New Seating on Southwest!!!

[Nemo14]

Just got this e-mail from Southwest

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Open Seating is Here to Stay![/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]You spoke and we listened. Today, Southwest Airlines is thrilled to announce that you will continue to be able to choose your favorite seat once onboard the aircraft. And it doesn’t stop there! We’ve figured out how to make our open seating method even better by doing away with the so called “cattle call” and eliminating the need to “camp out” in the boarding line. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Beginning in early November, you will be assigned not only a boarding group (A, B, or C) but also a number within that boarding group based on the time you check in for a flight (for example: A32). This unique combination represents your reserved spot in your boarding group. Next, listen for one of our friendly gate agents to announce your group. When your group is called, simply take a position next to the column that represents your boarding number and proceed onto the airplane to find your favorite seat. Boarding columns will be divided into groups of five. [/FONT]

 

[Nemo14]

According to the link from that e-mail, families with small children will now board between the A and B groups. People with disabilities and unaccompanied children will still pre-board.

 

[Monty]

This doesn't strike me as a good thing. Perhaps an improvement on the worse "cattle call" they refer to, but still horrid.

Don't think I'll be flying with Southwest any time soon [or ever].

 

[mousefan1972]

This doesn't strike me as a good thing. Perhaps an improvement on the worse "cattle call" they refer to, but still horrid.

Don't think I'll be flying with Southwest any time soon [or ever].

Couldn't agree with you more. We flew SW once; likely never again.

 

[Nemo14]

We've flown with them several times and love them. When they offer fares from Providece to Orlando for $39 , what's not to love?!!!

 

[mousefan1972]

We've flown with them several times and love them. When they offer fares from Providece to Orlando for #39 , what's not to love?!!!

True, but not being a participating airline for resort check in was a bummer w/2 little ones. We got an ok (not great) fare from Manchester. Plus DH really hated the cattle herding/gotta line up first mentality. Even though we could pre-board since we had the kids, it was still a free-for-all. I would eat my words and fly them again in a heartbeat if they offered $39 each way to Orlando from Manchester!!!

 

[Hakunamatata]

We've flown with them several times and love them. When they offer fares from Providece to Orlando for #39 , what's not to love?!!!

Agreed. I have no problem with Southwest....well except for their fairly strict passanger dress code....:lookaroun

 

[Monty]

We've flown with them several times and love them. When they offer fares from Providece to Orlando for #39 , what's not to love?!!!

Being guaranteed to be able to sit with your family?

 

[Hakunamatata]

Being guaranteed to be able to sit with your family?

Of course. They are on the same plane.

 

[Nemo14]

True, but not being a participating airline for resort check in was a bummer w/2 little ones. We got an ok (not great) fare from Manchester. Plus DH really hated the cattle herding/gotta line up first mentality. Even though we could pre-board since we had the kids, it was still a free-for-all. I would eat my words and fly them again in a heartbeat if they offered $39 each way to Orlando from Manchester!!!

watch for Ding fares - you never know. We haven't seen the fares that low for a while now - I think the last time we got such a low fare was from Providence to Tampa for my niece's wedding (I think we paid $49 then).

 

[Nemo14]

Agreed. I have no problem with Southwest....well except for their fairly strict passanger dress code....:lookaroun

:lol:

 

[disney1983]

We were planning on flying Southwest in November but when I spoke to customer service about boarding with children, I was told that only one of us might be permitted to pre-board with our three year old and one of us would have to wait behind with our seven year old. Their policy is to allow a parent with a child four or under pre-board not the entire family.

She said that most likely we could pre-board together but they would not guarantee it. I didn't want to take the chance.

 

[Nemo14]

Being guaranteed to be able to sit with your family?

I know that does happen occasionally, but more often than not I have seen people trade seats so families can sit together. The key is to sign-in on line 24 hours ahead of time.

 

[Nemo14]

We were planning on flying Southwest in November but when I spoke to customer service about boarding with children, I was told that only one of us might be permitted to pre-board with our three year old and one of us would have to wait behind with our seven year old. Their policy is to allow a parent with a child four or under pre-board not the entire family.

She said that most likely we could pre-board together but they would not guarantee it. I didn't want to take the chance.

The first 2 could save the seats for the others though. I've seen that many times.

 

[disney1983]

The first 2 could save the seats for the others though. I've seen that many times.

That was mentioned but we'd rather have reserved seats. The small difference in price wasn't worth the hassle. We might have chanced it for a BIG difference in price!

 

[Monty]

I'd rather fly with my son beside me and saving money isn't a motivation to deviate from that. SW will not be seeing me any time soon [nor will United, who managed to seat our family of three in seats spread through the cabin when he was 7].

 

[Rob562]

True, but not being a participating airline for resort check in was a bummer w/2 little ones. We got an ok (not great) fare from Manchester. Plus DH really hated the cattle herding/gotta line up first mentality. Even though we could pre-board since we had the kids, it was still a free-for-all. I would eat my words and fly them again in a heartbeat if they offered $39 each way to Orlando from Manchester!!!

I've gotten $49 each way from Manchester to Orlando. (It was about $115 round-trip with taxes and fees). Definitely sign up for the Ding special fares. Just this evening I got notice of a special of $44-$54 each way MHT to MCO, Monday-Wednesday and Saturday, 10/1-11/14. (I'm anxiously waiting for early-December specials)

As for the Resort Airline Check-In, the latest word is that Disney is working with Southwest so they can become a participating airline. But there's issues with the interaction between the two computer systems that's slowing things down. Perhaps they've been waiting for this new boarding procedure to roll out before they work on getting integrated with the RAC systems. The last I read was "Spring 2008" as a hopeful timeline for them to join in.

-Rob

 

[bobjl527]

We've flown with them several times and love them. When they offer fares from Providece to Orlando for $39 , what's not to love?!!!

Agree with you 100%. My wife and I can fly out of Chicago Midway for $79 one way. However, I can understand the frustration of allowing only 1 adult preboard with a small child. But just like someone mentioned earlier, just save seats. We see it all the time and no one seems to mind. Especially on a flight to WDW. Everyone should be happy:lol: . Now the flight back home, thats a different story:lookaroun .

 

[dragonfox98]

I will admint, I didn't like the "cattle call" when we flew SW last year. However, I also have the option of flying out of Atlantic City airport (for the same price, if not cheaper) and I know I was one of the first to choose my seats for our October flight. SW was not bad overall, though: very friendly staff and we flew out on time (can't say the same thing for Airtran).

Just my two cents.

 

[The Mom]

I would not be using them if I were travelling as a family, but would have no problem as a solo adult. I suspect some might consider this an advantage, as families with small children might choose other airlines, whereas adults who want a childfree flight would prefer SW as it might improve their chances.

I agree that if a loved one is with me, I want to be next to him/her.