Southwest Airways has made a number of changes to its seating insurance policies in recent times, however right this moment, it introduced its largest change but. In line with an organization press launch, Southwest is formally putting off open seating. However whereas the service is highlighting the shift as a approach to “meet evolving Buyer preferences,” not everyone seems to be thrilled. In truth, some passengers are actually threatening to boycott Southwest over the “devastating” change.
RELATED: Southwest Passengers Demand Airline Put an Finish to Early Boarding “Rip-off.”
Within the press launch, Southwest outlined a number of impending modifications, which embrace new premium seat choices, a redesigned boarding mannequin, the reintroduction of redeye flights, and assigned seating. The airline acknowledged that it has change into identified for its “distinctive open seating mannequin”—which permits prospects to select their seat after they get on the aircraft—for over 50 years. Nonetheless, Southwest is making modifications after “in depth analysis,” including that prospects really desire seating assignments (notably on longer flights).
“The analysis is evident and signifies that 80% of Southwest Clients, and 86% of potential Clients, desire an assigned seat,” the discharge reads. “When a Buyer elects to cease flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited because the primary purpose for the change. By transferring to an assigned seating mannequin, Southwest expects to broaden its enchantment and appeal to extra flying from its present and future Clients.”
However on Reddit, some frequent flyers mentioned they really feel the precise reverse.
“That is actually devastating,” one Redditor wrote in response to the modifications. “I liked open seating and I say that as somebody who flies out of [Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport] to [Orlando International Airport] and sometimes caught with a late b boarding quantity.”
In a separate Reddit thread, one other traveler known as the change “tragic,” whereas another person famous that the seating coverage was what made Southwest stand out.
“Open seating was superb for Single fliers and even {couples} on most flights. Unhappy to see this go. No totally different than another service now,” a Redditor wrote.
On account of the brand new assigned seating mannequin, some vacationers say they’re going to go for one other airline sooner or later.
“Truthfully that was the one good factor left about Southwest, and I most likely will not ever fly them anymore,” a remark reads.
One other wrote, “Effectively, this may finish my heavy use of Southwest in all chance. Southwest is not the most cost effective by a mile already, however I exploit them as a result of I all the time get a good quantity of leg room. With this transformation, I do not see a purpose to decide on Southwest over another airline. Possibly it will make them cash, idk, but it surely’s gonna lose them my enterprise.”
RELATED: Southwest Rolling Out Controversial New Seats: “Is There an Choice to Stand?”
Not everyone seems to be upset concerning the finish of open seating, after all. Some Redditors mentioned the writing was on the wall, as flyers have change into “quite a bit much less civil.”
“Truthfully the open seating factor felt just like the starvation video games,” one consumer noticed. “You needed to keep in mind to verify in proper because it opened and scramble nearly with everybody else to click on the button first, so you bought a great place in line.”
Some additionally mentioned that they had been by no means a fan of the open seating coverage—or would not even ebook with the airline due to it.
“I’m a kind of of us who wouldn’t ebook Southwest resulting from open seating. Nonetheless, I do really feel the market benefitted from having such a novel alternative accessible, and I had loads of different choices from which to decide on,” a Redditor wrote.
One other voiced help for the change, writing, “As a semi-frequent flyer of Southwest Airways, I’ve by no means actually appreciated the open seating. Glad they’re eliminating it.”
Southwest did not embrace specifics on when the coverage modifications would go into impact, however prospects are cautious that different modifications could possibly be coming down the pike. Specifically, vacationers worry that the service will quickly put off beloved perks like no change charges and free checked luggage.
“Disappointing. I suppose I must re-evaluate my loyalty to [Southwest] as a result of now that they’ve jumped into the race to the underside—it is solely a matter of time till they begin including issues checked bag/change charges as properly,” a Redditor speculated.
The airline didn’t point out any modifications to its baggage charges or change charges within the press launch. In an announcement to Greatest Life, a Southwest spokesperson confirmed that the bag coverage stays in place.
