Clarification re: Southwest boarding

[DisneyBeagle]

We were discussing how Southwest boarding passes have letters and numbers (A17, B62, etc.). Someone mentioned that they just used to be letters only (A,B,C) and you would have to show up at the airport fairly early because you lined up by who arrived first. If you were the first person to arrive holding an A pass, then you got in line first. When did they change to the letter & number system?

Here's my question--You do line up now based on your letter and number, correct? If I arrive at the boarding area after passengers have already started lining up but I have A17 then I go to the "A" line and find person with A16 and get behind them, correct? I don't just stand at the end of the A line??

Sorry for such a stupid question, but I don't want to have a bunch of people telling me to go to the end of the line if I am doing things wrong.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Someone mentioned that they just used to be letters only (A,B,C)

I seem to recall that it was numbers only, but it's been so long ago, I could be mistaken.

When did they change to the letter & number system?

Several years ago.

You do line up now based on your letter and number, correct? If I arrive at the boarding area after passengers have already started lining up but I have A17 then I go to the "A" line and find person with A16 and get behind them, correct?

Yes.

 

[LisaS]

You do line up now based on your letter and number, correct? If I arrive at the boarding area after passengers have already started lining up but I have A17 then I go to the "A" line and find person with A16 and get behind them, correct? I don't just stand at the end of the A line??

There aren't separate lines for A, B and C. There is just one line with numbered posts that indicate where you get in line based on your boarding number. They call the A group first and once they have boarded they do family boarding, then the B group lines up and boards, and then the C group. So if you have A17 and the A group has been called to line up, you find the post with your number range on it and get in line behind A16/in front of A18 depending on who is already in the line.

Southwest has a good tutorial here: Southwest Boarding School.

 

[DebbieB]

I did a search, the letter and number system started in October 2007. Before that, it was just letter and some people would camp out to be at the front of their group. Family boarding was before A then.

 

[LisaS]

I did a search, the letter and number system started in October 2007. Before that, it was just letter and some people would camp out to be at the front of their group. Family boarding was before A then.

The new boarding process is so much more civilized than the old one. You can just stay seated until your group is called. You can even make a trip to the restroom without risking losing your place in line which wasn't the case with the old "camp out" system.

If I arrive at the boarding area after passengers have already started lining up...

I just want to caution you that Southwest's boarding process can proceed very quickly. They usually get the A group lined up a few minutes before they start boarding but that's not always the case.

One time we were seated in the boarding area using our laptops waiting for boarding to begin. They had no preboards that flight so the first announcement was for the A group to line up and they immediately starting boarding while people were trying to get into the line. We hurriedly put our laptops away and moved quickly from our seats to the queue but couldn't get there fast enough to get in our proper place. We ended up boarding a few positions behind our boarding number. No big deal since we were at the front of the A group but I just wanted to suggest that if you go to the trouble to get a good boarding number, be sure you are in the boarding area before they call your group. Even when you are right there, you can miss your spot!

 

[bumbershoot]

The new boarding process is so much more civilized than the old one. You can just stay seated until your group is called.

Oh yes.

and I've noticed it's more civilized than some other airlines with assigned seating, too. Flying on Alaska and Virgin America (ask me in September about United when I will be flying with them) people will crowd the area just waiting to leap into line ages before they are called...it's the strangest thing. Whereas at some of the SW gates I've waited at, they will announce over the PA system for people to stay seated until it's their turn to line up.

 

[DebbieB]

Oh yes.

and I've noticed it's more civilized than some other airlines with assigned seating, too. Flying on Alaska and Virgin America (ask me in September about United when I will be flying with them) people will crowd the area just waiting to leap into line ages before they are called...it's the strangest thing. Whereas at some of the SW gates I've waited at, they will announce over the PA system for people to stay seated until it's their turn to line up.

They want to get on first to find a spot for their carryon bag so that it doesn't get gate checked. It's really crazy anymore. Since SW doesn't charge bag fees, people don't carry on as much plus with the letter/number boarding, you can't "jump the line".

 

[bumbershoot]

They want to get on first to find a spot for their carryon bag so that it doesn't get gate checked. It's really crazy anymore. Since SW doesn't charge bag fees, people don't carry on as much plus with the letter/number boarding, you can't "jump the line".

The reasoning is no doubt true...but both of the airlines I mentioned, in my experience (and I know it can be different at different airports), have waves of being seated. And those waves are listed on your boarding pass. If you're wave E (or whatever) you know you've got a bit to wait, but wave A (or whatever LOL, could go get an old boarding pass to look but where's the fun in that?) people have to fight through waves B-E to get to the gate agent...

 

[DebbieB]

The reasoning is no doubt true...but both of the airlines I mentioned, in my experience (and I know it can be different at different airports), have waves of being seated. And those waves are listed on your boarding pass. If you're wave E (or whatever) you know you've got a bit to wait, but wave A (or whatever LOL, could go get an old boarding pass to look but where's the fun in that?) people have to fight through waves B-E to get to the gate agent...

That's typical. When I fly Delta or USAir, they go by zones, I have seen people with a zone 5 right up by the front of the line when zone 1 is called. They stand there and block everyone's way because they want to be right there when zone 5 is called. Then you also have people who think they can slip in early, hopefully they are turned back.

 

[dudspizza]

That's typical. When I fly Delta or USAir, they go by zones, I have seen people with a zone 5 right up by the front of the line when zone 1 is called. They stand there and block everyone's way because they want to be right there when zone 5 is called. Then you also have people who think they can slip in early, hopefully they are turned back.

and you can see the look of frustration on the boarding agents face as all those people clog up the area!

 

[goofy4tink]

Dang, I hated the old way of boarding for SW. We would get there early enough to be 7th or 8th in the A group, but someone had to be in the line at all times. And if you were much further back, there was no place to lean against!! The new way is so much nicer...and very civilized. We have held A28, 29 and 30 before, and arrived about 4 mins before actual boarding started....just had to have that cup of coffee and cut it too close. Anyway....no one batted an eye when we moved into our spots in the line. God, I love their boarding system.

And, God, do I hate other 'regular' airlines boarding systems as a result. As soon as the first group is called up, everyone jumps up!! Nasty to try to get through that mess. I don't worry about it unless I have an overhead carryon bag....lately I try to fly without one. Much less stress that way. And of course, all those people that had to jump up to get on before anyone else?? Oh yeah, they're the ones clogging up the aisles, trying to shove their oversized bags into the overhead bins, or trying to get their kids settled. And since they are seated in front of me, I can only assume that they jumped the line to board...and the gate people did nothing about it. Drives me nuts I tell ya!!!

 

[DisneyBeagle]

Thanks for the clarification!