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Southwest Adds $10 Fee to Board Early

Airline with no assigned seats starts charging for first dibs

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2009 4:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – Southwest Airlines doesn’t assign seats, but now it will start charging for the privilege of finding the best one, the Dallas Morning News reports. For an extra $10, the new “EarlyBird Check-in” allows passengers to board first, or at least right after the Business Select and Rapid Rewards A-List customers.

Southwest is trying to build a customer base with its "no hidden fees" policy—it's losing out on millions by not charging baggage fees, for example—and says it won't charge a fee for a previously free service. As a result, it's creating fees for new services—such as the EarlyBird Check-in and another that allows customers to carry a small pet in the passenger cabin.

Passengers exit a plane at the Southwest Airlines terminal in Burbank, Calif.
Passengers exit a plane at the Southwest Airlines terminal in Burbank, Calif.   (AP Photo)
The tail of their plane appears outside the window as passengers line up to board their Southwest Airlines flight.
The tail of their plane appears outside the window as passengers line up to board their Southwest Airlines flight.   (AP Photo)
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With EarlyBird Check-in, you no longer need to watch the clock or set your alarm to be one of the first customers to check in for a Southwest flight. - Kevin Krone, Southwest’s vice president of marketing

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
my-name-here
Sep 3, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
Agreed. Who the hell likes to be first ON the plane?
Ucantusethatname
Sep 3, 2009 6:09 AM CDT
How much to use the rest room? Will it cost extra to bring my cane or walker on board?
Berzelius
Sep 3, 2009 5:35 AM CDT
They have this on greyhound bus, and it makes sense their because it is first come first serve. Meaning if the bus fills before you get on you have to wait for the next. But to pay ten $ to get on a flight where you already have your seat assigned is just assinine.
Money • US

 
airline industry • air travel • Southwest Airlines • boarding pass • airline passengers • fees • seating

 
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