Southwest Airlines sets a date, plan for the end of open seating

Southwest Airlines In a statement to CNBC, passengers will fly in the seats assigned for the first time on January 27th. Customers can start buying tickets with seats assigned on July 29th.

The movement ends for more than half a century in the airline, which ends with a policy that has been separating it from competitors for decades – with two free -controlled bags. As Southwest leaders look for new income flows to keep up with more profitable competitors, both things change.

Southwest said in a statement in March that it would add $ 800 million dollars to earnings before interest and taxes this year and $ 1.7 billion in 2026.

The airline first announced that it would end its open seats a year ago, but it had not yet made an appointment.

Changes are part of Southwest’s major revision of the business model. In March, the carrier will start charging many customers to check the bags and announced This spring is new types of fees. High -level customers are exempt from most new restrictions and wages.

Southwest used computer models and live tests to ensure that new policies did not slow down boarding, and he would quickly return the aircraft to making money.

“We wanted to make sure that we have optimized for productivity, as we have designed a well -matned boarding structure with assigned seating areas, but also we have the second priority: to our most loyal customers, card holders, card holders and customers,” Stephanie Shafer Modi, Southwt, Southwt, Southwt, Southwt.

On January 27, the distinctive features of Southwest’s outdoor seating policy will be the struggle for a location on the base line, ABC groups, large stitches and a favorite seat that marks the boarding order.

All of them will be replaced by eight boarding groups according to the selection of seats, status and other factors. The most loyal and the biggest expenditure will be the first, but the seat place will determine the boarding position. Here is the order:

• The first two groups will include the upper layers of the elite frequent flyers and those with the best ticket classes.
• Three to eight groups will be for “choice” and “basic” information depending on their seat locations.
• Credit card holders and fast prizes will not be late than Group 5.

There will be two tails.

The airline did not announce the prices of seat assignments as an additional fee that could vary depending on the route and demand in opponent airlines. Access to some seats will depend on the type of fee and will sell Southwest standard seats, preferred seats and complex extra seats.

Southwest was busy with restructuring him. Boeing Graduation Aircraft to include the extra seating place. A spokesman said that about 200 aircraft were completed or about 25% of the fleet. Although these seats are not yet on sale, before the airline flights, it will sell boarding to customers before, which will increase the chance of buying underground seats.

Southwest showed that sitting together was a priority, and Shafer Modi acknowledged to his CNBC that he would look different with his new riding process.

“If families want this sense of control, I think they have the options to choose their seats from our existing products.” He said. He continued: “We will try to do our best to make sure that families are sitting together, no matter how they buy tickets.”