Southwest Airlines has really had its ups and downs since the latter half of last year, and we’re learning that they are testing some new ways to make things more efficient.
©Southwest
The experiments could effect the way you board your next flight!
You know that big backup that often happens when boarding? The one where you’re standing on the jet bridge, or stuck in the aisle of the plane for what seems like forever? Well, Southwest is trying to minimize that time because, as they say, “time is money!”
Mickey and Minnie Showing Off the Plane
If you fly through Atlanta, you might notice that Southwest is testing some new ways to shave time off the boarding process.
Breeze currently competes with Southwest for convenient and affordable prices
According to The Wall Street Journal, Southwest’s goal is to reduce the turnaround time for its planes by 5 minutes — and the biggest obstacle to that is bottlenecks in the boarding process. “If you can collect up enough of these minutes in each turn, then you can start to squeeze out some more flying,’’ said Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson.
©Southwest Airlines
One of the things being tested is playing upbeat music in the jet bridge, because studies show that a faster tempo keeps people moving. So, you might hear disco music, or EDM, or hip-hop. There’s even a soundtrack of children’s music in the testing. Additionally, the usual destination posters in the jet bridge have been replaced with framed “travel tips” reminding newbie flyers that they can select any seat when they board the plane, and that their boarding number is not a seat number — questions the airline says its flight attendants hear over and over.
Airport
Other changes to some Southwest gates in Atlanta include a designated area for passengers who need assistance and families boarding together, and a boarding countdown that plays on the video monitors where passengers line up.
Orlando Airport
Southwest Airlines officials say they hope to speed passenger boarding up by 3 minutes or so, and they hope to save additional time by providing larger overhead bins and boarding some planes through the front and back simultaneously. But if you don’t fly through Atlanta, don’t expect to see these changes soon. The airline says they’re all an experiment, at least for now.
As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest travel news!
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What do you think of these changes Southwest is looking to make to its seating policies? Tell us your thoughts below!
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In order to speed up boarding, families with children should be directed to the back of the plane.
It appears they hold up the boarding process by settling the kids, then storing carryons while everyone waits. If they were directed to the back of the plane it would not take as much time for other passengers to be seated and it would be more likely the families could be seated together.
We won’t fly WN because of their open seating policy. If they ever offered advance seat selection, we might think about flying them
Not for me, I am not a fan of festival seating on a plane. Standing in line…STANDING IN LINE… for 20 minutes before you board is not my idea of starting my vacation off on the right food. I prefer to book a seat, then I can sit in the lobby until last call for boarding and go directly to my seat. No standing, no waiting, less wear and tear on ,e.
Southwest no longer functions as a smart airline. If they want to speed up boarding then please go to assigned seats and board from the back forward. It seems so obvious. Yet they still with the annoying check in process and unassigned seats.
Know what cuts time, getting rid of stops. I stopped looking at Southwest for flights a couple years ago because it seems like they got rid of direct flights. What good is saving 5 minutes on a flight with an unnecessary 90 minute layover.
I really wish SW would go to assigned seating. I hate their boarding process. Unfortunately, they are about the only way I can get a direct flight to Orlando.
Enforce carry on size. If it is too big….CHECK IT!! Why should I wait while you try to stuff a 40 lb. bag in a 10 lb. Area!
Enforce carry on size. If it is too big….CHECK IT!! Why should I wait while you try to stuff a 40 lb. bag in a 10 lb. Area!