Southwest Airlines appoints the date, the plan at the end of the open seats

South -Western airlines Passengers will fly assigned places For the first time on January 27, the carrier told CNBC. On July 29, customers can start buying tickets with assigned places.

This step ends over more than half a century Open seats At the airline, a policy that distinguished it from the competitors for decades – along with two free checked bags. Both things have change As the Southwest leaders are looking for new revenue flows to keep up more profitable competitors.

In March, the southwest stated that its leading initiatives would add $ 800 million to the income and taxes this year and $ 1.7 billion in 2026.

The airline first announced that it would be end Its open seat a year ago, but still had to set the date.

Changes are part of massive overhaul of their business model. Carrier in March also stated that he would start charged with a lot announced New types of travel this spring. Higher level customers are exempted from many new restrictions and fees.

The southwestern used computer models and live tests to ensure a new policy to slow the planting and quickly return the planes to the air that makes money.

“We wanted to make sure that when we developed a dormitory design that paired with the appointed seats that we optimized the efficiency, but also the second priority: the balance of it, making sure we care about our most loyal customers, so the level participants, the owners of the cards and customers who buy our premium,” He manages the director of fans and auxiliary products in Southwest, CNBC said.

Come on January 27, signs of the open seat policy of the South West-reclaiming anxiety signal to secure the place in the boarding house, the ABC group, the large chairmen who mark the landing order and the onboard fight.

What will be replaced by eight international groups, based on the choice of place, status and other factors. The most loyal and the biggest costs will be first and foremost, but the seat place will determine the position. Here’s the order:

• The first two groups will include the upper levels of elite leaflets and those who have the best tickets.
• The third -to -eight group will be for “choice” and “main” ticket holders depending on their place.
• Credit card holders and Rapid Rewards credit card members will sit no later than 5.

There will be two queues.

The airline did not disclose the price for places as an additional fee that may vary on competitive airlines depending on the route and demand. Access to some seats will depend on the type of fare, and the southwest will sell standard places, preferred places and extra-light.

Southwest was busy restructuring Boiling Aircraft that include extra-light. About 200 aircraft have completed, or about 25% of the fleet, said the press secretary. While these places are not yet on sale, the airline selling former landings to customers before the flight, which will increase their chances of getting extra-flash.

Southwest clients have shown that the seat together is a priority, Modi CNBC said, acknowledging that the new planting process would look different.

“I think that when families want this sense of control, they have no need to choose their places through … our existing products we sell,” she said. “We will try to do our best to make sure families are sitting together no matter how they buy a ticket.”