New Boarding For SWA?

[Gary M]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070728/BUSINESS/707280416/1003/BUSINESS

I'm not sure if there is any new news in the SWA boarding procedures being tried in the article above. I know there was a thread similar to this a few days ago, so no flames please. I can't find the previous thread and thought there might be something new in this article.

 

[bradk]

interesting. i guess i really don't see the importance of preboarding because of small kids anyway. i mean infants maybe, but.. is finding seats with a 5 year old really that traumatizing?

then again, even on the airline i fly, i see people who insist they must preboard even though they have no children or apparent physical difficulties.

i'm assuming SWA would still preboard for those who need it for physical reasons, then board A which should cover a lot of those who would preboard because of children anyway.

or.. it drastically increases competitiveness for the A group since those who would have just well preboarded wouldn't have cared if they were in the C group.

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for the article. It was interesting to see how things might change. I've yet to fly SW, even though I fly out Dulles and can get good fares. There are only two reasons keeping me away and one is the preboarding methods (since we never travel with kids) and the other is the resort airline checkin. I stay with Ted or JetBlue, but would consider SW one day if things change. At least the fares seem to stay close for each carrier here at Dulles. BWI is still a little too far for us in the early AM.

 

[carolina_yankee]

According to Flyertalk, SW may announce a new boarding or seating strategy in November.

As a new Southwest convert (already earned one free flight in less than 2 years), I'm a little disconcerted by rumored changes, but it will be interesting to see what they do.

It sounds like the want to serve families in a way that doesn't impede the A boarding group from getting best choice of seats. The SAT process pre-boards passaengers genuinely needing more time, then As, then families requesting consideration.

Dirk

 

[bradk]

the gripe with the current system that i see a lot is that in many cases, especially at family destinations, entire families preboard because of one child and it leaves a lot of disgruntled customers. i've heard the policy with ages even varies between airports to try to limit potential problems (like i think i've heard the age to preboard at MCO is lower than at other airports for example). could be wrong though. it's mostly that the reward system offered by the airline for checking in earliest is trumped by families who have small children.

it's kind of like how you'll stand on line at the bus at POP, someone with an ECV will come and board first, not a problem at all, but it does get a little irksome when the entire family of 7+ all board with the ECV and start consuming the seats that others have been waiting in line for.

 

[Laurabearz]

Personally I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to not sit next to my kids on a flight. I will not in anyway baulk about being seperated, I will mearly hand the person who has to sit next to any of my kids a goodie bag of items to amuse my child during the flight, while I head to the back row and order myself a cocktail!

WOOT WOOT!!! Please please please Stop us families from preboarding! It will make my life SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier! Thanks!