Southwest testing assigned seating
Southwest Airlines, known for its open seating policy throughout its 35-year history, is going to test assigned seating beginning July 10 on flights departing from San Diego
The determining factor whether Southwest expands assigned seating will be based on how quickly Southwest can “turn” an airplane – unload and load passengers and baggage.
When asked, What do you think of possible assigned seating on Southwest flights?, a Southwest spokesperson replied “Great. I hate rushing to the airport to be first. Terrible. Why mess with 35 years of success?” He added, “Customer satisfaction and enhancements will be a factor.”
The test is to last six to eight weeks. Southwest, had said in the past that the boarding process slowed too much by people making their way to their designated seats. The airline has remained highly productive by keeping its operations simple, including its open-seating policy.
Southwest said that if the airline decides to implement assigned seating, such a change wouldn’t happen before 2008. It said it is on no timetable to make a decision.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments