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Southwest Airlines plans to begin the assignment of seats, breaking a 50-year-old custom

Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate the open-boarding policy that it has in use for more than 50 years. They will start assigning seats to passengers as do other major airlines.

Dallas (AP) -Goodbye, cattle call.

Southwest Airlines announced Thursday that it will remove the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers seats, much like major airlines.

Southwest Airlines said that it was investigating seating options by conducting tests and surveys with its customers. Southwest found that customers’ preferences have evolved over time, and that the majority of passengers are now looking to know the seating area before they arrive in the terminal.

Southwest’s unique method of boarding was created as a speedy method to fill up passengers and reduce the time that crews and planes are laying on the ground, not making revenue. The airline could operate more efficiently and incorporate a handful of flights to their regular schedule.

This was among the reasons Southwest is the only airline in the U.S. that was profitable every year until the moment of the coronavirus outbreak.

Here’s how it’s accomplished: Instead of getting assigned seats upon purchase of tickets Southwest clients check into their seats at minimum 24 hours before departure to guarantee their seat in the boarding line. At first the first 30 minutes of checking in were seated in the desired “A” boarding group, offering them seats with windows or aisles. Dawdlers were assigned to “B,” which was acceptable, however, or “C,” which would typically result in a middle of the road seat.

The system became less democratic as Southwest allowed people to pay extra money to get a seat near the most expensive. However, many Southwest supporters still love the wide seating. Southwest believes that they will change.

“I am aware that there are going to be passengers who claim, ‘I’d prefer to keep the option of open seating.’ This is a minority,” Southwest CEO Robert Jordan stated to CNBC, “but we’ve experienced exactly the same issue in the past when we switched to plastic tickets to board. We had the exact issue when we retrieved Peanuts off our plane. I’m certain that we’ll convince them join us. “

A survey conducted by Southwest Airlines found it that the vast majority customers — and 86 percent of “potential” customers — would prefer seats that are designated. Jordan said that the availability of seats was the top factor cited by customers selecting a different carrier instead of Southwest.

A handful of Southwest passengers expressed dismay and sadness when they heard that the seating available was removed from the photo.

“Hearing that announcement today, I was like, no, this is my favorite part of Southwest,” said Lindsey Magness, who works as an athletics coach for colleges in Oklahoma City.

Magness said that if she has an open area she could choose an open window or, depending on her mood or mood the aisle. Also, seats assigned to people may not always be the best option. Magness stated that American Airlines seated her away from her husband on their honeymoon in the summer of.

Brandon Bowser of Odenton, Maryland He said that he has a variety of airlines depending on which one gives the best value, but he prefers it is Southwest open-boarding system has proven to be more efficient and simple than other airlines.

“The convenience that comes with being able to pick your own seat is what sets Southwest apart and makes them sort of a preferred airline,” said the spokesperson. “A majority of my acquaintances swear by Southwest because that’s the only way they’ll fly and they’re completely angry about it. “

The Chicago Midway airport, Kimberly King was delighted to learn about the new changes. She was at the check-in counter along with her four kids, waiting for their return flight their home in California.

“I used to fly United a lot and I liked the assigned seats, especially with kids, kind of expecting and knowing where we were going to be,” King said. “The sole reason for me to continue flying Southwest is the bags that are free. “

Southwest lets passengers bring two bags with them onboard for no cost. This has been the main focus of Southwest’s advertising campaigns for years. The chief executive Jordan said that Southwest has no plans to discontinue the bags-fly-free policy “at at this time.. “

There are a few drawbacks to Southwest boarders. It’s hard to find an adequate seat in the line without having to pay an additional cost. Southwest management said that 60 percent of travelers make their check-in of the first 30 seconds. If they don’t get to the check-in area are concerned that there will not be enough space in the overhead compartments to accommodate their bags. People who arrive late may be unable to locate an area, then begin to wander through the aisle. Southwest calls them “spinners. “

There are many ways for people to use the game.

Some individuals take advantage of early board to those who require longer. Others do not consider the age limit (6 minimum) for children of families allowed to board when they are part of”A” group “A” group. Once on the plane, some passengers are able to choose a seat for their friends who are back in the line.

Sometimes, images are posted on social media channels with a disproportionately large number of wheelchair users on Southwest Gates. They arrive early to get on.

“It’s certainly one of the things that anger people even if it doesn’t have a material impact on them,” said Brett Snyder, a travel agent and author of The Cranky Flier site. “In certain situations there are those who have very legitimate reasons. Other times, this is the “Jetway Jesus” phenomenon. “

It refers to healing so extraordinary that the condition that causes the person to need the use of a wheelchair to access the gate is dealt with on the plane, and they can walk out of the plane as ordinary passengers.

Snyder isn’t certain if people who favor seating in open spaces will leave Southwest.

“Those people will still fly Southwest,” he said. “They might be angry over it but they have not alternative to with seats that are open. “

Alongside the new method of the boarding process, Southwest also plans to convert about one-third of its airplane seats into premium seats that provide more legroom. This is a common procedure used by others major U.S. airlines.

The latest schedule of Southwest Airlines includes redeye flights for the first time in history for Southwest.

The flights that will be overnight begin mid-February. They will be nonstop flights, which comprise Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; Los Angeles to Baltimore Nashville and Nashville as well as Phoenix out of Baltimore. Additional routes will be added as the time goes by, according to airline.

The changes are happening within an environment where Southwest is under scrutiny by Elliott Investment Management. The hedge fund says that Southwest is behind its peers in terms of financial performance and hasn’t had the ability to stay pace with the changing time. Southwest wants to succeed Jordan and chairperson Gary Kelly.

Southwest is also under more scrutiny and scrutiny. Southwest is also subject to increased inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration after a sequence of flight accidents that raise alarms, including one flight that crashed into the sea in the Gulf of Hawaii as well as two other flights which were operating in low-altitudes however, they were quite a ways of landing in airports located in Oklahoma and Florida and another flight found that the rudders were damaged due to an unconventional “Dutch roll” wiggle during the flight.

Southwest made the new seating arrangement and other changes on the day before, and American Airlines reported a steep decline in profit in the second quarter despite a growth of revenue. Airlines are experiencing higher costs of operation and less pricing power, particularly for domestic flights within America. United States, as the industry is expanding flights faster than the rise in the demand for travel.

Southwest is located within Dallas Southwest, which is located in Dallas earnings decreased by 46% from the year prior, which was $367 million. This was due to the fact that the higher costs of fuel, labor and other costs that over the increase in revenues. Results were consistent and with Wall Street expectations.

American Airlines also experienced a decline from 46% to profit that was 717 millions. Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom said the airline was hampered by an advertising plan, which was subsequently rolled back in addition to the oversupply of flights in its domestic markets.

American has announced that its results per share during the quarter-end of the year will be close to breaking even that’s below Wall Street’s forecast of 48 cents per share. American reduced its estimate of earnings for the whole year to 70 cents in the range of $1.30 to $1.30 for each share. This is a decrease from its prior forecast of $2.25 to $3.25 per share.

The shares of the largest U.S. airlines rose Thursday. Southwest Airlines Co. increased 5.5 percent, as did American Airlines Group Inc. has its headquarters within Fort Worth, Texas, which grew by 4 percent. Delta, United, Alaska and JetBlue all increased.