Effect on Southwest Fare Types
Currently, several fare types include “EarlyBird Check-In,” which allows select passengers to obtain earlier boarding positions for a better selection of seats. Anytime fares, which are more expensive than Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away+ fares, include EarlyBird Check-In. Additionally, Business Select fares include priority boarding A1 through A15.
With the introduction of assigned seats, boarding positions will be nothing but a memory, so it will be interesting to see how fare inclusions will be restructured.
Premium seats with extra legroom will also likely impact fare costs. The airline hasn’t yet announced whether premium seats will be automatically included with some fares or only available as an a la carte upcharge.
Effect on Frequent Flyers
Frequent Southwest flyers, such as A-List and A-List Preferred members, receive priority boarding perks. Although we don’t know whether the assigned seating model will include paid seat selection, it’s possible that some sort of a fee waiver or a possibility for complimentary upgrades to seats with more legroom will be introduced for elite members of the Rapid Rewards program.
Effect on Southwest Credit Card Members
Southwest credit cardholders likely have questions about the imminent seating policy as well.
Currently, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card* offer cardholders two EarlyBird Check-Ins per year. EarlyBird Check-In guarantees automatic check-in 36 hours before departure and increases your chances of getting an earlier boarding group.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card comes with four preferred boarding positions per year, which are usually higher than boarding positions generated by EarlyBird Check-In.
Again, because boarding positions will be phased out, it’s not clear what kind of perks co-branded Southwest credit card members will receive instead, if any. Waived seat selection fees come to mind, but it’s too early to say.