Southwest Airlines new premium seats are characterized by additional legroom.
Leslie Josephs/CNBC
Southwest Airlines‘ First Assigned seats Went on sale this week for flights Starts from 27 January Next year. What you pay will be different.
price Depending on the route, when you are traveling and where you sit. Choosing your ideal seats can get hundreds of dollars at the cost of family holidays like flying on other airlines.
For example, a roundtrip ticket in the “choice” ticket class – the second cheapest type between Denver International Airport and Orlando International Airport – leaving 14 February and returning on 21 February, which coincides with President’s Day, was going for $ 692 on Southwest’s website on Thursday. Airline Deems for seats “liked”, “it would be $ 46 for a window or $ 7 to 13 rows in rows or $ 41 for a middle seat in those rows.
Elite will be customers with constant-flyer positions with Southwest Airlines Credit Card on the airline or on the airline Free From some fees.
An additional-lgroom seat is located in the first six rows Boing The 737 Max 8 was going for $ 96 for the aircraft, window or corridor. Prices were the same for the return flight, but a little lower.
South -West Airlines seating chart for Boeing 737 Max 8.
The selection of the seat behind the aircraft in rows 17 through 30 is free for the “choice” ticket. The more expensive “choice farmed” tickets include preferred row seats, while the precious options, “Choice Extra” includes additional-legends seats and also comes with a free “premium” drink like an alcoholic beverage.
The same route, on the same day United Airlines The $ 665 was, with additional-leggroom seats different from $ 105 to $ 126 each from each way and was $ 37 to $ 42 for preferred seats.
Changes are all part of SouthwestThere is a plan to dig the identity of more than half a century old Business modelFor decades, including a bizarre boarding system included open seating (and the same legroom in the entire cabin), which included a crazy dash at the airport for a seat and two free check bags for all customers.
The rivals of the southwest have earned billions on bags and seat fees, questioning investors and wall street analysts for years whether the carrier is maximizing revenue. Last year, activist Hedge Fund Elliot Investment Management took a big stake in the South -West, called for such changes, and lead to one Board shakeupMajor US carrier brought in $ 12.4 billion Assigned seating fee According to the Senate panel report, between 2018 and 2023.
South -western Bag fee for the first time Started with tickets sold in late May. Airline is charging for $ 35 Bag first checked And $ 45 for a second, roughly corresponding to other airlines.
The carrier also joined rivals in launching no-frills basic economy tickets, where customers do not get free, advanced seat selection, some southwest hopes that it will benefit from next year, when seat assignments become effective.
Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Wateron said on an earning call last week, “We believe that Q1 will have a positive impact when we go to the assigned seat, it is a more compelling purchase to like the basic economy.” “However, should we be successful in making it positive before that, it is an additional tailwind as we go to the second half.”
The South -West will reward its most loyal customers, however, with seats of choice.
In the south-west, repeated flying with top-tier A-list preferred positions will get additional-legroom seats in booking, as well as two free check bags, and A-list status-holder can book them 48 hours before departure, although there is no guarantee that they will be available. Both groups will have a desired access to preferred seats. Many south -western credit cards also provide access to preferred seats regardless of rent type.
