Southwest Airlines - not a fan

[TexasHusker]

Taking my daughter to volleyball training today. Cross country flight. Bought tickets 6 months ago. Yet somehow we are in the last boarding group and don’t get to sit together. People pushing shoving, cutting in front of you in line even though boarding for their group is over, acting like you’re a ghost.

I didn’t save much flying southwest. I think I’ll do something else next time.

[creditcardfree]

We Love Southwest, but I do pay for the Early Bird seating at the time of purchase, which checks us in automatically 24 hours before the flight. Nearly ALWAYS in A Boarding group. The only other way to get into a earlier boarding group is to check in online EXACTLY 24 hours before your flight. Boarding groups are not determined by when you bought your ticket, but when you check in. Try this method for your return flight and see if you are more satisfied.

For our flight tomorrow our family is in Boarding Group A 36-39.

[rennigade]

Never had an issue with southwest. I always check in 24 hours before flight...I dont think I ever been past boarding group B.

Really, the most most annoying thing is their lame jokes. "Attention please...if you are the owner of a wad of $300 and a pink rubber band...we found your rubber band." smh...just let me get to my destination in peace.

[~bs]

my opinion is that you really shouldn't expect much for budget airlines. If you want decent service, need to fork over the extra money. And if the cost difference isn't that much, opt for a better airlines.

I flew airasia 2 months ago, which cost me maybe 40% of what other major airlines were charging. I have to say that for what I paid, it was decent enough service. I don't have a wife and kids in tow, so the non-existent in-flight service and lack of proper seating arrangement, didn't bother me in the least. Getting on first or last on the airplane doesn't really matter, as long as you got a spot for your carryon. I'd rather get on last.

[msomnipotent]

I flew SWA once. It was ok. I have been spoiled because my daughter has been young enough to have to sit with at least one of us, so they move people around on our behalf. Now that she is 13, that will probably end.

I flew Alitalia once and I felt like a cow going to slaughter. I'm surprised they had seats for us and not pens. But I paid $350 pp for air and hotel for a week in Malaga, Spain so I really shouldn't complain. I still choose to do so, though.

[disneysteve]

I've flown Southwest. It wasn't great but it was okay. I don't think I'd choose them again unless I was flying solo or the rate was incredibly cheaper than the competition (and even then, I don't think my wife would go along with it).

Flying is enough of a pain in the butt as is. I don't need to voluntarily hike up the hassle factor.

[Like2Plan]

I have to say that Southwest has the most orderly boarding process of the airlines that I have flown. They tell you exactly by number what your boarding order is. Contrast that with legacy airlines-- I have had dudes cut in front of me as I was boarding first class--and that was with assigned seats for gosh sake. I have noticed that some of the legacies have put in boarding "pens" where you line up in boarding groups. This has made their boarding procedure less of a free for all.

Since Southwest has open seating, your boarding number is key to optimize your seat selection.

For general boarding anyone is free to board at a later boarding number, just not earlier. So that is where you had folks joining the line late (which could have been folks coming from a connecting flight). All that is necessary is to show a boarding pass to the person you are stepping in front of.

If you don't have status with Southwest there are some things you can do to get a better boarding number. If you bought your tickets 6 months ago and purchased early bird seating ($15), you would have had a better boarding number because early bird boarding numbers are assigned according to when you purchase early bird.

If you don't buy early bird, you have to check in at the T-24 hour point or you may well end up with a "C" boarding pass. The "C" group boards last. And generally "C" means Center seat.

But, even still, when you get the airport and you don't like your boarding number---most times you have another option to upgrade to business select for about $40. That lets you board in one of the first 15 slots and you get a "free" (or $40.00) drink with it.

DH and I fly SWA all the time so we are used to the boarding procedure. Having said all that, I do find the legacy airlines a little more comfortable if flying transcon (or flights more than 3 hrs in length). But, even on the legacy airlines--I find that we have been reassigned random seats (equipment change) or have had unworkable schedule changes because of an airline driven schedule change. I have experienced very few schedule changes on SWA.

[TexasHusker]

Great info! As you said, for 80 bucks each we were able to sit together on a leg. If we did that for the whole trip, it’s $320 to sit together.

And the ticket agent said precisely as you did. You have to check in PRECISELY at 24 hours before departure to get a decent position in line. Note to self: Set alarm clock for 5:45am the day before i depart next time.

I think that’s pretty screwed up actually. Think about it: You have a plane load of people who are having to log in before sun up, the day before they depart, in order to get a decent boarding position? With all of the technology we have today, that seems incredibly inconsiderate of your customer.

But the planes are full so everyone must be quite content!

[rennigade]

The airline is allowing you to get a cheaper flight if you do a little bit of leg work yourself.

You can pay a few more $$ and get priority boarding. This a prime example of our entitled society. Me...me..me. Give me a hand out, poor me. #firstworldproblems

All you have to do is check in 24 hours in advance. If you cant then spend a little more...or fly another carrier. You have all the power in this scenario...use it.


side note...OP seems to go off the rails every couple months. Theres definitely a pattern forming here. Not sure if anyone else noticed? Im partly to blame since I engage with the trolling. Fool me once/twice...ugh.

[disneysteve]

I think that’s pretty screwed up actually. Think about it: You have a plane load of people who are having to log in before sun up, the day before they depart, in order to get a decent boarding position? With all of the technology we have today, that seems incredibly inconsiderate of your customer.

But the planes are full so everyone must be quite content!

I think the exact same thing about certain aspects of planning a Disney World vacation. Want to have dinner at Be Our Guest? You had better be on the phone at 9am on the dot exactly 180 days in advance of your desired reservation date, and then you might possibly score a reservation, but don't bet on it. Want to ride Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom. Be online at 7am exactly 60 days in advance and if you're lucky, you'll get a spot. If you aren't staying at a Disney hotel, you can only book 30 days in advance so don't even bother trying.

I think it's nuts but the parks are full, the restaurants are sold out, and the rides are booked solid so people are doing it. We choose not to participate in the madness. We eat at places that aren't in such high demand and if we don't get on a particular ride, so be it.

You don't have to fly Southwest. We don't because we don't particularly care for their system either. The great thing is you have plenty of other choices.

[~bs]

The airline is allowing you to get a cheaper flight if you do a little bit of leg work yourself.

You can pay a few more $$ and get priority boarding. This a prime example of our entitled society. Me...me..me. Give me a hand out, poor me. #firstworldproblems

All you have to do is check in 24 hours in advance. If you cant then spend a little more...or fly another carrier. You have all the power in this scenario...use it.


side note...OP seems to go off the rails every couple months. Theres definitely a pattern forming here. Not sure if anyone else noticed? Im partly to blame since I engage with the trolling. Fool me once/twice...ugh.

yeah, those are the rules, they're consistent and applied to everyone.

And look at it this way, on the budget carrier i traveled on earlier, there was no option to pick seats at all, unless you paid $25. So most people with families and stuff fork over the extra money to sit together. If you opt not to pay to pick seats, the agent at the check in counter assigns the seats randomly. So I'm sure people would GLADLY check in 24 hours in advance to avoid paying $25/person.

[Drake3287]

Although I don't use SWA for cross country flights, (mostly West Coast hops) there's a not so secret way of getting an "A" boarding every time you fly and it's worked for me many, many times. "C" boardings are the only one's that you get left out on with seating and your stuck with strangers in single open seats.

On your phone or computer, log into your flight ahead of time and at the EXACT second your phone's time hit's the 24 hour mark (such as 11:25AM) you simply check-in. Doing it at exactly the 24 hour mark will almost always get you an A boarding.

For many of us it's almost a game to see who gets the lowest boarding number.

[disneysteve]

On your phone or computer, log into your flight ahead of time and at the EXACT second your phone's time hit's the 24 hour mark (such as 11:25AM) you simply check-in.

That's great, but what about if you have a job or go to school and can't just be sitting on the computer waiting for that moment to come?

It's fine that there's a way to maximize your chance of getting a good seat but it is a bit silly when you really think about it. But it is what it is and if you don't like it, fly with another airline that does it the traditional way and lets you select your seat.

[creditcardfree]

That's great, but what about if you have a job or go to school and can't just be sitting on the computer waiting for that moment to come?

It's fine that there's a way to maximize your chance of getting a good seat but it is a bit silly when you really think about it. But it is what it is and if you don't like it, fly with another airline that does it the traditional way and lets you select your seat.

Then pay the fee to use the Early Bird Option and have Southwest check you in at the appropriate time and get a much better boarding option. Nearly always get A boarding this way...and the pick of the first 60 seats!

It's still cheaper than other airlines and remember you can check up to two bags for free with Southwest per customer. Fewer bags coming on board makes boarding go really fast.

[WDELTA]

I love flying with southwest. I've forgotten to check in online/changed my flight last minute at the airport which left me with a bad seat. Normally I check in as close to 24 hours before and I've been fine. Even 12 hours early you're going to be early zone B (at least as far as I've seen, clearly some flights may be in more demand)

-side note-as an Air Traffic Controller I would add that Southwest does their best to be as early as possible, not a ton more than other passenger flights, but it is noticeable

I'll also add that I'm not allowed to own stock in any airline, and that safety obviously comes first all the time regardless of pilot requests to get in earlier.