We flew Southwest from Manchester, NH to Las Vegas last year. Just before boarding, a man wheeled a woman (both probably mid 40's) to the gate and they were allowed to board ahead of everyone else.

With our numbers, we boarded shorted after and sat nearby. They had taken seats in the first row to the right. The woman got up, that's right - got up - and collected pillows and blankets from an overhead bin and stacked them in the middle seat. One person after another tried to sit there and she shooed them away, until finally, a young woman in a business suit had the attendant make her clear the seat so she could take it. This couple paid the young woman back by screaming back and forth the entire flight. One of them knocked a drink over which dribbled down her leg.

When the plane landed and the door opened, this couple RAN off the plane - that's right - RAN!!! Even the flight attendants were stunned!

Sounds like a "security document" can get you thru security if you don't have a boarding pass:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_cent...urity_doc.html

That link was dated:


<i>Updated: January 10, 2003</i>


That was 7 years ago; my guess is that this has been revamped.

I am pretty sure you cannot go through TSA without a boarding pass and ID in hand, for ANY airline.

You do need a boarding pass. You do not strictly need ID; no ID will trigger secondary screening.

<i>I am pretty sure you cannot go through TSA without a boarding pass and ID in hand, for ANY airline.</i>

The security document sounds kind of like what United calls a "departure management card." There are a lot of United passengers who don't get seat assignments and, thus, boarding passes until boarding begins (mostly because of the Economy/Economy Plus thing). At check in, they get a departure management card, which is sufficient for getting through security...but it is not a boarding pass that will get them on the plane. They'll get that at the gate.

Some people are just whiners. If it wasn't this & Soutwest, they would have found something else to complain about. Besides you can check in online 24 hours before and be sure to be in A group.

WN's whole lousy seating policy is just one of the reasons why I avoid them like the plague.

But, I disagree with some on here who feel that saving a seat is somehow wrong. If I were in a similar situation & had a companion who was in the "C" group, I'd save him/her a seat, as well.

WN really needs to come into the 21st century and end the ridiculous "festival seating" policy once and for all.

LT, I had no issue with someone saving a seat but 2 entire rows was a little absurd. And to be asked to give up the seat I was already in, is what I was pointing out.

I fly SW whenever I can, as I appreciate the fares and the TWO free checked bags, which mitigates the overhead storage hassle created by the airlines charging for checked baggage.
To each her own!

"<i>WN really needs to come into the 21st century and end the ridiculous "festival seating" policy once and for all.</i>"

Oh sure (?) and copy every other airline's procedures -- most of which are either nearly bankrupt or having to merge to survive. WN does what it does because it works and, is actually popular w/ most of its customers.

BTW - if you won't be near a computer to check-in 24 hours in advance, you can pay WN $10 to do it for you.

"Oh sure (?) and copy every other airline's procedures -- most of which are either nearly bankrupt or having to merge to survive."

You should check your facts before you post next time. There are several carriers (B6, FL, F9, just to name a few) who are doing just fine.

"WN does what it does because it works and, is actually popular w/ most of its customers."

Perhaps, but, there are plenty of us for whom the cattle call doesn't work -- especially biz pax, which WN claims they want more of.

"BTW - if you won't be near a computer to check-in 24 hours in advance, you can pay WN $10 to do it for you."

BTW, on most other carriers, I don't have to find a computer 24hrs. in advance OR pay up $10 just to get the seat I want.

BTW On all other carriers you have to pay to check your bag. ON Southwest 2 Bags fly free.
So what if you pay $ 10 to check in early. You still get to choose your own seat and not have to pay extra for the priviledge of assigned seats on other airlines.
As a self employed business traveller I find I can often book early enough to get a lower fare and pay the extra $ 10 for EB. It works for me, and as I found the seat pitch at 32-33" and 17" width is perfect for me and at least an 1" better than on most other airline economy seats.

"BTW, on most other carriers, I don't have to find a computer 24hrs. in advance OR pay up $10 just to get the seat I want."

But can you do it at the same price? They're cheaper, and there is a reason. You get what you pay for. If you don't like their policies, don't fly, it really rather simple.

bettyk's situation WAS because it was a SW vacation package. Why they insist on paper tickets for their packages befuddles me.

It is always amazing when people do not feel the ABC lineup doesn't apply to them. I have been in the C boarding group and been one of the last 5 people to board the aircraft. I sat in a middle seat in the back row, which landed at about the same time the front row did. I have found that I can tolerate sitting between two strangers for a relatively short flight if I don't have to pay to check my bags and save money in the process. It all depends on what's important to you~I'd rather save money on my airfare and splurge a little when I get to my destination.