Post by fuzzylogic on Sept 26, 2024 14:33:04 GMT -5
We got some cool info on the Southwest changes coming next year. I got them in an email, but it's avail to all online. I actually don't mind this as it could have been much worse. Seat sales, well, nobody wants that, but most other perks stay just fine. Already we were buying EBC to get better seats, so this is just an upcharge essentially, which was after all, the goal of the changes / to make more profit. Here's what I find to be the most interesting...
Bags Fly Free is not going away. (great)
No Change / Cancel fees is here to stay. (great)
Travel Credits not expiring is here to stay. (great)
Assigned seats for sale ("for an elevated cabin experience", LOL). (bad)
Seats are either purchased, or assigned to you day of travel.
What happens if you pre-buy seats then change your flight remains TBD. This dynamic might be awkward.
Seats to be sold 3Q 2025 for flights in 1Q 2026.
None of this impacts flights in 2025.
A-List will be far more valuable. It comes with seat selection.
RR card members will get some new benefits, more to come on this in 2025.
Southwest vacation packages. (neither good nor bad)
Southwest RR hotel booking isn't terribly useful now, and I don't see booking hotels thru Southwest. I'll stick to my Marriott account, DVC, etc. Don't see using this.
New destinations being added. (good)
Partnership with Iceland Air. (great)
This should get Iceland Air access to much of the US, and Southwest access to much of Europe. That's cool. If you can cross-buy Iceland Air via Southwest points that will be phenomenal.
Details: www.southwest.com/customer-experience-enhancements/
Bags Fly Free is not going away. (great)
No Change / Cancel fees is here to stay. (great)
Travel Credits not expiring is here to stay. (great)
Assigned seats for sale ("for an elevated cabin experience", LOL). (bad)
Seats are either purchased, or assigned to you day of travel.
What happens if you pre-buy seats then change your flight remains TBD. This dynamic might be awkward.
Seats to be sold 3Q 2025 for flights in 1Q 2026.
None of this impacts flights in 2025.
A-List will be far more valuable. It comes with seat selection.
RR card members will get some new benefits, more to come on this in 2025.
Southwest vacation packages. (neither good nor bad)
Southwest RR hotel booking isn't terribly useful now, and I don't see booking hotels thru Southwest. I'll stick to my Marriott account, DVC, etc. Don't see using this.
New destinations being added. (good)
Partnership with Iceland Air. (great)
This should get Iceland Air access to much of the US, and Southwest access to much of Europe. That's cool. If you can cross-buy Iceland Air via Southwest points that will be phenomenal.
Details: www.southwest.com/customer-experience-enhancements/
