Momentous changes at Southwest: assigned seats and 'redeye' flights arrive
We can say it is the end of an era. Southwest, the world's largest low-cost airline, has announced changes [...]
We can say that both the end of an era. Southwest, the world's largest low-cost airline, has announced some really big changes. After 50 years (!) the carrier will begin assigning seats and will even offer premium seats (with more legroom).
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We are talking about a momentous change, since until now Southwest only assigned a group (A/B/C/D and so on) and a number, thanks to which one boarded in a much faster and less chaotic way; once inside the plane, then, passengers could freely choose where to sit.Â
The question is: Why has Southwest, in fact, changed its business model? Trivially, because it realized-through surveys administered to its passengers-that most travelers (about 80/85%) feel more comfortable if they have their assigned seat.Â
The news, however, did not end there. Southwest has also announced that in the coming months, starting February 13, 2025 Will introduce 'redeye' flights, that is, flights that take off late in the evening and land the next morning.
The first 5 'redeye' routes will be Las Vegas-Baltimore; Las Vegas-Orlando; Los Angeles-Baltimore; Los Angeles-Nashville; Phoenix-Baltimore.
One of the reasons Southwest has never operated redeye flights is quite curious: the reservation system was obsolete to such an extent that flights necessarily had to be scheduled to land by 11 p.m.; beyond that, another obstacle was the contracts of flight attendants and pilots, which did not allow redeyes to operate. Now, however, that for all problems a solution has been found, Southwest is ready for redeye flights.