Southwest Airlines testing new boarding procedure...
 

...on all outbound flights from San Antonio.

Testing began yesterday and will run through the end of August. According to an article in the local San Antonio paper, the airline tested assigned seating last year in San Diego but it was reported many passengers prefered open seating.

So, with that in mind, the new boarding procedure still involves the securing of an A, B, or C boarding pass when you check in on-line or in person and now that letter will be accompanied by a number, e.g., B10.

"...passengers now are given assigned numbers in groups of A, B, or C and get in line only after their letter and number is shown on an airport monitor or called by Southwest employees."

The few passengers interviewed were happy claiming they no longer needed to wait in line for 40 minutes before boarding and that the new procedure seemed more organized.

So, instead of assigning a seat, they assign your place in the waiting group? This is something new! Good luck to them :)

lol, Faina, hadn't thought of it that way!

That's what they always did (A,B and C) - sounds like it will just be broken down into smaller groups now A1-A10, A11-A20, etc. So people in the A group don't have to line up 40 minutes in advance to avoid being No. 45, they'll already know how far back in the A group they'll be.

I'm definitely in favor of this. I've never liked Southwest's "cattle call" approach to boarding. Pushy (rude) people only seem to benefit from the present method.

Oh, please somebody, re-assure me, they will NOT fly us standing, it's only for pre-boarding, right?

:-p

Oooo. I hope they don't go to that on all flights. I prefer open seating.

Great way to avoid the man with "Legs Wide Open and Jiggling" and the mom with the child saying "Bye Bye Plane" !!

You guys crack me up.

:-D

Last time I was sitting with an experienced traveler.

I was in the isle seat, she took the window. Immediately she put her glasses and a book in the middle seat, told me not to make any eye contacts with other boarding passengers, so we can have that middle seat for ourselves (and the elbow rests!!)

Didn't work, the plane was sold out :((

beachgirl, it's still open seating, you just get on the plane in groups of 10 or so instead of groups of 45.

Thanks, dmlove. I misunderstood. :)>-

lol, Faina, the last time I flew home from Baltimore the guy at the window seat (I had the aisle) asked if I would help him keep an eye out for someone small we could convince to take center--we found a young woman on her way to San Antonio for basic training. Great flight.

P_M, are you home?! Did you enjoy a wonderful visit with your family, I hope!?

Yep, I'm home. I'll have lot's of raves on Friday. :-D My only rant is that I'm not still in SoCal. It was a great trip indeed.

OMG, now it's not only important to check-in at around 9:00a to 9:05a to get a "A" pass for a 9:00a flight the next morning. Now, the Type A persons has to check-in at 9:00:00 to grab an A-1 pass. More challenging! ;)

I saw a funny scene in a Southwest waiting line in Orlando.

We were in the 'A' line, and the guy behind us, with two teenage girls, left a space between us so that people could pass through.

Well, a couple with two kids stepped into the space. I turned to her, pointed the guy behind us, and said, "He's in line."

She looked at the guy and said, "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize that." And then she stayed right there!

The guy and I just rolled our eyes.

Wouldn't it be great if they had a preboarding for passengers who don't haVE ANYTHING TO PUT IN THE OVERHEAD BINS?

Travel always seems to bring out the best and worst in folks.

The cattle call seems universal now, regardless of whether it's Southwest's traditonal boarding of A, B, C or other carrier's assigned seats. Every time I fly, people are eager to get in line and try to board before their seats are called. I love it when the gate attendant tells people it's not their turn.

I just purchased SW tickets yesterday. I've forgotten because I haven't been on them for awhile. When can you check in online to get the boarding pass letter or number now, with the ticketless confirm.

Is it 24 hours ahead of the flight departure time? I have forgotten.

I loved the open seating. Our D.C. trip was assigned and another since then was assigned as well, and I missed the SW open seating both times. Ken always gets his emerg.exit row and/or extra leg room.

I'm just a schlub, and it makes not a bit of difference if I'm the last one aboard on my "letter" designation either. jeeeesh

JJ5, 24 hours, and I mean 24 hours, not 23 - or you will be in the group B with scattered middle seats here and there, or the tail (close to lavatories).