novastar
Member since Jan 2023
721 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:15 am to
quote:

What a dumb move


I disagree. A part of Southwest's brand was being damaged by folks who were taking advantage of the pre-board, and early boarding process. Those 'premium' seats were mostly not available once general boarding started. Southwest needs to improve their brand by being more standardized and structured, not catering to the Spirit crowd. A low-budget airline is a race to zero.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
47357 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:18 am to
quote:

A part of Southwest's brand was being damaged by folks who were taking advantage of the pre-board, and early boarding process.
golf clap
Posted by cornerstore
Member since Jul 2024
1921 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:22 am to
quote:

A part of Southwest's brand was being damaged by folks who were taking advantage of the pre-board, and early boarding process.


Then enforce proper rules. Disney does this every day. No excuse.
Posted by Novastar
Member since Jan 2023
721 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:25 am to
quote:

Disney does this every day.


Agreed, Disney offers premium services at a steep price. It's not for everyone.
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
84100 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:33 am to
quote:

A part of Southwest's brand was being damaged by folks who were taking advantage of the pre-board, and early boarding process.


Then you lock down the pre-board process. There were a lot simpler ways than a complete overhaul of your business model.

I was Preferred with them for years upon years and left due to their bullshite pre-boarding, so 100% agree something needed to be done, but don't think it needed to go this far.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
14301 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:35 am to
Just because Disney costs a ton doesn't mean it's premium. Or do you mean premium services of having clean bathrooms for the non-poors? Oh yeah, they don't have that.
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
21124 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 11:44 am to
quote:

Whats the new boarding process?

I would assume it's like everyone else. Because they got rid of the 1-30 & 31-60 signs, now everyone will run up to the ticket agent as soon as they start the boarding process causing a cluster F for those of us that have earlier positions but can't get through with the littles
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
14301 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 12:22 pm to
quote:

everyone will run up to the ticket agent as soon as they start the boarding process

American has been openly turning people trying to board before their group away. I've never seen a significant problem with United, most of the gate lice "hover" in the area, but don't actually try to board.

The easy answer is to carry on less shite, so you have less stress about overhead space.
Posted by WestCoastAg
Member since Oct 2012
149705 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 12:31 pm to
quote:

I'm excited to bypass the miracle fliers, gain priority group boarding, and get better seats than most.
and this is the general sentiment amongst consumers across the industry
Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
84100 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 12:40 pm to
quote:

I've never seen a significant problem with United,


I switched from SW to UA and it was night and day.

The avg SW flight prob had 8-10 "medical" pre-boarders on it while the avg United has like 1-2.

I don't ever recall being on a SW flight without a single pre-boarder, whereas with United, there have been a number of times with 0.

Posted by LSUfan4444
Member since Mar 2004
56885 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 1:41 pm to
With the new baggage fees you will not see a dramatic reduction in pre-boarders with SW because overhead bin space will be even more valuable. But congrats I guess A-listers, you get to sit 10 rows farther to the front of the plane and deplane from row two 45-180 second sooner than before from row 16 .
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