4 ms·

Note that the Southwest Airlines method (no assigned seats) was fastest in the Mythbusters test. I’m surprised that it got such a low “satisfaction” rating, as

Note that the Southwest Airlines method (no assigned seats) was fastest in the Mythbusters test. I’m surprised that it got such a low “satisfaction” rating, as it’s one of the main appealing factors for me to fly Southwest. Maybe it’s just very polarizing, and SWA “gets away with it” because their market share roughly represents the percentage of travelers who like that method?

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ghaff 6y ago
As a business traveler who at least used to have status on an airline, I'm a big NOPE on unassigned seats. Would pretty much cause me to never fly an airline except under duress.
zippergz 6y ago
I fly Southwest quite a bit (well, did before covid...) because their routes and timing work well for me. But I absolutely despise their boarding system. Or, at least, I despise the lack of seat assignments. I care a lot about what seat I get (I travel quite a bit, and know what makes me most comfortable), and I hate feeling like I have to 1) get an early boarding number, 2) make sure I hover around the gate early so I don't miss my turn, and 3) hope there aren't a ton of through passengers in order to get a seat I like. Assigned seats obviously do not guarantee me my ideal seat, but at least I have a fighting chance (sometimes I will pay for an upgrade depending on what's available and whether I have status on that airline), and I don't have to stress about where I'm going to end up. What matters more to me? Being comfortable for the 2-5 hours I'm in the air, or shaving 10 minutes off of the time it takes to get on and off of the plane? It's a no brainer. I ABSOLUTELY realize that in the grand scheme of things, this is an incredibly minor issue. There are much bigger problems in the world. But if I'm going to be flying a lot, as I have during certain career phases, every little thing that makes it a little more comfortable or less stressful does make a difference. And for me, the Southwest seating/boarding system adds stress.
- maxerickson 6y ago
  You don't care enough to avoid Southwest.
  - zippergz 6y ago
    Correct. I have a hierarchy of priorities, and pretty much the top of the list is avoiding stops/layovers/plane changes. If Southwest has a nonstop flight and the others don't, I will fly them regardless. That's the case for several places I regularly need to go. There are almost no circumstances where I choose Southwest if the number of stops is the same, though.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ghaff 6y ago

As a business traveler who at least used to have status on an airline, I'm a big NOPE on unassigned seats. Would pretty much cause me to never fly an airline except under duress.

zippergz 6y ago

I fly Southwest quite a bit (well, did before covid...) because their routes and timing work well for me. But I absolutely despise their boarding system. Or, at least, I despise the lack of seat assignments. I care a lot about what seat I get (I travel quite a bit, and know what makes me most comfortable), and I hate feeling like I have to 1) get an early boarding number, 2) make sure I hover around the gate early so I don't miss my turn, and 3) hope there aren't a ton of through passengers in order to get a seat I like. Assigned seats obviously do not guarantee me my ideal seat, but at least I have a fighting chance (sometimes I will pay for an upgrade depending on what's available and whether I have status on that airline), and I don't have to stress about where I'm going to end up. What matters more to me? Being comfortable for the 2-5 hours I'm in the air, or shaving 10 minutes off of the time it takes to get on and off of the plane? It's a no brainer. I ABSOLUTELY realize that in the grand scheme of things, this is an incredibly minor issue. There are much bigger problems in the world. But if I'm going to be flying a lot, as I have during certain career phases, every little thing that makes it a little more comfortable or less stressful does make a difference. And for me, the Southwest seating/boarding system adds stress.

maxerickson 6y ago
You don't care enough to avoid Southwest.
- zippergz 6y ago
  Correct. I have a hierarchy of priorities, and pretty much the top of the list is avoiding stops/layovers/plane changes. If Southwest has a nonstop flight and the others don't, I will fly them regardless. That's the case for several places I regularly need to go. There are almost no circumstances where I choose Southwest if the number of stops is the same, though.