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Southwest Airlines offers early boarding for $10
Traditional airlines get around this by assigning seats at ticketing (and often separating select seats out for elites,) but Southwest Airlines has always had an "open seat" policy. That is, you board roughly in zones and pick whichever seat you want when you get onto the plane. Kind of like a bus. Depending on when you check in and a few other factors, you're allowed to stand in a certain part of the line.
It's a very democratic way of boarding, with a wide range of supporters and opponents.
If you'd really like the chance to pick your seat (or pick your seatmates,) however, you can now do it in a new way. For an extra ten bucks, Southwest will give you the opportunity to board early, freely stow your bags and grin at all of the other passengers as they struggle to find space for themselves.
With EarlyBird boarding, you'll board with Rapid Rewards A List and Business Select customers.
You can read more about EarlyBird checkin at Southwest's site. Now the real question is: would you pay $10 to board early?
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
fishonjohnson Sep 3rd 2009 4:23PM
Southwest airlines is equivalent to a school bus,last time I remember flying with them was 20 yrs ago on a 6th grade trip. Herd you in,herd you out. Mooooo! I like flights with a sense of class.
bart Sep 3rd 2009 4:27PM
Sometimes you do not have the internet available 24 hours before boarding. I would pay the ten dollars. What Southwest needs to bring back is to let kids and babies board first. That way you can see where they are sitting and then avoid sitting close to loud kids. That is what Southwest did a few years ago. Southwest please bring back that policy. Now there is nothing you can do if the person sitting next to you stinks. I mean no shower. That is not a fun flight.
booge30054 Sep 3rd 2009 4:38PM
Next they'll take collections for fuel.....before departure. It's out of control. Thank you for making flying not better than taking a city bus
MAD Flier Sep 3rd 2009 5:16PM
Just another way to stick it to the flying public. This nickle and diming has got to stop. I think that SW should just increase the ticket price and assign seats. When they moved to the new boarding process of groups, that was an improvement over getting to the airport early just to stand in line to get a decent seat. Paying $10 to "maybe" bet a chance to board yearlier but you could be stuck in C Group anyway?? What are they thinking?? Then again, maybe they are not. Like carpooling, why not just have every passenger pitch in 10 bucks for gas and leave it at that!!!
Of course they will not recind the decision, but at least they could make it optional as of a date in the future and for tickets not yet purchased. That's doubtfull too. There is nothing "low fare" about SW anymore...............
Donna Sep 3rd 2009 5:13PM
People need to pay to bring their bags onboard not the other way around. They hold up everyone with their attitude trying to deplane. Lap sitting should be illegal.
If you are required seat belts in a car it should be the plane as well.
John Sep 3rd 2009 5:20PM
I have to agree with some of the comments about the boarding procedure. Setting up the Group plan works as long as those who do not belong in A or B or C interfere with the system; i.e., arriving at the last minute, claiming they had a reservation and then proceed to the counter and complain they lost it and then work a deal to get on ahead of others. As long as you have a boarding pass, you should be able to stand in line and get on the plane when called to do so. I don't think it is right though if you have Boarding Pass A52 for example and be the first in the line to go in when the stewardess directs you to the appropriate doorway.
aninonymous Sep 3rd 2009 5:52PM
What happened to that Southwest flight on July 14th, 2009 where a hole opened up in the ceiling of a flight? They never explained it????!!!!!!! Shouldn't they have to explain it to their customers? Does Southwest have so much political clout that no one will make them explain what happened??????
Joe Leuci Sep 3rd 2009 6:45PM
Just another gimmick to nickle and dime the public. Will we have to start to pay for the peanuts as well soon? Will we have to tip the pilot for a safe and on time landing?
Mare Sep 3rd 2009 9:22PM
I have flown a few different airlines and the one I choose is Southwest. The problems I have encountered on others far outweigh even being a C boarder and not sitting with my family then those I have had to deal with on others. 1 Airline, that was a layover from Orlando to Albany, informed me that they had NO SEAT for my 13 year old son. They would put him up in a hotel and get him out on the first flight in the morning. When I told them that I would stay and he could fly with my 18 year old daughter they informed me that they could not do that as she and I were in the emergency exit row. I tried very nicely to explain that my son was 13 and would NOT stay alone. If he had to stay ... we all would. That was fine BUT they would only pay for my son to stay and they would only cover HIS return flight. At this point let emtell you, we had guaranteed flights, but my son did not have a seat. There were at least 3 others...or more that I later found out did not have seats. An older couple gave up their seats so that my son could fly home with my daughter and I and I am forever greatful to them, but this should not have happened. YES I have been on Southwest flights where there have been seating isues as we were group C, BUT we have always had safe and on time flights.