Southwest Boarding Passes And Preboarding

[bavaria]

If only everyone was as thoughtful!

My grandparents preboard and wait til everyone is off to unload. However my grandmother often remarks on the incredible healing qualities of air travel - as soon as that plane touches down in Hawaii, a number of those preboards are up in the aisle grabbing luggage and dashing to the front...

 

[jgmklmhem]

Just a FYI...the reason (told to me by a SW employee) that they don't make the pre-boards all sit together say in the back is similar to the reason they don't have assigned seats. It is felt that by hopefully spreading the people boarding out throughout the whole plane versus confining them to a set of rows that the process will go much faster as the placing of carryons and getting adjusted is also spread out so there is less waiting for others to get out of the way.

 

[TinkNH]

Actually the wording is thus: I actually posted this a day or so ago, I think you may have missed it.

Boarding Procedure
Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C (in that order) based on when the Customer checked in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).
Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11, and adults traveling with a child under five years of age will preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat.

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If you are ever at BDL look me up, I will be the one grinning from ear to ear to be leaving CT for good come 9/15, but will be very happy next Friday when I will be in the air heading for my new home......ORLANDO to interview for a nice job.

I dont know why I thought it said families...but I can still see ppl misinterpreting that to mean ALL adults...not just the primary caretaker(s).
I think the issue here is not with preboarding so much as with ppl who are just discourteous. Personally this time I will be in the preboard line, my family of 3, and a friends family, 2 adults and their 2 kids, ages 3 and 11months. We are hoping to sit near each other just for the possibility that it may entertain teh kids to have each other nearby (my 4 and her 3 are buds )and the 11mo will be in someones lap..no child seats to deal with here. I think my feathers got a little ruffled because not all of us are out to abuse the 'system' I would actually like the whole process to be as easy and uncomplicated for everyone on board. I did hear last night however that open seating may sood be a thing of the past and all airlines will switch to assigned seats. Not a bad idea if you ask me
Good luck with the upcoming job interview! and living in Orlando..woo woo!

 

[disneyfreak71]

The thing that drives me the most crzy is when everyone is rushing to get off the plane, the preboarders in the front have a ton of stuff and stand in the aisle to get it all together. Please, stay to the side so other people can get off the plane then when you are ready, certainly turn around and exit. I have seen families stay seated knowing they would hassle others but some still need to block the way.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I dont know why I thought it said families...but I can still see ppl misinterpreting that to mean ALL adults...not just the primary caretaker(s).
I think the issue here is not with preboarding so much as with ppl who are just discourteous. Personally this time I will be in the preboard line, my family of 3, and a friends family, 2 adults and their 2 kids, ages 3 and 11months. We are hoping to sit near each other just for the possibility that it may entertain teh kids to have each other nearby (my 4 and her 3 are buds )and the 11mo will be in someones lap..no child seats to deal with here. I think my feathers got a little ruffled because not all of us are out to abuse the 'system' I would actually like the whole process to be as easy and uncomplicated for everyone on board. I did hear last night however that open seating may sood be a thing of the past and all airlines will switch to assigned seats. Not a bad idea if you ask me
Good luck with the upcoming job interview! and living in Orlando..woo woo!

SWA just ran a poll on the open seating. I am still very much a fan of it.
Possibly because I have had some really NASTY assigned seats.
I really don't think SW will change, they have been doing it for years and it works, and you know what they say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thank you for the good wishes and the good vibes and especially the woo woo.

 

[TinkNH]

SWA just ran a poll on the open seating. I am still very much a fan of it.
Possibly because I have had some really NASTY assigned seats.
I really don't think SW will change, they have been doing it for years and it works, and you know what they say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thank you for the good wishes and the good vibes and especially the woo woo.

ah I didnt know aboutthe poll...but then I wouldnt 'vote' I don't fly nearly enough to have a real opinion. I am sure it matters more to ppl who fly often..like I said strap me to the wing..I am going to Disney World!

And you are very welcome! best of luck!

 

[Pinnie]

Just got off a SWA flight today from MCO and preboarding was SUSPENDED for all but those with disabilities. They even didn't allow a family traveling with a lap child to preboard since they didn't need to install a car seat.

Also, a COS sat in the EXIT row and asked for a seatbelt extender/ The FA told this person they if he/she needed a seat belt extender, that they could NOT sit in the EXIT row.


Keep in mind that today our flight orginated at MCO and had a 1 stop at BNA. There were about 30 people that stayed on that flight to DTW.

pinnie