Southwest Airlines announced where you can choose to pay extra for early boarding (aka, getting a better seat). So, in their words you can “choose” to pay $10 extra for a one way flight just to have a better seat.
Ironically, Southwest has spent an enormous amount of marketing dollars taking on the legacy carriers claiming no extra fees for baggage. Well, call it a different fee; one for extra baggage or in this case better seats where basically we end up having Southwest playing the same game as other carriers they have been successfully competing against.
Yes, Southwest says it is a choice to pay the extra fee for a better seat but the last time I flew Southwest in a center seat I made a vow never to be late for a boarding pass and be penalized with a C pass also known as “Center Seat”.
What’s troubling about their new policy is the pure and simple fact that Southwest management has always demonstrated their ability to make money their own way based on decisions independent of the competition.
Apparently, Southwest has taken a whiff of the revenue being generated by the competing legacy carriers and now Southwest wants in. The traveling public (business and leisure) continue to be insulted with excessively punitive fees for baggage, drinks, food and now early boarding.
Here’s a message to the airlines – keep it simple and just increase the fare with all fees built into the airfare.
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I appreciate your point of view, but I do believe that southwest introduced that option for the simple fact that people asked for it. I have worked in the industry for the last 15 years, and if anyone has ever been more CSR about their policies to travel consultants or to the average consumer it is southwest. No change fee… hello.. that one says it all.. and btw.. if you can’t pre print your boarding pass.. well sorry… c is the best seating to me… I can chose my place of seating. I like that I have the option to pick.
People are not forced to Pay the fee .. that is their option. The fees placed on travlers at this time with the so called “majestic airlines” are not something the average person expects. If you want to proclaim adding it into the cost of the ticket .. then tell DL/NW… AA, US,UA,CO.. to stop giving the big screw with bag checks. Also.. HP has started with fares no seat option, however pay more and you get a seat assignment.. messed up for the consumer, and they wonder why no one wants to travel. Personally, I believe there are several VIP’s in the “majestics” that should see a brilliant view of a jet engine.. head first… I did love that they mentioned how as travel consultants they visioned us paying them to book plane tickets… travel weekly May edition.
btw.. love the debate on the subject (yeah probably been doing this too long)
have a great day!
shawna orman
Stunning, I didn’t heard about that till now. Thx!!