Southwest: changing cattle call seating?
What are chances Southwest Airlines will finally do what all the other airlines d assigned seats?
Reports came up last week that Southwest was thinking about a change in its long-standing seating policy of virtually first-come, first-served.
One reason the airline may be moving towards a change is that it is overhauling its computerized reservation system.
“The $5 million upgrade of the reservation system will for the first time make it (assigned seats) possible,” said the Associated Press.
“In order to look at the possibility as to will this work for Southwest Airlines, we needed to bump up the reservation system a little bit,” said Southwest spokeswoman Beth Hardin.
Southwest is the US’s only major carrier not offering assigned seating, which has been the subject of some complaints about “cattle calls.”
Since the airline was founded 35 years ago, Southwest executives have traditionally opposed assigned seating. It’s been believed the change of policy could slow boarding.
To get a preferred seat now, passengers have to arrive hours before their flight to be among the first to board or check in for their flight via the internet at least 24 hours before their flight.
The airline’s chief financial officer, Laura Wright, said the only way Southwest would change is if the switch would allow it to continue its low-cost operational mode.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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