Southwest Airlines has increased the price range for certain travel options that allow passengers to board flights earlier and choose their seats.
The beleaguered airline has quietly increased prices for upgraded boarding services and early check-in as it grapples with the problem of travelers abusing boarding rules.
Under Southwest’s new changes, “upgrade boarding” will cost $149 per passenger, per segment, up from a cap of $80. Optional Trip Prices Page.
Southwest’s open boarding policy allows passengers to choose their seats based on availability when boarding, meaning those who board the plane first have more seating options. Fox Business reportedPassengers with disabilities are usually seated first.
According to the airline, passengers who pay for the upgrade will be assigned to “Group A” at the front of the plane, seats A1 to A15, but the upgrades are only available up until 24 hours before the flight.
Families with children will board next, followed by groups B and C. Each group will have about 60 seats, according to Fox.
Additionally, the new fare schedule shows that “early bird check-in” for one-way passengers ranges from $15 to $99. The option must be purchased within 36 hours of departure and allows passengers to jump ahead in the boarding queue.
“This price increase is the result of our regular evaluation of ancillary product pricing based on market trends and customer demand and will result in increased revenue that supports the company,” Southwest told Fox News in a statement.
Passengers have taken advantage of airlines’ loose boarding policies, some of whom lie about disabilities to get priority seating. Airlines have limited ability to find out about people’s personal circumstances, making it difficult to prove that someone is getting priority boarding under false pretenses.
The introduction of reserved seating for the first time in several years is under discussion, which could attract new customers at a time when profits are falling.
Just a few weeks ago, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said the airline was considering changes to its in-flight boarding and seating procedures to boost profits.
The struggling airline has already announced plans to suspend operations at several major travel hubs, including Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Washington’s Bellingham International Airport, Mexico’s Cozumel International Airport and New York’s Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
Southwest is limiting hiring as another cost-cutting measure and expects to finish this year with 2,000 fewer employees than it will in 2023, Fox said.
