We’re 2 weeks away from Southwest going live with assigned seat flights, starting on January 27th. What will the new boarding process look like, and will T-48 become the new T-24?
Historically, getting the best seats and guaranteed bin space on the current open seating arrangement meant setting a reminder to check in at exactly 24 hours before departure. I can remember maniacally spamming the refresh button on my computer or phone hoping to at least get an early “B” boarding position and feeling lucky getting a late “A” spot.
Over time, more options emerged: purchasing Early-Bird check-in, expensive Business Select fares with an A1-15 boarding position and A1-15 day-of-departure paid upgrades which were a favorite per of the Southwest Priority personal and Performance business credit cards. Of course, having A-List or A-List Preferred status avoided all this nonsense and got a decent “A” boarding position >95% of the time. Heck, even on same day changed flights, A-Listers could still board between the A and B groups which never failed to at least get me an aisle seat. Having reached A-List for the past few years, it has been nice not having to worry about that T-24 rush, but are we in for a new one now?
What’s changed?
How things have changed. With the more complicated and differentiated fare classes, it is more confusing than ever to know when you might board, even if you know where you will sit. Southwest has published a guide (which you can read here) that summarizes the boarding groups.
Of course, you can still access a higher group on day of departure with the new Priority Boarding option. This paid option will allow you to board even before group 1 which is surprising and likely very expensive for what amounts to just guaranteeing overhead bin space.
The new check-in rush?
A-List members (not A-List Preferred members, they can select extra legroom at time of booking) and premium credit card holders (Priority personal and Performance business cards) will now have the ability to select available extra legroom seats 48 hours before departure. Mid-tier card holders (Premier personal and business cards) can select a Preferred seat (standard legroom closer to the front of the cabin) at the same 48-hour mark.
Some may scoff that this group represents a very small subset of passengers, but I believe on an average flight it is significant. With a max of 46 extra legroom seats available, minus those who were already claimed by paying for the highest fare class or by paying the upgrade cost at the time of booking, I believe most people in this group will be doing what we all did a few years ago; maniacally refreshing at exactly T-48, looking to grab those seats. As both a current A-List member and Priority card holder, I know I will be in that group.
I will be interested to see how this plays out, particularly:
- Will the real-time nature of the seat selection work well if many are going for the same seat at the same time? Southwest isn’t exactly an IT powerhouse.
- How will people behave when trying to seat a group – sit together in standard legroom or split up to get extra legroom?
- Will this make it more or less likely that extra legroom middle seats get filled? I think I would generally prefer a standard legroom aisle seat personally.
- What happens with all of the Preferred seats that get abandoned by these customers – will Basic fare customers often luck out and get assigned into these seats?
- What percent will consistently be available right at T-48?
If you are thinking about which of the personal credit cards is best for your situation given the new world order of bag fees, assigned seats, etc, you can find my previous deep dive analysis here.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming change to assigned seats?
TL;DR: In 2 weeks Southwest will begin operating flights with assigned seats. I think the old T-24 rush to check in for boarding position will be replaced by a T-48 rush for decent-sized group of customers aiming to get their free upgrade to an extra legroom seat.
