Aussie stunned by ‘weird’ US plane feature

Aussie influencer was taken by surprise when she boarded a US carrier only to be told something she had never heard of before.

Aussie influencer shock at US airline detail. Picture: Instagram/shelbybilby

If there is one thing Aussie travellers expect every time they fly, it’s either having to pay for a seat upgrade, or just settling for the seat they have been allocated.

But this Aussie influencer was taken by surprise when she boarded a US carrier only to be told there were no seat numbers, and she could sit anywhere she liked.

Shelby Bilby, known for her travel and lifestyle content, said the seating rule wasn’t anything she had experienced before on a plane.

“I just went on a flight where there were no seat numbers, so you just sit wherever you want,” Shelby told her 55,000 followers.

“How weird is that? First in best dressed,” she added.

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Aussie influencer Shelby Bilby who is currently touring the United States, discovered something unusual when boarding one the country’s major airlines. Picture: Instagram/shelbybilby

Shelby, who is currently holidaying in America, didn’t reveal the airline however, there is one major carrier in the US that allows its passengers to freely sit wherever they want.

Southwest Airlines is famous for having unnumbered seats and is making bank through its highly unusual boarding process.

The plane had no seat numbers and passengers were able to sit wherever they liked.

Unlike pretty much every other airline, Texas-based Southwest doesn’t assign seats to passengers.

Instead, it assigns people to a “boarding group”, and when each group boards the plane in a particular order, it’s up to them to scramble for the seats they want.

“You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in,” its website reads.

Shelby didn’t disclose the airline but Texas-based Southwest Airlines is famous for having unnumbered seats. Picture: Escape

It assigns people to a ‘boarding group’, and when each group boards the plane in a particular order, it’s up to them to scramble for the seats they want. Picture: Supplied

“Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate.

Numbered posts in each of our gate areas indicate where to line up. When your boarding group is called, find your designated place in line and board the aircraft in numerical order with your boarding group.”

The travel and lifestyle influencer described the detail as ‘weird’ and something she had never seen before. Picture: Instagram/shelbybilby

The quirky system means those in privileged boarding groups claim the best seats in the cabin, according to economy-focused publication Quartz.

“Southwest-operated flights have open seating. Once on-board, simply choose any available seat and stow your carry-on items in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you,” the website states.

Passengers pay to be higher up on the boarding group hierarchy through the airline’s Upgraded Boarding optional extra – and this is where Southwest Airlines has landed itself a massive money-maker.

People pay to be higher up on the boarding group hierarchy through the airline’s Upgraded Boarding optional extra and this allows the airline to be able to afford luring passengers with promise of free checked-in luggage.

Meanwhile, Shelby, who describes herself as an “Aussie bikini lovin adventurer”, is living it up in sunny California where she is taking advantage of the warm weather.

She has shown off her impromptu trip to Lake Tahoe, sharing a bunch of bikini snaps while jetskiing and exploring the popular tourist destination.