SWA with a twist
May 15, 2003 | 10:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ILM, NC
Programs: AA EXP / UA Silver / AC Silver;Hilton Gold /Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,162
SWA with a twist
If SWA reserved, say the first 5 rows of their planes for frequent travellers, (not fake pre-boards) .. and you knew you could get one of these seats or an exit row when purchasing a full Y type fare .. would that make you more inclined to fly WN than you would be now. With those types of incentives, I would probably fly WN a lot more.
May 16, 2003 | 12:25 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Del Mar, CA USA
Posts: 9
That would help. What would really be an improvement is a transit boarding card for through flights. I think passengers who board in California, say, should get priority seating when changing planes to fly on the the East Coast. THAT would greatly increase my usage of SWA.
May 16, 2003 | 8:33 am
#3
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN A-list preferred, United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 22,847
On some flights, frequent travelers would be a majority of the passengers. The lack of assigned seating is a turn-off at least until you get used to it. Southwest's installation of automated check-in kiosks has virtually eliminated waiting in line for a boarding pass.
May 16, 2003 | 8:49 am
#4
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 58,132
I hope I never get used to it. 
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by nsx:
On some flights, frequent travelers would be a majority of the passengers. The lack of assigned seating is a turn-off at least until you get used to it. </font>
On some flights, frequent travelers would be a majority of the passengers. The lack of assigned seating is a turn-off at least until you get used to it. </font>
May 16, 2003 | 12:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: DC
Programs: Amtrak slumbercoach value club
Posts: 1,174
Just curious - if you were offered guaranteed placement in the first X number of boarders (maybe 1st 45 under the current process, or between preboard and Group A), vs. an actual assigned seat, would that make a difference?
I guess what I'm wondering is what exactly makes people hate the no assigned seat policy - the fear of not getting a "good" seat, the inability to know you have a specific seat (e.g. 3A) going into the process, the lines and process for getting onto the plane, or other factors?
I ask because I'm guessing that it would be easier to implement a priority boarding process over a hybrid seat assignment plan (especially if you have to police thru pax moving in the cabin at an intermediate stop).
I guess what I'm wondering is what exactly makes people hate the no assigned seat policy - the fear of not getting a "good" seat, the inability to know you have a specific seat (e.g. 3A) going into the process, the lines and process for getting onto the plane, or other factors?
I ask because I'm guessing that it would be easier to implement a priority boarding process over a hybrid seat assignment plan (especially if you have to police thru pax moving in the cabin at an intermediate stop).
May 16, 2003 | 12:13 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2002
Location: West Coast
Programs: AA, WN, Hyatt, Club Carlson, HHonors, MRewards, CET, M Life
Posts: 1,959
No, I would not.
SWA is for people who want cheap fares getting from point A to point B. Obviously their model works, even though some people may complain about it.
SWA is for people who want cheap fares getting from point A to point B. Obviously their model works, even though some people may complain about it.
May 16, 2003 | 1:46 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,553
My "complaint" (I used to fly them a lot) was not the lack of assigned seat, but, on connecting flights, arriving to City B and receiving boarding card #103, for what could then be a 3+ hour flight with no remaining carryon space and a middle seat. My suggestion at that time was to reserve some boarding cards in the 2d group for those who had already checked in @ point A. I think the rest of their system works quite well for efficient reliable transportation, and that pre-reserved parts of the aircraft would be a poor idea.