The "advantages" of assigned seating
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
The "advantages" of assigned seating
It seems that on a regular basis posters exclaim the wonders of assigned seating and bemoan the fact that WN doesn't assign. I've recently flown a couple of transcons on the legacy carriers, and have a mid-con coming up next week. As a non-status passenger booking flights a week or two out, there are either no free seats available for advance selection or only really lousy ones.
Here's the seatmap for my flight on Monday, with only one really bad seat available without paying $40 more more for E+:
Link to picture if inline doesn't display
Every flight I take on WN, I have a wide variety of seats available, and can always get an aisle, just by checking in at 24 hours before the flight. That seems a minor inconvenience to not sit 12 inches from a toilet. It baffles me that people think it's better to have a cra**y assigned seat rather than a selection of good ones.
Here's the seatmap for my flight on Monday, with only one really bad seat available without paying $40 more more for E+:
Link to picture if inline doesn't display
Every flight I take on WN, I have a wide variety of seats available, and can always get an aisle, just by checking in at 24 hours before the flight. That seems a minor inconvenience to not sit 12 inches from a toilet. It baffles me that people think it's better to have a cra**y assigned seat rather than a selection of good ones.
Last edited by djk7; May 13, 2017 at 2:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
I haven't been on UA metal in many years, but those E+ seats would be a few saved miles or comp with Chase Mileage Plus.
The Hunger Games
#3
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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This is one more way in which Southwest gains ground on the competition by holding mostly still while the others keep devaluing their products and programs.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,909
I dont find frantically checking in at t-24 or lining up 30 min before dept.particularly appealing.
Asking countless seat savers is also rather unpleasant..
i book a flt, pick a seat i like and then board at my conveniece... ymmv of course
Asking countless seat savers is also rather unpleasant..
i book a flt, pick a seat i like and then board at my conveniece... ymmv of course
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,286
I personally love Southwest's "open seating" system, and wish it would last forever. But I suspect "not moving fast enough" will be its eventual cause of death. The seat saving non-policy and the refusal to adopt any "common sense" one. Preboarding abuse that can't be addressed any other way. The saturation point vs price nexus of EBCI, and diminishing returns for WN (not to mention pax) that will eventually end that product and force the creation of new ancillary avenues. Without addressing the problems before it's too late, the system as it is -- and most especially the successful continued monetization of it -- is doomed.
#7
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Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
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#8
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: BNA (Nashville)
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 6,227
IMO the WN system works great for point to point travel. On busy flights you get Early Boarding. Even if you are in the high B boarding group you can sometimes snag exit row. If not, you can always snag an aisle seat.
It can fall apart rapidly on a connection though. You pay for Early Boarding, your flight is a little (or a lot) late arriving, and by the time you hot foot it over to your next flight, pretty much everyone else has boarded and you are stuck in a middle seat.
If I can get an assigned seat with 'even more room' with Jet Blue for about the same price as WN plus OLCI, I will go for it. On my BNA-BOS route that I take a lot, sometimes WN wins, sometimes JetBlue wins.
It can fall apart rapidly on a connection though. You pay for Early Boarding, your flight is a little (or a lot) late arriving, and by the time you hot foot it over to your next flight, pretty much everyone else has boarded and you are stuck in a middle seat.
If I can get an assigned seat with 'even more room' with Jet Blue for about the same price as WN plus OLCI, I will go for it. On my BNA-BOS route that I take a lot, sometimes WN wins, sometimes JetBlue wins.
Last edited by bitterproffit; May 15, 2017 at 11:16 am Reason: Changed OLCI to Early Boarding
#9
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Plastic, Delta Silver Emeritus
Posts: 1,037
Given which flights I find myself buying I place a fairly high premium on avoiding SW drama even if it is relatively rare. I fly them sometimes for work if they have the best fare.
I have credit cards for most airlines that serve (essentially) as prepaid baggage fees otherwise I might fly them more to save $50+ on many trips.
I have credit cards for most airlines that serve (essentially) as prepaid baggage fees otherwise I might fly them more to save $50+ on many trips.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
Is 27" elsewhere reported?
40 Max jets flying by the end of 2019.
#12
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It seems that on a regular basis posters exclaim the wonders of assigned seating and bemoan the fact that WN doesn't assign. I've recently flown a couple of transcons on the legacy carriers, and have a mid-con coming up next week. As a non-status passenger booking flights a week or two out, there are either no free seats available for advance selection or only really lousy ones.
Here's the seatmap for my flight on Monday, with only one really bad seat available without paying $40 more more for E+:
Link to picture if inline doesn't display
Every flight I take on WN, I have a wide variety of seats available, and can always get an aisle, just by checking in at 24 hours before the flight. That seems a minor inconvenience to not sit 12 inches from a toilet. It baffles me that people think it's better to have a cra**y assigned seat rather than a selection of good ones.
Here's the seatmap for my flight on Monday, with only one really bad seat available without paying $40 more more for E+:
Link to picture if inline doesn't display
Every flight I take on WN, I have a wide variety of seats available, and can always get an aisle, just by checking in at 24 hours before the flight. That seems a minor inconvenience to not sit 12 inches from a toilet. It baffles me that people think it's better to have a cra**y assigned seat rather than a selection of good ones.
#13
Suspended
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Posts: 50,262
Time is money. If you think that standing in line at a gate like a 4th grader in order to get the seat of your choice is worth what you could be making sitting in the UA/AA/DL Club/Lounge, you need to be speaking with your head hunter.
But, to each his own.
The OP's premise does compare apples to oranges. Presuming that he flies as much on one of the legacy carriers, he would have elite status and be able pre-select a "good" seat. On the other hand, if you only fly 2-3 times year, you should just purchase the cheapest ticket because no carrier is particularly great and if you can save a few bucks, you might as well.
But, to each his own.
The OP's premise does compare apples to oranges. Presuming that he flies as much on one of the legacy carriers, he would have elite status and be able pre-select a "good" seat. On the other hand, if you only fly 2-3 times year, you should just purchase the cheapest ticket because no carrier is particularly great and if you can save a few bucks, you might as well.
#14
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I'm seeing 3 rows will have 29" pitch and all the rest, 30".
Is 27" elsewhere reported?
40 Max jets flying by the end of 2019.
Is 27" elsewhere reported?
40 Max jets flying by the end of 2019.
#15
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You obviously haven't flown WN in 20 years or you'd know you have to line up only 2-3 minutes before you board.