Air travel might be confusing, mostly when an airline changes its rules. This is exactly what’s happening with Southwest Airlines, one of the most popular companies in the U.S. For years, Southwest has been known for not assigning seats, so passengers sat wherever there was a seat available.
However, that has changed. From Tuesday, January 27, Southwest has started applying a new policy that completely modifies the way passengers choose their seats and the boarding order. So, let’s learn more about what’s changing.
Southwest Airlines ends open seating
Until now, Southwest used a system called ‘’open seating’’, meaning tickets didn’t include a seat number. So, when boarding the plane, each passenger could choose where to seat as long as it was free.
However, since January 27 this policy started to disappear. Southwest has decided to adopt a more traditional model, similar to other airlines where seats are assigned in advance. Therefore, passengers no longer choose their seats freely when they board.
Types of seats
With the new flight system, Southwest now offers three different types of seats depending on the fare you purchase. So, let’s have a look at the features of each seat:
- Standard seats: these are the most basic seats, with standard legroom, and usually located toward the back of the cabin.
- Preferred seats: they also have standard legroom, but are located closer to the front of the plane. This allows passengers to exit the aircraft more quickly after landing.
- Extra legroom seats: these are the most comfortable option because they are located at the front of the plane and near emergency exits, and provide up to five extra inches of legroom. Also, they include priority access to overhead bins, and maybe complimentary snacks and drinks.
Fare options
Apart from the new seating system, Southwest Airlines has introduced four different fare types, and each offering different benefits:
- Basic fare: this is the cheapest option and the seat is assigned during check-in, not at purchase. Here, Only Standard seats are available, and flexibility for flight changes is limited.
- Choice fare: this one allows passengers to reserve a Standard seat, and it includes flight changes with no additional fees.
- Choice preferred fare: with this fare, passengers can select either a Preferred or Standard seat when booking. Also, it includes free flight changes and offers access to priority boarding lanes.
- Choice extra fare: this fare allows passengers to choose any seat, including Extra Legroom. What’s more, they will enjoy two free checked bags. As you can see, this is the most complete and flexible fare option.
How boarding works under the new system
This change affects seats, but also boarding order because depending on the fare you decide to pay for you will board at a specific order. So, let’s have a look at how boarding is divided:
- Groups 1 and 2 are reserved for passengers with a Choice Extra fee.
- Groups from 3 to 5 are for passengers with Choice Preferred fee.
- Groups 6, 7, and 8 are reserved for the ones with Basic fee.
To sum up
For you as a traveler, understanding these new rules can make your journey smoother and less stressful, and nobody likes feeling this way when going on a plane, right? I mean, knowing in advance where you will sit, when you will board, and what benefits your fare includes, it’s very helpful for you to avoid confusion at the airport.
The only thing you need to do is spend a few minutes reviewing your options before booking, and that will make a big difference once you’re on the plane. What do you think about the Southwest Airlines changes?