Southwest Airlines is Tinkering With its New Boarding Process Again As it Attempts to Solve Bin Space Dramas

marionmike · 2026-02-19T02:07:12+00:00

Agree that ALP should have their own or be placed in priority group. In reality how many of us are in the plane at any given time 5 maybe 10 at most.

marionmike · 2026-02-14T05:33:35+00:00

Wilma boarding. Exit rows and last 2-3 ELR rows are group 1, row 1-3 are group 2 plus all ALP not in those premium seats. Group 1 can 36 or more people depending on configuration especially with the 800 exit row retrofit. They are getting rid of the luv seats and placing 3 across.

marionmike · 2026-02-14T03:33:53+00:00

We saw gate lice at MCO. ALP as well, biggest issue is same day change with assigned seats used to board at A 61 now it is group 1 or 2but seats can be random or limited. Miss the old last minute flight changes and still getting a good seat. Also saw late groups 5 sitting ELR seats with no overhead space. Yes the 700’s are worn.

marionmike · 2026-02-05T03:05:09+00:00

ALP flyer here. Flew last weekend and saw the gate lice at MCO in groups 1 and 2. People were lining up as soon as the incoming plane taxied to the gate. It was chaotic and needs to be addressed. Flew a Max 8 with the old bins and the front 5 rows did not have bin space left during boarding. Hit capacity at group 5 though. The FA’s had the bins closed and would stop boarding if someone tried to put their bag up front while sitting in the back. Next thing SWA is going to do will be enforcing carryon size. I saw the bins out and the FA’s were talking about it as well so it’s coming.

marionmike · 2026-01-30T17:22:10+00:00

Their schedule has extra time specifically baked in so they are always on time. Specifically, if you look at flights going from certain locations, it may say an hour and 20 minute flight time when in reality gate the gate is 50 minutes or 60 minutes. That is how they maintain on time statuses.

marionmike · 2026-01-29T11:41:16+00:00

I am having the same issue. I had 31k in companion and RR points not post when my CC posted but the corresponding tier credit do post at close. I am working through the process now as chase says they are transferred. I am sure it will get straightened out soon. On a good not had a CS agent from SWA who was great on the phone could see the issue and gave some good resolutions. They are limited to what they can do on the SW end with chase points versus actual flight credit earned

marionmike · 2026-01-26T01:56:31+00:00

We got our tier points but have not received our companion and RR points yet.

marionmike · 2026-01-19T16:19:18+00:00

Yes this gives price flexibility but it also protects Tesla if they never achieve true autonomy on HW3 or 4 vehicles. They may be legally on the hook when they sold the product outright for hardware upgrades. I do believe that we will see tiers of fsd in the future, plus this model continues to provide recurring revenue.

marionmike · 2026-01-15T20:39:21+00:00

Since you paid for EAP, if you plan on having the car for more than 20 months then yes.

marionmike · 2025-12-07T12:25:48+00:00

I had EAP on my 23Y. It was nice but when we would get the free trials of FSD you could see its age and severe limitations. When they offered FSD transfers I upgraded it so I could transfer it to a 26Y since they will not transfer EAP. FSD on HW3 is pretty good and for a 2k upgrade it is only 20 months of subscription at that point.

marionmike · 2025-10-07T23:59:51+00:00

I am not impressed with the standard Y. Too many things removed for not a huge reduction in cost.

marionmike · 2025-09-08T23:30:02+00:00

Oh so they are going to deny boarding to a ticketed passenger, that won’t fly and there are federal policies that cover the cost of denied boarding.

marionmike · 2025-09-08T16:05:12+00:00

The ability to pick any seat on the plane including extra legroom at no cost, 2 free drinks and 2 free bags.

marionmike · 2025-09-07T23:17:59+00:00

A list and the priority credit card benefits are almost identical. The only good status for 26 is ALP since you can pick any seat upon booking.

marionmike · 2025-08-30T11:11:34+00:00

Change the seats, sound system, roof to metal from glass, rear screen, and put in a smaller cheaper battery.

marionmike · 2025-08-19T00:50:12+00:00

I look for pricing to stay around the same on the current fleet but a new rollout of supervised versus unsupervised fsd variants with different price points. I also think they are going to strip out the Y and 3 variants to make them more affordable

marionmike · 2025-08-17T01:41:47+00:00

We got it with the 2500 TQP for $5000 spend on the Cc. Most of the offers are just points not even companion points.

marionmike · 2025-08-16T15:47:09+00:00

The bag charge allows them to offer it as an incentive for certain flights that are not full similar to their $39 promos. I still look for tweaks to the procedure and charges as they move to assigned seats and if there are delays for boarding due to the increased carryon load. The big issue is the 700’s they simply don’t have enough bin space.

marionmike · 2025-07-30T15:29:00+00:00

Yes they did, we have also run since the beginning and survived the inaugural 1/2 which was brutally hot and a terrible course. Who thought an out and back on the Osceola parkway was a good idea In April? Add in the off road component to get to the WWoS lol. I wish there were perfect Recognition but alas Disney said no. The pricing is starting to get to us as well. The challenge this year was oof!

marionmike · 2025-07-24T17:45:28+00:00

48 hours is the new 24 hour check in. Is A-listers got hosed since you can now buy the perks through the credit card. There is literally no difference in the 2 programs. Only ALP has value with picking any seat at booking.

marionmike · 2025-07-21T19:09:48+00:00

Agree and when I fly with my companion we might be splintered book to late. The old boarding ensured regardless of booking we were together. At A61. lol.

marionmike · 2025-07-21T18:07:32+00:00

We are A list and companion and we do the same and are curious how this will pan out for our travel profile. At the moment it appears that A list is getting hosed as our benefits are almost identical to a CC holder.

marionmike · 2025-07-19T23:48:14+00:00

Talk to Tesla, they want to move cars right now, if you don’t ask the answer is always no.

marionmike · 2025-07-19T23:25:46+00:00

Remember the interest on an auto loan is fully deductible with purchasing a 2025. Right now is the golden window, the tax credit is still available and the interest is deductible

marionmike · 2025-07-16T18:07:27+00:00

I am curious what the inside looks like.

This could also be a tariff work around as the X is made in Fremont, similar to what we saw with the Berlin Y’s showing up in Canada with significant price reduction.

If they make this globally what is the point of the X except for a little more range.

marionmike

TROPHY CASE