Are you flying to Disney World soon?
A super popular airline that often flies to Orlando and the Disney World area is Southwest Airlines. Known for its lack of hidden bag fees, fair flight change fee policy, more affordable rates, and interesting boarding procedures, Southwest is a fan-favorite among many families when it comes to air travel. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
In fact, there are two issues we’ve had flying with Southwest over the years. If you’ve flown with Southwest Airlines frequently, chances are you might’ve come across these problems as well.
For starters, the boarding process can split up families. Passengers can check in up to 24 hours before their flight and are then assigned a boarding group.
Unlike most airlines, Southwest didn’t do assigned seating. You would get assigned a boarding group and boarding group number and then seating is first-come, first-served. This meant families could very well be split up on the plane.
While this policy has allowed Southwest to keep relatively lower prices (that have admittedly increased over the past couple of years), it won’t remain much longer.Â
Earlier this year, Southwest announced that the boarding process would change. The airline noted that the majority of passengers prefer assigned seating so the company will begin selling assigned seats in the second half of 2025, with its first flights operating under the new model in 2026.
Additionally, “premium seating” with extra legroom will also be offered. As for the boarding process, Southwest plans to evolve the procedure to blend what already exists with the new ticket options.
While families will be less likely to be split up now, we can’t help but speculate that the airline will continue to get more expensive.
The next issue we’ve run into became a very public controversy. Southwest delays and cancelations are always possible and are now on the back of our minds more than ever. Notably, the airline made headlines due to its mass cancelations during the 2022 holiday season.
Due to a system malfunction, Southwest struggled mightily during the holidays in 2022 which resulted in over 70% of its late December schedule being canceled following a major winter storm. As part of the fallout, the United States Department of Transportation issued a $140 million fine — the largest fine ever imposed by the agency.
Public perception of Southwest Airlines is still recovering, although we still personally use it often. At the end of the day, every airline is going to have its pros and cons. What’s most important is that you fly with the airline you feel works best for you, your family, and your budget.
Are we being too harsh on Southwest? Did we miss any major problems with the airline? Share your thoughts and continue to follow us for all kinds of travel tips!
Timeline Announced for Changes to Southwest Airlines’ Controversial Boarding Process
If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!
Need a vacation from planning your vacation?
Feeling overwhelmed planning your dream Disney vacation? Our friends at MouseFanTravel.com have got you covered! They’ll wait on hold for HOURS to get discounts you haven't even read about yet. Plus, they'll help you create an itinerary that's absolutely perfect for you, because their agents are Disney pros and know ALL the inside tips. I mean they are friends with us after-all.
The best part? They take all the stress off your shoulders, so you can kick back and truly enjoy your vacation. Their services are 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Get a quote from their amazing team today!
Southwest isn’t always the best, but I’ve had a Companion pass for the last 1.5 years. I’m on track to have one again for next year. Its a lot of effort to earn a Pass, but the net effect is that my husband and I fly together for half price.
I do not think you are being too harsh, but yet it happens on every airline.
I watch a very popular YouTuber, Adam the Woo and he had all kinds of problems with American out of and back to Orlando. He switched to Delta which was better but still has had a couple cancellations.