For 2023, Southwest Airlines has set some high standards.
The Southwest travel experience will see some significant upgrades in the upcoming months, including a redesigned boarding procedure and improved Wi-Fi access.
At a recent media event held at its headquarters, the Dallas-based airline encouraged guests to hear more about the changes that will be coming for Southwest passengers and presented a number of updates.
There is a lot to be enthused about, as executives described what visitors may anticipate seeing in the upcoming months.
Here is the newest.
Old routes before new ones
Southwest, along with a large portion of the aviation sector, entered crisis mode when the pandemic struck.
The airline parked a significant portion of its fleet and eliminated many of its routes.
Demand has at long last increased after more than two years.
Although the airline has fully restored to its pre-pandemic operational levels, several routes, mostly longer domestic ones, haven't yet been added to the schedule.
Southwest's chief operating officer, Andrew Watterson, told reporters that the company will continue to concentrate on rebuilding its network in the coming year with the aim of restoring the majority of pre-pandemic routes by the third quarter of 2023.
Southwest added around 18 pins to its route map during the pandemic, but the airline doesn't have any plans for another year with a record number of new destinations.
According to CEO Bob Jordan, who also revealed that several of these new towns were previously being considered before the outbreak, this growth was opportunistic.
Southwest is primarily concentrating on resumes for the upcoming year, which ought to result in additional nonstop flights in your market.
Network coverage of new cities
The airline will make sure that it brings back frequencies in existing markets in addition to restoring connectivity.
For instance, some routes currently don't offer enough service to allow a business traveler to take a day trip that departs in the morning and returns at night.
As the airline completes its recovery, Watterson and the network team are attempting to find a solution for that.
Southwest intends to resume all of its pre-pandemic frequencies in its current markets, which should assist the airline to attract some of its customers who are making reservations based on time and schedule.
Better Wi-Fi is now available.
The dependability of in-flight Wi-Fi has been one of Southwest's frequent fliers' top complaints in recent years.
Southwest's vice president of customer experience and engagement, Tony Roach, said the airline is fully aware of the issue.
He reaffirmed that the airline intends to modernize all of its Boeing 737 fleet with enhanced Wi-Fi connections.
Existing aircraft will still be equipped with Anuvu (formerly Global Eagle) connectivity, but some of the gear, particularly the wireless access points, will be upgraded to provide more bandwidth and lower latency.
The airline has already upgraded 260 planes, and by the end of January, 350 will have received the upgrade.
Before the third quarter of 2023, fleet-wide completion is anticipated.
According to Roach, the improved systems are already offering significantly higher performance and dependability.
Beginning in the first quarter, Southwest will upgrade the current provider in addition to introducing a Viasat connection on its recently arrived Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Travelers should be pleased with this new service since Viasat has always provided one of, if not the most dependable in-flight internet connections.
The cost of Wi-Fi will continue at $8 per day, according to Roach, but the airline is figuring out how to incorporate both providers into its flat, all-day pricing.
When asked if Wi-Fi would eventually be free, Roach replied that while the improved infrastructure might potentially handle it, Southwest would have to invest in additional bandwidth to make it happen.
(To understand more about the potential of the technology, the airline tested free Wi-Fi this summer.)
Power ports are coming.
Southwest has a history of running fewer domestic flights, so the airline hasn't exactly been innovating in terms of the traveler experience.
But in recent years, the airline has increased the length of its flights, adding additional routes to Hawaii from Western destinations like Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, and Los Angeles.
With the addition of power ports, Southwest is tackling a major issue with these longer-haul flights, which frequently last longer than five hours.
At the back of each seat, there will be USB-C and USB-A connectors that can supply up to 60 Watts of power.
There won't be any 110V universal power outlets since they would make the plane too heavy, according to Roach.
In June 2023, power ports will be accessible on new 737 MAX 8 aircraft. After the new deliveries are finished, a larger upgrade will be performed.
New seats and overhead bins
On upcoming flights operated by Southwest, less luggage will (hopefully) need to be gate-checked.
This is because of the new, larger overhead bins that will be introduced on the brand-new MAX 8 aircraft next year.
If the rollaboards are stacked on their sides rather than their backs, these bins can hold up to six standard-size ones.
Southwest will also fit its newest seats on these aircraft in addition to the new bins.
They have wing-shaped adjustable headrests for further neck support, and they are covered in blue leather-like material.
Behind each seat, there is a tray table that is a standard size as well as a storage and literature pocket.
32 inches will make up the pitch.
Everyone was really impressed with the arrangement when Southwest publicly demonstrated the new cabin prototype during the media day event.
For a six-hour journey, it might not be the most comfortable seat, but for the majority of passengers, it will be adequate.
Redesigned family boarding
Southwest has a unique boarding process.
There are no reserved seats; rather, individuals board according to their position number.
Any available seat is yours to select after you board.
For families that might be concerned about getting seats together, this might be very stressful.
Southwest has traditionally allowed families to board the aircraft after the A group passengers.
On crowded flights, it could be difficult for families to sit together because there are only 60 boarding spaces in the A group.
The airline will test a revised family boarding scheme in the coming weeks that permits two adults and children aged six or younger to board before the A group.
Families will have to take a seat in the back of the plane in return for skipping the boarding line.
Southwest may think about implementing this adjustment more widely depending on the results of the trial.
Turn times now matter more than ever.
Southwest's 10-minute turns were its claim to fame when it was first established back in 1971.
The airline would disembark from one aircraft and board the following one in ten minutes, enabling the carrier to fly a huge number of frequencies on any given day.
According to Watterson, the turn time has increased as a result of new regulatory requirements, paperwork related to weight and balance, and larger aircraft, but the airline is still intensely focused on cutting down on the time needed to board and deplane.
The airline might be able to add one more frequency for each specific aircraft if it can cut just a few more minutes from each turn.
Given that the majority of the costs are already fixed, this would result in a significant increase in revenue, according to Watterson.
Southwest expects to reduce turn time in 2023 and beyond with initiatives like digitizing the pre-departure paperwork and enhancing the signage at the gate area.
Prepare for more "golden hour" flights.
According to Watterson, expect to see more flights during the "golden hours" as Southwest expands the number of frequencies in its network.
The most popular flights are (perhaps unexpectedly) those that run between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The most crucial factor, he said, is to reduce turn time in order to add one extra flight during the day.
Flexibility is here to stay.
Southwest has typically had the most lenient ticketing regulations in recent years.
Up to 10 minutes prior to departure, all airline fares may be modified or canceled without further charges, with the possible exception of a fare difference.
When compared to the legacy U.S. airlines, which used to tack on a $200 (or more) change fee, Southwest offers significant savings when it comes to itinerary changes.
Most significant U.S. airlines followed suit with Southwest during the epidemic and permanently eliminated change costs, but Southwest didn't sit back and relax.
The airline said that trip credits would never expire in June, and it even recently debuted a new price product called Wanna Get Away Plus that enables you to transfer flight credits to another individual.
Executives from Southwest reaffirmed that this flexibility will continue through 2023 and beyond.
Jordan claimed that the aim of these regulations is to encourage repeat business.
Solving frustrations
Although Southwest's technology hasn't always been the best, it is improving.
A recent feature of the carrier's website allows you to add a lap infant; previously, this required going to a full-service check-in counter.
The digitalization of this function allows families to check in online and avoid the airport counter, saving them a tonne of time.
The airline is also currently offering improved A1-A15 boarding positions for sale straight through its mobile app.
Previously, this supplementary fee was only collected at the airport within an hour of departure and ranged from $30 to $60 depending on the length of the flight.
These are merely the two most recent instances of the airline digitalizing the travel process.
More projects are in the works, according to executives, although they withheld further information for the time being.
Modern airport facilities
The airline's operations in Denver and Phoenix, two important markets, were rebuilt and extended this year.
These initiatives were hailed by executives as essential to expansion, particularly in Denver, where Southwest will now have access to 40 gates as it competes with United there fiercely.
Southwest is anticipating the launch of a new terminal in Kansas City, where it is collaborating with local authorities to adapt the design to its operational requirements.
The building is scheduled to open in 2023 around February or March.
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