Very disappointing to see SouthWest resort to this action.

I always travel SW if I have a choice because they didn't nickel and dime you to death.

It looks like that is changing.

I think it's a great idea. Its not a mandatory fee and they seem to be a good company that most people would like to see stay in business. Good for them.

I don't buy the WSJ's take on this ("EarlyBird check-in fees could well be an early-bird sign that bag fees aren't far off"). Southwest has made such a big marketing point of NOT charging for bags that they'd look stupid if they reversed themselves. I suspect this fee is not a gateway to a bag charge, but an alternative to it. They're simply selling an additional convenience. Other airlines do this; AirTran lets you pick your seat ahead of time for a nominal charge ($6, I think).

So what happens when everyone pays this fee? Do they need to make a $20 Super-Early-Boarding-Fee?

Is this new? I last traveled with Southwest something like 18 months ago, and paid $10 extra to jump the line - I thought it was a *great* little extra, and didn't mind in the slightest.

I guess I don't see it as a big deal - it's optional, it's cheap - unlike checked baggage fees and $5 soda's, it doesn't feel like nickle and diming. I'd say it's fee's done *right*

@osiris73: Agreed. This is a totally optional fee that I imagine many people will opt to purchase. Those that still are looking for the cheapest flight will not have to purchase it.

@pratzert: It's not a mandatory fee. Just don't pay it.

@darkjedi26: Southwest airlines would like to speak with you regarding this exceptional idea.

This is no different than the "fastpass" you can buy at a lot of amusement parks to stand in a shorter line.

It's capitalism at work - those who place value on their seat on an airplane (or a faster wait at an amusement park) can pay an extra fee to purchase that higher level of service.

Why should I pay to get on first? I honestly never understood what benefit I would get out of being trapped in the cramped metal tube for an extra 20 minutes while everyone else got on, anyway. it just makes the trip seem that much longer. I prefer to board last, or almost last.

I don't travel with young children. When I was less than perfectly mobile after surgery, they put me on the plane first as an accommodation, anyway. I usually request an aisle seat, and it's just easier to let the window and center passengers board and get settled first. I also hate having crap dropped on me because someone jostled the person putting their luggage in the overhead bin. Provided I checked in on time and I'm in line to get on, the plane is most likely not going to leave without me anyway.

@osiris73: This is a terrible idea. What happens when nearly everybody is paying it -- then will there be a $20 fee to be ahead of the $10 fee people, ...

@j-o-h-n: Exactly. $10 is not a lot to get preferred boarding. Once everyone gets it, it will be worthless.

Why would anyone want to be the first on on the plane? If you are not in first class, what is the advantage of boarding first?

I like being the last person to board. It it just less time I have to spend in those cramped seats next to some big, smelly person. I'm going to be sitting for most of the flight anyway. Why not spend more time out in the airport gate where I can stand up, stretch, watch tv & breath somewhat fresh air.

They should charge the last person to board $10 for that luxury!

Having been a frequent (sometimes weekly) air traveler in pas careers there are times when I would definitely pay $10 to get on the plane first (when flying an airline where I did not have status).

Often times us bussiness travelers are on a tight connection due to moronic corporate travel planners. The 5-15+ minutes it can take to deplane from the middle of a 747 can be the 5-15 minutes you need to just barely make your connection.

Then there are the jerks that sit in the back of the plane that put their luggage in the front ... forcing those of us in the front boarding later to put their luggage in the BACK ... would you like me to go on ... because I can.

@j-o-h-n: They probably only sell so many.

@speedwell, avatar of snark:

Southwest doesn't have assigned seats - if you board last, you're sitting in the middle seat.

@eirrom:

Southwest doesn't have assigned seats, so if you board last, you're getting the middle seat BETWEEN TWO big, smelly people.

@NeverLetMeDown: Oh. Well, I never travel Southwest. Thanks for the clarification.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: Will you still feel that way when as one of the few who didn't pay the fee, you get to take the last middle seat--between someone who should have been required to purchase an extra seat to accommodate their ummm bug bones, and someone who apparently takes one shower a year whether he needs it or not--And in front of the unaccompanied minor who's relentlessly kicking the back of your seat.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: To answer your first and only question, because Southwest seating is first come/first serve. You're not getting that aisle seat you crave.

oops, make that "big bones"

$10 is cheaper than having a kid or breaking your leg to cut in front of the line... just sayin...

@speedwell, avatar of snark:

I concur. When I've traveled with my son, airline personnel have sought us out and asked that we board first. When traveling with other adults or by myself, it makes little difference to me where I am in the herd. Unless I had a really tight connection and wanted to make sure I was towards the front of the plane, it's not a service I would use. That said, I have no issue with others opting for it.

@j-o-h-n: Law of supply and demand will cause southwest to raise the price until the demand no longer outweighs the supply ( since you are paying for an early seat, and not just any seat, one could argue that the supply is really just the first 1/3 of the total # of seats on the plane.) Southwest would probably like nothing more than for this to happen.

I think this is actually a good idea. Add new features and charge for them, rather than charging for previously free services.

@NeverLetMeDown: @mianne: @Smashville_makes his own comments at home: Wow...tag team answer FTW.

@Traveshamockery:

Exactly, this is a fee for the impatient. Simply don't pay it if you don't want to.

This isn't a Fee, it's an upgrade, and your not required to pay it.

A fee is something you have to pay just to get to your destination... Next thing people are going to complain about the "Fee" for the in Flight WiFi. Southwest is a great airline, and still doesn't charge fee's for bags (the normal first 2 of normal weight), food, sodas, etc. No Story here...

I think Consumerist must hate every company that charges less for their products and services. If I want to cut in line, I think a $10 fee is justified. Southwest does not charge baggage fees. I think that's a great thing. My only beef with them is that now that the Wright Amendment is gone, they still haven't modified their flights to allow for non-stop flights out of Texas. It's annoying to get a movie started on my laptop only to have to turn it off until we're back in the air again.

@DJBS77: And it's a fee for getting something you weren't getting before, the ability to pick out a good seat.

@K-Bo: And don't forget about the frugal and the outright cheapskates. Some people will never dream of paying money they don't have to, especially for something they don't need.

@DJBS77:

Or people who absolutely have to get their carry-on luggage into an overhead bin. I've had to gate check my luggage on business flights before, but so far I've been fortunate when I've been flying for vacation (those damn business travelers all ignore the rules and put both their rolling carry-on and their laptop bag in the overhead bins). If I had to gate-check my bag on a vacation flight I'm not sure what I'd do - skip the flight? There's no way I'm letting anyone else handle the bag with all of my wife's camera equipment.

This is a completely optional fee. It is better than only rewarding those with extra time to get there 2 hours early! If Southwest can find optional fees that people are actually willing to pay then they have figured out the market, and more power to them.

@Princess Leela: Exactly. This is how airlines should make extra money: By charging a fee for optional services that don't cost them anything to implement, i.e., letting people board early. Charging money for things you used to get for free, like checking luggage, chafes consumers. Really, if the other airlines had been using their heads, they would have just automatically added the dollar amount of those fees onto the price of airfare instead of charging it as a checked bag fee. No one notices an extra $15 for a flight to New York, but they damn sure notice it for checking a first or second bag.

@darkjedi26: See Osiris73's thread above.

Southwest is still the white hat in the airline industry.

@diasdiem: I would call people who don't pay money they don't have to (especially for something they don't need) "smart," not "frugal and outright cheapskates."

@TakingItSeriously: Please explain to me how getting on the plane first helps you not miss your tight connection when you get off the plane? Unless you are speaking specifically about Southwest and can get seat in the front if you board first.

@j-o-h-n: This reminds me of a story about stars on ones belly.

"a chance to jump the line and snuggle up to a nice window seat if they so desire"

Hmm, I would have phrased that: "a chance to jump the line and snuggle up to one of the only seats that won't give them crushing pain in their kneecaps for the next several hours, if they so desire"

You say potato, I say potahto

Not a fee randomly placed. Yeah, it's like Ryanair. They charge you to cut the line, but I always pay it if I am travelling with someone so we aren't split up. However, it is the CONVENIENCE factor. We got bulkhead seats once - for about $10.00 US round trip. Awesome, right?

Anyhow, unlike Ryanair, they won't have a "credit card charge fee" or a "booking on the internet" fee or a "check in fee" or something rediculous. That is Ryanair. Oye.

@diasdiem: The problem is that now that there's a way to make that likelier, the regular-timed boarders are less likely to get a good seat. So even though you weren't getting it before, if you take the same approach now, you're getting less than you were.

@JollyJumjuck: Why don't we compromise and call them "smart, frugal, outright cheapskates"?

So this is Business Select for people who don't drink?

@TakingItSeriously: I thought it was against FAA regs to not stow your luggage near you for security reasons.

I think this is a good idea. I never fly Southwest because you have to get to the airport like 2 hours early to get a decent seat. I've only flown them twice and I felt like cattle. Too bad they don't fly out of DCA.

@utensil42: that's the only thing I can think of, but Southwest generally doesn't let you do the "ten minutes to catch your connection" thing.

@floraposte:
That is an excellent point.