In yet another way to grab money, Southwest Airlines will charge passenger an early-boarding fee of $40.
For an airline that doesn't have assigned seating boarding early have a few advantages, like overhead luggage space and actually having a choice between window and aisle seating.
"Offering customers the option to improve their boarding position on day of travel is one more way we can offer the travel experience that best fits their needs," said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines vice president of marketing, sales and distribution, in a press release.
This is coming from the same company that offers two free pieces of checked luggage, but only gives detail about weight limits and other requirements in the fine print.
Southwest has always been a company of unusual business strategies to gain customers and publicity, but It has now gotten to the point of complete absurdity-they have an online tutorial about boarding procedures.
Check out this video of a Southwest flight attendant going over his pre-flight checklist with the passengers.
"This is yet another of several recent attempts by Southwest to add peripheral fees so that it can raise revenues without tarnishing its image. Southwest's elite travelers won't like that people can (sic) buy their way to the front of the line, but it will be welcomed by those at the back. This is the first effort Southwest has made to allow people to better their position once they know their boarding number," said Brett Snyder, President of The Cranky Flier, in an E-mail to Southwest-according to CNN.
On a side note, AirTran Airways, a wholly-subsidiary of Southwest, will not be charging this fee.
However, CNN does confirm through a Southwest spokesman that Southwest is continuing their reshaping program of the airlines by painting AirTrans planes in Southwest colors and charging Southwest fees.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
