We know a lot of our DFB readers are big fans of Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines at the Orlando Airport
The airline offers a LOT of nonstop flights to Orlando International Airport, after all, and that gets us to Disney World faster, right? You can also occasionally get some really good deals on airfare from Southwest, too. Plus who doesn’t love the whole “two free checked bags” policy that really makes Southwest stand out from the competition? However, Southwest’s boarding process has proved to be controversial — but that process could be changing SOON.
Currently, when you fly Southwest Airlines, you do NOT get an assigned seat. Instead, your ticket will have a letter and number on it, which represents your boarding group. So when it’s time to board, you’ll wait until your letter is called and then stand in line behind a sign designated for the number that’s also on your ticket. Once you get on board, you can pick any open seat you want.
On board Southwest’s Disney World 50th Anniversary Plane
Interestingly enough, some people LOVE this boarding process (because it does seem to be faster than other airlines), but others hate that they can’t get a guaranteed seat, which means they might not be able to get a seat with others they’re traveling with. This boarding process, though, could be changing.
According to CNBC, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, recently said, “We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft.”
Southwest Plane
Currently, Southwest does have its Early Bird program, which lets fliers pay a little extra to board early. That still doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get the seat you want, though. It seems that some analysts have continued to ask Southwest about premium seating or additional fees, similar to what other airlines are doing.
Although Jordan said, “Customer preferences do change over time,” he also reiterated that Southwest is not considering charging for checked bags. The company understands that’s why many people choose Southwest over other airlines.
Southwest plane
We’ll have to see if Southwest does change its boarding process and starts offering seat selection, though, and it seems like the company could be considering it. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and let you know about them!
Stay tuned to DFB for more.
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Would you like to see Southwest make a change to its boarding process? Let us know in the comments!
The post Southwest Airlines Is “Looking Into New Initiatives” for Its Controversial Seating Policy first appeared on the disney food blog.