not a fan of this at all. Defeats the whole purpose of becoming an A-Lister and Frankly is another step toward becomming just like any other airline; catering to business travelers. Oh by the way, with the economy and sorry state of the other aiirlines, many business travellers seem to be flying SW anyway and getting over not having an assigned seat or first class seating.
I hope this gets re-thought.
... View more
I have been a Rapids Reward member since 1996, anytime I can I fly Southwest; whether for business or pleasure. I fly to Ft. Lauderdale when going to Miami instead of Miami on United or American; to Hartford when going to Boston instead of Logan (even though it would be more convenient to fly into Logan); to Baltimore even when visiting DC (although now that has been solved since you service both Reagan and Dulles) and I do it for one reason; THE OPEN SEATING AND THE OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE. Atlhough other airlines have improved, routinely United, American, Delta; their Flight Attendants are cranky and the boarding process is a nightmare. Although there is "assigned" seating, routinely people crowd the gate, try to Board before their "time" for one reason or another, and clog the aisles wrestling with baggage.
Going from the plastic boarding cards to the electronic A,B,C system was nothing compared to converting to be like "the other" airlines. I refuse to believe that people who currently do not fly Southwest will miraculously change their minds if Southwest converts to assigned seating. And frankly, these are not the people who helped make Southwest what it is today (the only profitable airline flying at the moment).
Yeah, I get it, fuel prices have gone up, profits are not AS HIGH as they were and the Suits want more profit; but the Customers are overwhelmingly against it (from what I am reading on this blog); something to think about Southwest!!
... View more
