free seating
I have been working as a psa for easyjet for over a year now and recently as flights have become busier and the work load at the gates has been increased i find myself asking whether the whole 'FREE SEATING' idea is really any good.
Easyjet and many other low cost airlines have revolutionised the way people travel however with the innovation of this industry i feel that air travel has reached a certain slowing point in that flights are no longer the cheap seats we were all used to at the begining but indeed many are rather expensive (especially to the sunnier climates) and the whole customer service experience isnt all that great. is it not about time that easyjet made the step of introducing seating allocation, not anly would the passengers be happier but also i feel as it would benefit all the people involved in the turnaround.
Firstly im sure we have all seen it and some flights are worse than others that as soon as they see an agent at the gate shortly before boarding you find yourself surrounded by pax and a crowd gathering and staring as to every move you make all because they want to fight for the choice of seat once boarding has started even though there is a boarding system in place, also when you watch a queue at the steps of the flight im sure its because the first person has decided to insist they want one of the first seats and try to get all there hand luggage in the locker, holding everyone up, but it doesnt end there, when ive flown with easyjet ive seen people pacing up and down the aircraft just because they cant decide where to sit, either they dont want to sit near the young children or just anyone they dont particularly like the look of, surely this takes time for all to settle and making it longer until the flight is ready to depart.
If the idea is to benefit those who arrive early for check in then surely it would be much better from the customer point of view to chose their seat whilst checking in. Not only would the passengers leave the desk knowing they have the seat they want but the whole boarding experience would be much more civilsed and controlled, also from a dispatchers point of view it may make it a little easier when trying to identify a certain passenger if they knew where they were sitting on the aircraft.
Would appreciate the views of others on the subject of seating.