Well the last time I flew to Portland, OR I booked on Alaska versus Southwest. Alaska had me on a Horizon Flight. Never again will I fly on Horizon. Flight home was on Alaska (use to love that airline). Never again will I fly on Alaska. I will in the future fly on Southwest up and down the westcoast. Never have had a problem with Southwest and the couple of times the flight was delayed they explained exactly why..no stress at all. Just my thinking.

Very well put, Loisde.
((D))8-)

Loisde: You say you are in Group C. Okay, are you always in Group C? Why don't you check in 24 hours prior and get an "A" pass or at least a "B". I don't get it, frankly. I understand that if someone is flying SW for the first time, they may not understand about the ABC boarding procedure. However, once you know, it seems unlikely that you would ever end up with a "C" pass again.

What am I missing?

Do you realize that some people have lives that don't allow them to be hanigng out on their computer 24-hours before the flight takes off. While the 24-hour policy is more humane than the earlier, midnight policy, it's still inconvenient if you are in a hotel, at a meeting, without access to a computer, without access to a printer.

I certainly agree with MikeT - not everyone has immediate access to a computer/printer 24 hrs a day at all times. I love SW and fly them often, and usually get A, but I sure can understand that it might be hard if you are in a meeting, out sightseeing, in church or whatever when the magical "24 hours" appear.

I've always managed to find an internet cafe where I could do at least the check-in part, even if I couldn't print the boarding passes. No, I wasn't hanging out exactly at the 24-hour mark, but I did get there as close to it as I could. When we left New Orleans, I checked in about 12 hours ahead, and I still got us "A" group.

Here's the point, Christie. It just doesn't need to be this complicated. Let adults make decisions about where they sit and don't make them stand in cattle stalls at the airport after scouring the city for a computer with a printer 24-hours ahead of time

I take Southwest, but only when it's the last minute and I have no other options.

I still get back to how even with assigned seats, most airlines make you line up and hang around a gate area and stake your claim and wait and then get on the plane and wait some more and haggle for overhead space. The process isn't fun. Yes, it's worse if you couldn't get better than a C and you are in a middle seat. But the last time I flew SWA, I checked in an hour before at the aiport and was B. I don't see why you even have to go to an internet cafe, really. This was a totally sold-out flight by the way, and I was still B.

Sf. That's called luck.

I love Southwest and their boarding policy but I also understand those that hate the systen. I love getting on the plane and choosing my seat based on where all the little rug rats are already sitting so none of them are kicking my seat or crying nearby.

Even if I forget to get my boarding pass at exactly 24 hours prior to departure I don't have a problem at least getting a B pass on the same day as departure. I've logged in as late as 3 hours before departure and managed a B pass.

Even when I get an A pass I sit in the bar until they start boarding and am the last A pass on board.

Yes, those getting on flights that have already been to other cities won't usually get the very front of the plane. I often fly to LAX and on the way and way home sometimes have stops. Only about 10-15 people have ever stayed on the plane. Not all of them even bother to move to "good" seats although I didn't really understand why they wouldn't. I've never seen the scenario where 75 people are on the plane.

I just flew United this week as they have directs to my destination whereas Southwest does not.

I paid extra for economy plus so I could get more leg room and be guaranteed a seat close to the front. My seat was in row 5, a toddler screamed in the seat directly behind me for 3 hours, and the plane ended up boarding earlier than what was posted on the boarding pass. I got on later than my group and had to store my carryon 10 rows behind me so I couldn't get off the plane quickly anyway. So even with an assigned seat you aren't guaranteed a good experience.

I love Southwest's Rapid Rewards system as I often earn free flights using their Visa card and by flying them all the time. From my hometown Southwest beats America West prices on a regular basis.

Amwosu, you are SO correct!! I also LOVE how I am able to avoid the small children when I fly SWA!

Mike, I see your point. You'd rather fly in an assigned seat, and that is your choice.

I also frequently fly to collectibles hobby conventions, so SWA's allowance of 5 pieces of luggage per person makes it the obvious choice for me! It would cost me an extra $150 to fly another airline and take the same amount of stuff.

So everyone was complaining, but here's a solution - I heard about it on www.johnnyjet.com which is my travel bible. Check out the website www.boardfirst.com - they will make sure you get one of the first groups!

Actually SavTrav, there's already been a huge thread about that website and how pointless it is as you can get your own A pass just as easily as having them do it for $5.

This issue would have made a great Social Psychology paper.

I don't internet the pass. I often get B, or even A, for just showing up 45 plus minutes before- when I have to be there to get through the Midway security lines anyway in ample time.

There is no NEED for anyone to stand in line for an hour at the terminal. You could just as easily get into the end of your A or B or C line within seconds of boarding- there is no DIRECTION for you to be required to get into these lines early at all. Those decisions are entirely your own.

I can understand if you have different standards. So just use the assigned seating airlines and over time you will get bumped from your seat for numerous reasons anyway, get put into a line to board as you do on any plane etc. There is no less herding that I can observe when doing this. But if it gives you less agnst- just do it.

All of these are highly self-perceptions of where you time is "wasted". On multi-leg trips we have often switched seats for visiting and other related reasons with absolutely no problems. On a ski club trip we tried to do this on an assigned seating plane and ended up getting censured for attempting and asking for this option.

I sure hope that a few more airlines get into the non-hierarchy modes and reduce prices while increasing actual on time departures and arrivals- as Southwest has.

I just want to thank all of you for your helpful and impassioned responses to my question. I didn't know that I would unleash so much passion and discussion, but I have enjoyed every bit of it and you are all very generous to take the time and trouble to share your opinions with me (and each other!)

I hope some of the marketing folks from Southwest are monitoring this board -- its like a free focus group!
Thank you again.

Sandypo

Southwest did float the idea of seat assignments a few months ago. And apparently most SW-aficionados prefer the current setup.

The thing is that there's no right or wrong. It works for some people, and not for others. If one likes SW's model, fly them; if not fly other airlines. I am definitely not going to passionate about it one way or another. Sometimes SW fares and routes fit me better, and I'll fly them seat assignments or not.

Conversely, a lot of people do like to have seat assignments. They can fly other airlines to their destination.

Good thing about this country is that we have choices.