Assigned seating experience reports
Jan 29, 2026 | 5:01 pm
#61
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN A-list preferred, United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 22,825
Something I have never seen before: entire exit rows empty on a half full flight. Dynamic pricing algorithms are sorely needed. Even bidding for those seats. It's free money.
Jan 29, 2026 | 5:14 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL GM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,611
Jan 29, 2026 | 5:41 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 574
Jan 29, 2026 | 6:20 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 3,077
As more instances of people taking the wrong bag upon deplaning occur, people will learn that they have got to keep their bags near their seat (or at that point if that is not possible, volunteer to gate check).
It hasn't been unusual for Southwest to announce to people the bin space is filling up once the plane reaches 70% or so capacity, and then they will say to find open bin space as you board so some people just fill the first space they see when that announcement is made.
Things will settle down in some form. Maybe they'll come up with some kind of new fee like excluding carry ons from Basic fares and making the cost to carry on greater than the cost to check a bag. They have to figure something out.
It hasn't been unusual for Southwest to announce to people the bin space is filling up once the plane reaches 70% or so capacity, and then they will say to find open bin space as you board so some people just fill the first space they see when that announcement is made.
Things will settle down in some form. Maybe they'll come up with some kind of new fee like excluding carry ons from Basic fares and making the cost to carry on greater than the cost to check a bag. They have to figure something out.
Jan 29, 2026 | 6:29 pm
#65
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,287
Jan 29, 2026 | 6:37 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 3,077
They could try to sell the seats on board, perhaps once in the air, and process payment the way they process drink payments.
Probably wouldn't be hard to get a couple middle seat occupants or folks who got split up to agree to pay $20 per seat or some arbitrary amount.
Quite the change from how it was...
Probably wouldn't be hard to get a couple middle seat occupants or folks who got split up to agree to pay $20 per seat or some arbitrary amount.
Quite the change from how it was...
Jan 29, 2026 | 7:30 pm
#67
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 2,746
But, but, but, I was told all the ELR seats would be gone on the day of travel, and business/status fliers who always make same-day changes would be screwed?!? 
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
Last edited by dmbolp; Jan 29, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Jan 29, 2026 | 7:45 pm
#68
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,089
But, but, but, I was told all the ELR seats would be gone on the day of travel, and business/status fliers who always make same-day changes would be screwed?!?
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
All it takes is one credit card holder travelling on the same reservation in a group to snag a bunch of ELR.
Many may not even be aware how it works now at T-48
Last edited by flyer4512; Jan 29, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Jan 29, 2026 | 7:51 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: KARB
Programs: DL 2MM
Posts: 26,832
But, but, but, I was told all the ELR seats would be gone on the day of travel, and business/status fliers who always make same-day changes would be screwed?!?
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
Jan 29, 2026 | 7:52 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,287
But, but, but, I was told all the ELR seats would be gone on the day of travel, and business/status fliers who always make same-day changes would be screwed?!?
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
I'm on a 6pm non-stop tomorrow ATL-PHX and lots of ELRs available on it, as well as on all the earlier options with connections I'm looking at due to the storm
Edit: So as I look at all the earlier options, I'm considering which ones have the exact ELR seats I want, and which layovers have a lounge...I'm liking same day changes in this new world
Jan 29, 2026 | 8:19 pm
#71
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,089
It's not unusual for DL to have all Comfort seats booked several weeks before departure on certain aircraft. The problem is due to the fact that when DL rolled out Comfort cabins a number of years ago, they were on the smaller side and they did not include Exit row seats in the mid-section of aircraft. More recent DL aircraft purchases have seen their Comfort cabins expanded signficantly (they have also been expanding them on existing aircraft when they go in for cabin upgrades). Looking at WN cabin configurations, it seems they have avoided DL's mistake and have made the number of extra legroom seats large enough to handle demand.
IMO , for a ~3 hour MSP/LAS flight comfort is fine.
I do see DL has a comfort BASIC seat now where you can't pick your seats at booking, what a joke.
Comfort Basic
All the Essentials
Cancel for partial eCredit, changes allowed for a fee1
Seat(s) assigned after check-in, likely to be middle seat2
Earn fewer miles3
Ineligible for upgrades4
Same-Day Confirmed changes not allowed5
Jan 29, 2026 | 9:31 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2023
Posts: 136
Pax with wheelchairs?
Might be hard to quantify, but has anyone noticed a change in the number of wheelchair pax boarding their flights? I havent flown WN since the change, but there always seemed to be more pax boarding with wheelchairs, relative to what I saw at UA.
Jan 29, 2026 | 9:54 pm
#74
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 62,517
The $99 card lets you pick a standard seat at T-48 based on availably.
The $149 card lets you pick a Preferred or standard seat at T-48 based on availability.
You need the $229 personal or $299 business card to pick a seat ( up to preferred) when you book and ELR at T-48.
The $149 card lets you pick a Preferred or standard seat at T-48 based on availability.
You need the $229 personal or $299 business card to pick a seat ( up to preferred) when you book and ELR at T-48.
Jan 29, 2026 | 9:56 pm
#75
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,089
That's how I chose our seats.