SWA open Seating is here to stay

[I'mNoPrince]

From a SWA E-mail today

Open Seating is Here to Stay!
You spoke and we listened. Today, Southwest Airlines is thrilled to announce that you will continue to be able to choose your favorite seat once onboard the aircraft. And it doesn't stop there! We've figured out how to make our open seating method even better by doing away with the so called "cattle call" and eliminating the need to "camp out" in the boarding line.

Beginning in early November, you will be assigned not only a boarding group (A, B, or C) but also a number within that boarding group based on the time you check in for a flight (for example: A32). This unique combination represents your reserved spot in your boarding group. Next, listen for one of our friendly gate agents to announce your group. When your group is called, simply take a position next to the column that represents your boarding number and proceed onto the airplane to find your favorite seat. Boarding columns will be divided into groups of five

On a side note they stated in my paper today that they were doing away with Preboarding for Children . I haven't seen anything official on that yet but I do like tis as we normally get under 10 on the A's

 

[Gary M]

Below is an article from the Dallas newspaper. I bet people are working on beating the new system already. I bet the number of "blue sleeves" asked for will increase.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...es/092007dnbussouthwestboarding.ec5cfd31.html

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Here's the artical about the family First being done away with.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.digestadd19sep19,0,2714688.story

SWA also has the Artical that goes along with the E-mail but nothing on the family-first.

I also wonder if they will crackdown on the BoardFirst web-sights and so forth.

 

[Rootskate]

What is a "blue sleeve"?

 

[Lewisc]

Blue sleeve designates a passenger that qualifies for medical pre-boarding.

SW already has complete information on their website.

http://www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool/

It's not clear how this will affect parents that pay for a seat (for an infant). The change may make hard, or impossible, for a family to get a free seat for use with a car seat. Remember car seats have to be positioned in a window seat.

 

[n2mm]

It's on their website and under FAQ, it states how families will board:

Q: Do families still get to pre-board?
A: Beginning October 2, 2007, an adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the "A" and "B" boarding groups, unless you have an "A" boarding pass. Those Customers holding an "A" boarding pass should board with the "A" boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families traveling with small children are easily accommodated together.

 

[Rootskate]

Blue sleeve designates a passenger that qualifies for medical pre-boarding.

Thanks, I had never heard that term before.

 

[Gary M]

Blue sleeve designates a passenger that qualifies for medical pre-boarding.

SW already has complete information on their website.

http://www.southwest.com/help/boardingschool/

It's not clear how this will affect parents that pay for a seat (for an infant). The change may make hard, or impossible, for a family to get a free seat for use with a car seat. Remember car seats have to be positioned in a window seat.

I'm not starting an argument about the people that truly need a "blue sleeve", but I thought that if a person asks for a "blue Sleeve" they can't be questioned about their need for it. I haven't flown SWA for a couple of years, but I recall the flight from IND to MCO, the pre boarding was over 1/2 of the plane and many were older people with white hair(I'm older with white hair) and I was about the only one not pre boarding. Many of the older pre boarders had large carry ons and ran on the plane trying to beat the kids.

 

[DVC-Don]

YAY!

 

[Lewisc]

The GA can't ask for medical documentation but there are questions they're allowed to ask.

I don't doubt your experience but kids board after the medical pre-boards. They shouldn't have to out run the kids.

My guess is SW will come up with a way to weed out the abusers.

I'm not starting an argument about the people that truly need a "blue sleeve", but I thought that if a person asks for a "blue Sleeve" they can't be questioned about their need for it. I haven't flown SWA for a couple of years, but I recall the flight from IND to MCO, the pre boarding was over 1/2 of the plane and many were older people with white hair(I'm older with white hair) and I was about the only one not pre boarding. Many of the older pre boarders had large carry ons and ran on the plane trying to beat the kids.

 

[madge]

ok, I understand how the new process works. I think. But, I'm unclear about the start date. It's early November? Are things business as usual until then?

 

[mdhkitten]

Sometimes you're even just "given" a pre-board sleeve when you don't require it. I only had this happen once (I'm 33, young and healthy), but it wasn't by my asking, it was SW decision to preboard me because I had voluntarily given up my seat on an earlier flight so that they could accomodate someone else. Because I had an "A" pass on the flight that I had originally been on and they couldn't provide me with an "A" for the new flight, they preboarded me. Yes, I got some strange looks, but that was Southwest's choice, not mine.

 

[Lewisc]

The new system is already in place at San Antonio and is expected to be in all airports by the beginning of November. We don't know the roll out schedule.

Family pre-boarding will be changed Oct 2.

ok, I understand how the new process works. I think. But, I'm unclear about the start date. It's early November? Are things business as usual until then?

 

[madge]

The new system is already in place at SAN and is expected to be in all airports by the beginning of November. We don't know the roll out schedule.

Family pre-boarding will be changed Oct 2.

hmmm. I'm going to have to seriously think about my options here ... we have a flight out of MCO at 1pm on a Saturday. We don't qualify for preboarding anymore, my DD is 5. We'll need at least a couple of seats together, but the thought of hanging out at the resort (on our last day in the parks) until 1pm to check in online stinks. Maybe I'll suck it up and try boardfirst dot com.

 

[donmil723]

hmmm. I'm going to have to seriously think about my options here ... we have a flight out of MCO at 1pm on a Saturday. We don't qualify for preboarding anymore, my DD is 5. We'll need at least a couple of seats together, but the thought of hanging out at the resort (on our last day in the parks) until 1pm to check in online stinks. Maybe I'll suck it up and try boardfirst dot com.

You can check in online for your return flight at any of the Guest Relations at the theme parks.

Hope that helps!

Donna

 

[I'mNoPrince]

You can check in online for your return flight at any of the Guest Relations at the theme parks.

Hope that helps!

Donna

Yup as well as any Web-enabled cell phone.

You can even get a family member to do it for you if you trust them to.

There are many options available at WDW to do this.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It's already in place at SAT, not SAN. Close, though... very close

The new system is already in place at SAN and is expected to be in all airports by the beginning of November. We don't know the roll out schedule.

Family pre-boarding will be changed Oct 2.

 

[Lewisc]

San Diego was the first test city and San Antonio is the city that was testing (and is now the first city to be using) the new system.

This is a case where a typo makes a big difference. My fault. I'll edit my previous post.

It's already in place at SAT, not SAN. Close, though... very close

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

San Diego was the first test city and San Antonio is the city that was testing (and is now the first city to be using) the new system.

This is a case where a typo makes a big difference. My fault. I'll edit my previous post.

FWIW... the test at SAN failed miserably. One small step for man, one giant tumble down a set of jetstairs for mankind...

 

[madge]

You can check in online for your return flight at any of the Guest Relations at the theme parks.

Hope that helps!

Donna

oooh. that DOES help! THANK YOU!!!

there's a small chance we may still be at the hotel, since we will have been at the MNSSHP the night before, but it's very good to know we have options at the parks, too!! woo hoo!