Gary,
Welcome to the world of blogging! I'm sure you'll catch on quickly, but if not, the very experienced Colleen will no doubt be able to give you a hand! ha ha

Wow, this would be a huge change and is much bigger than giving up the plastic boarding cards. I was in therapy for months and months after that one... Seriously, you are well aware of "our" concerns that SWA retain its unique atmosphere, and our fears that our favorite airline might evolve into something we don't recognize. Darrell Royal was famous for saying, and in fact, titled a book with the phrase, 'Dance with who brung ya', suggesting that you need to stick with what made you what you are. We all know the expression, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', although we need to check from time to time to see if "it" is broken or not.

We all want what is best for SWA, and as shareholders and passengers, we have to trust you to constantly seek that out. We would ask you to not rush headlong into something too scary for us to adapt to, though, since you know that one of the scariest words in the English language is "change"! We're proud that SWA has always led the way as an innovator, and we don't want our favorite airline becoming an "us too" set of folks. Remember that just because everyone else is doing something, it isn't necessarily the best way to do it.

So, if you must implement assigned seating (gasp!), let's borrow an idea from the recent compromise. How about a scheduled phase-in over time. Say 75 years?

Please keep us posted, but above all, keep up the fantastic job you're doing!

I LUV y'all,
Kim

Boo! Hiss! NO! NO! NO! No reserved seating.

There's a big difference between plastic boarding cards and electronic ones. They basically do the same thing. Reserved seating will destroy the one of the things I like about Southwest, namely, the open seating.

When I would say "everyone is doing it" as a kid, I remember my mom would say "if everyone is jumping off a bridge, would you do it, too?" Don't become like the other airlines by offering reserved seating like the other airlines.

The system works; don't fix it!

I have flown SW since it's inception. I have also flown every major carrier in the US and several abroad. SW is the best and don't mess
with such a success. I can only imagine it is a few cry babies that want assigned seating.

I am on an airplane about 10 times each month. I can tell you from first hand experience that your current boarding system is
faster than any other airline I fly. The zone system doesn't work - and loading from back to front wasn't that efficient when
implemented. The only way to really get passengers in and seated quickly is not to allow wheel luggage. That is what takes
forever. I realize that this is only anecdotal evidence - but I have seen it over and over again. If you could assure passengers that luggage will not be lost, you would have less time loading passangers. United Express doesn't allow luggage - because there
is no room. Check out that system at O'Hare. Your seating system is the best; on a full load I can be in the C group and still sit in
the front of the plane in a middle seat. I am one of the first ones off - which is terrific for me. I luv to fly with you - keep up the good work and good luck with your test.

Eva Erskine Chicago, IL

No assigned seating. As others mentioned my travel is usually booked last minute and having assigned seats would require me get the short end of the stick. If it were assigned I'd think it is best for connecting flights to vacation hot spots that are usually booked.

Norm: Your idea would cost more than all-reserved seating!

To paraphrase a campaign of SWA: SET SEATING FREE!

The lack of assigned seating *IS* the major factor that makes Southwest stand out from the rest of the major airlines. One time, some friends and I indepently booked flights to Phoenix. None of us knew we all were on the same flight until we were at the airport. With Southwest's open seating, we were able to sit together. On more than one occaision, I've had to book travel the night before a meeting. When flying Southwest, I will, at worst, get a "C" card; Even if I was the 137th person to check-in, I still can arrive early enough at the airport to get near the front of the "C" line and still end up with a decent seat. The bonus is that if I'm not on a non-stop flight, I can change seats at the first stop before other passengers board. Or, consider flights out of MCO, which tend to have a higher number of early boarding passengers with small children. Currently my wife and I can choose seats that are some distance from fussier passengers.

With assigned seating, all of those options go away.

I fly alot!!! I hate assigned seating. First come first seated has worked for years and you shouldn't change it. Its one of the main
reasons i fly SWA and not AA. I carry on all the time and don't want to see that go away either. If its not broke don't fix it.

Please keep the opening seating! I LUV it, but still want to work for this airline even if you assign seats. Southwest will always be my favorite airline!

The only assigned seats on a Southwest plane should be the pilots' and the flight attendants' seats.

This is a tough one. The one problem that i have with open seating is when i arrive at the airport an hour and a half earl, get
checked in within ten minutes, head to the gate there is already a line of people in all sections. So to get a good seat I have to
wait in the line for over an hour. If you did assigned seating you could board just like you did in the past. The first group of thirty.
I am flying home in July from San Diego to ABQ, so hopefully i can see how it would work. I wish you guys the best of luck.

Whew, and everyone thought the Wright Amendment was a sensitive subject!

Methinks Gary hath just firmly grabbed the third rail!!

Kim :)

Southwest Airlines is always my first choice, unless I have to fly somewhere SWA does not fly. I prefer not to have assigned
seating, I'm happy with the 24 hour before your flight Check-in. I never have a problem getting "A" boarding and always in the
first 10 rows. The Southwest employees are always happy and very friendly. I hope someday to work for SWA.

Laura

As an SWA weekly traveler for over 5 years the only possible reason I can imagine for changing to assigned seating would be in order
to charge extra for certain seats or rows, i.e. exit rows, front of plane, but you wouldn't do that.......... would you ?

Well, let me provide some salt in the Kool Aid being drunk here:

I hate open seating. Hate it. Feels just like getting on a bus in elementary school, complete with passive aggressive oafs putting bags bags and coats on seats to "save them." I only fly Southwest when I cannot get a decent routing/price on American, my preferred carrier. I will WILLINGLY pay a premium of 20 percent or more to fly in civilized comfort.

Assign seats, and I'll consider Southwest. Until then I'll avoid the cattle cars.

Blue in Austin

Hi!
Thanks for posting about the tough decisions you have to make.

I think that the open seating policy has so many perks. I booked a last minute flight for father's day and on my return ride, i got to sit in an exit row with extra leg room! If there was assigned seating, i would NEVER have that opportunity.

I think that the most important issue is that open seating keeps costs low. And in turn, you pass that savings along to the passengers. Making seats assigned will probably add another layer of costs and headaches.

I had to book a flight on another carrier recently (yes, i know sadly), but it was a wierd question from the agent, "what seat would you like, window or aisle?" it took me a second to realize what she was asking since it's not in my usual booking process to state what seat i want.

I hope that your research goes well and that you would take the time to poll all flyers. Perhaps you could make a small survey the next time people book online.

Thanks for all your hard work and for making my flying experiences so enjoyable.

I avoided SWA for a long time because of the open seating but lower prices, expansion to NH, and my wife's insistence changed that and I have gotten used to the idea.

I don't think assigned seating is necessary but I do think that open seating needs some adjustment. I'll point out three issues that matter to me as a customer.

* competition for the A group is entirely out of control now that people can print boarding passes so far ahead of time. Something has to be done to get some balance back there for people who are traveling on a return leg of a trip and are checking in at the airport. I have better things to do on vacation or a business trip than go to a business center to print out a pass in the middle of the night.

* speaking of groups. Have more than three groups... use six or seven groups so they are smaller. This seems like a way to make people less anxious about being in the front of the line for their group and might reduce the number of people camped out on the floor at the gates.

* we don't have kids and like other people who have commented above, I like to pick a seat away from small children if possible. The problem is... when a family is at the end of the C group and boards late the parents have to put their children into any open seat they can find so suddenly other travelers have to deal with that kid for the entire flight while the parents are 10 rows away. That is not fair to the kid, the parent, or the other customers... especially if the kid is scared or airsick or whatever. No one wins when this happens and I have seen it happen.

I'm not saying that they should just go into the A group but find a way to keep young children next to their parents. For example, two parents and two kids don't need four seats together but two pairs of seats solves the problem. That is really for the benefit of everyone else on the plane in my opinion.

...as long as I can get my row 9/10 emergency exit seat complete with extra leg room from BWI to PHX, I'm fine.

But... don't mess with the best.

Too bad that Gary couldn't find a topic to discuss that would stir people's passions! To "Blue in Austin", and to others who complain about open seating, pre-printing boarding passes via Internet access and kids scattered throughout the plane, I would suggest the old warning, "caveat emptor" -- let the buyer beware.

In any transaction, you should know what you are getting yourself into. Also known as "making an informed decision". SWA is well-known for its open seating policy, and yet for years and years, I hear people walking down the jetways complaining. "Well, here we are going down the cattle chute" and "they herd us in like sheep" and "stuffed in like sardines in a small plane" and the common sound made by the class clown now a bit older and playing to a different audience, "Mooooooo". However, these people who are complaining are ones who made the choice to fly on SWA, even though other airlines offer staggered seating calls to reduce jetway congestion, no pushing and shoving for that coveted aisle or window seat (or to avoid the center seat), larger planes than 737s offering more seat pitch (airline-speak for legroom and knee room), and even a first-class cabin for those wanting to be pampered even more.

Why do people consistently gripe about some of the attributes about SWA and yet return again and again? Maybe they are masochists, or maybe, they are willing to put up with certain inconvenience to save some money and/or time. Most (not all) of SWA's flights are short-haul and rarely exceed 90 minutes. Believe me, I've spent my share of time in the center seat between two large people. But, for what I am paying and for the relatively short time period, I can handle it.

People choose strange things to gripe about because it is some people's nature to gripe. I've heard people on airlines that serve what they refer to as a "meal" saying things like, "well, my meat is tough", "my sandwich is...", "this serving of fruit..." Folks need to remember that they are paying for transportation from point A to point B. If you want a good meal, go to a restaurant. If you want a great meal, go to a great restaurant. Either way, stay OFF of an airplane. Airlines do not exist to provide a superb culinary experience, just like restaurants do not exist to get you from Dallas Love to Houston Hobby.

People complain about having to be near kids on a plane for sixty minutes, but they don't demand to be isolated away from anyone below the age of 12 in a restaurant for an hour. If people would adjust their expectations to what the service will deliver, they wouldn't be so disappointed or irritated so often. You know what the SWA experience is like when you buy your ticket (unless you've been living in a cave for 35 years), and if the anticipated experience is not satisfactory to you, then choose another airline! Spend your money to fly first-class in a large seat with lots of pitch and better food in an environment where few parents of small kids can afford to park their youngsters and have a great time.

I'd prefer to save the money and peacefully co-exist with my fellow cattle...oops, I mean passengers.

I'll also leave the mooooooing to the cows that work for Chick-fil-A...

Kim :)

P. S. -- Jim, thanks for the kind words! ("KimÃ

I fly a little. I suppose I you could say that as I do have a Companion Pass. I prefer the present method of seating. I have had to fly other airlines, and it gets very irritating. You'd think if there was going to be assigned seats, they would board back to front. Well, they board by groups (Group 1 thru 6 perhaps). It could just as easily be A thru C. Anyway, they intermix people in the front, the back etc in each group. Now that my friend, is ineffieciency. They let the frequent flyers and first class enter first, then evryone else. So they have people standing in line, in the middle of the plane so the lady or gentleman that wants row 7, seat F can get his bags situated and then get out of the isle. The same thing happens on Southwest today with unassigned seating. The difference, people are looking for an open seat, not a ROW NUMBER, and the Southwest way is faster. You will never see an AA plane boarded faster.

The only thing I can think of that will help reduce boarding time is telling people they can have one carry on, and one computer, and the carry on has to fit into the container. Period !!! I can't tell you how many times I have seen people carry on a bag they know will not fit, and then have to give it up to the flight attendent in the back of the plane, and she has to wait until everyone is boarded, and then has to struggle with carrying it to the front. Yes, I have offered to carry bags for several to the front. I generally sit in the back of the plane on most flights...I like it.

Now if you want to give a preference to the frequent flyers, you could allow everyone with a Companion Pass to board first. I wrote Colleen with that suggestion quite a long time ago.

I have protested the Wright Amendment forever. I don't live in the Dallas area anymore, but I still protest it everytime I think about it. You see, Southwest is Southwest. American doesn't like Southwest because it is profitable, the employees are happy, flights get in and out, etc. You said yourself, a plane on the ground is not making money. You cannot speed up boarding by having assigned seats. Further to this, you would kill people like me, the frequent fliers, that book flights maybe three to seven days in advance.

Again, Southwest is Southwest. I prefer it, that is why I fly it. I prefer unassigned seats. Why would you want to change to make yoursel more like the other airlines? Bad mistake. I hear people gripe about having to wait in line all the time. It seems it is always the people that fly very infrequent that complain. They complain about waiting in line. Well, guess what my friend, they wait to board the other airlines, they just wait in a "bunch," not a line. Same difference. You have to be at the airport an hour or so early whether you are flying Southwest or one of the others. What is the difference?

And by the way, to those of you that can't stand flying next to a kid, or may be griping because a Mother and Child get on at the end, with one seat next to you, and one 10 rows away....shame on you for not giving up your seat and trading with the Mother!!!!!!

PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE A THING! SOUTHWEST IS SOUTHWEST! YOU ARE A LEADER, NOT A FOLLOWER!!!

Have a blessed day!
John - Claremore, OK

I don't like the concept of assigned seating.

In response to Geoff from New Hampshire. I have traveled many times with my children on Southwest and when there were not
seats available for my family to sit together the Flight Attendants would always try to accommodate us by politely asking if
someone would mind giving up their seat so we could sit together. Of course, this "kind passenger" who would do this for us
has always be rewarded. "This is how Southwest works!" As far as assigned seating, testing and time will tell. I have a lot of
LUV and faith in Southwest and believe that the external and internal customers will always be provided the BEST! I enjoyed
reading this Blog, it definitely has gotten a lot of responses in a very short time.

As a SWA employee, it's really nice to read that you LUV us...
just the way we are. I too have always liked the open seating...
most of the time. As a Flight Attendant, open seating becomes a
challenge when a family traveling with children arrives at the airport late
then must run onto the airplane hoping to find seats together.

Our passengers usually help us out as we have to scramble and
switch customers around to allow the late family to sit together with
their children. To all of you that might have helped us accomodate one of these
late arriving familes by giving up your seat and maybe having to take a back center seat yourself...
THANK YOU! Thank you for working with us to keep our airplanes on time!

It's all about keeping our airplanes on time and at the same time, keeping
our Customers happy! Let's see how this "test run" goes.

Gary, can you feel the LUV yet for open seating? I can. It's great, isn't it? There are lots of interesting comments in this list that has been created in such a short time. It seems open seating is the preferred method of travel for the largest portion of domestic travelers! What a great thing.

As the leader in domestic travel, for numerous reasons (open seating seems to be one), certainly when you start hitting Cancun and Hawaii, you will be the leader in and out as well. What a concept !!! I know, it hasn't been mentioned, but it sure sounds good! So, when are you starting???? Are you going to include Puerto V and Acapulco as well?

NO, NO, NO to assigned seating. This is is one of the few perks you give your best customers (other than my companion pass). As others have stated, we know the system, know how to get a A pass, know that unless we have to sit near the front to make a connection, we can wait until the end of the A line and still get an exit row seat most of the time and an aisle or window all of the time. If you decide to make this cahnge, I cannot stress enough the need to make some accomodations for your best customers (ie- full fare, companion pass etc). If you want to speed up the boarding process, then all preboarders other than wheel chair passengers should sit in the back of the plane, not the front. Pre-board should also mean post-depart.

I am not a fan of open seating, but I am a fan of Southwest, so I cope with it. I would, however, be really appreciative of some improvement in the boarding procedures. The cattle call is truly an accurate assessment of the boarding process on many crowded flights. I know the system, so I know what to expect (and print my boarding card early and arrive to the airport with plenty of time to spare when I can), but there has to be some civility in the process. If the system calls for folks to line up, and they do so very early, so be it. My problem gets to be when others decide that they do not have to wait in line and decide to jump ahead. I have witnessed near fist fights from such behavior in the past. Other times passengers have just said "I'm not sitting on the floor" as if that gives them license to move to the front of the line. If these issues could be ironed out, I'd be more supportive. Can't we all just get along (in line)?

WOW!! This topic sure does stir up the passion in our Customers. As a SWA Flight Attendant,
there is only ONE reason I would vote for assigned seating. That is so we wouldn't have to stand
in the exit row to "qualify" our Customers to sit there. You would get rid of us taking up your space
to ensure that everyone is physically able and willing to assist in the event of an emergency, since
that "qualifying" might possibly be done at the ticket counter or by the Operations agent. Anyway,
just a thought.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to comment on this topic.
James Malone
Chicago - Midway Flight Attendant

I have always enjoyed open seating... set my cell phone 24 hrs out, log on and
print that most coveted A line boarding pass... The idea of assigned seating
shakes one of the pillars that Southwest was built on. But if we must seriously
look at this as a possibilityÃ

Don't change. With a little discipline and paying attention to cut off times I can get a priority for A group. This permits me to avoid sitting near babies or travellers with a wide girth that probably should have a seat and a half. Passengers pick Southwest due to cost, frequency of flights and on time flights. John Barnicle

I only flew Southwest twice, and only because everyone else in my group wanted to fly it. Open seating isn't bad when there is
a group, as it allows everyone to sit together. But I will never ever fly Southwest solo, and will only fly as a last resort with a group because I absolutely detest having to wait in line for ages. I've travelled domestic and international regularly since I was 3mos old (going on 42yrs), and the last thing I want to do at an airport is be forced to sit in a line and stress about where I'll end up sitting.
I much prefer flying an airline that allows me to choose my seat at least 24hrs in advance so I know where I'll be before getting to
the airport. If I want an exit row, bulkhead or chance at an upgrade(on airlines with Business and First Class), I arrive at the airport
early enough to request it. But once I've checked in for the flight, I prefer to be free to wander the shops and go to the bathroom until it is
time to board the flight. I spend enough time sitting in one spot on a plane, I don't need to prolong it in the terminal as well!

If Southwest offers pre-assigned seating, I am very likely to start using it for my domestic travel needs. I don't mind paying an extra
$10-20 for the extra service. And the idea of creating a "first class" for folks who want assigned seating, with a little more legroom
and wider seats, is a very good one! Air Tran has the right idea there.

We usually get a chance to fly once or twice a year and always look for flights on SWA. I don't really mind the cattle call type of seating as long as I remember to get a seating pass. Recently we flew to Tampa and I thought of an idea that might speed up the boarding time. Would it be possible to board from the rear of the plane because most people want to sit up front. That way there would not be as many people in the aisle.
Also, we've booked a flight to Hawaii in October and I check every day to see if you lower the price. I wish you had a system that would notify me when the fares are reduced. I also check for a friend who is going to the Ravens Game in Tampa in September. He is an over the road truck driver so I check twice a day for both of us.

Because of your low fares you made it possible for a family to travel more often.

Thanks
Joe

I've never flown on Southwest simply because I want to know ahead of time where I'm going to sit. The prices that Southwest charges isn't that much different than other airlines with assigned seating. If Southwest wants my business, assigned seating is a must.

I am the highest level frequent flyer at a competing airline flying 120+ flights per year. I also utlize Southwest but only when necessay. The reason is lack of assigned seating and priviledge to a frequent flyer. I would change many of my flights to Southwest, as many as 50-75 per year, if there accomodations were made for high level frequent flyers. Either reserved seats could be avaiable for us such as certain aisles and of course the choice emergency exit rows or open seating, but , We would be able to board after the pre boards and before the A,B and C. This would give us access to the preferred seats, overheads and find seats that are away from the preboard families. Different from an earlier blog, preboard families should be at the front. A screaming child in front of me is better then one behind me.

Gary,
As a company owner, the staff of my organization, Premier Rides (don't worry, we're a roller coaster manufacturer -Revenge of the Mummy, The Italian Job Stunt Track Coaster - not a fledgling competitor), do think of you as The Company Plane. We literally fly hundreds if not thousands of segments annually. While I agree with some of the comments that point out that your most loyal customers (like ourselves) enjoy knowing how the system works and thus being able to secure A passes consitantly, I have to say that that the bad of the "cattle call" overwhelms the good. There is no more pleasant flying experience that one can have considering tyour planes are typcially relatively full. Your pilots are polite and your flight attendants by far the best in the industry - they can put a smile on the worst sour puss! However, the preboarding experience can be a frustrating and sometimes dangerous experience. Spend a day at the airport in Vegas where due to the fired up attitudes from "What happens here, stays here" you find line cutting, pushing and shoving when the lines start moving, and on several occasions I have seen fights over line position. I once watched a classic ambulance chaser scene where a lawyer gave his card to a passenger in line who had been in an altercation with the classic line "Let me take car of this, the airline has deep pockets" - made me ill to watch.

Of course if one goes to the smaller cities on your routes especailly down South the situation is typically more humane and the "events" are less evident. But you are a national company, not that small regional airline from so long ago. Perhaps one approach would be to identify the locations where uncontrolled lines are a challenge - Vegas, LA and only focus the reserved seating for those locations. I wish you luck wiith your tests.
Jim

I, too, am opposed to assigned seating. When friends and I book for the same flight, but separately, we are able to sit together on the plane rather than being assigned seats that separate us. Perhaps a partial solution is to offer a limited number of assigned seats (perhaps for a slightly higher cost) and allow the rest of us to do cattle call. I love flying Southwest and only choose other airlines if I have no other option.

I have avoided flying Southwest at all costs due to the "cattle car" seating plan. I would love to use your direct flights from my area so I am urging you to begin assigning seats!

Thank you!

I am a frequent flyer on Southwest out of BWI BALTIMORE. I want to keep the cattle call type of seating. I love to get there early and get a good seat especially an emergency exit seat for leg room. I do want to comment about the entire family anuts, cousins etc..getting on early with a baby. I strongly suggest that only the immediate family Mother/Father brothers and sisters that are children be allowed early seating. It is getting that early seating is as long as the "A" line. I do want to say that the policy of early seating not be allowed emergency exit seating is a very good one. One more thing. I would like to encourage Southwest to consider seating all small children and their family in the rear of the aircraft which will allow all those coming in early to be far away from crying children. Thanks again for being diffrent.

K. Frank Turban

PLEASE do NOT assign seats! One of the many things I love about Southwest is that I do not have to have an assigned seat.
I usually fly one round-trip per month and enjoy deciding where I sit when I get to the plane. Sometimes I have to book a flight
at the last minute and do not want to have to settle for a center seat in the back of the plane. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!!!
Thank you

I would've never found LUV if not for the open seating policy...I met my wife on a SWA flight from SJC to PHX on December 22, 1995.

I was traveling to ABQ to visit my parents for Christmas, she was going to PHX with her sister and family to visit another sister. They preboarded (because they had small children), and I decided to sit on the same row because she was beautiful. (and still is!)

Turns out that she lived only about 5 miles from me. We were married on August 7, 1998, and none of that would've been possible without open seating.

As a wheelchair flyer, open seating is a blessing. Otherwise, even though I can bpard first, unless i am able to get an aisle seat I am very uncomfortable. With the open seating policy we disabled are able to obtain seats whichenables us to fly in relative comfort
Please keep your open seating policy. Bernie

Howdy!

Open seating is one of many things that makes Southwest special.
Perhaps other airlines should try it. IT WORKS FOR ME!!!
p.s., I'm looking forward to joining the "A" group when
Southwest begins service from Washington-Dulles.

John Melton, Falls Church, VA

While I like SWA and their affordable travel, I think the open seating is horrendous! It's bad enough that one has to get to the airport so far in advance because of increased security, but then you have to deal with standing in a line at the gate instead of being comfortable in a chair. Once that first person makes the move to start standing in the corral it's all over! ItÃ

Open Seating should be retained. It is more than just a critical link in efficient boarding and part of what makes this airline uniques.
There is another equally important factor not to be overlooked: quality of life through the customized flying experience. Open seating allows a customer to fit his or her flying experience to their needs on that day. For example, the person who recently twisted their ankle can try for an aisle or bulkhead seat. The person traveling with little children can get their whole entourage closer to the bathroom if that's a priority. The traveler who really needs to be towards the front to make a tight connection or just get out fast can sit up front and the person who want a little quiet time to nurse a headache or do some work can retreat to the back (if the plane is not full, which is a rarity these days!). I think this freedom and flexibilty to choose your travel experience is critical -- and not just because I met my husband standing in the B line waiting to board. To think, it we hadn't had the option to sit together that day, we wouldn't be who we are today. Thank you for asking us what we want -- please listen carefully to your loyal customers. Thank you.

KEEP OPEN SEATING!

There's nothing worse to me than buying a last-minute ticket and finding myself sitting between two people much larger than me; at best, I can play musical chairs -- if time permits -- to try to find another seat on the plane. With Southwest, even if I am compelled to take a middle seat, I get to choose who I sit next to. And because I travel a lot in-state, often I already know that person.

When a formula works, why change it? New Coke didn't do very well. There's no need for a "New Southwest."

There's still a lot of cities that are aching for Southwest service. That's where the growth is -- and not these frequent fliers from other airlines that probably wouldn't fly Southwest anyway because there is no first class, no priority boarding for Elites, frequent flier credits expire, etc.

Are you INSANE? If Herb was dead, he'd roll over in his grave. Changing one of the most famous things for which you're known is the most silly idea yet. The flying public only wants a few things: low fares, comfortable and safe transportation and no hassles. Please don't screw up your business plan that made your business work!

I love the current seating procedures at Southwest. PLEASE DO NOT change to assigned seating. I enjoy printing my boarding pass online 24 hours in advance, and I appreciate SW attempts to block the attempts by non-SW sites from charging for this service. My only concern is that too many "Pre-Boarding" folks take unfair advantage. I think that the idea of asking families with children to board early and move to the REAR of the aircraft is a good one. Since there is no lingering near the front lavatory, rear placement of the children would prevent the current running up and down the isles of youngsters, which prevents flight attendants from delivering beverage service. Let the "obviously" handicapped, and those with no overt disability (require a handicap placard) sit near the front. Please ask those that need a wheelchair to remain seated until other passengers deplane. These couple of suggestions would speed up an already very workable streamlined SW procedure. Keep up the good work. You ARE my favorite airline!
Posted by Lynda June 23, 2006

Finally! I felt so strongly about the "cattle car" effect, I wrote you a letter last year requesting that you assign
seating on flights over 2 hrs. I got tired of witnessing the arguments over who was in line 1st, who was saving
space in line w/ a piece of luggage; who was saving seats which goes against the whole premise of first at the
airport gets best seat and my favorite--the glaring looks and negative comments made when 6 people board with the child or handicapped person. Since the planes are flying with smaller seats, larger people, and full seating, assigned seating would
reward those people booking first, allow people to actually sit in the seats instead of standing at the gate, and avoid the verbal
or, yes, physical altercations I witness every time I fly nonstop on a longer flight.

I'm a family flier, not a frequent flier (5-6 times a year). Because of the non assigned seating, Southwest is our airline of last resort. As a rule of thumb, I will pay up to $50 a ticket more to fly on another airline to avoid the cattle call. I'll pay even more to avoid the Southwest lines at LAX.

The problem with the current boarding procedure isn't "open seating," it's the cattle car atmosphere in the gate area that proceeds it. If you can figure out a solution that eliminates the urge to line up (thinking off the top of my head, what about giving everyone a number and board in groups of ten?), you might have the best of all worlds.

Assigned seating is a horrible idea, and I'd hate to see Southwest implement it. I fly Southwest whenever possible, though on occasion I end up on a different airline due to flight availability (i.e. for my Grandfather's funeral this past January).

Every time I've flown some other carrier, it has been amazing to watch how much less efficient the boarding process is than with Southwest, due to the disaster that is people looking for, and being forced to cross each other to get to, their assigned seats. In addition, customers are usually much more grouchy getting into their seats on other airlines -- they have no incentive to board quickly, and they're busy anticipating the loud/smelly/fat/otherwise aggravating person they'll be forced to sit next to. More often than not, I've run into families that are busy yelling at flight attendants over the fact that they're nota ble to sit together due to the way their assigned seating fell. Most of the time, assigned seating does nothing but make customers unhappy while losing the airline money.

People who are complaining about the need to arrive early at the airport even when they've bought tickets well in advance are just whiners. It's not hard at all to get in the "A" boarding group -- in all of the times I've flown Southwest since the introduction of online checkin, I've never once been in "B" or "C" -- and any seat you get in the "A" group is going to be a good one.

Even going with a small set of assigned seats presents serious problems. Part of the beauty of Southwest is that you can get a great seat through your own efforts, i.e. checking in and/or showing up early. If assigned seats were sold at a higher rate than regular seats, they'd almost certainly have to be the good seats (i.e. front few rows, exit rows, etc.), else no one would pay for them. The problem here, though, is that if you give all of the good seats to people who are paying extra, regular customers will lose the possibility of an excellent seat, and become very irritated in the process. You're likely to alienate a large portion of your customer base to please a very, very tiny portion thereof.

I have a business account with SWA. I also am a business and holiday traveler and I see no reason to change to assigned seating. T
I see more delays of boarding passengers than with the ABC system. I believe more education on the procedure will help as I have seen more people try and bring items onboard that exceed the airline policy and this leads to more time per person to board and seat themsleves. The ABC system is what I really enjoy about the airline and the system works fine. If its not broken don't fix it! Thanks.

Please switch to assigned seating. The cattle call brings out the worst in people. I have been jostled, bumped in the back, and
even knocked aside by people who want to get to their most preferred seat. Then there are the ones who rush in and demand to
save seats for others in an effort to circumvent the present system entirely. In short, the present system brings out the worst in
people. And how does it save boarding time? Perhaps at the ticket checking entry, but then everyone is held up by all the people
first in line who also grab the first seats and then have to block the aisle as they stow their luggage, a serious bottleneck that brings access to a grinding halt. It's all tiresome, humiliating, uncivilized.

So, you all love open seating...great. Good for you. Let me tell you what I think of open seating: I live 20 minutes from BWI, an airport I love, yet I drive an hour to Dulles--an airport I loathe--to fly jetBlue instead. Not only do they offer assigned seating, they have on-board entertainment.

Crazy, you say? Well, I'm not flying 45 minutes to Albany. I'm flying trans-con. And I don't want to be crammed in the middle of two fat people for six hours, with nothing to do except stare at the in-flight magazine. And before you tell me that that's my own fault for not gaming the General Admission seating, I'll explain that I also have better things to do than stay up until midnight the night before to print my boarding pass, so I can stand in line for an hour in the "A" group.

Clearly SWA is a great airline for those flying short-haul (especially if you think flying to Long Island is a great way to get to Manhattan), or for those who think that the Greyhound-in-the-air experience is some lind of a lark. But for those of us who want a little comfort in our travel, and are trying to go someplace farther than Buffalo, there's plenty of quality LCC competition (jetBlue, AirTran) that offers the same low prices, but with a superior product--including assigned seating. So that's where I'll be.

That should leave plenty of room for you guys to wax poetically about how wonderful it is to be treated like schoolkids on a field trip.

Its about time! Welcome to the rest of the world.

Please assign seats. I have been on so many Southwest flights that a family with small children is boarding late because of
delayed flights and the whole plane has to rearrange to allow them to sit together. I have actually had people offer me cash for
a seat so families can sit together. Open seating is the stupidest thing I have ever seen and not because I grew up on assigned
seating, but have you had to listen to a screaming kid. I was actually on a flight that a woman had given up an isle seat for take-off
only to seat a parent and child and then create a rucus to get the isle seat back after take-off.....I hate flying as it is and this makes
it more unpleaseant. Since your airline operates like a bus with wings at least assigned seating will had back some of the
pleasantness of flying. There are times when you can't get to the airport a week early to get that A pass or don't have access
to a computer, having an assigned seat will

Count me in as another frequent Southwest flyer that doesn't want to see you go to assigned seating. Having an assigned seat is highly over rated and certainly not worth the extra effort and time it takes to board.

I refuse to fly Southwest because Southwest is a cattle plane and offers cramped seats. I prefer assigned seating. It will be faster if you allow everyone to board planes. I will never choose Southwest.

It seems that you are fighting 2 classes of people. As a business traveler the open seating is perfect
but on vacation travel booked well in advance it is nice and comforting to have an assigned seat when you have
6 or 7 people traveling together. I have talked with people who have bigger families and they say that it's one more
thing to worry about getting in line and hoping they can sit together. Maybe a hybrid method can be implemented
Southwest has always been a leader so I have no doubt they will come up with a unique solution to this problem.

I would much prefer assigned seating. I am able to print a boarding pass when I am home with the hope of securing an A seat. However, on the return flight, I do not have access to a computer and have to sit in the worst seats. I hate standing on line, even with the A boarding pass because I am in pain as a result of foot problems. Please institute assigned seating. Some people I know will not fly SW due to non-assigned seating.

I'm thowing my vote in with unassigned seating; I make 4-5 roundtrip flights a month and, as stated by many others here, most are booked with in a week or two of the flight time. Without open seating, I'd be in back in the cheap seats most of the time, and so would likely switch to another carrier where I could build frequent flyer status and this gain preferred seating. My two cents.
thanks,
Brent

I've flown Southwest for 10 years. I love the seating arrangement as is. Checking in 24 hours on line is a breeze and I always get an n A an A or B seat. Leave it alone and stay as profitable as you have been!

Appreciate the unassigned seating offered by Southwest. On a recent flight there was a SCREAMING child in the front section.
We were able to find a seat in the rear of the aircraft - thank goodness! The flight would have been unbearable if not for that
option. I find it very convenient to check-in on-line within the 24 hours prior to departure. PLEASE do not change this
much appreciated policy.

My bookings on Southwest are well in advance of the flight, so, therefore, I would like to have the opportunity to reserve my desired seat seat well in advance also. I am very much in support of assigned seating, and would like to see it occur ASAP!

I love open seating and hope that you don't change this policy. To me, open seating just seems to work. It truly is one of the major reasons I choose to fly SWA.

I would welcome assigned seating. I have never and expect I never will fly SWA without assigned seating. I hate lines and have a medical problem that makes it difficult for me to stand for long times. What is better than sitting in the airline restaurant, lounge. or just a chair in the terminal... knowing a seat awaits you when you get on the plane. When I walk by SWA gates I am reminded of the unemployment line I once stood in years ago. Yuk. With computer check in and the need to get to the airport so early for security, how can SWA not get into the present.

A suggestion. Why not board airplanes back to front with window seats first, center and then aisle. I see a lot of the delay in crowded aisles while people have to get out of seats to let people in. Also, how about those folks who stand in the aisles blocking boarding be given a shout from the flight attendats. Do we have to continue to tolerate rudeness with silence.

My vote would be to keep the 24 hour online checkin window but rather than assign A-B-C, allow the number of people that would make up the A and B groups to pick seats. The remaining folks (the C group) would just fill-in the empty seats when they board.

P.S. - LUV the attitude, LUV the service, LUV the people and LUV the airline. Thanks for many past and future happy flights.

Have you guys lost your minds? What does Herb think--I am certain the founder of your great airline would not want any part of assigned seating!
I really like things exactly the way they are at Southwest. If you start acting all the others, I will fly with the others.I like to be rewarded with a choice seat by arriving early for check in ! Let the late comers sit in the center seats--they deserve it! Please just drop this plan!

Add my name to the list of people who like the "open seating" system the way that it is. The main reason that I request Southwest for all of my business travel, even when other airlines are available, is (1) the ability to sit far away from crying children, and (2) the fact that Southwest is the only carrier that virtually always runs on time. And, when I have children of my own, I will feel much better if I am able to pre-board with them toward the front, so that other travelers can sit away from them if they wish. If Southwest were to go entirely to assigned seating, I would lose my incentive to use Southwest. I would, however, be open to a hybrid system, where the people who make up the usual pre-board class, including those with young children, can request seats toward the front of the plane and other can request seats far away from that section.

I am a frequent flyer out of RDU (Raleigh/Durham) Since WN started flying out of the RDU market, I have shifted most of my east coast travel away from US Air (even as a Preferred flyer) This is because your Y fares/last minute fares are far superior compared to the competition. Also, the inflight service is actually BETTER than the other so-called full service airlines due to the friendly staff and attitudes. For short haul flights that originate at RDU, the open seating works great. However, I absolutely detest the open seating int he following scenarios:

1) Tight connection times: So what if you have an A zone if the flight is already boarded
2) Flights that do not originate from your city: Ie you aren't boarding an empty plane
3) Long haul flights: People seem to be more testy with the transcon flights
4) Too many "pre-boards" and too many "carry ons"

I agree with a previous poster that certain airports seem to be worse when it comes to the cattle call. Personally, I would support assigned seating or at a very least offer it to those that unrestricted fares. Regardless of what you choose, you have essentially stolen my east coast flying away from the other carriers.

I strongly urge you to leave your seating policy alone!
It works better than any other system I've experienced on other airlines.
The flexibility and speed of boarding is a valuable asset for the company and your passengers.
Don't change a thing!

I must say that I am shocked at the support for the open seating. I've heard many complaints but I have never heard this much postive feedback.

We are the evil family (2 adults, 2 children) vacation flyers that so many of you dread sitting next to. We fly two or three times a year between CMH and MCO. There is one other flight that I make solo. We make our reservations well in advance. I dislike the open seating policy. I fly Southwest because of the price and/or the non-stop service. Given the same flight for the same price, I would pick the airline with the assigned seating. As long as Southwest has a substantially lower price, I would probably put up with the open seating policy. Currently, we can preboard and, in attempt to save most of you here from having to be seated near us, we go to the very back of the plane if we can make it past the people who have carried 17 pieces of luggage on (13 of which won't fit in the overhead to begin with). I am one that does not care where I sit on a plane as long as my family of 4 can be together. I rue the day that we have to return to the A-B-C line and witness the rude behaviors that take place there on occasion. With everybody checking in 24 hours in advance, you could find yourself in the "C" boarding pass group pretty quickly.

I vote to keep the system exactly how it is now. It's quick, simple and works great.

I recently flew on an oh-so-proper airline that is new/again out of Love Field and starts with an "A". (I know, I know, shame on me -- but I fly long distance out of Dallas, and sometimes I need them, and I'm about to take the Bride to Europe on a reward trip....)

At 30 minutes before the flight, they began their assigned seating process. After a few minutes, they were on the airplane's speakers, pleading and bleating with the customers to "step out of the aisle, let others by, blah blah baa baa baa." It got to be practically militant! After a few more minutes of these impassioned announcements, the customers all found a way to store their stuff and sat in their seats. Time yet to wait for pushback? Fifteen more minutes!!

They barked at their clients for 10 minutes to hurry, and then we all sat there fifteen more minutes before starting our journey.

Please do not copy the other airlines and their assigned seating practice. I much prefer the service, respect, and process of SWA! You could say I LUV it.

Just to let you add me to your tally....I have been a SWA customer for years (many years with over 100 credits). At first I didn't like
the 'cattle car' approach but that feeling changed after lots of bad experiences on other airlines. I would rather endure the no
assigned seating approach and leave and get to my destination on time than mess with assigned seats. The other advantage is
you can pick and choose your flight seat partners easier (no noisy kids).

I have always chosen Southwest both for price and for no advanced seating.
I rely on the assurance that early arrivel will allow me to find a window seat.
Dont change! Please.

I would like Southwest either way. It is a friendly airline as described in the other posts, and it has a remarkably easy and homey website. But whether I get an "A" or a "B" or a "C" on my ticket, I have never been crazy about standing in lines for up to an hour to grab my preferred aisle seat. Also, what is and will be your primary competition in Florida for years to come -- JetBlue -- has assigned seats. Assigned seating doesn't seem to be a problem for JetBlue and certainly not for their passengers (which sometimes includes me!). I vote for assigned seating.

Please, please, please do not change to assigned seating. After reading an article about this blog in the Baltimore Sun I felt I had to respond. I've been a loyal Southwest customer for many years. One of my favorite things about the company is its relaxed attitude. I like that the airline doesn't have a first class and that everyone knows if you want the best seats show up early. And mind you, I'm not always there early but if I don't get the great seat I know whose fault it is - mine. I have heard the argument that assigned seating would let people avoid sitting next to a screaming child but it's not true. With assigned seating you never know who you're going to get But with open seating you could chose to walk right past the kid and his/her tired parents (or anyone one else you'd prefer to avoid) and sit as far away as possible. Ignore the elitsts who prefer assigned seating or first class seating. They need to accept that its their responsibility to get to the airport early enough to get the good seats. They shouldn't blame the airline for their laziness! Keep on doing what you're doing - it's great!

I don't care much one way or the other EXCEPT for the fact that with open seating, to get a good choice of seats, I have to get to
front of the A/B/C line and then either stand there for an hour or sit on the floor. That wasn't so bad when I was younger, but now
I find it ANNOYING. Either provide seating that is organized into the A/B/C lines where I can sit and wait to board, or give me a
reservation so I can wait in a seat in the airport. The choice of a bad seat on the plane or sit on the floor is a very poor choice.

PLEASE...NO OPEN SEATING!

My family & I have been flying Southwest Airline for over 10 years!
We have averaged 2+ trips per month and have had the companion pass!
We even chose S W when another airline is cheaper or more convenient.
There have been occasions when I did have to fly another airline and
the whole time I would compare them to SW.
I would wonder WHY they insist on staying in their ruts!
WHY donÃ

Dont change the open seating. I am a tall person and like to stretch my legs out.
On Southwest I can get an exit row if I get in line early. Other airlines I can never get an exit row.
Assigned seats will be like toll roads in florida. They slow the traffic down & cause accidents.
Southwest has the best system-the airline operates efficiently & fares stay low.
Keep up the good work.

You don't need it! I don't want it! Don't do it!!!

You're present policy of being able to log on 24 hrs prior to flight works well but its not the best of both worlds.
I have to tell you that when I book a flight the first thing I do is look at the seating availabilty. Because of the open seating & A- B -C
boarding, I only use Southwest as a last resort. The other thing is that the first come, first boarder doesn't work either. Appreciate the opportunity to send this message.

My oh My!!! The responses continue. Come on folks we must think outside the box. If assigned seating saves the company some
money and attracts more customers, that means yeah.. you guessed it lower fares and even more flights. It would be nice to keep
open
seating, but we all must be open minded. Lets do what is best for Southwest. I will be flying from San Diego to ABQ in July,
hopefully i can be apart of the fun....

We like everything about SouthWest except no assigned seating. We do not fly SW because of this one reason and I suspect thousands of business people like me are also not flying SW for the same reason. I predict that if SW goes to assigned seats, their share of the market will change dramatically. GOOD MOVE!

Jim, your setseatingfree website gave several of us a chuckle in Customer Relations--Thank You! As an Employee of 18 years at the Greatest Airline in the World, reading everyone's supporting comments (both for and against open seating) makes my heart swell with pride. And while I, too, am a fan of open seating and of our remaining a little different than everyone else, I trust in the Leadership of my Company to fairly evaluate open seating and our boarding process and make the right decision for you - our Customers - and for Southwest. Keep posting--I promise you, we're reading!

Further, having read some of the comments in favor of assigned seats, I submit this. First, not having open seating will not reduce your current customer base because it is not open seating that is the main attraction. It is who you are, how passengers are treated, how you run your business, and your prices. Those will all stay. Second, it is a brutal waste of my limited time to have to get to the airport early enough, then stand around for an hour in line, to have any hope of getting a good seat. It is uncomfortable and too time costly. Again, I am certain that once SW goes to assigned seating, they will pick up significant additional shares of the market. Hardly anyone I know flys SW and no assigned seating is the only reason. All said they would if SW would change.

I flew Southwest last week from Reno via Las Vegas to Manchester, NH. I don't think I will fly Southwest again until there is
assigned seating. In the past, you were rewarded with arriving at the airport EARLY with an A boarding pass. The night before my flight
I logged on and was suprised to find I was issued a B pass on a 5 hour flight. Then on the way back, since we didnt have internet
service we went to the airport itself 20 hours prior to departure and again received a B pass for a 5.5 hour flight.

I find the line up to be very annoying as in order to get a good seat you need to stand in line a whole hour before boarding, while
instead I could be sitting down getting work done or even going to have a beer somewhere. Then you have the cutters who when
the line starts moving just blend in as no one ever knows which line is ever what. No thanks to that! I will spend the extra $20
to fly on a legacy carrier where I know I will be seated ahead of time and be able to sit next to my wife.

Some other annoyances of Southwest. On a five hour flight what is up with getting a dixie cup of soda or coffee twice on the entire
flight? Why can't there ever be a full can of coke or a full cup of coffee? The flight attendants mostly just sat in the back of the
plane and talked and talked instead of going around and seeing who wanted more to drink.

We flew over some great landmarks (Grand Canyon, Zion, Lake Powell) on the way to and from Vegas and the pilot never once
got on the intercom to point those out. I was pointing those out to fellow passengers and they asked why the pilot didnt? When
the pilot did speak he was so garbled no one ever cared!

When are the airlines ever going to get rid of reclining seats? There is nothing more annoying than the person in front of you
reclining all the way into your lap for a 5 hour flight! Nothing like having that tray table in your gut and knees in the back of the seat,
then we you move the guy in front of you always gets annoyed! Do us all a favor people, unless you have a kid behind you, make do
with NOT reclining!

The Fasten Seat Belt Sign - Does SWA always leave that light on whenever the flight attendants are actually serving drinks?
Seems like to me whenever you hit the tiniest of bumps that light comes on right when you have to go! Then it is usally another
hour it stays on even though there is any turbulance, and miraculously goes off when the flight attendants go the back for their
social hour and reading of magazines.

To me SWA is like any other airline these days, We are going to stick with the airlines that let you pick a seat and even give you
a movie or Direct TV for a 5 hour flight!

I want to go on record as a person who is opposed to assigned seating. I think Southwest Airlines first come, first serve policy is absolutely the best. Not only is it fairer than assigned seating, it just makes much more sense. Please do not return to assigned seating. Thanks!

I just read about this in the news.
IMO, open seating would be better if you would decease the size of your groups.
I am sure that you could still do it as fast with A - Z (10-15 people in a group).
I think that would eliminate the pre-boarding line up which I hate.
If I know that the flight is not very full and I have no carry-on, I usually just wait to the end to avoid all of it.
While I don't mind open seating, I do know quite a few people that avoid SWA completely because of it.

Personally I don't mind the "cattle call" now that you've perfected it so that you don't have to stand in line for an hour before the flight leaves. I can check in online 24 hours ahead of time and get an "A" "B" or "C" card and that's fine by me. I don't believe that the people who won't fly Southwest are going to be converting in droves because of assigned seating. How many people do you think fly your airline because they have a bit more control over where they sit? Sure, you can get your seat ahead of time on other airlines, but that only lets you pick where you want to sit. It has no control over who you're sitting next to, and with Southwest's boarding I can at least have some control over that aspect of things... and computer systems always have problems now and then. I've been on several flights on other airlines where our departure was delayed because the same seat had been assigned to more than one person. None of that crap on Southwest. I think you should leave your seating system alone and not mess with something that works fine the way it is!

My husband & I are Southwest frequent flyers. WE LOVE OPEN SEATING!!! As far as we are concerned, assigning seats is the first step on the road to hell. There will be no reason to choose Southwest over all other airlines. I want to choose my seat away form screaming children and oversized people. This is a terrible idea! Please, please, please donÃ

A few comments regarding open seating:

1. Keep it. With a few minor mods. I like having options as to where I sit when boarding the plane.
2. More clealy delineate the A,B,C lines - like Huston Hobby. Seems to help reduce confusion and unintended "line cutting".
3. Pre-boarding for frequent flyers - (i.e. pre-board if you've qualified for a companion pass - very easy to administer).

Thanks.

Open seating rewards those passengers who are organized; if you check in online,than it is likely that you'lll be in the first few groups to get on; if you wait til the last mintue, you still have a chance of getting a decent seat, it just depends upon when you get your act together. IF you implement assigned seating, and if you do like the other airlines (who are all losing money so why do you want to do what they do???), then only a certain percentage will truly be available for assigned seating up until day of departure. So if you have to book late, then you won't get an assigned seat. That translates into more folks getting in line at the ticket or gate and bugging the agent about getting a seat. BTW, I love SWA and even though you don't fly into my city, I'll still drive 2 or 3 hours to fly on you, either OMA or MCI, because SWA truly adds value to each customer experience.

It is inconceivable that assigned seats will board more efficiently than the current SWA group procedure. Isn't that the reason you board in groups? I am a 55 year old lawyer who flies a lot. The current SWA system works. So it seems like the bus; who cares? I want the bus to run on time. If I want to take a cab or a limo [or another airline], I can do so. The system works. Please do not screw with it.

I just read about your blog in the newspaper and about the assigned seating test. Don't do it! There is an energy and vitality that emanates from the open seating policy. It (and your low prices) are what make Southwest different from the other airlines. Open seating allows frequent flyers to book a few days before a flight and still get a good seat. I love your other improvements--online
check in and wireless check in. Just don't go too far.

Please, Please, Please - Do not listen to these people who think you have to stand in line for an hour with an "A" boarding pass to get a good seat. If they invested the amount of time that it took them to read this blog into checking out the different ways to get an "A" and what seats are available to the very last "A" boarder, they would know better. I fly 15-20 RT's per year on Southwest and have never seen the problems they describe with the boarding process. If you decide that you just have to try this, the best idea I have heard is to allow assigned window and aisle seats at the rear of the plane only and even allow them to preboard, as long as they do not have any overhead bin carryon luggage. This way, the passengers who are stuck with a "C" pass will at least have a good shot at having overhead bin space even if they are sitting in a middle seat at the back of the plane.

I have been a dedicated Southwest flyer for so long that desk agents are usually surprised at my LOW frequent
flyer number. I also fly other airlines when I have to and I know from experience that seat assignment does not reduce the time one spends waiting in line to board.

Why not board and de-plane from both ends of the
plane? This is fairly common in Europe and certainly reduces the amount fo time it takes to get on or off the plane.

OR---why not reward those passengers with NO carry-on luggage by allowing them to board right after the "pre-boarders"? The biggest delay in boarding is caused by those passengers who have huge or several carry-ons which they can't maneuver down (up?) the aisle, can't
find an empty bin, or can't hoist their too-heavy luggage
up into the bin. If you have only a SINGLE purse or briefcase or computer case, you could scmper on board and seat yourself with dispatch.

I understand that extra minutes spent on the ground do not generate revenue, but I can't imagine that assigned seating is a step forward.
Ruth Anderson

Ive been flying LUV for 12 years now, been an investor for 6,and I can't think of a single reason to give up open seating. It represents one of the few remaining democratic institutions in this country, a leveler if you will. If you want assigned seating go fly America Worst or some other legacy carrier. I want to board quick, get there quick, and get off quick, and SWA is the only carrier that lets me do it.
Oh yeah, and do it cheaply too ;)
If you want to get an assigned seat, go elsewhere and pay more, but leave my open plan alone.

If your looking to make more revenue, how about child free flights? I have to travel trans-con about twice a year and I would gladly pay an additional 20% if you could guarantee that there would be no children under the age of 12 on the plane. You bill the obese more for crowding out seats, why not charge more for kids, who do nothing but make the ride miserable for the rest of us

When we started flying Southwest several years ago I would have been one of those asking for seating assignments but
it didn't take me long to appreciate your efficiency and hope you don't change it.

No to ending Cattle Call seating. If they want assigned seating let them pay for it. $50-200 per seat. Just reserve 8-12 seats in the middle of the plane and charge them a surcharge. Once they are sold, check in for your A, B, C boarding pass. I wouldn't pay extra but if it's that big a deal then they might put their money where their mouth is. (Idea stolen from Morris Air) I know the only place a plane makes money is in the air, not boarding passengers at the gate.

I am very glad Southwest came to Denver, but we will not fly any airline with cattle call boarding ever again, unless it is MUCH cheaper than the other options. Traveling can be stressful enough anymore, we don't need the extra stress of rushing to try to get good seat together. It is obvious that the loyal Southwest flyers are the ones that like the current system and also that they are the only ones who post here, so I doubt this is a true picture of what the average person likes but it is a good picture of what your loyal flyers like. I understand why some people would like the existing system, but for us it makes Southwest the LAST airline we would choose for a flight.

Don't change your open seating policy! That is one reason we fly SWA 100% of the time if we can. Too many airlines that have seat assignments won't assign them until you arrive at the airport. Only on a recent trip to Hawaii did Hawaiian Airlines assign a seat at the time of booking. We like to pick who we sit next to. Mainly not screaming kids and people coughing their heads off.

Don

NOOOOOOO! TO ASSIGNED SEATING.

I have been a loyal Southwest customer for more than fifteen years. I love the efficiency. I love the reasonable prices. Most of all, I love the culture of the company and its belief in egalitarian treatment of its customers. I have flown other airlines and found that they simply do not compare to Southwest. Now I fly Southwest exclusively for business and vacations, and I am a proud "unpaid" representative for the company. I like the quirkiness of the company and its flight attendants are the best. I strongly urge you to keep open seating for all the great reasons given by everyone. I agree with comments that the system could be improved. For example, a simple rule that getting in line means actually getting up and taking your place in line would probably eliminate most of the arguments that happen when people try to hold a space with luggage or simply pushing to the front.

I personally did not start out being a fan of the cattle line. However, after trying other airlines, I found that I love the company and have grown to understand the rules of the cattle line, which is symbolic of so much about Southwest. I had the privilege of flying to San Francisco this past week during Southwest's celebration of 35 great years in business. I took a copy of the in-flight magazine as a little memento of this wonderful event. On my way to Cally I sat next to two annoying people who talked incessantly about some film they were working on, taking time out to complain about everything. They complained with their nose up in the air about the cattle line. They complained about the jingles, which delighted most of the other passengers who clapped and asked for more. They complained about the people clapping (which made me clap enthusiastically) and called the airline cornie. I wonder why such people fly Southwest to complain. Maybe it's all the great reasons the rest of us fly Southwest, but their cynicism won't let them just sit back and enjoy the ride.

I'm not saying all people who want assigned seating are miserable, but based on the conversations I've seen and had personally, many of these people dislike LUV's open seating not just because it is inconvenient to them, but primarily because they look down on the culture of LUV and how open seating fits into that culture. Listen to your loyal customers. They are happy and sold on the company on so many levels. That type of loyalty is rare these days and is what many other companies dream about. You have it. Please don't throw it away by trying to be part of the exclusive airline club - that club ain't doing so well these days and is nothing to emulate. I and many others like that Southwest is not like the other airlines. I would be sad and a little disillusioned if you tried to remake yourself in the image of your competitors. I have been loyal to other companies who disappointed me or tried to be more like the rest. I can tell you that once they became too much like everybody else, they lost a lot of my business because then "what's the point."

If you decide to change to open seating to satisfy some customers, then I agree with suggestions to make a small section in the front or back available for limited assigned seating and let people who enthusiastically want to pay more for this service do so. I would seriously caution you that before making this change, try to to make sure that you are changing to meet the needs of loyal customers or potentially loyal customers who otherwise love and respect the culture of the company. Otherwise, you would be making a fundamental change that would make many already loyal customers very unhappy to try to satisfy customers and potential customers who will just start complaining about something else until they've succeeded in making you just like all the other crappy LUVLESS airlines.

Please keep in mind that no matter how wide you open your arms, some people just will not accept LUV! As for me and many like me, you had us at "hello!" Keep up the great work.

Finally, your anniversary magazine had pictures of Southwest ads from the 70's, including some very cool flight attendant uniforms. Is there any way you could make these available for sale to the public as posters? I'd buy them and I'm sure other would, as well.

P.S. - If you ever need an extremely qualified corporate tax attorney to work inhouse, my resume is available upon request!

Lisa

Please keep your open seating policy! It allows me the freedom to sit near people I want to sit with. On my last flight I just wanted to read my book and unwind from a crazy week. I was able to sit in between two other passengers who were already reading when I arrived. Other than exchanging what each was reading and whether it was a book worthy of noting we read and flew in relative silence. ALoow mw the freedom to stay away from small children and enjoy my flight.

Hey,

Thanks for the update. If effeiciency is an issue, why spend the money to reprogram a computer system to accept assigned seats?s. It also means that Southwest will need to employee people to straighten out problems with seat assignemnts and juggle last minute changes for those that are not happy with them. This is going to be an added cost which will invetibly need to be passed on. Rather than having people be upset about open seating, they will be upset that they did not get the seat assignment they wanted. Most of the passengers I have spoken with whom I have spoken do not like the system because they cannot arrive to the airpoirt late and still get a good seat. The system, as it currently stands, encourages people to get to the airport early. That is one of the reasons flights are able to turn around quickly. Leeting people arrive later, because they have assigned seats, is bound to slow the process down.

The system in its current state is inheritantly simply and incredibly democratic. If I arrive when I am supposed to, I get a good seat. if I choose to run late, I don't. I have no one to blame but myself.

Rather than spending this money on a computer upgrade and extra staff to manage an assigned seating system, why not take the money and put it into audio and video systems on long flights. That would be a better expense.

Thanks for letting me express myself.

I've been waiting for this ever since the 24 hour 0nline booking went into effect. I'm primarily a business traveler on SW, and its gotten to the point that you feel lucky if you can get into B group seating, even when booking online shortly after the 24 hour window opens. I'm done with the cattle call. Hail to the SW execs that are taking this by the horns!! Yea, many are up in arms, but they are probably the same business guys who are paying web companies to pre-reserve for them. Enough with the wining. Just keep your on-time efficiency, plenty of flight options, and low prices and we'll be there. That's what SW is really all about.

I am agreement with the majority of the comments concerning assigned seating. Southwest has been a leader for years, not to mention profitable. If you chose to assign seats, my business will probably go elsewhere. Keep in mind that I have earned a companion pass for two years running. Southwest has been a tremendous airline to fly. Don't mess with success!

I recently flew USAirways (not my choice) to a conference in Minnesota. A disaster in the loading process.

KEEP OPEN SEATING!!!

Please keep open seating. As a frequent Southwest traveler, I find the open seating efficient and convenient. I also travel with a child and the open seating is far more convenient than assigned seating. Please consider your passengers with children under 2. Since we are not
able to print early boarding passes or get seating assignments online because of our lap child, I find Southwest's open seating to be much better than say America West and Nothwest AND British Airways - AND Delta!!!! I have flown all of these with my lap child and only the Southwest flights were easy and comfortable experiences. If you do move to assigned seating, please consider how you will deal with assignments for travelers with lap children when they purchase tickets online. Thank You!

Ed from Vegas wrote: "As a senior passenger, with SWA policy that does not allow a senior ticket holder to check in online, it is impossible no matter how early you arrive at the airport to get an A boarding pass"

This was once the case, but for the better part of a year Southwest has provided a way for seniors to mail in proof of age and get age-verified for online check-in ability. This is explained at http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/seniors.html

Others have posted that you need to have a working printer to get an A. This is also incorrect. Just check in online without printing. When you get to the airport, go to the kiosk and it will print you the same letter that you saw earlier on your computer screen. If you can't be at a computer 24 hours ahead, phone a friend and have him do the check-in for you without printing. YOU DON'T NEED THE PRINTOUT AT ALL.

No no no. Please don't dismiss open seating. I love Southwest Airlines. I book flights at the last minute like so many other Southwest regulars and the open seating arrangment would be a huge loss to me. However, beyond any of that is the fact I really appreciate the open seating concept for what it is and would hate to see it disappear. The open seating is one of the reasons I love and continue to fly Southwest Airlines.

I don't really understand all the complaints about open seating vs. assigned seating. In both systems, the seat you get is dependent on your actions prior to boarding.

With open seating, you are rewarded for checking in early, either at the airport or online, and you are rewarded again for getting to the gate on time and securing your position within your boarding group. The people who make reservations closer to the date of the flight, and therefore pay the most for their seats, have an opportunity to get good seats.

With assigned seating, you are rewarded twice for planning far in advance ... you get the lowest fares and you get the best seats. People who make their reservations closer to the date of the flight, often through no fault of their own, are "punished" twice ... they pay the most and they get the worst seats.

It seems that open seating gives more people more freedom and control over their "destiny" and this seems to fit Southwest's culture and image to a tee.

Neither systems is perfect. Stay with the system that gives more people the "freedom to fly."

Gary, as a weekly flyer of Southwest, I HATE HATE HATE the idea of assigned seating. One of the many
charms of flying Southwest is you can find total strangers while waiting to board, and then being lucky
enough to find someone interesting who you actuallly WANT to sit next to. No screaming kids, no middle
seat if you are smart enough to print your boarding pass online (hello, that's one of the reasons you guys
are the most successful in getting your customers to print online, saving you big time cash !), and always being
able to sit at the back of the plane. My biggest question to you is this: Why in the world would you want to copy
the business practices of your failed and failing competitors ? You are basically the only successful airline in
the country, and that is because from the beginning you have strived to be different. Please do not take away
those things that make me pick YOU over the competitors. If I wanted to fly Delta or United, I would book them.
The next thing you know, I'll be reading about your considering changing your Rapid Rewards program. STOP
STOP STOP ! Be SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, not your miserable competitors !

WE LUV the way things are here in Texas......I luv getting my A boarding passes online. You guys have flown our 5 children, by themselves from SAT to LAX for the last years, twice a year. We would not change a thing. My kids would not know what to do if Mom did not get them an A borading pass. They laugh, but they luv it! Thanks for always having the best service, prices and people! WE LUVV you all here in TX....

I really don't care one way or the other about the assigned seating. What difference does it really make. Folks that travel on SW constantly know the system and know how to get "A" boarding. If you go to assigned seating, the frequent travelers will still get the preferential seats anyway - assuming you will grant some type of tiered loyalty system based upon our frequency of flying SW.

This is what irks me. I am usually at a gate at LEAST 2 hours before boarding. Invariably, I am # 1 in the "A" line. By boarding time, here come all the preboards. Poof - the preferred seats are gone. Have you ever really looked at and examined your pre-boarding policy? I would venture to say that SW has more preboaders than any other airline - certainly a lot more than the norm for the industry. I have no problem with the wheelchairs and those on crutches, etc. I see, time after time, many able-bodied people preboard. Talking to the gate attendants, they are told "not to question" anyone who gets in the preboard line - blue sleeve or not. I have even asked able-bodied men why they are in preboard and the answer was that no one ever questions them, so they do it. I can understand letter a mother with a baby in arms preboard - but why let every kid "5 or under" preboard. What purpose does that serve? Really? What purpose? None that I can think of.

Unless SW can restructure their preboard policy, then I will be in favor of assigned seating.

One other complaint. I frequently travel SAT to MSY, connecting in HOU. Always arrive in Gates 40-50, or so. On my return flight, again I always arrive somewhere between, say, 40-50. EVERY TIME on the return flight, I have to connect through Gates 1-7, which means I have to change terminals and go through that damn security again. How about shifting this around a little bit? Send the HOU to SAT flights out of 40-50 at least every now and then. I often take American to MSY just so I don't have to gon through this.

OK, I'm off the soap box.

Please, please, please go to assigned seats. I have flown Southwest for almost 30 years and have gotten to the point where I do not want to fly you because of this outdated system. I have seen in almost every instance harsh words and stress by passengers in lining up at the gate. People try to cut in line. We try to figure out where the line is. Does a bag in line constitue being in line? This is so stressful and so unnecessary. The rest of the flight is so enjoyable, why not make the whole flight experience enjoyable? I simply cannot believe this would impact your scheduling. If this was such a great system why did not other airlines adopt this system?

I DON'T fly Southwesat primarily because of the "open seating" policy. I am happy to pay an additional 20% for this service and I'm sure SWA would enjoy making extra income.

One of the primary reasons I don't like the open seating policy is the "herd mentality" you acquire when you stand in a Southwest line. I have to stand in line getting my ticket, going through security AND now 45-50 minutes BEFORE the flight jsut to get a "A or B" seat - heaven forbid if you get shamed into the "C" line.........

I pay good money to fly, not spend close to an hour BEFORE even getting on the plane standing in line like a child in school........

Life's a choice, I choose to spend my money AND time wisely when I travel, not standing in line like cattle to save $20.......

HOORAH! HOORAH! ASSIGNED SEATING AT LAST! . I had to quit flying Southwest, because I could no longer stand in line and I dispise setting in the back of the plane. I can't imagine why anyone would like the "cattle call" which reduces you to a non-person. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE for assigned seating.

PLEASEEEEEEEEE!!!!! keep your open seating!!!!!!! It is one of the most effecient things you can do for the boarding process. Too
many times I have seen passengers sit in the wrong seat, then disrupt the boarding process when the passenger with correct boarding pass shows up. I have been on lightly filled flights and watch in amazement as people MUST sit in their assigned seat even though there are many other vacant seats nearby------this, even at the very end of the boarding process.

Stay different & efficient!!!!! Especially if it helps keep your fares lower!!!

I recently traveled with southwest from SA TX to CA. with layovers in EPaso. I was pleased on how smoothly the loading of passengers was. At that time I paid attention of why and I realized that being able to choose which seat best suits individual passengers was a faster load because they did not want anyone else getting their chosen seat, making for a faster load process. I am a senior with a background which includes Airline passenger service across the globe. It was a pleasure traveling with you.

Please contact your weekly fliers on this topic. For those who fly "once-in-a-while" would not mind the open seating. I would prefer to have a selected seat than watch all these people rush to a seat. Most people act like it is the day after Christmas sale and do whatever it takes to get a seat!

I am not a business frequent flyer. I travel from SAT to Lubbock to vsit my mother . I get my boarding pass online. I have always been pleased with the quickness with which SWA boards passengers. Having assigned seating seems to slow down boarding because of people looking for seat numbers--bumping into others while looking overhead. I have never stood in line but a few minutes to board. For those who have stood in line 45 minutes, they could wait to get in line until their letter is called. We are all going to get to our destination at the same time no matter where we sit. I believe looking for an open seat is faster and smoother--and assigned seats don't mean a person won't be put by children. To those who feel they are so important they must have advance seating in first class--let those few fly with a second-class airline.

Somebody in your Company doesn't have enough to do. When people don't have enough to do they start changing things. For example, they might want to change "open seating" to "assigned seating". Give those people something else to do. I am perfectly content with the "last one on gets to sit next to the lady with the squealing kid" policy. I certainly don't want to pay more, wait longer and still have to sit next to that person. I don't know who Gary Kelly is but I do know he doesn't have enough to do. Why doesn't he have enough to do? It is because Southwest airlines runs smoothly and effeiciently the way it is. Get Mr. Kelly a book of crossword puzzles or a jigsaw puzzle and lock him in the closet for the next twenty years. Or maybe you could buy Mr. Kelly a ticket on another airling and he could spend his time waiting for someone going up and down an aisle squinting at the seat numbers, trying to determine where they are supposed to sit. Changing to assigned seating is the most ridiculous thing of which I have ever heard.

I've read the comments and as the spouse of one of the BEST Flight Attendants in the business, I had to speak up. With all of this

We have flown Southwest on several occasions, but choose to fly other airlines because they offer assigned seating. The main reason is that we do not have to arrive hours in advance, wait in lines for the boarding numbers and be a part of the mayhem and stressful environment that we have experienced. If Southwest does adopt boarding passes, we will choose them more often. But that is what is so great about this country, we have choices. We were happy to see the recent article and hope that you will implement the program. How difficult is it to find the row of seats to which you would be assigned? The primary airline which we fly now boards in a timely manner. We can check-in online, get our boarding passes online, stop by the kiosk at the airport to check in any luggage, which is so convenient, and go through security. All this makes the travel experience much better.

Assigned seating would definitely get me and my family in them more often. Thanks for giving it a try.
I hope it catches on and spreads throughout the system.

The current every man for himself system brings out the worst in humanity. I have seen diplorable behavior in these lines just to get a better seat. I have seen pushing, shoving, arguments, and near fist fights when the line starts to form. This is not to mention those people that put their luggage in the "A" line then disappear until boarding. Last time I checked that was a security violation. What really gets to me is the people that stand in line for an hour for a 40 min flight. I just don't get it. This current free for all is what keeps me from flying Southwest. I pay more to fly US Airways out of Philly just to avoid this mess. If you know US Airways in Philly, I am speaking volumes by voluntarily choosing US Air. JUST GIVE ME A SEAT ASSIGNMENT ALREADY!!!!

Please do not change your seating system. If your true reason to explore assigned seating is for passenger boarding efficiency, consider hiring several able-bodied folks to lift carryon baggage into the overhead bins. As I observe passengers boarding the plane, they waste little time selecting a seat. What really slows down boarding is stuffing luggage overhead. People block the aisle as they struggle with their luggage. I would gladly pay an extra fee if SW would speed up the boarding process in this fashion.
Never go to the reserved seating system. Not only is it one of your main distinguishing characteristics, it serves as a reminder of just how poorly the other airlines treat passengers. If you are not one of their favored "platinum" status fliers, good luck trying to get a good seat, even months in advance. They simply aren't available.
My simple rule for flying has always been, "If Southwest flies to my desination, I will ALWAYS choose Southwest." The real cattle call is on the other airlines.

If Southwest changes its policies because of allegations by some of its non-customers that they won't fly Southwest until there is assigned seating, it will be yet another example of corporations taking existing customers for granted and even aggravating them in search of a few dollars more. I would be overreacting to say that I would discontinue flying Southwest. But I wouldn't like it as much if I had to deal with assigned seating.

And when the occasion comes that prices are about the same and schedules are about the same and I know that I have to deal with Southwest's assigned seating instead of being able to check in on line and get my "A" card, I will be likely to choose the competitor.

So, please, consider us the loyal before you go after those who are so inflexible that they let this keep them off Southwest.

Count mine as a YES response, absolutely in favor of assigned seating! From personal conversations with other travelers waiting in line, it is clear that the great majority of SW flyers favor assigned seating. Take a poll any day among the people sitting or standing in any line at any gate and you will get that kind of response. I have never heard one person in line say that they favored open seating. Combined, my wife and I have flown about 25 to 30 SW segments over the past 24 months. We have had enough! Solely because there is no assigned seating, we have decided to stop traveling on SW, unless there just is no other reasonable alternative. I urge SW to implement assigned seatin ASAP.

My feelings about open seating are very simple. Eliminate it!! I dont like seating in a small waiting area-ie Chicago-and having to see people sitting right next to the front using a laptop on the floor. They are trying to be in the best place for Boarding Pass A. dont want to go to a basketball game, baseball game or a play and have to fight for a seat. I certainly dont want to do it on a plane.

I suggest if people want a seat-get on your wonderful website, book a flight and pick one. You can book up to 4 months in advance. If someone tries to book a flight a day before or the last minute-they get whats left, Very simple. I used to travel with 4 children and my wife. I went overseas and stateside over a 20 year military career and also as a civilian. I went home to NY for funerals. I dont want to worry about where I sit.

Thanks.

Richard S./San Antonio, TX

Please, no assigned seating. I have enjoyed the quality and thoughtfulness of every employee that I have ever met on my flights
and I have enjoyed the opportunity to choose my own seat. You are the difference and I choose you to fly. Please don't change.
Nuts about you, Richard J Garcia

I'm all for the open seating. I enjoy meeting and talking with fellow passengers as we stand in our A, B, or C lines waiting to
board.

We have always been happy with the open seating policy of Southwest and feel it puts them ahead in the competition for customer service.Accordingly,we feel you are dropping back in the race for leadership innovation by thinking of any assigned seating arrangement.Please DO NOT CHANGE something which has worked so well. We LUV Southwest and want you to remain the same! Recently returned from Denver vacation and both of our flights were great with our A boarding passes.The status quo is sometimes the smart move.

I travel quite often for business and pleasure and SWA has been my first choice for some time. No matter what the purpose of travel is I prefer the open seating policy. For business travel I purchase my tickets within a few days and pay full fare. Without assigned seats I know that I can still get an A group boarding pass and get a window or aisle seat of my choice. Please don't start assigning seats. It doesn't work. When SWA doesn't fly to a city I am travelling then I travel United or American. I have never left on time on those airlines because of the boarding process.

I guess I do not understand your rush to be like every other airlines: assign seats, slow down the loading process, go broke, and please a few snobby snobby people from California. In your blog you mention that change is inevitable and that not all change is bad. I agree, however, you are changing to a method that is not new and innovative, but a system that has been used, to the point of failure, for years by other airlines. Please do not take this a harsh comment. I love riding Southwest and will go out of my way to do so. You take off and land on time and treat your passengers as family Ã

I have been flying Southwest since the early 90's and I have to also cast my vote for on assigned seating. In the quest for additional revenue per seat, you're are trying to imitate the people who are bankrupt in the first place (or close to it of course). In most cases your flights are consistently full and what has made you money has been what has made you DIFFERENT, not the same.

Everyone who knows me understands that I look at your web site first to see if there is a flight to my destiniation, but if I am going to end up on the "back of the bus" as one blogger put it, then I might be tempted to look at other planes for a better seat.

Please just leave the seats as they are. Thanks with LUV!

I fly approximately 40 trips annually and in the course of a calendar year fly at least once on all domestic airlines.

I have not taken the time to read the comments above. I am reacting to a story in the San Antonio Express News, Saturday
June 24, 2006. I can make this simple. I truly enjoy flying SWA and have no desire to see it become like the other airlines. If I need
an assigned seat - which is rare - I can always fly them. If I need a flight ontime, with a fun crew, at a great cost, with maximum
flexibility for my schedule......I fly SWA. Please do not become like the other airlines. You can not please all of your passengers.
However, they have a hard time pleasing any of theirs!!!!!! Please don't do anything to damage the SWA culture of fast turn times.

PLEASE! Leave the open seating as it is! This is one of the great pluses flying Southwest. I avoid flying with other airlines because Southwest HAS open seating.

Mr. Kelly,

There's an old adage that has served the wise well over the years: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

As a very frequent flyer of PSA in California in the 70s, one of their strongest points for passenger satisfaction was the open seating that allowed one to race through the airport and catch a flight. Their InstaTicket was a stroke of genious for the harried business passenger. I always had a stack of those in my briefcase to fill in and rip from the fanfolded stack.

Sadly, I watched as management too far removed from the founders started tinkering with what worked so well for PSA, e.g., diversifying their fleet away from the B727s and expanding into markets already saturated. And so PSA is no more.

Herbie took the PSA model and fine tuned it, ignoring the mistakes of the Johnny-come-latelies, creating undoubtedly the most successful -- and most influential -- airline ever to fly. That's why, as infrequently as I fly now (once or twice a year), I book on line with SWA. Maybe it's a nostalgia thing, PSA all over again, including the casual irreverence.

Perhaps as suggested the compromise is to have a first class section for those few who just have to have the royal treatment. Frankly, I have to believe that most of your customers prefer that you continue to be profitable and operate those great ontime schedules with the ability of the customer to show up at the gate credit card in hand to hop the LUV Bird.

I live in Albuquerque, NM and have been flying on SWA since the airline was first started. I average at least one flighr per month
and think that SWA is the best airline in the country! Please dont change the open seating policy. The open seating is one of
the main reasons that SWA is my first choice whenever I fly. Your present system of obtaining boarding passes is the fairest in
the industry and your reservation web site is the best of any airline in the world. At one time I had over one million frequent
flyer miles on the so called major airlines but today the only airline that I fly is SWA! Please keep your present open seating
system. Thank you for allowing me to submit my comments.

I fly several times a month and Southwest is the last airline I check. Southwest has great fares and schedules.
Open seating makes SW my last choice. I see no reason to stand for an hour in line just to get the seat of choice.
SW start assigning seats and I will fly you more often.

If those who carry their large suitcases would check them in instead of stuffing them in the overhead (always in a hurry with no consideration of others type people) and 'saving' seats were barred ( If nobody is in the seat I sit down and to heck with the person 'saving' it...yea I risk an altercation but he who initiates it will be thrown off) then maybe first-come is ok- I prefer to fly those airlines that have reserved seating - I'd rather pay more than have to sit between two fat people or those that can't afford soap,
have a cold / flu / whatever or want to talk my ear off with their life story / problems...etc etc.

If it ain't broke - don't fix it! Your current seating strategy works great and provides the most efficient and effective method for getting butts in the seats.

Efficient - since it minimizes the time it takes to get everyone on board a full flight (chairs, babies, overhead bags, etc.). aAlso minimizes the FA's time having to sort everyone out. Imagine the fights over the seats (hey mister, I'm in 18F!).

Effective - no one wants the middle seat but hey...at least you have a choice. Between the two sumo wrestlers or the two college girls? Hmmmm, let me think about that one! Kinda like making your own tacos at a Mexican buffet, no complaints!

Seems the only ones who really don't like SWA's seating ops are those who are not familiar with the system. Maybe make if more fun for newbies? Better pre-board briefings?

I applaude your willingness to experiment with the system to see if it can reduce costs. (not sure how but I gotta believe thats your motivation). Is this like the dual boarding bridge experiment?

One things for certain, SWA is best airline flying and I hope you keep it that way!

The best thing about not having assigned seats is that you can avoid the Kids on flights. Once you preboard them, I can then sit farterth away on a long flight so as not to be disturbed with crying etc. The old system is fast and effective and as a Companion Pass Member...I want it to stay as is!!

I can tell by the tone of Mr. Kelly's post that management has *already*made*up*their*minds*! HUGE Mistake! Ditching open seating is the same as Coca-Cola dropping "Real" Coke a few years ago. This upper management group will run Southwest into bankruptcy court within two years.

Bobber

This thread has gotten too long for me to wade through, so I'll just say I'm in favor of keeping the open seating the way it is. When I first flew Southwest I thought the cattle-call seating was a joke. But after six years of flying SWA four or five times a year I've come to appreciate it. I'd just as soon not have to listen to poorly-mannered children scream in my ear, thank you. At least with the open seating I can get some distance away from them.

I choose to fly SWA because of wide choice of flights & more reasonable prices. But open seating brings out the worst in people. Standing in the "A" "B" or "C" line for an hour is anxiety causing, because people are such hogs. If everyone would be courteous & follow the "rules," it could work, but we know that there are always those people who believe that the rules don't apply to them. And the Southwest personnel don't help - at all. If the protocol for lining up could be announced and reinforced by Southwest attendants, it might be better. But it's every man for himself. SWA also needs to enforce the rules about carry-ons. Some people carry on so much stuff, that there is no room in the overhead compartments for those who don't board first - and hence the anxiety about boarding first! Gary - there needs to be a better way ....

I've been a business traveler for 25 years and many times have passed on SW so I knew where I would be sitting.

Even more so when my wife travels with me. There have been times when circumstances required flying SW and several cases

where we couldn't sit together. ASSIGNED SEATS---THE SOONER THE BETTER !!!

Regarding seat assignments -- we really wish you would add that! Having no seat assignment often makes the difference in which airline we choose to fly. Except for that, Southwest has been a great way to travel. With no seat assignment, you typically end up standing in a disorganized line from the moment you arrive at the gate until you board the plane, and sometimes that is a very long time. Often the lines zig zag in ways that make it difficult to even find the end. Often there are people (usually teenagers) who are literally lying on the floor, eating their meal, drinking their drinks, reading their books, with their bags and food spread around them like they are the only passenger, while others who are trying to "find" the line have a hard time doing so. We would strongly encourage you to add seat assignments. For those who do not want seat assignments, let them stand in line and board after everyone else! :-)

Assigned seating is the way to go. It's not the concept of open seating that's so bad, it's the execution. People lining up
sometimes hours before a flight, congested gate areas, people all over the floor. Passengers who put their bags in line then go
sit down are the ultimate in rude. I'd fly almost any other airline except Southwest , but because my company requires we take the
lowest fare I'm usually stuck with Southwest. I don't even claim my frequent flyer miles because I wouldn't travel on Southwest for personal travel, instead I'll pay more and know I have an assigned seat and not subject my family to having to sit on the hard
ground for an hour just to get a reasonable seat. The message from Southwest is "We don't care about you because we know
you'll take whatever we dish out to save a buck" or maybe the slogan should be "You're just Cargo"